Review: Benjamin Pepperwhistle and the Fantabulous Circus of Wonders by Cornelia Grey

Benjamin Pepperwhistle has one overriding desire: to handle the glorious machinery that is a gun. So when he decides to run away to join the circus, it's only natural that he should seek out the legendary pistoleer, Cole Beauchamp, and beg to be his assistant. Life in the circus has definite ups and downs, but as Benjamin settles in to his role, he finds that some perks are even better than he'd anticipated.

WOW, this was WAY more than what I expected. I kind of thought it would be a quirky and interesting little diversion, but other than that I really had no expectations. The cover and the title sucked me right in. Now, if someone would have told me yesterday at this time that I was going to read a book about gun play and it was going to be off the charts sexy I would have said, “Ha! Yeah right, I’ll do dirty all day, but I don’t do crazy.” Well, well, well, guess what? I can totally do this crazy!

I’m always impressed when an author can take a taboo kink and make it work because of the great characters and their connection. The dynamic between Cole, Benjamin and the guns was so intense and their physical reactions to the show they were putting on for the circus was damn crazy good. That’s what got me here and what the author did so well, it ultimately is not about the guns. The guns are a tool to get at the emotions of control, trust and release and all of that pushed both of these guys buttons hard.

There are a few editing niggles that I wanted to fix. Inconsistencies with the time that Benjamin had been with the circus (see below*) and at a critical moment when he should have been out of bullets, but the scene continued without him reloading. I was so into it though I just said to myself, “OK, 2 days, 2 weeks, whatever.” And, “We’ll just pretend he just reloaded to get on to the goodies.”

I would love, love, love to see a couple more chapters of this story. Not that there is anything missing, it is a pretty short story after all and the balance was pretty good with background and buildup. The sex in the story wasn’t even that physically intimate, but the emotional and mental aspect of their sexuality was so damned well done, I didn’t want it to be over. What really got to me was the roles in their power play that were unexpected, but written so fluidly they added to connection between Cole and Benjamin. It made the open ended HFN happy enough that I can completely buy into them having and HEA.

*I saw on GR that the author had made some expansions from the original story and has corrected the time frame - check it out. Thank you Cornelia!

 

Review: Bloodline by Barbara Elsborg

No one can tattoo better than Inigo, a two hundred year old vampire, who works on human and supernatural skins. But he’s never tattooed a faerie and when a bunch of them insist he comes with them to tattoo one of their kind, saying no proves not to be an option. His skin is Oberon, the faerie king, and Inigo fears this will be the last tattoo he’ll ever do.

The moment Micah lands in the faerie king’s bed chamber, he knows the guy is trouble. But if he’s to save his sister and his family, let alone the job he’s paid to do, he has to stay in Faerieland and endure Oberon’s sadism. When he’s thrown into a vampire’s cell, covered in blood, he fears this day will be his last.

This book follows on from Jumping in Puddles - though there is no need to read that one first.

What do you get when you throw a vampire tattoo artist with a penchant for snark in with a gorgeous fairy James Bond?  You get a delightful romp into the land of the fae and an adventure rife with danger, deceit and intrigue.  You get a clever tale of magic and mischief.  And shenanigans!  What more could you ask for?

Even though there were parts that were extremely dark and disturbing you can’t help but consider this a light, entertaining read.  The balance between light and dark is as perfect as a tightrope act.  It all boils down to Inigo.  Inigo is a delight.  He’s a funny, snarky, arrogant horndog.  He also may be a bit messed up in the head.  I mean, he talks to his penis… and it talks back.

“You’re clever as well as a great fuck?”  “Yep, so don’t lose me.”

Though this book may be about fairies and vampires and have a fantastical storyline it also has an emotional maturity that you don’t see very often.  For example:

One thing he did know, keeping quiet and not trying to sort this out would only make things worse.

and

“Don’t push me away because you’re scared.  Do the opposite.  Pull me closer.”

I had so much fun reading this book!  I haven’t laughed this much in a long time.  Between all the snappy comebacks and one liners this was a riot a minute.  There were a few times that made me sad or angry but then something funny would happen to bring me out of my funk.  And the epilogue?  Perfection.

What have I learned with this book?  I’ve learned unicorns are awesome.  That’s what I’ve learned.  Unicorns are King of the Forest.  They also can cure pretty much anything, even zombieism.  We… er, I mean they are majestic beings who are second to none.  See?  Awesome.

Review: Lenny for Your Thoughts by Anyta Sunday.

Lenny's life in the small village of Waldau hasn't changed in years. While friends grew up and moved on, Lenny and his oma remain in the same place. Now Lenny's going to make things different: a new life, in a new city, and a chance to forget his cousin Julien--the boy he loved, and who left him behind. But just as Lenny's future looks like it’s becoming reality, Julien returns, bringing with him all the sweet, wonderful, and painful memories of their past.

What does his cousin want? And is it something Lenny can give him?

Though I will try and write this without spoilers it may contain some, so just be warned!!

"Anyta Sunday is rapidly moving up my list of favourite authors. It's like when I first read Kaje Harper or Eli Easton or Tj Klune or Eric Arvin or a million other authors I love...I get all excited at the start of the book. The promise of something brilliant to come. I feel so sorry for people who don't read and don't get this feeling."

So I read Taboo for You and decided that I needed to read more Anyta Sunday, I already had Lenny for Your Thoughts on my kindle so this was the one I chose. A decision I did not regret. Firstly I would like to say this is my third Anyta Sunday book and each and every one of them felt like completely different reading experiences. The writing is always easy to read and Anyta is one of my favourite character writers EVER. Each story almost feels as if it is written by a completely different author - kudos for this, so often I read books by authors I love to find the same recycled, rejuvenated storyline lurking in each one. Though each book is different this author has the ability to pull you into her story, that ability to weave a story that makes it compelling reading - you know the ones, just one more page and I'll stop, okay maybe just a bit more.... and then you find you're turning off your kindle as your hubby's alarm is going off. It's a sign of a GREAT book, but plays havoc with your sleep patterns. This book was no different, I could not stop reading once I had started.

Okay, so this is kinda spoilery, but honestly I don't think I could review it without you knowing this. This book is about two cousins falling in love. It is. Some frown at this incest - personally I don't see the big deal. *shrugs* In England it's legal for cousins to marry and (though obviously this is not an issue in a novel with gay MC's) even though there is concern about birth defects, if it was that prevalent in cousin marriages pretty much our entire upper class, and certainly the royal family from years ago, would all have suffered from them. As I said in a novel with gay MC's this isn't an issue anyway, so as far as I'm concerned No Problemo. But be warned, if this is a squicky area for you DO NOT READ.

"You know that gut clenching, stomach turning, this is why I read moment. 54% is where it's at here."

As I may have mentioned in my review of Taboo for You, Anyta Sunday is rivalling Eli Easton as Queen of UST (Unresolved Sexual Tension) and this book was NO exception. It once again had my favourite ingredients, best friends to lovers and UST. Oh my god the UST. I need a shower (cold) just thinking about it. Lenny, Carolyn (his sister), his cousin Julien and other bestie Ben form a formidable foursome. Best friends throughout their childhood in a small village in Eastern Germany, their lives have been changed and marred by the wall that had been gone since they were tiny. Along with the amazing Oma we follow the lives of these four, specifically Lenny, from when they young to present day. It is written in a style that switches between current day and the past - other reviewers have said they have found this annoying, me not so much, actually, it didn't bother me at all.

In fact I think it added to the story because even as we got to the end of the novel, to the current day, it was impossible to tell how things would work out. I had no idea if there would be an HEA or an HFN. I really, really didn't, again no spoilers but I will say Anyta Sunday writes with such grace that I felt the ending fitted the story perfectly. Lenny was such a well written character that I truly felt everything he did, I was desperate for things to turn out the way I wanted them to. I rate books how I felt about them and this one was definitely 5 hearts all the way through for me.

If you've not tried Anyta Sunday I would totally recommend either this or Taboo for You. Yet again I have found another auto-buy author.

Happy Hour Chat: Kamikaze Boys by Jay Bell

Jay Bell's Kamikaze Boys is the subject of this month's Happy Hour Chat. A majority of us unicorns gathered online (with a couple of unis gone astray), and here's what we had to say about this sweet and emotional YA-themed novel.

Jay Bell will be April's Author of the Month, so be on the lookout for more reviews of his books and an interview later this month!

Jenni Lea: OK, so I didn't read the book. Tell me why I should have. And...GO!

Justin: Because I said so that's why! ;)

Audrey: Quick copy/paste of the Kamikaze Boys blurb so that we have it handy!

Audrey: If the world is against you, don’t give up. Find yourself a kindred spirit. Then you can start fighting back. They say Connor, the one with the crazy eyes and creepy scar, tried to kill his old man. Lately he’s been seen hanging out with David, the gay guy who always eats lunch alone. They make an odd pair, the loser and the psychopath, and bad things happen to people who mess with them. Not that Connor and David are looking for trouble. Even when taking on the world, they seem more interested in each other than fighting. Kamikaze Boys is a story about breaking the chains that bind you and using them to beat down anyone that gets in your way. Better yet, it’s about holding hands with the guy you love while doing so.

Lorix: No Jo or Natasha :(

Ann: I'm sad about Jo and Natasha

Breann: I know. There goes half of our funny.

Ann: and random

Breann: and clowns.

Ann: i can do without the clowns thankyouverymuch

Audrey: Did you see the part in Kamikaze Boys where Connor was reading a book about KILLER CLOWNS??

Ann: YES! He was reading IT with Pennywise!!!

Sunny: I'm pretty sure I blanked that out, Audrey.

Audrey: That made me laugh out loud - for reasons.

Lorix: For the record I REALLY enjoyed this book, angst and all, and my heart didn't end up obliterated as it did with the Something Like Summer book. I may forgive Jay Bell yet....

Want to read more about how a character (almost!) kills someone, unicornian teenage shenanigans, and how a certain Stallion might want someone's weenie? Check out the conversation after the jump!

Tough Love Blog Tour with Heidi Cullinan

TOUGH LOVE Release Date:
April 8, 2014

Book Three of the Special Delivery Series

It takes a strong man to be this fabulous.

Crescencio “Chenco” Ortiz pulled himself up by his garter straps after his father’s will yanked the financial rug from under his spank-me pumps. He doesn’t need anyone, yet when Steve Vance steps into his life, the prospect of having a sexy leather daddy on tap begins to take on a certain appeal.

There’s a hitch when he learns Steve is friends with Mitch Tedsoe—the half-brother Chenco never knew except through his father’s twisted lies. Despite his reservations, soon Chenco is living his dreams, including a performing gig in Vegas. Now if only he could get Steve to see him as more than just a boy in need of saving.

Steve’s attraction to Chenco is overshadowed by too many demons, ones he knows his would-be lover is too young to slay. Yet as he gets to know the bright, determined young man whose drag act redefines fierce, Steve’s inner sadist trembles with need. He begins to realize Chenco’s relentless tough love might be the only thing that will finally set him free.

Warning: This story contains glamorous drag queens, exhibitionist secondary characters, and no-holds-barred BDSM play, including watersports. Readers advised they may well leave this novel feeling uncharacteristically fierce.

Get your copy: Samhain, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

Excerpt on Heidi’s website


So, yeah, THIS is highly anticipated!!!!

That's like saying water is wet and ice is cold. Because, damn straight it's highly anticipated! We'll be posting our group review soon, but suffice it to say, for fans of this series, you will NOT be disappointed. If you have been playing along, you know the strength of this series is in the truly unique characters. Heidi has been kind enough to offer a Q&A with her characters and we decided we wanted to hear from the enigma that is Crabtree.

So, without further delay, because he is a busy man, we think, we're not really sure, we don't really know what he does in his "free" time, we're kind of afraid to ask . . . We present . . . Crabtree.


1. We learned in Tough Love you have a houseful of "pets", what can you tell us about them? Also, what do they do for you, what kind of satisfaction do they give you that you can't get elsewhere?

I have a number of pets, cats and humans both. The cats are all spayed and enjoy a safe, spacious environment. Some of them prefer to stay in an assigned zone, and some drift about. My human pets are all men, of varying ages though I admit in general of a certain range of shape. They do many things for me, sometimes only sexual, sometimes never sexual. I enjoy providing for them, and they enjoy being cared for. My reasons for keeping the feline and human pets are, generally, the same—excepting the sex. There is a certain kind of satisfaction which comes in owning and in being owned. For both cats and humans, being owned is a choice. Even when it's forced—something I never do—all it takes is an unwatched door, and captivity ends. But men in particular who choose to stay? Well. The kind of satisfaction they give me isn't something which transfers well in words. It must be shown.

2. What is your favorite fantasy? Have you ever acted it out? Details, please.

*chuckles* You're not ready for that, child.

3. When you were with Randy in the past, how did you know what Randy needed and why do you think he needed the connection with you in your 'playtime'? What did you need? How important was it to you to make sure Randy got what he needed from you?

Randy never had interest in being owned, but he does need to be marshaled, which he would be the first to tell you. When we first met, he very much needed a rudder. I enjoyed providing that for him. I have never needed anything from Randy.

4. Did you ever love Randy? Do you wish he was still 'yours'?

I have and still do love Randy, though I doubt as you're intimating. And darling, he was never anyone but Ethan's.

5. Do you have any regrets about disappearing and becoming someone else? Looking back, is there something you would have done differently?

I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about.

6. Have you managed to leave all of your old persona behind?

Again, I have no idea of what you're referencing. And I'm sure you don't want to ask anything more about it.

7. Dude, what's up with the cats? And the posters of cats? Does it really give you comfort to have those up in your office, you have to admit, that isn't exactly what people would expect. Do you do it just to throw people off balance if they come to see you?

*smiles at you and says nothing*

Thank you so much for your time Crabtree, it was . . . intimidating.

At this point we were summarily dismissed and still have no clue about what just happened, but isn't he great? We love his description of how Randy needed to be "marshaled", there really is no better descriptor than that. Crabtree remains an enigma, as well he should.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Grand Adventures with Rhys Ford, Andrea Speed, and Tinnean!

Today brings us a special set of stories to chat about: the Grand Adventures anthology! We're proud to be a part of this very special anthology's blog tour, and we have a great set of authors visiting today. Grand Adventures is a wonderful collaboration between a number of authors and Dreamspinner Press, and 100% of the income from the book will be donated to Eric Arvin and TJ Klune. Read up on this beautiful set of stories to celebrate a beautiful couple and then check out what contributing authors Rhys Ford, Andrea Speed, and Tinnean had to say.

P.S. There's giveaway info, too!

On September 1, 2011, TJ Klune wrote, "...it's not about the ending, it's about the journey..." in a review of Eric Arvin's Woke Up in a Strange Place. With those words, two men began a journey of love and invited us to ride along. TJ and Eric have shared so much with us: their wonderful books, their smiles, their humor, their lives, and their inspiring devotion to each other. In December of 2013, their journey took a detour when Eric was taken to the emergency room. He survived the surgery to remove a cavernous hemangioma from his brain stem, but the challenges TJ and Eric face are far from over. 

The authors in this anthology donated their talent as a way to support Eric's continued recovery, to help bring strength to TJ, and to show both of them just how much love surrounds them. Grand Adventures is a diverse range of stories about the journey of love. We’re going on some grand adventures for a great cause. Thank you for joining us. 

One hundred percent of the income from this volume goes directly to TJ and Eric. 

*~*~*~*

Rhys Ford

1. Tell Us about your contribution to the anthology.

RF: Cops and Comix is about a comic book store owner who stumbles on a dead body one morning while opening his shop—and the police detective who is assigned the case. I wanted to do something a bit geeky but fun. Well, as much fun as dead bodies in a comic book store can be.

2. What is your favorite TJ & Eric Memory (either in person or not)?

RF: My favourite moment probably is TJ coming up to me to say hello for the first time in person in Albuquerque. We’d known each other in pixel format for a while but it was good to see him in the flesh. He’d just met Eric a little while before and was literally gibbering and so fricking happy you could feel the joy roll off his entire being. It was like a moment when you say… Yep, something huge just happened and I was glad I was there to see it. That joy in his face and spirit—that was so lovely to see.  

3. Why did you choose to participate in the anthology?

RF: Wow, how could I not? It’s the boys. Really. These words cobbled together are a small thing. Such a tiny drop of something in a big ocean of support they’ve gotten from everyone in the community and beyond. Really, it’s all about the boys. I want the best for them. The very best.

4. Do you have anything you want to say to TJ & Eric?

RF: We love you both. I enjoy knowing I share an earth with you, air and space and flowers and fricking everything. You warm our hearts. We hope you feel as precious, cherished and treasured as we think you are. You guys rock. Hard core rock.

*~*~*~*

Andrea Speed

1. Tell Us about your contribution to the anthology.

AS: I contributed a short story called The Exhibition. It concerns the stars of my Infected series, Roan and Dylan, traveling to a gallery opening where some of Dylan's paintings and photos are on display. Roan is his usual smart assy self. 

2. What is your favorite TJ & Eric Memory (either in person or not)?

AS: Can I be super corny and say my favorite memory has yet to come?

3. Why did you choose to participate in the anthology?

AS: How could I not? Come on. I couldn't say no. And as a natural fighter, Roan wanted to help too.

4. Do you have anything you want to say to TJ & Eric?

AS: Hang in there, we're all rooting for you. Odds, like rules, are meant to be smashed to pieces. Go kick its ass. 

*~*~*~*

Tinnean

1. Tell Us about your contribution to the anthology.

T: What You Will is a short (*very* short for me, since I generally write in the high 80s and up) that takes place in my Two Lips, Indifferent Red universe. Kipp and Hyde's eight month wedding anniversary is coming up, and Hyde wants a formal photograph to commemorate the occasion. As you know, we were originally going to incorporate TJ's characters into our stories, but on top of everything else that was going on, it became too much for him, so a bit of reworking became necessary. You can see the part Otter would have played.

2. What is your favorite TJ & Eric Memory (either in person or not)?
T: My favorite memory is one from this past GRL, when TJ surprised Eric by asking him to marry him. I've only seen this online, but I always get misty.

3. Why did you choose to participate in the anthology?
T: These men are part of our community. We've watched as they met and fell in love. This was a horrendous thing to happen to them, and while we all know life isn't fair, this went way beyond that. I wanted to help out in any way I could, so I contributed to their support fund, I wrote a story for the anthology, I bought the book, and I also ordered a print from Paul Richmond.  

4. Do you have anything you want to say to TJ & Eric?
T: This is probably what quite a few people will say, but Let's go, let's go, let's go!

You can order Grand Adventures on the Dreamspinner Press website:

Paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4874

eBook: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4873

Enter to win some awesome Grand Adventures prizes by signing up through the Rafflecopter links below!

Grand Prize: (Sponsored by the tour bloggers)
Large Cover Art Print Signed by the Artist 
Paperback copy of Grand Adventures

2nd Prize: $30 Dreamspinner Press Gift Card (sponsored by Dreamspinner Press) 


Rules:
* By entering the giveaway, you’re confirming that you are at least 18 years old.
* Winners will be selected by random number. No purchase necessary to win. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. 
* If you win, you must respond to my email within 48 hours or another winner may be chosen. 
* Winners may be announced on participating blogs following the contest. By entering the contest you are agreeing to allow your name to be posted and promoted as the contest winner. 
* In the event of technical problems with the blog during the contest, every effort will be made to extend the contest deadline to allow for additional entries. 
* Void where prohibited by law.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Want to hear more? Check out the other stops on the Grand Adventures blog tour to find out what other contributing authors are saying!

A special thanks to Will at Pride Promotions for providing the Rafflecopter and graphics used during this tour.

James Cox is BACK! An update from our first honorary Unicorn

The Clubhouse is a safe place, a haven of judgment free discourse and a place to open up and share your deepest darkest secrets.

Most of that statement is actually true, but we do love to judge and tease the hell out of each other, just like any other dysfunctional family. Never let any of them know your Kryptonite, because they, myself included, will use it against you at every turn. It’s hilarious. So, it’s not surprising that we rarely all agree on anything whether it be books, authors, movies, porn stars or embodiments of evil, I’m looking at you Natasha. And that’s OK, it keeps us on our toes and tests our boundaries. Everyone should be so lucky to have friends you can say ANYTHING too and they’ll love you anyway. They’ll give you shit, but they’re still going to love you.

There is one thing we all agree on, James Cox is the man.

He was our first Author of the Month and we couldn’t have been luckier to have him agree to come and play. Handsome Hero Wanted was our first chat (and my personal favorite). That book made BMBR official, we were galvanized by Handsome Heroes. Some of us were more appropriate about our appreciation than others (Justin), especially after reading James’ first Q&A with us. That led to some interesting placement of James and Justin’s unicorns, because the Clubhouse is also incredibly immature. It’s no accident that James’ unicorn is the only one that has been drawn standing up. When we read on FB that James was continuing the Handsome Hero storyline, we may have lost it a little and couldn’t resist hitting James up again for a visit. He is ALL kinds of gracious and came back to answer questions about his writing ritual (purrrr), his new series, The Triple Towers, starting with Heart of a Hero, AND the continuation of Handsome Hero Wanted.

Yes, James Cox is the man.

So, grab yourself a refreshing beverage, sit back and enjoy the words of Mr. James Cox . . . .

Hello Boy Meets Boy and all their fantastic readers, It’s my pleasure to stop by the site again. This time I’m here to answer a few naughty questions from the unicorns and talk a bit about my new series.

The Triple Towers is a futuristic world where environment has collapsed, the wealthy thrive and the poor are suffering. Two men find each other from opposite ends of this spectrum. Kallen is one of the poor, spending his childhood trying to survive outside of The Triple Towers. He has a chance to gain entrance into the towers but it calls for a major lie. In the end, he lies and gets his ticket to paradise. However, with that lie he is led on a while adventure that not only changes his life but the future of humanity in a barren world.

This first book in this series was just released on March 18th – Heart of a Hero. And of course, you know how I love adding those warnings! m/m sex, rimming, sex toys, spanking, bondage, here’s a brief peek into this wild adventure:

Lorn walked to the right side of the bed. He had his shirt in his hand and he wrapped the material around Kallen’s wrist then tied him to the short post. Lorn then walked to the left side, using a discarded pair of pants to hold his other wrist in place.

Kallen tugged at the bonds, they were tight enough to keep him there but not to cut into his skin. He lifted a brow and looked at Lorn. The man just smiled at him and planted a kiss on his shoulder. Kallen wasn’t sure what to expect but his dick was ready for anything. A white drop collected in a fold of his foreskin. “Now how am I going to suck you tied like this?”

Lorn clucked his tongue then climbed into bed. He straddled Kallen, their hard dicks inches from touching. Lorn grabbed his cock at the base and wacked it against Kallen’s.

It made Kallen grin and push his hips upward.

“A dick battle?”

Lorn chuckled.

Kallen shifted again. This time their lengths collided and sent a caress so strong Kallen shivered.

I hope you enjoyed that snippet. Book Two – Love in the Land of Blood and Bones is due out in late April. Book Three – A Need for Heroes is due out in late May. Now to the questions that the lovely unicorns asked:

1. Ok, so a quite a few of us are on FaceBook with you and we can’t help but notice that every time you start to write you mention that the pants are coming off, something that we encourage by the way. Give us a glimpse into your writing ritual.

I usually write at home after work, since I have a 9-5 job. For writing science fiction, I like my mind to roam which only happens when I’m relaxed. That means taking off the clothes! What’s better than that?! I live in an apartment so I’m sure someone’s getting a nice view, lol. It’s great to just take it all off, look out over Manhattan and pretend I’m in another world, another time, another universe. Besides, with my sex scenes, sometimes it’s so stimulating the big boy needs to breath. *G*

2. Did you ever have plans to make a sequel to Handsome Hero Wanted? If not, what made you change your mind?

I actually did not have plans to make a sequel. Handsome Hero Wanted was a one-book, fun story that just popped into my head. I loved the erotic world and it was a big hit with readers. Then I got several emails about how much readers loved the characters. What pushed me over was the email from Ann. The lusty Ann at Boy Meets Boy review’s emailed me about forming a group with other readers over how much they loved handsome Hero Wanted and how they were starting a review site. That touched me, (low and hard, lol). I decided then to try a sequel. Of course, then I was hooked on the world again and came up with two more stories. I’m currently writing the much-requested Lavender and Layden’s story – Handsome, Hard and Delicious.

3. Tell us about Heart of a Hero and your inspiration there.

I was just so fed up with how we’re abusing each other, humans hurting humans, hurting animals, hurting kids. I mean, sometimes the news is just so depressing I can’t watch it. So, out of all that, I decide to write something about how our future would look if we continued and how love could heal the wrong. Of course, one book turned into three. It seems to be a theme with me. But, I think over the course of those three books in The Triple Towers, I showcased the hope. Then I added numerous creative sex scenes because my cock likes to interrupt every aspect of my day. Thank God for that or I’d be boring as hell, lol.

Thank you so much for having me on your site again.

 Stay sexy and be naughty!

James Cox Heart of a hero buy links:
Evernight: http://www.evernightpublishing.com/heart-of-a-hero-by-james-cox/
All romance Ebooks: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-heartofahero-1453026-340.html
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Heart-Hero-Triple-Towers-James-ebook/dp/B00J2JNNCM/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1395191391&sr=1-1&keywords=Heart+of+a+Hero+James+Cox
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/heart-of-a-hero-mm

 

A big thanks to James (aka Champion Fair Head) for coming by the Clubhouse again!

Also, just a little thing . . . did you see "the lusty Ann"?
Yeah, me too.
Totally getting a shirt made (and a mouse pad, mug and bumper sticker ).

Review: Dirty Deeds (Cole McGinnis #4) by Rhys Ford

Sheila Pinelli needed to be taken out.

Former cop turned private investigator Cole McGinnis never considered committing murder. But six months ago, when Jae-Min’s blood filled his hands and death came knocking at his lover’s door, killing Sheila Pinelli became a definite possibility.

While Sheila lurks in some hidden corner of Los Angeles, Jae and Cole share a bed, a home, and most of all, happiness. They’d survived Jae’s traditional Korean family disowning him and plan on building a new life—preferably one without the threat of Sheila’s return hanging over them.

Thanks to the Santa Monica police mistakenly releasing Sheila following a loitering arrest, Cole finally gets a lead on Sheila’s whereabouts. That is, until the trail goes crazy and he’s thrown into a tangle of drugs, exotic women, and more death. Regardless of the case going sideways, Cole is determined to find the woman he once loved as a sister and get her out of their lives once and for all.

I was recently introduced to this series when asked if I wanted to review an ARC of Dirty Deeds.  I hadn’t read any of the books in the series so I thought I would give it a shot.  I mean, I already knew I liked Rhys Ford’s books so why not?  Well, I didn’t like this series.

I loved it!

I knew halfway through the first book Dirty Kiss that this series would end up being my favorite of hers.  Just the fact that I never figured out whodunit in any of the books made sure that this series would go down as one of my favorites, not just of her books, but of all the series I have read in this genre.  I was surprised by each one of the first three books.  The shock value alone was worth a five heart rating.  

If you liked the first three books in this series then you’re in for a treat with Dirty Deeds.  But I must warn you, this book is a little different.  Do not expect the standard whodunit like the earlier books, ‘cause it’s not in this one.  Instead we get what I felt was some much needed closure on a few of the plot lines throughout the series.

In Dirty Deeds, Cole is fighting his past in order to protect his future.  He races against time to find the one from his past who has the potential to end his life with Jae.  Sheila is out there somewhere and she is dangerous.  She threatens everything that Cole has fought for in the past year since he met Jae.  He’ll be damned if he’s going to let her get away with what she’s done.  He’s a man on a mission.  It’s a potential suicide mission but that’s not going to stop him.  He’s not going to let history repeat itself.

One of the things I loved most about this book was seeing Cole and Jae settled comfortably in their relationship.  They’ve been together for the better part of a year and it has been six months since Jae was almost taken from Cole.  Jae has really blossomed in the past six months.  He laughs now and shows more aggression when interacting with Cole.  It was nice to see him speaking up and demanding what he needs.  Verra, verra hot!

Cole… gah!  What can I say about Cole?  This is a man who loves with a fierceness that I have yet to see in any other character ever.  He loves those close to him with more than just his heart.  He loves them with his soul.  The strength of his character is something to be admired.  He’s not afraid to feel and to let others see him feeling.  A fierce protector, he will do anything to make sure that those he loves are safe and happy.

I think I say this on every review I write for a Rhys Ford book but it bears repeating.  Rhys Ford is an outstanding writer.  She writes so descriptively that I get pulled into whatever book I’m reading of hers every time.  Every damned time.  I feel like I’m right there next to them, living what they’re living.  I can see every last detail and feel every last emotion.  Her characters are so fleshed out it feels like I know them personally in real life.

And that brings me to a very special character of hers.  A character that I would love to see more of.  

Claudia

Claudia is the most well written character I have ever read.  I wish I could tell you what it is about her that just makes me love her so much.  Such an amazing woman!  I wish she was real so I could know her.  I could recommend this series just for her alone.  If you read this series for nothing else, read it for Claudia.  I feel richer just from having met her.

Between Cole, Jae-Min, Mike, Bobby, Claudia and the rest of this wonderful cast of characters, you can’t go wrong with this series.  I give this the highest of recommendations.  Read it, people.  You won’t be sorry. 


ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Taboo for You by Anyta Sunday

Sam’s freaking out. He’s 30 in three weeks. And what has he done in his twenties? It’s pretty simple math: nothing exciting at all. But hey, he has three weeks right? Maybe that’s just enough time to tick his way through a 20s Must Do List . . .

Luke’s freaking screwed. He’s come out to his family, and his friends. Except there’s a certain someone who doesn’t know yet: his neighbor of 7 years. Who also happens to be his best friend. Who Luke needs to tell the truth, but he just . . . can’t . . . seem to . . .

Jeremy’s freaking over-the-moon. It’s the countdown to his 15th birthday, and his goal is simple. No matter what, he’s going to spend heaps of time with saucy Suzy. But first he needs to get his over-protective, no-girlfriend-'cause-you’ll-get-her-pregnant parents off his back. And what better way than pretending he’s gay?

Sam, Luke, and Jeremy. Three guys who have a lot of history together, and a lot of future too—

—well, if they can sort out their issues, that is.

Firstly a huge thank you to Heather K whose review convinced me to try this book. I did not regret one minute of it. I absolutely LOVED this book. My all time favourite trope in any book, ever, since I was old enough to read lurve stories has been best friends falling in love. I just love it. Heather said in her GR review that she loves GFY (gay for you) stories and quite often in M/M friends to lovers also translates as GFY, this is one of those books.

Okay, so where do I start with this love fest of a review - because quite honestly I adored it all. The characters - Sam, about to turn 30 and forced to grow up too fast. Having a child at the age of 15 is not ideal by anyone's standards, I loved how Anyta Sunday portrayed Sam's relationship with Jeremy though. He was a great father, he had an amazing relationship with his ex-partner even though they were ex's and had had a baby at such a young age. He needed to relive the 'lost' years of his youth and twenties - but he did it so responsibly. It was so damn cute and adorable. Also his growing attraction to Luke. Ungh. Eli Easton is in danger of losing the UST (unresolved sexual tension)crown to Anyta Sunday....

I love reading UST. *fans self*

Luke. Wow - I love Luke. UST. UST. UST.

UST

So he came out....just not to the person he's in love with. His best friend. Uh oh.

UST.

Yep - I loved Luke.

And Luke and Sam.

And Sam and Luke. Get the idea?

And as a bonus we had some of Jeremy's storyline too. He pretends to be gay so his mum doesn't worry about him getting some girl pregnant (she knows allllll about that) that way he figures he can have all the alone time with his girl he needs - after all they're just friends, right?? Wiley lad. The thing is his best friend is gay....I so want his story next!!

All in all this is a book about friendship, family and love. My three favourite components to any story. Plus did I mention the UST?? Not so much a review as a love fest for how much I love this book. Read it y'all.

Great characters, great storyline and HOT lovin'. Anyta Sunday is a genius.

Review; Arrival (Hybrids) by Chris O'Guinn

The night that Joaquin witnesses the fire in the sky was the last night of anything normal for him. His world of high school and football is completely upended as he comes face to face with an extraterrestrial being.

Thrace, as the alien calls himself, seems friendly enough. However, he has abilities that are far beyond human. And he comes with word that others of his race are already on Earth.

Joaquin's friendship with Thrace takes him into danger and chaos as he learns the terrible truth of why the aliens have come to Earth. He and his friends must find some way to help Thrace stop his people, or the human race will suffer the consequences.

The only thing that Joaquin now knows for certain is that our world will never be the same.

Okay so when the author of Hybrids: Arrival contacted BMBR he said;

It is not a romance. I want to put that out there up front because that may mean it's not the right fit for your site. There is a gay romantic subplot between the leads, but it is primarily an adventure story.

If it doesn't fit with your site, then that is perfectly fine. And if not, and you still want a free copy, I'll happily send you one.

So of course (being the greedy little reader I am) I said YES PLEASE with the vague notion at the back of my head that I probably wouldn't review it here - but you know what, I loved this book so much there is no way I'm not reviewing it. So what if it's YA (we're not exclusively adult) and so what if it's more sci fi than romance (the romance is still there), if I read a book I love I want the world to know about it. So here it is, my review.

Chris O'Guinn has an effortless writing style that makes reading so easy. From page 1 I fell in love with the characters and I cared so much about them I couldn't put the book down. Joaquin is a teenager in pain and in self-destruct mode. His dad, his hero, had died prior to the start of our story and he was doing everything to obliterate the pain of that. He wasn't a selfish kid though he was just hurting, when he witnessed the space craft crashing, he be-friended not only Thrace (the alien) but Arturo the UFO geek, and so along with the adventure started the healing process.

I loved the dynamics of the friendships in this book. Joaquin, Thrace, Arturo, along with Joaquin's best friend Sylvia,  tried to save the human race. The book is very action based but also very emotion based - a lot of Joaquin's and Thrace's decisions are based on their emotions, particularly the grief of loss. This is so human and it made the writing feel so natural and it made me so attached to the characters.

Now  sci-fi is not my favourite genre, that did NOT put me off this one bit. In fact to me love and betrayal are the key components in this story. In a world infiltrated by aliens these very human feelings led this story. Decisions were made based on gut instinct of right and wrong, of the need to protect and save friends. It really was just a lovely story.

Annnnd the romantic sub-plot - I LOVED how this flavoured the story and the choices the characters made. It was subtly hidden all the way through, just there, bubbling beneath the surface. I think sometimes love doesn't need to be blatant and love that forms from friendship is always the best. It was that perfect secondary story-line, the simmering love that's never quite mentioned and I WILL be reading the next book in the series to see how Thrace and Joaquin's relationship develops.

Chris O'Guinn is definitely going on my list of auto-buy authors from now on and I would recommend this book to everyone, especially lovers of YA.

A copy of this book was given to us by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Studio Orders (Gin & Jazz #5) by Morticia Knight

This is book five in the Gin & Jazz series

The head of Global Pictures Studios, Vincent Franklin, promised Jack Stone that he would take care of Jack’s loyal driver, Juan. But for a dominant man like Vincent, Juan’s natural submissiveness causes him to long for much more from the shy young man.

Juan is devastated when his only friend, film star Jack Stone, leaves Hollywood for good. Lonely most of his life, the shy young man has dreamt of love, only to have his heart broken repeatedly. Before he left, Jack made certain that Juan would be taken care of by asking his ex-boss, studio chief Vincent Franklin, to hire him on.

Vincent Franklin is an incredibly controlled and meticulous man. Not given to emotional outbursts and unnecessary flights of fancy, his temperament is ideal for the stressful and demanding job as head of Global Pictures Studio. He leads a carefully concealed private life, his only social outlet being the S&M club to which he belongs. When Jack introduces him to his handsome chauffeur Juan, he is struck by how naturally submissive Juan is. He wonders…

Soon, Juan is falling for the elegant, older man that is his new boss. He’s also thrilled when Vincent asks him to be his personal valet. But there are things that Vincent demands of a lover that Juan knows nothing about. Things that could make him run away from the man that would do anything to protect and care for him.

I've so wanted Juan's story since book 3, so when I saw Studio Orders pop up in my FB feed I had to have it. *grabby, greedy hands*

We knew Juan had his own HEA in book 4, but now we have the sweet, loving and delicious deets. And it was delicious. *licks lips*

Poor Juan, that boy just falls in love too easily. He has this huge heart that he opens up to everyone he meets and then it gets crushed.  After his latest love doesn't return the emotion, Jack sets Juan up with a job for the studio head, Vincent. And Vincent sees more in Juan then even Juan knows about himself.

"It was easy to tell that Mr. Franklin demanded perfection. Juan wanted to be the one to give it to him."

Juan has this deep desire to please and he doesn't see it as being anything more than just wanting to do his job. But Vincent knows exactly what it means. Luckily enough, Vincent knows just what to do with a sweet boy who needs someone to please. *bites lip*

"At last Juan was able to give form and meaning to his desire to please. He wanted to belong to someone. It was so simple, yet had seemed to unattainable."

I kind of loved how clueless and innocent Juan was about his own desires and what it meant. Juan and Vincent were nowhere near perfect and made plenty of mistakes along the way. Again, this is one of the things I like most about this series. All the realness.

Vincent and Juan made a wonderful couple. They balanced each other out perfectly and, holy damn, they were hot together. Juan was pretty innocent but that didn't mean he wasn't willing to try and experiment with all sorts of yummy toys. And the dialogue! *swoon*

 "I love you, my very good boy"

Not only were they hot, but they were more than loving and understanding together. There was opportunity for the Big Misunderstanding to occur (you know what I'm talking about) but, thank the lord, it was only a little misunderstanding and they moved on from it pretty quickly. They had this thing called communication going on. Now, they weren't open all the time, but enough to create angst without it being unnecessary.

Studio Orders was the perfect combination of sweet, steamy, BDSM and gritty realness. I was more than happy with Juan's very own HEA.

A copy was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.