Blog Tour & Giveaway: The Price of Dick by Dan Skinner

Today we welcome Dan Skinner to BMBR! Check out the Q&A below and then enter the giveaway for an ebook copy of his hot new release, The Price of Dick.

Q: What costume would you wear that would truly show your hidden personality?

A costume of Dan Skinner.

Q: Why the lycra/spandex fixation? I know there’s a story there…

First guy I saw at my local pool was wearing one and I thought I’d die.

Q: In no more than two sentences, can you describe yourself to a complete stranger?

I’m the one the extraterrestrial abducted and threw back out. And as the spaceship doors were closing you could hear them screaming, "And for God’s sake, clean the Probe!”

Q: What is the most sentimental thing someone gave you that you cherish to this day?

The  answer to this question has been sealed in a document.

Q: How much do you run on an average day?

I average no more than 10 miles a day. When I’m stressed that number goes up.

Q: Do you have a plan to gain the weight you’ve lost lately? Does it include cheesecake?

If I like the way I fit in clothes, I stay with that weight.  If I want to gain weight it will be with some Old Vienna Hot Corn chips. lol

Q: What is your favorite guilty pleasure food? The one your trainer would highly disapprove of?

See answer above.

Q: Your top five recommendations of gay films please.

Shelter

Prayers For Bobby

Brokeback Mountain

Beautiful Thing

Eating Out (original)

Q: What is the meanest thing you've done to someone in an argument or fight?

Broke a coffee table over them.

Q: What song do you have to hear only once to get stuck in your head for an entire day?

Any friggin’ Gaga song.

Q: I'd empty my bank account and take out a loan to have sex with____. Why?

Prince Harry. Because he’s mine anyway. Everyone knows that.

Q: If you could wish one celebrity into the cornfield, who would it be and why?

Sarah Palin. Don’t even get me started why.

Q: Your models all look like they have so much fun during your shoots. Do they? And do you?

Them, yes. Me. No. I sweat bullets.

Q: Has it been difficult to stick with your recently adopted NBW (no bad words) policy? Explain a little bit about what NBW is.

NBW stands for No Bad Words. My trainer believes that bad words create bad events. I don’t speak them But I think them. I purge them on my runs.

Q: Do veggie sausages really taste as good as the real thing?

Better.

Q: What is the largest, um… attribute you have seen on a model?

Enough that I would never even attempt it.

Q: On a scale of 1-10, ten being a completely controlling perfectionist, how would your models rate your determination to get every little thing perfect in every shot?

1000

Q: I’ve seen one black model in your past work. Why haven’t there been more?

I try to get them. But there are very few in the Midwest. When I search the model sites I see tons of black and ethnic models on the east and west coast. I’m always looking tho.

Q: It is said that every traumatic event in life has the potential to make you bitter or better. You seem to have made a conscious choice to make yourself better through this difficult past year. Do you struggle with that sometimes? And how do you get yourself back on track after a bitter moment?

I still struggle. I’m not so much bitter as I am disgusted. Probably more with myself than anyone. I feel very duped.

Q: During the 2012 Presidential election, you were pretty vocal regarding your beliefs and opinions. You have a bigger platform now that you have two successful books and more photography work than ever. Do you plan to be as outspoken in 2016?

Always. This country needs to continue to move forward. As long as we have a party that lives and functions in a repressed past we have to make certain they never have a voice in lawmaking again. If they can’t move forward they need to get off the train.

Q: What is the largest group of models you have had in one shoot?

Eight. Will never do it again. Too ADHD to put up with the scramble.

Q: Why Cerberus as a company name? (This is the mythical three-headed hellhound who guards the entrance to the underworld)

It was one of the first sketches I ever made as a child that was pretty decent. The other was Dean Martin. So Cerberus it was.

Q: If you could write a letter to your 18 year old self, what would you say?

Don't get married twice. And check out the guy next to you in history class in 11th grade!

Q: Where can readers find you on the internet?

http://danthedanimal.deviantart.com/

facebook D.w Skinner

twitter @ DanSkinnerArt

Here's a quickie (PG-13) excerpt for those of you curious about The Price of Dick:

He began by telling me how much he admired me. That’s always a good opener if getting someone’s attention is your goal. He liked that I was my own man; that I could be myself without worrying what others thought of me, and said that made me seem very strong in his eyes. I was liking me better and better the more he talked. It didn’t hurt that every time I looked at him I had some kind of teenage-like hormonal surge. Amazing how a confluence of praise and lust can just make your defensive barriers collapse like Jell-O on a hot stove.

I asked him what was wrong. People who tell you they need space usually want you to invade it and ask what’s wrong. Otherwise they wouldn’t have invaded your space. And I ain’t going to lie. When he started rambling on with the redundant details of his job and how he was struggling to get ahead, I was still picturing that one night in my bed, pushing my aching dick through the crack of his ass, laying quarter-sized pearlescent droplets of myself all over those flawless mounds. I wanted to bite those muscled buns while he was telling me his problems. Oink.

I could tell there was something more; something deeper going on with him and he was having difficulty spitting it out. I asked him to grab a beer for both of us. That seemed to be exactly what he wanted to hear. We sat, and cracked beers together. He took off his jacket and tie, unbuttoned his shirt and gazed off into the corner.

It was nothing I didn’t expect. Mommy. He faced the same dilemma every night at the dinner table, every morning over breakfast before his mandatory appearance at Mass. He was coming unglued having to deal with her every day. The only reprieve was when he was at work, when she wasn’t calling him there. He rubbed his eyes as if there were tears there. I didn’t actually see any, but the idea of it was oddly endearing.

With a mixture of fascination and dread, I had a feeling I knew where he was headed.

“You’re absolutely the only person I have to talk to. My friends wouldn’t understand some things about me. I can’t talk to anyone at work. You’re the only guy I feel safe to tell my feelings to.”

Yep. Knew where this was heading.

“I don’t know how to ask this but I haven’t got anyone else to go to, and I was wondering if I could stay with you? Live with you for a while. Be a roommate.” he looked at me, his face all knotting like he was still near tears. “I can sleep on the couch. I don’t have many clothes. I’d never bring anyone back. I can help pay the utilities...I can help you with your shoots...”

I almost had my denial figured out before he uttered that last sentence, and then the wheels in my brain went spinning out like I was a NASCAR driver. It pushed everything else right out of my head. A hot, good-looking guy living in my apartment willing to help me with my shoots. I could have someone available any time for any shoot just by turning around and saying... “Hey there!” His face didn’t have to be in any of them if he didn’t want. A million covers were nothing but torsos. And he had one helluva torso.

It was a matter of weighing the conveniences against the inconveniences of two grown men living in a two-bedroom apartment where one bedroom was used as a studio/office. One bathroom.

And there was another thing. After my last relationship, I vowed to live alone because I just liked the freedom of it. A lot of thoughts went racing on perpetual left turns through my mind. Don’t think I wasn’t thinking of the possibility of a few more drunk sucks or even fucks with him if he became a roommate. Everyone was teachable.

So I said the words that would change pretty much everything about my life for a long, long time.

I had a roommate.

Blurb:  His name is Richard but he'll say, "Call me Dick." He's a big, butch, brainy guy in an executive suit, hotter than spit on a skillet. The type of guy you can see fully dressed and imagine buck naked in the throes of an orgasm - every six-feet-two, muscular, sexually intoxicating inch of him. He's an ambitious freshman in a prominent brokerage firm who's figured out he can use more than his smarts to get ahead. He's perfected a surefire method to drive home a hard deal. No one can resist him. And he's got one really big secret. But that will cost you.

For photographer J.J. Johnstone, the price of Dick just might cost him everything.

You can find The Price of Dick at these retailers: Amazon      ARe      Barnes & Noble

About Dan Skinner:

I'd already been in the photography business for too many years to count, shooting covers for hetero romance covers when I had my epiphany (ten years ago now) to shoot gay book covers and make them as acceptable and mainstream as the hetero ones. It was a big risk and I was told by many people, especially people who advised me financially, that it might not be a profitable thing to do, and could quite possibly ruin my reputation. But I was tired of seeing the proliferation of covers featuring a man and woman, the cologne and perfume ads featuring a man and a woman... every ad under the sun - only featuring a man and a woman, and knowing that only one side of life was being spoon fed to us by the media as the acceptable aspiration and ideal. In fact, it made me angry and crazy, and determined to do something about it. We were here... didn't anyone see us?!!

I had several things working against me. The m/m fiction genre was just beginning to come into its own, but television and the entertainment industry were slowly allowing us into their vision as folks who existed right alongside them, and I knew the flux and flow of gay literature was going to eventually change. Will and Grace helped that. Brokeback Mountain helped that. So I had hope and crossed my fingers that I made a good choice as well as a conscientious one.

Along with that, I had to find guys daring enough to pose with each other in photos mimicking the same love and adoration as was seen in every Harlequin cover since time immemorial... They had to embrace and kiss and portray romance… between two people of the same gender. So finding the guys was going to be a chore... and finding guys in the Bible belt of the country, the Midwest, was going to be even tougher. But I did it.

Revenge is mine… the dbag’s bed has been christened by the models during a shoot!!

And now...for the giveaway!

Giveaway Details: Dan has kindly offered an ebook copy of The Price of Dick to one lucky commenter! Woop woop!

How to Enter: Please leave a comment on this blog post and include some means of contacting you (e.g., email address, Twitter handle, Goodreads profile, etc.). The contest is open until 10PM (Pacific time) on Monday, June 16th, and the randomly-chosen winner will be contacted shortly thereafter. If you win, please respond within 48 hours or else we'll have to choose another winner.

Thanks for stopping by, Dan!

Happy Hour Chat: Naked Tails by Eden Winters

Hello, and welcome to June's Happy Hour Chat here on Boy Meets Boy Reviews! Today we're dishing up some moonshine and sweet tea while we discuss Naked Tails by Eden Winters.

Eden Winters is BMBR's June Author of the Month, so keep an eye out for more reviews on her stories, as well as an interview and giveaway later this month!

Ed. Note: The chat was held on the day Ann's beloved L.A. Kings lost Game 6 of the Western Conference match up. The Kings went on to win Game 7, and they are now competing for professional hockey's biggest honor, the Stanley Cup. We're pleased to report that Ann is no longer SUPER pissed. ;)

Warning: This chat contains spoilers.

Sunny: okay, are we doing this book chat now?

Sunny: *snaps whip*

Audrey: HEY GUYS, THERE'S A BOOK TO TALK ABOUT! :D

Lorix: Yes sir.

SRAL: Okay ready!! I just finished my review. Cutting it close

Audrey

Quick copy/paste of the "Naked Tails" blurb to know what's going on: Seth McDaniel wasn’t raised among a shifter passel and has no idea what it’s like to turn furry once a month. An orphan, torn from his father’s family at an early age, he scarcely remembers Great-aunt Irene. Now her passing brings him back to Possum Kingdom, Georgia, to take up a legacy he doesn’t understand and reconnect with a friend he’s never forgotten.

As Irene’s second-in-command, Dustin Livingston has two choices: assume control of the passel or select another replacement. Unfortunately, the other candidates are either heartless or clueless. Dustin’s best hope to dodge the responsibility is to deliver a crash course in leadership to his childhood pal Seth, a man he hasn’t seen in twenty years. However, while Dustin's mind is set on his task, his heart is set on his old friend.

Seth’s quest for answers yields more questions instead. What’s with the tiny gray hairs littering his aunt’s house? Why do the townsfolk call each other “Jack” and “Jill”? Do Dustin’s attentions come with ulterior motives? And why is Seth suddenly craving crickets?

Jenni Lea: LOL, I never write a review for the book chat books. :D

Lorix: I've not reviewed it but only finished reading it last night!

Jenni Lea: POSSUMS!

Ann who is SUPER pissed: Passel of possums :D

Breann: I thought it was so super cute

Sunny: I think they were much cuter in this story than in real life

Audrey: Weird shifters are great. :)

Lorix: Makes me think of Dame Edna Everage. Possums.

SRAL: I have a confession.

Wanna know more about SRAL's confession? Or what we thought of opossum shifters in the South? Then check out the Happy Hour Chat after the jump!

Review: Stitch (gothika #1) Anthology by Various Authors

Stitch is an anthology of 4 novellas by m/m romance authors, each with a Frankenstein/Creature theme.

It is the first in a series of gothic m/m romance anthologies called gothika. The stories in this volume are:

Made For Aaron by Sue Brown
As a teenager, Aaron Fox was sent to an asylum by his parents because he was gay, leaving him emotionally fragile after the treatment. However it gave him Damon Fox, the nurse he later married. For over twenty years, Damon’s devotion and strength has never faltered. When Damon is killed in a car accident, Aaron’s devastation soon gives way to confusion when he is shown Damon walking away from the hospital. Despite a desperate search, Damon isn’t seen again, and if Aaron can’t live with Damon, he may not want to live at all. But forces beyond Aaron’s understanding work behind the scenes, and if he can find the courage to unveil the secrets, he might get a second chance at happiness.

Watchworks by Jamie Fessenden
Harland Wallace made his name as one of the premiere watchmakers in Victorian London, so he isn’t surprised when a handsome young gentleman named Luke Prescott comes to his townhouse to hire him for a repair job. He is apprehensive when he discovers it is not a watch Mr. Prescott wants repaired, but a complex prosthesis he has in place of a hand. As further repairs are needed, Harland begins to wonder how much of Mr. Prescott is real and how much is mechanical, but he cannot deny the growing attraction he feels toward him. When he learns Prescott’s household servants pose a threat to the man they see as a monster, Harland must choose between what his culture tells him is wrong and what his heart tells him is right.

The Golem of Mala Lubovnya by Kim Fielding
In a small, 17th-century Eastern European town, a rabbi creates a man of clay—a golem—to protect the Jewish people from the threat of pogrom. Awaiting a call to duty, the golem spends a long time confined to an attic, lonely and sad. His only joys are watching the stonemason at work across the street and listening to a lovely voice singing prayers. When the golem meets the mason, Jakob, the two become friends, and Jakob names the golem Emet. But devout Jakob struggles with his attraction to Emet, and Emet dreads being used as an instrument for violence. Though Emet’s name means truth, honest love between a faithful man and a golem will only survive if they risk everything for a miracle.

Reparation by Eli Easton
On the harsh planet of Kalan, weakness is not tolerated. When young spore farmer Edward suffers an carriage accident that kills his mail-order bride and his factory manager, Edward has little chance of survival, until Knox—an enormous “reconstitute” labor slave—plucks him from disaster. Recons are part machine, part human remains from executed Federation prisoners. But Knox is different from other recons. He can read and has flashes of brilliance. With no one else to rely on over the bleak winter, Edward forms an alliance with Knox, and against social taboos, they become friends. Edward struggles against his growing lust for the large humanoid, and while Knox thrives in his new life, memories of his past torment him. A twist of fate brought Knox and Edward together, but there will be a price to pay in blood when they learn how deeply their lives truly intersect.

The Golem of Mala Lubovnya by Kim Fielding – 5 Hearts

Wow. After reading the title I really had no idea what to expect and I was so pleasantly surprised and really moved by this story. It’s a perfect little gem of historical folklore that snuck up and taught me things when I didn’t even realize it. Told from the perspective of the Golem, the story is simple and profound at the same time. The Golem, or Emet, as he comes to be known is created by the rabbi for protection of the village of Mala Lubovnya and his basic needs to serve his people is really bittersweet. He feels and sees so much more than what the rabbi expects and reading about his time spent alone in the attic is heartbreaking. It’s written so well too. With Emet’s limited experiences and knowledge of the outside world, he is still able to convey such a moody atmosphere of unease from the threats to the town, confusion about the world around him and optimism as seems to be his basic nature. As a reader, you can’t help but root for him and want better for him which is seemingly impossible.

Emet watches a lonely and seemingly sad stone mason, Jakob, from his window above the town as he goes through his daily work with his father and brothers. The two end up meeting when the rabbi shows the town Emet and his extraordinary strength. All Emet wants to do is be helpful and when he gets the opportunity to help Jakob he is so happy. What follows is quite sweet as two lonely souls (except one really has no soul) come together.

There is an ominous air hanging over the whole story that doesn’t even need to be articulated. Given their situation, Emet and Jakob could never be together and knowing they were living on borrowed time was a tough underlying note to read through. You really have to read it for the resolution and the last two chapters absolutely slayed me. This was a really unique story that will stick with me.

Watchworks by Jamie Fessenden - 4 Hearts

This is a steampunk story at its finest. Harland is confirmed bachelor watchmaker and he’s called to Dr. Mordecai Steward’s home to help him with a “project”. Harlan is no doctor, so he’s not sure what awaits him at the good doctor’s home. There he meets Luke Prescott and he is immediately taken with the beautiful man. Being that the story is set historically, it’s not safe for Harland to act on his desires, but Luke has gotten to him like no one else ever has. The misunderstanding about Luke that follows is understandable from Harland’s point of view and is the point of the story where I fell for Luke and his heartbreaking situation. The way he is treated by the household staff and the way he is hidden away because of who he is, makes him the damaged hero that I love.

The explanation of how Luke “operates” was fun and interesting to read. The moody setting of Dr. Steward’s house was a perfect setting for what was to come. As Luke and Harland get to know each other and the attraction grows I got a good feel for Harland’s frustration. How could he possibly have a relationship with a man, much less Luke? Didn’t make Harland’s feelings any less real though.

Dr. Steward’s health had me worried about Luke’s fate and rightfully so. What came next was inevitable and I hated it. Poor Luke! The fact that this was a historical really worked to make an HEA possible. It seems like the actual romance in historicals is less complicated, less emotionally angsty in and of itself. Possibly because the real world was enough of a threat then that the MC’s are just more appreciative of the love they have regardless of the “reality” of their partner (at least in Harland’s case).

Reparation by Eli Easton – 5 Hearts

Man, I got sucked into this story from the first. At the very beginning the author states:

“Reparation was inspired by two of my favorite gothic novels – Frankenstein and Wuthering Heights”

Well, she wins, definitely, because the atmosphere of Reparation is a complete blend of those two classics.

  Edward is a farmer in Kalan, a harsh and unforgiving land where the only commodity that is produced is lichen that is sold off world as an ingredient to life saving medicine. The spores from the lichen are incredibly dangerous so air purifying is a way of life and any infected cut can be a death sentence if not treated quickly and properly. Because the life is so dangerous, Reconstitutes (recons) have been created to work the farms. A recon is a cobbled together cyborg worker, part human and part robot. The human part is harvested from condemned prisoners and seen as a way for the prisoners to pay their debt to society. They are strictly programmed and made for manual labor.

After a horrific accident, Edward is left on the farm without his right-hand man and being that another transport wasn’t coming for many months and the storm season is bearing down on him, Edward has no choice but to enlist the help of Knox, the recon who saved his life after the accident.
Being that involved with a recon, much less giving him responsibility with your livelihood is virtually unheard of and an unlikely friendship forms.

This was so endearing to read. Knox is more than just a cyborg, he has true intelligence and Edward finally has a friend to talk to who understands him. Edward is just so lonely and you can feel it in every scene that Knox isn’t in. What makes this one unique is how Knox begins to change and what that means to both of them and everything they think they know. Knox begins to remember “before” in dreams and snippets of memory. The mystery that follows and the questions that are raised made for a really engaging read. As they are getting to know each other, Knox is also getting to know himself. He knows the massive strong body he has now is not the one his human self was born with and I kinda loved the fact that both Edward and Knox could appreciate the packaging in a unique way. It gave Knox even more of a human voice as the story progressed.

The mystery has to be read first hand to be appreciated. All is not as it seems in the land of Kalan and the twists and turns made for a really fun and fast ride once secrets began to be uncovered. A totally unique and moodily atmospheric tale of friends to lovers that was sad, hopeful and sexy all at the same time and I loved it.

Made for Aaron by Sue Brown – 3.5 Hearts

I loved this story and hated reading it at the same time. This has absolutely NOTHING to do with the great writing or the unique story but everything to do with how it broke my heart. It’s definitely different and I really appreciated the uniqueness of it.

Aaron had lived in an institution for all his formative years and he is so irreparably damaged it hurt to read his story. His whole life outside the institution is his husband Damon and when Damon disappears he is left floundering and lost. The meat of the story is about Aaron and how he deals with the loss of Damon. The hurt, confusion and anger he feels are palpable. I could feel his anguish and helplessness. Thing is, he handled himself and all things practical really well considering which was why reading about his “solutions” to the rest of his life were so heartbreaking. I understood his thought process, but really didn’t want to, if that makes sense.

We know Damon through Aaron’s memories and can see how Damon really was made for Aaron and that added to the feeling of helplessness while reading this one. Part of Aaron was relieved when he was instructed what to do, he’d been institutionalized for so long, choices were stressful and Damon was the calming anchor that kept him grounded. Once that was gone, Aaron could function, but he was so uncomfortable and so unhappy.

In keeping with an underlying theme in all these stories, all is not what it appears to be and all the questions do get answered. I left with an HFN feeling though when I really wanted a solid HEA. I’m not sure if it was because the end seemed to get wrapped up a little quickly and neatly considering all that Aaron had gone through or if I wanted an epilogue to feel some confidence in the longevity of the “happy”. Either way, another completely intriguing read.

I Owe it All to Tom Webb

One year ago, this month, I was in a dark place.  I had just been laid off from my job of 12 years, a job I absolutely adored.  I was depressed.  Broken hearted.  I felt as if all I had ever done, all I had worked up to in my life, was for nothing.  I was floundering without any direction in my life.

I was lost.

I’ve always been an avid reader.  I love books!  Now that I had all this time on my hands I became even more enamored of them.  I began to scour Amazon for more good books to read.  As I became more familiar with the site and read more reviews of books I potentially wanted to read I noticed a particular reviewer always had such entertaining and thoughtful reviews.  That reviewer signed his reviews “Tom Webb”.  Curious, I Googled his name.  Lo and behold, he had a website!  

I just had to check it out.  Hours and hours I spent reading all of his reviews.  Then I saw something.  He had referenced another site.

“Goodreads?”  I said to myself.  “What the heck is Goodreads?”

Oh, the wonders Mr. Webb has shown me!  I immediately signed up.  Navigating my way through I was excited to the point of being giddy.  I started listing and rating all the books I‘ve read.  Then I started to send my favorite authors friend requests.  Only authors at first - I was scared to ask other people to be my friend for fear of rejection.  Not for long though.  I finally screwed up the courage to friend request someone who wasn’t an author.  Just another reader who I could tell I had a lot in common with reading-wise.  Her name was Sara and she loved boys who loved boys.  I now call her Red.  

And it just exploded from there.

A couple of months later and I was completely immersed in the site.  I had quite a few friends and belonged to several groups.  I posted a simple status update - just three words and three letters - that garnered over 400 comments between a small group of friends.  One of them suggested  we create a group just for us and WHAM!  

The birth of the Unicorn Mafia.

Over the past nine months I have come to love each and every member of the UM as family.  No, more than that.  We have played together, read together, created a review blog together, been shoulders to cry on and cheerleaders for each other.  I have never felt more of a kinship for anyone as I do my fellow unicorns.  Who says you can't be real friends with people on the internet?  I feel closer to these people than those in my real life.  They know more about me, about who I am as a person than (with the exception of my husband) anyone in real life.  They are the ones that got me through this past year and are encouraging me to pursue my dreams in the next chapter of my life.

And I owe it all to Tom Webb.

So, thank you Tom.  Thank you for posting amazing reviews and piquing my interest enough to check out your blog.  I wouldn’t have met the best friends I’ve ever had without you.

♥

Review: Bite of the Recluse by Azalea Moone & Anais Morgan

Two years ago while Tristan and his boyfriend were enjoying some privacy, a recluse demon attacked them and his lover paid the ultimate price. Since that day, Tristan has dedicated himself to finding the demon. After all, an eye for an eye. All evidence points to a recluse named Damon.

Like all spider demons Damon knows about Tristan’s mission and is forced to stay on the move. But fate has a wicked sense of humor and they must team up to fight the real killer. But when she's closer than Tristan expected, his and Damon's relationship is tested before it can begin.

Damon the demon is the owner of silvery disco ball eyes.

Two years ago, Tristan lost his lover to a spider demon. Tristan believes his lover's killer to be a recluse spider demon named Damon. So for two years, Tristan gives up his life (home, job, etc.) to hunt and kill demons all over America it seems. He's a feared demon hunter and has killed hundreds of demons during the two year period, creating a name for himself. And guess how Tristan combats these demons?

With a stake? Nope.
Silver? Nein.
Holy Water? Negativo.

He fights demons with bug spray.

Yep, everyday bug spray. Tristan even created a bug spray holder to wear under his trench coat, I'm guessing demon hunter gear according to the authors. Tristan wears his trench coat while traveling the world daily...in New Mexico and Texas heat too. How does he have money for his travels and gear? Oh, I have questions.

Tristan finds Damon very easily...too easily in Montreal. And then gives up his quest for revenge against Damon once Damon gives his silvery, disco ball stare and states he never killed Tristan's lover. And Tristan could tell Damon was not lying because he could just tell. Do you notice the weakening plot yet? No?
Okay let me continue.

Damon uses his demon powers to locate the real killer. Which begs the question, if Damon could have found the real killer so quickly, why didn't Tristan ask one of the hundred demons he's killed to locate the killer of his lover? But regardless of the quick fix, the two men join forces to find the killer once and for all and while traveling to New Mexico and Texas fall into insta-dick (props to Ann for that term) and can't seem to quit one another in a matter of days.

Damon gets seriously injured during their hunt for the murderer and you know what he does? That's right continue the hunt have sex with handcuffs, flavored lube and mild bondage. Nothing says I'm on the hunt to avenge my dead lover by having sex in a motel. Damon is in excruciating pain but managed to push the pain down to have sex and once he was over remembered his injury and teared up. *smh*

There are so many plot holes in this story, that it's giving them out as gift bags for all. You want a plot hole? You got it. I'll just give a few because if I gave them all, it'd be the entire story.

-Recluse spider demons aren't allowed to kill. Yet there's a recluse spider demon serial killer.
-Bug spray as demon killing agent. Really? And to add insult, use of a self car wash sprayer? Who could carry that bulk while demon hunting?
-If the recluse spider bite is venomous as the serial killer bit their victims...how did Tristan survive being bit for two years? How did he not remember until Damon asked him?
- How--you know what before I become really spoiler-y, let me stop while I'm ahead.

There's a villain afoot who at the end of the story has no true purpose for the massive killing spree they have committed. Which makes me question this entire story in general. If the protagonist could have solved this mystery in the ten minutes it took to locate the antagonist and the antagonist has no purpose...what was the purpose of this story? Why was this ninety pages longer than it needed to be?

Main characters were flat and boring (even with alternating 1st POV --which I usually love because it can give you a great sense of the characters'--it didn't happen here), their relationship read forced, the plot...flat-lined before having a chance to start and the development...well there was none. The two hare horned up over each other the moment they meet and ride off into the broke pockets sunset in the end. It's HEA with both men having no prospects other than the sex toys. This story had a decent enough idea, a somewhat complicated plot that could have been a great story but the execution was lacking.

Maybe the plot is mesmerized by Damon's silver disco ball eyes?

A copy provided for an honest opinion.

Review: The Violet and the Tom by Eve Ocotillo

In what might have been the middle ages, had neither Alexander the Great nor Jesus the prophet died young, the Greek State is a powerful economic force in southern Europe, and slavery is a profitable and well-entrenched social institution. Nygell, a Lord of the Northern Isles, is given the gift of a Grecian slave by the King. Nygell wants no such responsibility.

A homoerotic romance. Set in an alternate universe with institutionalized slavery, thus consent is by nature dubious at best. Elements of BDSM.

What a fantastic twist on the typical slave and master story! I can't believe I hadn't read this sooner.

Can. Not. Believe it.

I went in not knowing much about it other than it's set in an alternate universe where citizens were able to own slaves. And, for me, I didn't need to know much more than that.  That being said, I hadn't read any spoilers and didn't know what I was getting into and it was wonderful! Don't do it. Read spoilers, that is.

Sylvan was purchased by the king as a gift for his son. *high five* Way to go, Dad! Not much can beat a gift like that, eh? Apparently there are a multitude of gifts better than a slave in Nygell's opinion. He wants nothing to do with a slave. But now he owns the poor boy. What's he to do?

The story is told from Sylvan's POV and he's been in slavery for years. It's all he's known. He's been through trainings and masters, all he wants is some attention and affection from his master for being such a good boy. And he is such a good boy. *pets*

I said in the beginning that the story isn't typical and in many (important) ways it's not. But, of course, there are some elements seen in every AU master/slave book that are in The Violet and the Tom. There's a master and his sweet slave who just wants to please. Ugh. My favoritest of all my favoritest things. In books, at least.

But there's more, so much more to Sylvan and Nygell.

Stuff between them obviously wasn't working out because of the whole Nygell-doesn't-want-a-slave deal. Really put a damper on things. So, they had to find a solution. And, oh boy, they did. They so did. The way they supported each other and were devoted enough to stick it out together was just... everything. Not only that, but they were able to form a real relationship outside of the slavery. Something solid, real and lasting. Because they were able to do this first it really helped them deal with their constant struggles to make it work.

This is where I've got to keep it short. Sylvan and Nygell are amazing together and going through their struggles right along with them made their journey all the more powerful to read. I can't recommend this free read enough.

Stuff Tour: Author Interview and Give-Away.

Today the lovely Josephine Myles came to visit in a whirlwind stop on her Stuff tour. Over a nice cup of tea (milk and two for me, if you're interested) and some hobnobs we chatted about her newest release and what inspires her writing.

BMBR - Perry is an artist, how much did you draw on your own experiences to create him and his designs? 
JM - I was always a painter rather than a sculptor, so in that sense I didn't really draw from my own experience at all. Perry’s artwork was more inspired by the steampunk aesthetic, and by an old workmate of mine who made a clockwork stuffed fish before the term “steampunk” had even been invented :)

BMBR - Mas is possibly my favourite character of yours, that 'gobby drama queen' has found a permanent place in my heart, where did inspiration for such a fun character to write come from? 
JM - He wasn't based closely on anyone I know, but I've always had a fondness for very flamboyant gay men. I think it’s a case of admiring their courage to be themselves in a world hostile to that kind of self-expression. I love the fact that in m/m we can feature the kind of heroes who would never be welcome in the alpha-dominated world of het romance.

BMBR -  do you have a character that has been a favourite to write? 
JM - Mas was great fun as his dialogue just wrote itself. In fact, I had a hard time shutting him up! However, I do generally find books written in first person to be the easiest to write. I think Merry Gentlemen was my favourite writing experience as far as narrative voice goes. Riley was also a bit of a motormouth, so again, the book seemed to write itself.

BMBR - this is your first gfy/ofy storyline (I think) how did you find writing it - and did you purposely avoid gfy tropes or did the storyline just evolve naturally?
 JM - I enjoyed writing it so much, my next novel is a gfy one too! (How to Train Your Dom in Five Easy Steps, out in September). I think I have steered clear of them in the past because done poorly, I actually find them quite insulting. I'm bisexual, and there often seems to be an eradication of this possibility in gfy story-lines. One minute they’re completely straight, the next completely gay. It doesn't compute.

BMBR - planner or pantser?
JM - Definitely a pantser, although I am trying to get more disciplined with story structure as I know it’s an area I need to work on.

BMBR - what is the best thing about writing? The worst thing? 
JM - The best thing (aside from receiving fan mail) is having a job that enables me to work from home and take a day off whenever I need to, as it means I can always be there for my daughter when she needs me. The worst thing is the level of self-discipline required to produce novels to a deadline. It often results in me sitting inside banging away at the keyboard when it’s a beautiful sunny day outside. However, deadlines are a necessary evil if I'm going to have the motivation to get the work done.

BMBR - Lewis's naked parents...were they based on anyone you actually know?
JM - Ha, no. Not precisely. Although as a teenager I did have a couple of friends whose parents would wander around the house in very skimpy clothing, which always amused me as my own parents were so modest. I just wanted to create the kind of parents who would be the most embarrassing for poor old straightlaced Lewis!

BMBR - kind of a follow up, have you ever based a character on a real life person? Do you steal traits/situations from RL to put into your stories? 
JM - I don’t think I've ever completely stolen a real life person’s character, but I certainly “borrow” traits and situations, as well as details of appearance all the time. That’s just what writers do. Friends of writers, beware! We will find ways of writing bits of you into our stories. Just don’t for one minute imagine we've written you exactly as we see you. It doesn't work like that.

JM - Thanks for inviting me over to chat, Lori. It’s always fun to waffle on about my favourite subject!
BMBR -Not a problem, it was definitely our pleasure.

Giveaway:
Jo is giving away a title from her backlist to one lucky commenter. Comment here by Friday 6th June, 12pm pacific time, to be in with a chance of winning. Please include a means of contacting you (e.g., email, Twitter handle, GR link, etc.) in order for us to alert the prize winner. Thanks!

Stuff is out now from Samhain Publishing, and is book two in The Bristol Collection (which started with Junk). Available from, Amazon, Samhain and Barnes & Noble. 

When Mr. Glad Rags meets Mr. Riches, the result is flaming fun. Tobias “Mas” Maslin doesn’t need much. A place of his own, weekends of clubbing, a rich boyfriend for love and support. Too bad his latest sugar daddy candidate turns out to be married with kids. Mas wants to be special, not someone’s dirty little secret. When he loses his job and his flat on the same day, his worlds starts unraveling…until he stumbles across a vintage clothing shop. Now to convince the reclusive, eccentric owner he’s in dire need of a salesman. Perry Cavendish-Fiennes set up Cabbages and Kinks solely to annoy his controlling father. Truth be told, he’d rather spend every spare moment on his true passion, art. When Mas comes flaming into his life talking nineteen to the dozen, he finds himself offering him a job and a place to live. He should have listened to his instincts. The shop is already financially on the brink, and Mas’s flirting makes him feel things he’s never felt for a man. Yet Mas seems convinced they can make a go of it—in the shop, and together. Warning: Contains an eccentric, bumbling Englishman, a gobby drama queen, fantastic retro clothing, scary fairies, exes springing out of the woodwork, and a well-aimed glass of bubbly. Written in brilliantly British English.

Author bio: English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. She blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She’s beginning to suspect he enjoys it. Jo publishes regularly with Samhain, and has also been known to edit anthologies and self-publish, although she prefers to leave the “boring bits” of the book creation process to someone else.
Website and Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads and Newsletter.

Thanks for stopping by the clubhouse Josephine, it's been fun! Josephine's next book - How to Train Your Dom In Five Easy Steps is out in September. Here's a sneaky peek at the cover.

Group Review: Love in the Land of Blood and Bones (The Triple Towers #2) by James Cox

They are no longer heroes...

The survivors of the Great End were on the brink of death. Three towers were built with the last of the government’s money and power. The wealthiest survivors were given residents within the Triple Towers. A wall of steel was constructed to surround them.

Lorn is now exiled to over that wall and his lover Kallen courageously follows. Kallen knows the dangers and violence that awaits them. He managed to survive a terrifying childhood in the wastrel camps. It’s not just the sand that threatens their love: old enemies, former lovers and the traitor from the triple towers returns.

Can they find love in the land of blood and bones? (Warnings:m/m sex, sex toys, bondage, menage sex (MMM)

Oh James Cox, how do we love thee, let us count the ways. . . .

• We love thee for your epic sentences, long, short and in between
• For your dedication to the invention of magical sexual devices that this world can only dream of
• Because you eschew the need for pants while honing your craft
• Our only regret is that we don’t live across from you and have high powered binoculars

While that last line is totally disturbing, the rest is completely true. Breann, Lorix and I got together in the clubhouse to read and review the latest installment of The Triple Towers Series, Love in the Land of Blood and Bones. I daresay we have another winner on our hands for the love of cock! (that actually makes sense, trust me) .
Read on . . .

Words from Mama B:

3.5 Hearts

The second book picks up right where the first one left off and we're thrown right back into Kallen and Lorn's adventure.

James Cox does a great job creating a dystopian, futuristic world. He did this without the descriptions being too wordy or confusing, it all blended perfectly with the dialogue and plot.

The sex. *sigh* I wish I could say I loved it, but I didn't. It felt like it was forced in the story. In book 1, the erotic sex worked for me. Now in book 2, when I'm even more invested in the characters and plot-happenings, I felt like it got in the way of a great sci-fi story. Of course, they were well-written and hot, but for me it bogged down all the other good stuff that's going on in this trilogy.

Because of Kallen and Lorn's banishment they had to rely on each other for everything. Their relationship really moved forward and I could feel all their feels. I can't wait to see where they go from here in book 3! Not to mention that we're left with yet another mini-cliffy!
*stalks James Cox for book 3*

And I'm totally gonna say this all the time: "For the love of cock!"

Lorix, from o'er the pond:

4 Hearts

I'd really like my review just to be chocolate flavoured come, but I'm not sure I can justify 4 hearts for that. *listens to the cries of 'you surely can' from chocoholics the world over*  Okay, so I probably could but I feel I should mention more. The best things about these books, while there is no doubt that they are hot as all hell in the s-eeee-x-y times department (it says something when the author has to write nekkid), they also have a great little fantasy story to them as well.

Before I found M/M, fantasy was the mainstay of my literary diet, so I really appreciate this. ^^^ Reading B's review - I liked the nooky that was happening BUT I can see her point. I think James Cox could write a full length fantasy/sci-fi novel worthy of the greats, a fantasy novel with some hot-sex as a sideline, rather than a hot-sex novel with fantasy as a sideline. That is in no way dissing this book, or any hot 'n' sexy books, because I LOVED it. It's just a roundabout way of saying, JC does fantasy really well!!

So - what do I want more of?

All of it really. Come on JC - pants off, get writing. ;)


Me (Ann/Peachy):

4.5 Hearts

GodDAMMMIT I love this series. Love in the Land of Blood and Bones is the second in the Triple Towers series and continues the story of Kallen and Lorn. The story picks up where Heart of a Hero leaves off, which I’m not going to talk about specifically because if you haven’t read that one yet (well, get crackin’ for crying out loud!), that would be a big ol’ spoiler. But let’s just say, shit got real and everything the guys know has changed, for Lorn especially. And while everything has changed, the boys remain the same and I loved them just as hard this time around.

One of my favorite things about this couple is their banter. Kallen is witty, sassy and even with all the pain he’s been through he manages to keep his humor and his confidence intact. Lorn is a true military hero with a protective streak a mile wide and a soft heart for Kallen. The whole conversation about dick poetry made me laugh out loud. I could really feel their connection and love through all their interactions.

There are enemies all around and with no one to trust the anxiety level gets ratcheted up pretty well. We do get some more back story about Kallen’s “family” in Rohan and Raymond. We find out what really happened to Raymond and that Kallen still has an ally in Rohan. There was a western rough justice feel to the adventures and I loved that. It was dirty (literally & figuratively), gritty (ditto) and exciting. Questions from book one were answered and a new journey is embarked on that will lead to book 3 (which I can. not. wait for thankyouverymuch).

As per James Cox’s M.O., the sex in this one is smokin’ hot. Being that Kallen and Lorn are an established couple now, there is an added sweetness to it that I liked a lot. There should be some sort of award from mythical sex toys that James Cox invents in this series as well. In Heart of a Hero we were introduced to flavor shots for tasty cum and in Love in the Land of Blood and Bones we get to read about Kallen, Lorn and the Tranquility Wand. Lorn is nothing if not prepared in savings his pennies to buy a Wand built for two. He’s a hopeful romantic and that was $ well spent and paid off in spades. As Kallen says, “That is the best invention in the fucking world.”

Also per James Cox’s M.O., there were quote-worthy lines aplenty and there were a few I couldn’t decide if I wanted to attempt to work them into daily conversation or stitch them on a pillow. Offerings like:

“Tame the beast, love.”

“For the love of cock!” – My personal favorite, can’t you just picture it on a pillow?

“You’re alive, and your dick is still intact. I’d say that’s a good day.”

“If you’d stop staring at my dick a minute, you’d see more pants.”

You see, Kallen really loves Lorn’s dick.

So, now anxiously awaiting story 3 as I don’t think I’ll ever get enough Kallen and Lorn, they are way too entertaining and appealing and the stories are a great escape into something fun and exciting.

a copy of this book was provided by the author for an honest review 

Author of the Month Interview - S.J. Frost.

From To The Other Side by SJ Frost we found this quote;

"He'd seen countless beautiful and magnificent horses, but the unicorn stallion had to be the most breathtaking creature he'd ever seen."

Now, we know how amazing unicorn stallions are and we couldn't ignore an author after our own hearts, so.....

May's Author of the Month is the wonderful SJ Frost. We read and chatted about A Little Bit Country in our monthly chats (always the best fun to be had on the internet) and have been reading our way through her back-list. To round things up we grilled her mercilessly about her writing habits invited her into the clubhouse for a chat. Here's what she had to say;

BMBR: Do you listen to music when you write? If so, does the music genre change with each story? Each scene?
SJ: No, I don’t listen to music when I write. In real life, I’m a mom and I also work a full-time day job, so I don’t have a lot of time to write in general. When I do, it’s usually at night after my son is in bed. At that point in the night, I just want to unwind and have things quiet. Of course, writing into the night also leads to me writing while half-awake sometimes, so maybe I should listen to music to keep me more awake! As I’m driving to and from work, though, I listen to music and sometimes certain songs or artists do help me think of a particular story or characters. With one of my WIPs right now, whenever I listen to Imagine Dragons, the characters get chatty. It’s nice when that happens, because I know I can play that music and wake up the characters to be ready to work with later.

BMBR: Are any of the characters in A Little Bit Country based on real life performers? If so, who?
SJ: I’ve got to give credit to Adam Levine and Blake Shelton for inspiring me to write the expanded version of A Little Bit Country. When I wrote the shorter version, there were a lot of calls from people who wanted to see more of Ash and Jackson. Even I knew they had more to their story. Other projects made me keep putting it on the backburner…until I started watching The Voice. Adam and Blake’s bantering woke up Ash and Jackson and it got to the point where everything else got put on the back-burner to finish out their story.

BMBR: Are you a fan of country music/what is your favourite type music?
SJ:I enjoy listening to country from time to time, but my favorite music is rock and classical. I grew up listening to both country and rock from my parents. Classical, I developed my love for on my own. Queen is my all-time favorite band and I have Freddie Mercury on a pedestal above all other musicians. I listen to whatever suits my mood at a given moment, really.

BMBR: Your Instincts series are about vampires and your Terra series is about witches, unicorns and dragons - yet you also write a lot of contemporary, music based stories. Do you have a particular genre you prefer to write in? Is one easier than the other?
SJ: I enjoy fantasy, music, vampire-themed books and movies, horses, history…and so I write stories with those themes. And I write stories that make me happy as I’m writing them. Writing is my escape and I don’t want to escape to somewhere I’ll be stressed, upset, or depressed. If my books get published and other people enjoy them, then that’s a wonderful and amazing bonus to me and I always want people to walk away from one of my books feeling as good about their reading experience as I felt during the writing experience. I also write about issues I care about.
The whole reason I write gay romance is to help put gay relationships in a loving and positive light. That’s always at the heart of my work. Probably another reason why I write sweet romances. In the real world, there’s still so much discrimination, the fight for equality is far from over. I want my stories to be happy, encouraging, uplifting and to show that all love is beautiful and special. Beneath that overall focus, I occasionally touch on other issues that are important to me, such as environmentalism and like now, the WIP I’m writing features a horse rescuer.
Writing contemporary and paranormal are probably easiest for me. Fantasy is more challenging because of the extensive world building involved. The historical I wrote, Of Honor and Love, was also challenging because of the hefty researching I did for it. But I enjoy researching and world building, so while challenging, writing those stories has been very rewarding. I love flexing my little writing muscles in different ways. 

BMBR: What books do you like to read? 
SJ:I read a lot of fantasy, historical fiction, and paranormal books…the kinds of books that really let me escape.

BMBR: Who are your writing influences? 
SJ: There have been many! Mercedes Lackey, Anne Rice, Tad Williams, Laura Joh Rowland, J.K. Rowling, Walter Farley… Not to mention I’m a huge fan of classic literature too; Chaucer, Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Shakespeare. Those are just a few whose work I love and admire.

BMBR: If A Little Bit Country was made into a film/TV show, who could you see in the roles? 
SJ:I know Adam Levine does some acting, so he could still be Ash. Maybe it could be Blake Shelton’s screen debut ;-) It’s so hard for me to put Ash and Jackson’s personalities on anyone else at this point after how those two got me going on writing the expanded version of the story.

So, that's what the lovely SJ Frost had to say about her writing. Thank you so much for being our author of the month.  Of course we couldn't invite her into the clubhouse without finding her unicorn name, so here she is, Nightshade Jolly Legs.

Review: Liam Davis and the Raven by Anyta Sunday

Liam Davis is a serious journalist, and he’s good at it.

Or at least, he was. Until the chief of Scribe, the campus magazine, makes him give up his politics column to write for the party page—the party page that is problematic for two reasons: One, it threatens Liam’s chance of getting the traineeship with his apathetic father at his prestigious newspaper company, and two, he has no idea what it means to party, let alone how to capture this new audience’s attention!

But Liam Davis is no quitter. He’s determined to prove to his father, the chief, and above all himself that he can do it—and do it well.

Life doesn’t make it easy. Not when Freddy Krueger comes stalking out of the shadows to attack him. Luckily the Raven, the campus vigilante—the vigilante getting hate mail sent to Scribe’s opinions page—comes to his rescue.

Now, between finding the perfect angle for his party page columns and making friends (and perhaps something more?), Liam needs to find this mysterious Raven—not only to thank him, but to warn him to watch his back.

Five big twinkling stars. (Or stripy hearts as it is, here on the blog).

This is a total fan-girl review and has already been posted on Goodreads. It is fair to say I am on a complete Anyta Sunday kick at the moment, I love this author's writing style, I adore her characterisations (as you will see from my over-the-top adoration of them below) and she is definitely an auto-buy author for me now.

The absolutely best thing about this book - and there were lots of great things - was Liam. I absolutely adored him. He was quirky, without falling into a stereotypical clueless nerd role. He spoke his mind, was blunt but thoughtful. He was both intentionally and unintentionally funny and I want to kidnap him and bring him to England. Except I couldn't split him and his lover up. Nope, nu-huh - because they were the best couple.

I hope this doesn't get labelled a gay-for-you story - because it so wasn't. It was about Liam discovering his sexuality (along with a mystery storyline) and the way Anyta Sunday did this was brilliant. It didn't feel like trope after trope to me. It was real and genuine and I love how she writes these story-lines without it becoming a crisis.

The rest of the cast were nearly as wonderful. I love Anyta Sunday's character portrayals - they are proper characters not carbon copies I've read a million times before. Quinn, Hunter, Shannon, Mitch...I loved them all. Good characters can make or break a book in my opinion and Anyta Sunday never fails to write people I am drawn too. Quirky, lovable and unique - just like real life people! Imagine. :)

The story was fun, I enjoyed the mystery, I enjoyed the romance. This author writes the kind of book I find really difficult to put down. REALLY DIFFICULT. If you're looking for an enjoyable read with fabulous characters try this. :)