Saturday 28 March 2015

CRASH & BURN by Abigail Roux
 
Pages: 419
Date: March 28, 2015
Details: No. 9 Cut & Run
Own / Kindle

The blurb:

“It’s been five years since Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett first worked together to solve the Tri-State murders, and time has been both harsh and kind. Engaged now, they face the challenge of planning a deeply uncertain future together. Zane is at the pinnacle of his career with one last mystery to solve, while Ty is at sea in a world where he’s no longer the tip of a spear.

There’s just one more hurdle in the way of their happy ever after: a traitor from their inner circle who threatens to burn their world to the ground.

Squeezed between the Vega cartel, an unknown mole, and too many alphabet agencies to count, Ty and Zane must gather all their strength and resources to beat the longest odds they’ve ever faced. To make it out alive, they’ll need help from every friend they’ve got. Even the friends who might betray their trust.”


My thoughts:


The final book in the Cut & Run series and if the previous eight books were action packed this book took the suspense to a new level. Roller-coaster doesn’t begin to describe the ride I got while reading this book.

There is so much going on in this book I’m not even going to try to get into the story. Besides, the people who haven’t read the book yet wouldn’t thank me for giving anything away and the people who have read it don’t need me to remind me what happens in this story; I’m sure it’s imprinted on their memory, just as it is on mine.

All I will say is that I went through every emotion known to men while reading this book. I laughed and I cried, and I nearly stopped breathing on several occasions and would have happily killed Abigail Roux once or twice only to adore her again a few pages later.

I’m so impressed with how she managed to pull all the different plot lines and lose ends from eight books together. If there are any questions left unanswered, I don’t know what they might be.

This book swallowed me whole on the very first page, and when I had to return to the real world after reading the very cute bonus scene at the end of the book,I wasn’t quite sure what to do with myself – I still don’t, if I’m honest. I don’t usually suffer book hangovers. Most of the time finishing a really good book makes me want to pick up something else in the hope of replicating the experience. Because I know, without a doubt, no other book could bring me everything Crash & Burn brought, I’m taking a short break from reading.

I’ll share on quote because it gives absolutely nothing away and because it put a huge grin of recognition on my face when I read it:

“Do you have any idea how hard it is to organize books by subject when they should be alphabetical?” – Ty


While this book was a more than fitting finale to Ty and Zane’s story, I’m sad there won’t be any more Cut & Run stories. The fact that Sidewinder will continue and that Ty and Zane will more than likely make guest appearances in those stories, makes it a little bit easier to say goodbye.

TEST DRIVE by L.A. Witt

TEST DRIVE by L.A. Witt
 
Pages: 37
Date: March 27, 2015
Details: Short story
Own / Kindle

The blurb:

“Sean Waters is down on his luck thanks to the economy, and winds up working for his domineering father’s car dealership. It’s not the greatest job, but it’s a paycheck. The only problem? He’s got a wicked crush on the general manager, Jackson Shaw.

When Jackson suggests a drive in one of the brand new sports cars, Sean has no idea it’s not the car Jackson really wants to take for a spin.

They both need this job, though, and the boss isn’t keen on employees getting involved with each other. But it’s just a lusty little crush anyway, so they can move on and pretend nothing ever happened.

Can’t they?”

My thoughts:

I’m getting repetitive, or maybe I should try to read a wider variety of authors. As it is, I adore L.A. Witt’s stories – both long and short - and Test Drive completely lived up to my expectations. It is short but that doesn’t mean it isn’t hot, or complete.

From the moment Sean and Jackson come together it’s clear that’s where they should be, and I found myself rooting for them from the very first kiss. Their dilemma is recognisable and realistic; in the current economic climate nobody can afford to take risks with their jobs.

Of course being sensible is far harder in practice than it is in theory and it’s only a matter of time before something has to give. I liked the way the story ended. It was the ending I’d been hoping for from the start and I was very happily surprised to have my wish granted.

The overall conclusion therefore has to be that L.A. Witt has, once again, thoroughly entertained me with her words.


Friday 27 March 2015

DATING FOR DEAFIES by Nikka Michaels

DATING FOR DEAFIES by Nikka Michaels

Pages: 24
Date: March 26, 2015
Details: Short Story
Own / Kindle

The blurb:

“If Evan York keeps hiding from the world behind his laptop he might miss out on something special.

Will he find the courage to try something new?”

My thoughts:

Evan York is deaf and it’s not doing anything for his love life. In fact, if he wasn’t helping out his best friend by writing posts for her ‘Dating for Deafies’ blog, he would have given up on the concept by now.

Responding to an email that wasn’t meant for him brings Evan in contact with Tristan, a charming and gorgeous man. While they’re communicating through emails both men are equal. When they meet Evan has to decide whether or not he’s brave enough to take a chance that he will be rejected once again.

This was a sweet story. Evan drew me in from the moment I started reading and I was fully invested in his struggle and its outcome. And I loved the heat in this story, despite the fact there’s no explicit sex at all.

I love the way Nikka Michaels always manages to tell a full story in very few words. ‘Dating for Deafies’ confirmed that talent once again.

Dating for Deafies is available on all the usual sites. For your convenience I'll share two Amazon links here:

Amazon US                          Amazon UK



Wednesday 25 March 2015

ANTHONY & LEO by Sue Brown

ANTHONY & LEO by Sue Brown
 
Pages: 112
Date: March 25, 2015
Details: Frankie’s Series
Own / Kindle

The blurb:

“Watching Marchant train his new sub leaves Tony unhappy at not having found a Dom of his own. Running Marchant’s BDSM club, Tony sees who the Doms prefer and it isn’t him—too big, too old, and too hairy. When his friend Jordan suggests he look outside the club, Tony’s mind turns to Leo, a man he met in a traffic jam. Tony manages to arrange a date and happily learns Leo is funny, very toppy, and not averse to Tony's lifestyle. As a bonus, Leo sells sex toys.

When tragedy strikes the club, Tony fears he can’t help the mourning club members, but Leo offers his unwavering support. After such a tough start, Tony believes Leo is the Dom he’s been looking for... until he catches him kissing another man.”


My thoughts:

I have fallen for the men in Frankie’s world, and Tony proved to be no exception to that rule. I’d never really given any thought to it but I guess it would be a burden if you were build like a house – or, to stay within the genre, a bear – but are a submissive at heart. Right or wrong, people tend to think about submissives as weak and fragile, and not fitting the stereotype while working in an environment where you are surrounded by others who do match the template, would be painful and wearing. It is hardly surprising that Tony is starting to despair of ever finding the right Dom for him.

Enter Leo, who isn’t a Dom as such but certainly a dominant personality. The fact that Leo isn’t into BDSM before he meets Tony made this story more interesting for me. The two men pretty much make it up as they go along from the moment they meet, but it works for them. I liked that they established an emotional bond before they dived deeper into the world of kink. And I have to admit Leo and Tony are very hot together.

The angst as described in the blurb is more like a short sharp stab than prolonged torture, and for that I was grateful. In fact, something else happens in this book that shocked and hurt me a lot more than Leo’s kiss did, and I do hope Sue Brown will use another book to put matters right for the character involved.


Overall this was a sweet, hot, fascinating and gripping story and I couldn’t put it down once I’d started reading. I’m looking forward to whatever may be coming next.

Sunday 22 March 2015

New Audiobook: MAN CANDY, The Cougar Journals Book 1 by Jewel Quinlan

New Audiobook: Man Candy, The Cougar Journals Book 1





Now available as an audiobook on Audible, Amazon and iTunes!

Commercial real estate agent, Ava Baldassari, is done with being a good girl. Recently having revamped her self-image, home and wardrobe she finds there is one thing left that needs updating; her sex life. She runs into her friend and running partner, Cole, one night when she is out with a friend. A bit drunk she flirts with him and is surprised by the enthusiastic response he gives back. Things reach a point where she has to make a decision whether or not to cross a line she never has before. Ava is forty and Cole is twenty-five, is she really ready to become a cougar?

Or if you still prefer eBook you can find it here:

Enjoy this excerpt from Man Candy:

“I’ve been wanting to do this for a while,” he whispered in my ear, still pressed against me as he unzipped my dress.
Me too, I wanted to say. But I didn’t. I was adrift in the onslaught of sensation as he slid the fabric from me, trailing kisses down my back as it went. Making me aware as I never had been of how sensitive the skin there could be. When he reached the small of my back, he lingered, kneading my skin with his tongue and teeth. His hands ran down my legs and then back up to my breasts, and I savored the feel of his fingers. My breaths came heavier. I had been needing this for too long.
He rose and turned me toward him, towering over me. His cap was gone and his dark hair was askew, as though he had run his fingers through it, giving him that sexy just-woke-up look. I slid my fingers from the waist of his jeans, underneath his shirt, to his muscled back. The ridges of strength there were too tempting beneath my fingertips. How did he find the time to work out that much? I had to see with my own eyes. Fisting the hem of his shirt in my hands, I pulled his t-shirt up to remove it. Why should I be the only one standing here naked? With a chuckle, he complied, lifting the shirt over his head and flinging it away in the casual manner of an underwear model on TV.
Sure, I had imagined what he looked like with his shirt off, but the reality was ten times better. He had a runner build, but that was filled out with muscle. The planes of his chest were topped by strong shoulders and arms, which seemed to blossom over the lean ridges of his abdominals, creating a definite contrast. I couldn’t help reaching out and touching him. I ran my hands over his skin, tracing my way upward to the light coating of black hair on his pectorals. He leaned his pelvis into me, forehead on mine, his erection pressing into me, making me shiver with anticipation.
We were on the brink of something oh-so-good, and I was dying to plunge ahead. Yet, I hesitated. Questions burned in my mind. I tried to hold them back, knowing serious talk would ruin the moment. That lasted about two seconds before I gave in.
“Um…” I said.
He lifted his head from mine and looked at me.
I cocked my head at him. “Did you just say you’ve been wanting to do this for a while?” Had he been scoping me out all this time?
He nodded. “Who wouldn’t? Look at you. You’re gorgeous.”
The smoldering look he gave me trumped anything I observed on the physical plane. The messages coming from him on a subliminal level promised pleasure that made me squirm with heat.
“You know it’s going to be good between us, Ava,” Cole said.





About the Author:

Restless by nature, Jewel Quinlan is an avid traveler and has visited 16 countries so far. Lover of ice cream, beer and red wine she tries to stay fit when she’s not typing madly on her computer concocting another tale. In her spare time she likes to do yoga, hike, learn German and play with her spoiled Chihuahua; Penny. It is Penny’s mission in life to keep Jewel from the keyboard. But, with the help of dog-chew-making-companies, Jewel has been able to distract her canine companion and continues to get thousands of words on the page for your enjoyment.

For more information about Jewel Quinlan


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Saturday 21 March 2015

A VALENTINE'S MEMORY by Max Vos

A VALENTINE’S MEMORY by Max Vos


Pages: 83
Date: March 21st, 2015
Details: No. 3 Memories
Kindle

The blurb:

“There's a lot going on this Valentine's Day for the Sutton family. Adam and J.J. have a romantic evening ahead of them, and they're not the only ones. 

Unfortunately, Thad has something else on his mind, and it's gnawing away at him. When he finally tells his new family what's going on, it's all hands on deck to help him. 

No one messes with the Suttons.... 


My thoughts:

The Memories novellas are feel-good stories. Yes, they tackle issues and provide excitement, but overall they are snapshots of life in the kind of family everybody would love to be a part of.

Adam and JJ have to be among the sweetest couples known to M/M romance. They’re adorable together and put a grin on my face whenever either or both of them made an appearance. For me the most memorable character in this series has to be Maggie Sutton, Adam’s mother. I love the way she rules over her sons and their families and I adore her protective instincts when she sees someone hurting one of those she loves.


I’m almost sorry that this book tied up any loose ends from A Christmas Surprise 2, and can’t help hoping he’ll give us more seasonal encounters.  Sometimes I need a read to lift me up, cuddle me and leave me feeling happy. And that’s exactly what these stories did.

Thursday 19 March 2015

Splinters by Thorny Sterling

SPLINTERS by Thorny Sterling
 
Pages: 168
Date: March 18, 2015
Kindle

The Blurb:

“Waking up in a strange place isn't a first for model and actor Allan Seville, but discovering himself alone and bound to a rough plank in the middle of an open Texas range certainly is. With no memory of who did this to him or why, panic sets in, until rescue comes riding up on a big, brown horse.

There’s more to Duke Walters than a handsome face and sexy drawl. In the arms of this rugged cowboy, Al discovers a peace and safety he never knew he needed, and now doesn't want to be without.

But someone wants Al out of the way and drugging him during a movie junket in Houston is only the beginning. A world of differences may separate this cowboy and diva, but when danger strikes again, Duke might be the only one who can get them out alive.” 


My thoughts:

I’ve been a follower of Thorny Sterling’s blog for a long time now and I’m not quite sure why it took me so long to read Splinters. I’ve owned the book for months as well so I guess it’s a case of too many books and not enough time...once again.

But, better late than never, I did at last read Splinters and adored the book, which makes me wonder why I find it so much harder to write about the books I’ve loved than the books I had (one or more) issues with.

I fell hard and fast for Allan. From the moment he wakes up, bound to a plank and naked, he had my full attention as well as a large chunk of my heart, and my attachment to him only grew deeper as the story progressed. The same can be said for Duke. I loved his ‘cowboy in shining armour’ persona and the fact that he was exactly what Allan needed.

For the most part this is a charming love story about two men who are made for each other even if they meet under far from ideal circumstances. Dig a little bit deeper this is a book about living an honest life – about being who you are without shame or fear and being accepted as such. Allan’s androgyny is presented as a fact rather than something that needs to be explained or excused which is of course how it would be in real life – if real life wasn’t full of people who would deny others the right to be true to themselves. Because the author never felt the need to try and explain Allan’s androgyny, it never occurred to me to give it a second thought; the character was perfect as he was.

Splinters might have been too sweet, the love story too easy and perfect, if it hadn’t been for the danger posed by Allan’s attacker. Although I had the ‘mystery’ figured out more or less from the start, the continued danger gave the love story an exciting edge.

I knew I loved the magic Thorny Sterling weaves with his words from reading his blog. If I had known how seductive those words would be when applied to a love story, I would not have been able to resist this book for as long as I did. Reading Splinters was a joy and a pleasure – a wonderful escape from life with characters that even followed me to my dreams. I’m looking forward to whatever Thorny may decide to write next.



Tuesday 17 March 2015

Skip to the Good Part #4: 20 Authors Reveal Their Steamiest Scenes




Authors:

New York Times bestsellers:
Emma Hart
Melissa Foster
Annika Martin
Marquita Valentine
V. M. Black
Viola Rivard

USA Today bestsellers:
Lili Saint Germain
Chelle Bliss
Shari Slade & Amber Lin

Featuring:
Carlie Sexton
Liv Morris
Jami Denise
S. R. Grey
Eileen Griffin & Nikka Michaels
Sarina Bowen
Riley Edgewood
Allison Rushby
Sera Bright
Grace Whidby
Angela Corbett


Genre: Erotic Romance, Collection

Length: 235 Pages

Series: Skip to the Good Part

Release Date: March 16, 2015

Publisher: Jasper Ridge Press





BLURB:

Find your next red-hot read in this sizzling collection of sexy scenes.

Volume Four offers even more great reads.

Skip to the Good Part 4: 20 Authors Reveal Their Steamiest Scenes offers face-fanning romance and tie-me-up sizzle (and everything in between) from top authors including New York Times and USA Today bestsellers.

This collection features a hostage who finds kinky ménages with her captors more exciting than her family’s sheep farm, a culinary student who is secretly hot for another guy in his class, a male escort who falls for his beautiful but innocent neighbor, an aspiring lawyer who doesn’t have time for a temptingly hot mechanic, and a woman who’s fallen in love—and lust—with a werewolf.

Read 20 of the best steamy scenes in steamy and erotic romance today. This 250-page collection will get your blood pumping, your heart racing, and your skin tingling. You’re sure to discover a new favorite.

Due to the graphic nature of some content, this collection is recommended strictly for mature readers.





Nikka Michaels and Eileen Griffin’s contribution to the collection is a taste of Ethan and Jamie from In the Raw, from Carina Press’ In the Kitchen Series. 


If you can’t take the heat…

James Lassiter has had a crush on fellow culinary student Ethan Martin for three years, but has never had the guts to make a move. Putting himself out there is hard, especially when under the thumb–and wallet–of his overbearing parents. Now that bad boy chef Ethan–who is always vying with Jamie for best in class–is struggling with the pastry course, Jamie suddenly has a reason to reach out.

Ethan doesn’t mean to be an ass–okay, so mostly he does–but even though he’s secretly hot for Jamie, he sure as hell doesn’t want help with pastry. Ever since his dad walked out, Ethan has been the one to hold things together and he’s done fine on his own. Except that he can’t get his cake to rise.

Jamie could be the answer to what Ethan’s been missing his whole life–someone to depend on. But with the two competing for the same scholarship, things suddenly get too hot to handle. And if Jamie finds the strength to go for what he wants, he isn’t about to settle for what he needs.


What People are Saying About In the Raw:

“Griffin and Michaels (Chasing Matt) team up again for a succulent romance with great characters…” ~Publisher’s Weekly

“Eileen Griffin and Nikka Michaels have once again proven their awesomeness as a writing team. Their boys leap off the page and fight their way into your heart.” ~Helena Stone, The Way She Reads

Night Owl Reviews gave In the Raw a 5 Star Review and named it a Top Pick.

Janette from 3 Chicks After Dark Named In the Raw one of her Best Reads of 2014.
******
Follow Ethan and Jamie on their journey in In the Fire, available now. Book 3 of the In the Kitchen Series, In the Distance: Coming June 15 2015 from Carina Press.

BUY LINKS FOR SKIP TO THE GOOD PART 4:







EILEEN GRIFFIN BIO:

Eileen Griffin lives in the southwest, but loves to travel and has spent many summers crossing Europe with nothing but a backpack on her back. She enjoys TexMex, lives for good wine, and has a certain penchant for purple unicorns. She loves reading all genres of books, but her current obsession is writing M/M romance. Her past published works include: Chasing Matt, a M/M novella co-authored with Nikka Michaels, Dinner For Two, a M/F romance novella, “Claiming Ayden”, a M/M shifter romance that is part of Evenight’s Alpha’s Claim Anthology: M/M Edition, and “Lost and Found”, a short story written for the M/M Romance Group’s Don’t Read in the Closet: Love’s Landscapes Event. Eileen is currently working on book three of the In the Kitchen series from Carina Press with Nikka Michaels, as well as several other projects both individual and co-authored.

NIKKA MICHAELS BIO:

Nikka Michaels lives in the Pacific Northwest where she spends her time cooking up romantic tales to satisfy her craving for HEAs with heat. A voracious reader, novice knitter and music lover she’s been known to multitask without breaking a sweat. She loves to read and write M/M romance but believes everyone deserves a love story.

EILEEN GRIFFIN SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:


NIKKA MICHAELS SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS: