Bitten By Design (Regent's Park Pack #2) by Annabelle Jacobs - Review Tour

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 80,000 words

Regent's Park Pack Series

Bitten By Mistake (Book #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

When the last thing you want, is everything you need….

Seb Calloway isn’t interested in shifters. After his best friend bonded with one, he avoids getting involved with them—no matter how hot they are—to prevent the same thing from happening to him. Why take the risk for a few hours of fun?

Tim Walters is the pack doctor. Considered to be mild-mannered and non-threatening by pack standards, he prides himself on being able to stay calm and maintain his control at all times. Desperate for a bond of his own, he knows his interest in Seb is an exercise in futility, but he can’t seem to help himself.

When news emerges that threatens Seb’s safety, he and Tim need to fake a relationship to keep Seb safe. Despite Seb’s refusal to be anything other than friends with benefits, what starts out as pretend, quickly becomes more—for Tim at least. If Tim doesn't want to end up heartbroken, he needs to prove to Seb that loving a shifter doesn’t mean losing himself.

March 30 - The Novel Approach, Gay Book Reviews, Mikku-chan, Dirty Books Obsession
March 31 - Love Bytes
April 7 - Diverse Reader, Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
April 10 - Love Bite & Silk Ties, The Way She Reads, My Fiction Nook, MM Good Book Reviews
April 12 - V's Reads, Making It Happen
April 14 - Dog-Eared Daydreams, Wicked Faerie's Tales & Reviews
April 19 - Lily G Blunt, Bella's Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, Book Lovers 4Ever, PNR Book Lover Reviews

Review

“Even mild-mannered shifters could pull off the smug-arsehole look.”

Not too long ago I read Bitten by Mistake, the first book in the Regent Park Pack series, and, as I say in that review, after I finished the story I was hooked; if not to shifter stories in general than at the very least to the world created by Annabelle Jacobs. So when I saw that Bitten by Design was available I jumped on the book immediately.

I’m so delighted to be able to say this book was everything I hoped it would be. Tim and Seb are wonderful characters, even if they did break my heart once or twice over the course of their story. Just like its prequel, Bitten by Design is a charming, at times funny, touching, extremely hot, and exhilarating story. There’s never any doubt that these two men like each other and find each other very attractive. The problem is that while Seb doesn’t believe in bonding as the basis for a relationship and Tim knows that his feelings for Seb are far too deep for a casual affair.

It broke my heart to see Tim do what he needed to do to keep Seb safe, in the full knowledge that he might end up breaking his own heart in the process. As for Seb, I’m not usually fond of storylines in which there’s an obvious and undeniable attraction between two characters but one of them throws up roadblocks for some, often arbitrary to my eyes, reason. Seb fights the attraction between him and Tim tooth and nail, but his reason for doing so made sense. I completely understand why he resisted the possibility that any connection between him and Tim might be ‘only’ the result of Tim biting him and an, in Seb’s eyes, artificial bond forming.

“I don’t want to have some magical shifter bollocks decide who I fall in love with. (…) I like you Tim, I really do. But the thought of having my free will stripped away like that terrifies me. I’m sorry.”

It was wonderful to once again connect with the members of the ‘arrogant, arsehole shifter brigade’, as Seb and his friend Jared refer to them. I loved the perfectly struck balance between action, hot sex, humorous moments, and tenderness. Sure, I had one or two moments where I wanted to slap Seb around the head, but even that worked wonderfully well. The only warning I have when it comes to reading this book is that you want to set an afternoon aside for it; if you’re anything like me you’ll read it from start to finish in one sitting.

While it is probably possible to read and enjoy this story without Bitten by Mistake first, I would advise against that course of action. Not only does this story build on what has happened before, you would also be depriving yourself of a truly wonderful story.

And I do wonder if I once again spied, with my little eye, the set up for the next Regent Park Pack story. Alex and Mark’s should make for a very interesting tale. Js.

Author Bio

Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They're usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.

Twitter | Website | Facebook

Email – ajacobsfiction@gmail.com 

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Personal Challenges (Personal #4) by K.C. Wells - Release Blitz with Review

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Cover: Meredith Russell

Length: 92,000 words

The Personal Box Set comprising of 3 novels and 2 novellas is currently on sale for $2.99/£2.38.

Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

Will and Blake couldn’t be happier. They have a beautiful little boy, Nathan, and Sophie finally has the little brother she’s been demanding. But all is not bliss in the Davis household. Coping with reality is going to change all their lives.

Rick and Angelo are sick and tired of trying to get a wedding organized. If it was up to them, they’d be married already, but Angelo’s mother has plans and they keep getting bigger. Angelo can see problems on the horizon: big, traditional Italian wedding and gay do not go well together. Something’s got to give.

Colin receives an unexpected call from an ex, with bad news. He feels compelled to help, regardless of the consequences. Ed loves Colin’s big heart and supports him in his efforts, but when the truth comes out, he finds it difficult to keep a lid on his emotions.

As the coming months unfold, the friends are going to need each other more than ever.

Review

*Big sigh*

I didn’t want this story to end. I just didn’t want to say goodbye to Will & Blake, Rick & Angelo, and Colin & Ed. I so enjoyed their company, the interactions between them, and the fabulous cast of friends and family they brought along for the ride. Some stories should just go on indefinitely, and Personal Challenges is one of those.

Without saying too much about exactly what happens in this story I have to admit that it packed a punch. I found myself blinking tears, both of the happy and sad variety, away on more than one occasion. I laughed out loud, cursed, muttered, and smiled. In short, I lived rather than read this book.

The challenges in this story were realistic and the way the characters dealt with their problems was both balanced and true to life. While there are plenty of heart-wrenching moments in this book, I wouldn’t call it angsty. If I had to give it a label I’d say touching and thought-provoking. And I just loved how every single character in this story was allowed to have his own moments of both weakness and strength and how the others were always there to lend an ear, or shoulder, or various other body parts as the case may be, to help the other through a rough spot (and some spots are seriously rough, trust me).

If there is such a thing as a perfect balance between touching, angsty, funny, and sexy, K.C. Wells found it in this book as far as I’m concerned. I loved that this isn’t really a romance. The relationships were established in earlier books and are still going strong. This is the sort of book I often find myself wishing for when I finish a story that really touched me. This is a what-happened-next story, portraying thriving loving relationships years after the early novelty has worn off. Few things are as satisfying as spending more time with much loved characters and to discover that they are still as in love with each other as they were when we last saw them.

While this is apparently the final title in the Personal series I’ve got a sneaky suspicion we may be seeing some if not all of these characters again in a different story. Two characters are introduced in this book, who are just crying out for their own happily ever after and I can’t wait for the moment when they’ll get it.

I have no doubt that anybody who has read the previous Personal stories will be over the moon to have this opportunity to connect with these wonderful men again. But I can also safely say that if you haven’t read the prequels, you’ll adore this story. In fact the only risk you’d be taking is that you might end up with 3 more full length and two novella-sized Personal titles to add to your TBR-list. And as luck (in this case known as K.C. Wells) would have it, the box-set of all previous titles is currently discounted. The relevant information and links for this special offer can be found at the top of this post. But, you’ll need to hurry up to avail of this wonderful offer, the price will go back up on April 10^th. 

Author Bio

Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C. WELLS always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way. K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, when the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings—writing about men in love was even hotter….

K.C. now writes full-time and is loving every minute of her new career. The laptop still has no idea of what hit it… it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.

And as for those men in love that she writes about? The list of stories just waiting to be written is getting longer… and longer….

K.C. loves to hear from readers.
E-mail: k.c.wells@btinternet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Twitter: @K_C_Wells
Website: http://www.kcwellsworld.com

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Snap Shot by V.L. Locey - Release Blitz

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Paperback: Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Cover: Rêverie Design & Formatting

Blurb

Mario McGarrity has been around the block – and rink – more than a few times.

He’s creeping up on retirement age, has some dings and dents, and says what’s on his mind. Not exactly what most would consider a luxury ride, but his beautiful Lila - the transgender woman who stole his heart - loves him like no other woman ever has despite a little rust here and there.

Everything is good - no, great - aside from the distance issue, until a surprise from Lila’s past crops up and moves in with her. Can Mario be the family man that Lila needs, or is this one game the old vet is unable to skate in?

NSFW Excerpt

“Every time I see you in my bed, I have to wonder what I did to get so lucky.”

Her hand wiggled between my legs, her warm fingers cupping my balls then squeezing. My legs spread for her of their own accord. The ice pack fell off my lower back. I figured she might pick it up and fuss, and I was right.

“I can’t imagine anyone thinking that having a washed-up hockey player in a kilt rolling around on their fancy pillows is lucky.”

My cock was pinned between my stomach and the bed. She began working on the muscles up by my shoulders after placing the ice pack back where it belonged.

“It takes a special man to come back to my bed,” she said while her strong fingers dug deeply into my flesh. It felt fantastic. “Most come once, pun fully intended, and then they leave, curiosity abated, never to be heard from again.”

I rolled onto my back to look at her. Her eyes widened slightly.

“Okay, that is total bullshit. Any man should be dropping to his knees and thanking God Almighty for a woman like you.”

“And I love that you think so.” Her gaze was tender for a moment, then it flittered from my banged-up face to my cock. The tip of her pink tongue moved over her lower lip, her eyes growing smoky and sensual. “I wish you’d keep ice on that nasty.”

“I’ll be fine. I’ve had much worse, trust me. Why don’t you lose that nightgown and shawl and plant that sexy ass right here?” I patted my thighs.

She struck a thoughtful pose, her long yellow fingernail tapping her chin, her red lips pursed. I wanted to roll her onto her back and laugh all at once.

“Come on, baby. I drove all the way from Cayuga for some sweetness.”

Her gaze flickered to me right before she reached up to push her hair from her face theatrically.

“That’s true.”

With that pronouncement, she stood. The shawl shimmied from her shoulders to the floor. I grabbed my cock and ran my thumb over the weeping head. A shudder ran through me. She stood with her back to me.

“You sure you’re up to this, Seamus?” she asked with a coy peek over her broad shoulder.

I tugged on my hard dick in reply.

“You do have a way with words,” she sighed humorously.

“You want a redhead with flapping gums, hook up with Kalinski.”

“If he and Daniel weren’t wed, I’d do so, and happily,” she teased, pushing one thin strap off her shoulder.

“Over my dead body,” I snarled, just as she wanted.

The other strap shimmied down her arm. I gave my dick another tug, my gaze locked on her as she wiggled free of her nightgown, slowly revealing her bare body.

“Fuck,” I moaned when she turned to face me, arms over her head in a pose aimed to titillate.

It worked. Oh man, how it worked. She was stunningly beautiful and as sexy as a fucking pagan goddess. I ached to get my hands on her, but I knew she had a wee bit more prancing to do.

Author Bio

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a flock of assorted domestic fowl, and two Jersey steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and GoodReads. 

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Goodreads | Blog

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Goodnight My Angel (Angel Enterprises #2) by Sue Brown - Release Blitz

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Cover: Meredith Russell

Angel Enterprises Series

Morning My Angel (Book #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

Callum Ross has a tough decision to make. After years of working for the covert ops agency in the UK and owning his own security firm in the US, he’s forced to choose between the business he loves, and the new fragile relationship with his partner, Josh Cooper.

A bottle of whiskey and almost being killed by a motorbike helps Cal make the decision, and he moves to the UK with plans to set up his own security consultancy. Then the head of the covert ops agency where Josh now works asks Cal for help. Agency operatives and their families are being injured or killed, including Cal’s friends.

Cal is asked to investigate with Josh’s assistance. As the number of victims increase, they’re aware either of them could be the next target for the killer. Josh wants Cal to back away from the investigation in case he gets hurt, but Cal refuses, putting a strain on their relationship.

Then they discover the motorbike incident wasn’t an accident. Who tried to kill him, and why?

Review

This book starts with not one but two bangs, and we’re immediately straight into the action. And from that moment forward there is hardly any quiet time for our two men and those they share their secret service lifestyle with. Nobody is given a breather as the assassinations and attempted murders continue fast and furious while Cal and Josh struggle to keep up with developments and for a long time have no idea what is happening or why. All I could do was hold on to my kindle and slide through the pages as fast as I could and I loved every minute of it.

In a good thriller the reader is kept guessing as to where the threat is coming from, why it is there, and who’s behind it. I kinda loved that, for a while at least, Cal shared this ‘frustration’ with the reader, having as little idea what was going on as I did. Not that his position improved much once he’d been recruited into the investigation; then he found himself in the dark but on the inside. I, on the other hand, had my suspicions rather early on and still haven’t made up my mind whether I’m proud or disappointed that I turned out to be right.

I fell hard and fast for Cal and Josh, AKA Charlie and Angel, in Morning My Angel and I love them even more after this book. In fact, the thing about these two books I totally adore most is the snarky yet loving interaction between these two men while they find themselves under constant threat and the world around them is on fire. While this is definitely a high-octane and incredibly fast-paced story, Cal and Josh always find moments to ease the tension for themselves and for the reader for a few moments, be it through (very) sexy times, snarky conversations, or lovingly taking care of each other.

I guess this book could be read without reading Morning My Angel first, but I would advise against such a course of action. You’ll get far more out of both books if you read them in the right order.

And then the story ends…except that it doesn’t. Not in the strictest sense of the word ‘ending’. Answers are provided but closure not so much. While I have a deep-rooted dislike for cliff-hangers, this book only left me yearning for more, not feeling cheated or frustrated. Having said that, I could do with Sue Brown typing at double-time and providing me with the next Angel Enterprises title like…yesterday J In the meantime I highly recommend this book to those who enjoy a fast-paced, heart-stopping, sexy, and at times funny romantic thriller.

Related review: Morning, My Angel

Author Bio

Sue Brown is owned by her dog and two children. When she isn't following their orders, she can be found plotting at her laptop. In fact she hides so she can plot, and has become an expert at ignoring the orders.

Sue discovered M/M erotica at the time she woke up to find two men kissing on her favorite television series. She had an Aha moment and put pen to paper that same day. Sue may be late to the party, but she's made up for it since, writing fan fiction until she was brave enough to venture out into the world of original fiction.

Come over and talk to Sue at:

sue@suebrownstories.com

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Sapphire Cay Vol. #2 by RJ Scott & Meredith Russell

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK 

Blurb

Christmas In The Sun (Book #4)

Return to Sapphire Cay for Christmas. Lucas and Dylan invite their friends to share in their Christmas celebrations on the island along with Lucas’s sister, Tasha, and her husband. Christmas is a time for family, forgiveness, and to look to the future, and this year Dylan has to face up to all three.

Forgiveness is a hard thing to give and sometimes even harder to receive.

Capture The Sun (Book #5)

Model, Isaac Bailey wants to break into the world of fashion design. Under his father’s company name, he is set to debut his new collection—summer wear. He has the models, the clothes, what he needs is a location. Mitch Stone is a trouble shooter. His latest client needs an exotic location and he happens to know someone with the very thing—Sapphire Cay.

Having underestimated Isaac as nothing more than an airhead model, Mitch soon discovers there is much more to the young man than he first thought. As the fashion shoot gets underway, Mitch has to contend with his feelings for his old love, Dylan, and the very new and growing affections he has for Isaac.

What starts as just another job, turns out to be more fruitful and exhilarating than winning any multi-million dollar contract.

Forever In The Sun (Book #6)

Feuding families, unearthed secrets, and a violent storm threatens the Cay. Will the idyllic island with her cast of characters make it through unscathed? It’s time for the circle to close on the story of Sapphire Cay, and on the men who have lived and found love on her beaches.

Connor and Shaun are directly related to Peter and Alfie, a couple whose clandestine lover affair was overshadowed by old prejudices and a world war. Shaun Jamieson is a writer, a romantic and needs to pen the story of the affair’s final secrets; Connor French’s family wants to stop Shaun.

When the two men step onto the sands of Sapphire Cay, they find more than just the secrets of an old love. They find hope and comfort in each other. But with the past hanging over them, can they ever have what Peter and Alfie could not? Or are they just as ill-fated as their ancestors?

About the Authors

RJ Scott is the bestselling romance author of over 100 romance books. She writes emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men and women who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn't with family either reading or writing.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn't like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

mailto:rj@rjscott.co.uk

Website        Facebook       Goodreads     Twitter         Library Thing

Meredith Russell lives in the heart of England. An avid fan of many story genres, she enjoys nothing less than a happy ending. She believes in heroes and romance and strives to reflect this in her writing. Sharing her imagination and passion for stories and characters is a dream Meredith is excited to turn into reality.

Website/blog                    Facebook       Twitter         Instagram

Email: meredithrussell666@gmail.com

You can find Meredith's blog on cover art, including information and portfolio here:http://meredithrussellart.blogspot.co.uk

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Renaissance (Village Love #2) by Lillian Francis - Release Blitz

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Village Love Series

Resonance (Village Love) - Currently FREE! Smashwords | Payhip

Resistance (Village Love #1) - On Sale for 99c/99p Amazon US | Amazon UK | Payhip

Cover: Garrett Leigh

Length: 72,000 words

Blurb

Smudge really needs to get laid, if only to stop himself wondering about the softness of Raleigh’s curls and why he keeps running away.

After his tumultuous teenage years, Smudge has settled into his quiet life in the sleepy English village of Slopy Bottom. He’s his own boss with the time and space to indulge his artistic creativity. And he has friends. He’s happy. Satisfied. Lonely. And the pool of potential soulmates is almost non-existent. His friends, Rick and Mal, flush with their own happy romance, keep trying to set him up with the most incompatible men, and he's never finding true love on Grindr. Hell, he's not even going to manage a hook up based on the kinky messages he’s been getting recently. He'll just have to slake his desire to find his own HEA in the pages of bosom-heaving romance novels.

Raleigh is the darling of Slopy Bottom’s blue rinse brigade: church organist, mobile librarian, and apparently wedded to his trademark cardigans. He seems to be the polar opposite of the artistic Smudge, whose brightly coloured mohawk and piercings should be a red flag to Raleigh. Yet he’s yearning for company too. It’s just that Raleigh has less expectation and definitely less courage to chase after it, for reasons that he keeps very close to his chest. Reasons that don’t stop him from being drawn irresistibly to Smudge.

Smudge is sure that the way Raleigh runs from him whenever he sees him is cruelly deliberate. A reflection on his bad boy looks and his disdain for Raleigh’s precious church. So why can’t he stop thinking about the softness of Raleigh’s curls and his delicate body? Then Raleigh offers an olive branch of sugar and caffeine, Smudge’s favourite combination, starting them on a road to an awkward truce. And when they are conned into working together on a community project at the local hospital, the proximity ignites a spark that can’t be ignored. But navigating the murky waters that could take their relationship beyond tentative friendship all depends on whether Raleigh can release his secret fears – and whether Smudge is the man to share and allay them.

Excerpt

“No, no, no! Don’t you dare. Not again.” Smudge tightened his grip on the books in his hand and hastened his pace.

Surely, he wouldn’t? But Smudge knew the exact moment Raleigh clocked him. The way his head shifted between all points of his escape. To Smudge. The door of the mobile library bus. The pull-down steps, currently occupied by Mrs Danridge, one of the frailer members of the Slopy Bottom community. She was Smudge’s only hope that he would make it to the village green car park where the bus was parked.

With the length of the main road of Slopy Bottom stretching before him like a scene out of Alice in Wonderland or the Wizard of Oz, Smudge broke into a jog. The plastic covers of the library books slipped in his sweaty clutches and he slowed to tighten his grasp. He should have put the bloody things in a bag. The last thing he wanted was his choice of reading matter to be scattered across the tarmac of Bridge Street.

Satisfied he wasn’t going to lose his latest round of catnip reads, he raised his gaze and refocused on his target. Mrs Danridge had reached the bottom of the stairs—with a helping hand from Raleigh no doubt.

Talk of the devil. That tousled-haired alleged angel of the village looked straight at Smudge, his gaze dropping to the hand that held the books Smudge needed to return, and then leapt back up the steps.

Smudge paused long enough to take a breath and shout, “Don’t you dare leave, Raleigh Fortier.” Then he put on a new burst of speed even as the steps disappeared from view.

The engine of the old bus roared to life and by the time he’d covered the last four hundred metres, the mobile library had disappeared in a shower of gravel leaving nothing but a cloud of dust.

“Don’t expect me to pay late charges on these,” Smudge shouted after the bus. “I should report your skinny arse. You four-eyed, curly-mopped, fuckwad.” He kicked a larger stone in the direction the bus had disappeared and watched it skitter across the now empty car park.

He turned toward the sound of disapproving tsking and shrugged apologetically at Mrs Danridge. “The library was supposed to be here for another hour.” He attempted to explain his irate behaviour to the pensioner. It sounded lame.

“I’m sure Raleigh had his reasons for closing early.”

Yeah, he hates me. And the feeling is more than mutual.

“He’s a good boy and a cherished and loved member of this village. I’m sure he’ll waive the charges if you explain.” She smiled, but it was tight lipped and nothing like the sunshine that she would have bestowed on Raleigh. Gauges, tats, and a purple faux hawk with green streaks would do that. Or maybe she believed the rumour that he was growing marijuana in the workshop behind his print shop. “And I don’t know who you think you plan to report him to. The mobile library is a local service and has always been run by the church. Certainly in my lifetime. I suppose you could speak to the vicar, but as Raleigh is his organist and you barely set foot in church…” She seemed to remember her Christian sentiments, but she still pursed her lips as though sucking on a lemon. “I can vouch you were here at the right time, I suppose.”

Don’t put yourself out, lady. Putting those feelings into words wouldn’t help his cause. Neither would reporting Raleigh, because, as she rightly pointed out, curly-headed organist versus multi-coloured faux-hawked atheist, the odds were stacked against him.

“I guess so.” It wasn’t just about the money, though. He’d hoped to pick up the next book in the series he’d been reading. He’d requested the book as soon as he knew the release date and it was a popular enough series that Raleigh couldn’t refuse to purchase the book for the library. Not that he’d ever turned down one of Smudge’s requests. Apparently if the people of Slopy Bottom and the surrounding villages wanted to read a book, Raleigh did his damndest to get it for them. “Thank you. I’m sure you’re right and Raleigh had his reasons.”

The words stuck in his throat but he could hardly protest that Raleigh was the spawn of the devil and that this wasn’t the first time he’d driven off and left Smudge standing in the street like a fool. Nobody would believe him. Not of Raleigh.

“I’m heading to the church to discuss the flower arrangements for Sunday’s service. I could take your books and leave them at the vicarage with a note, if you can’t get here at the weekend or on Tuesday,” Mrs Danridge offered, already working the zip open on her shopping trolley.

Tuesday. The day Raleigh did story time on the green with the preschoolers if the weather was nice. The long-range forecast predicted traditional August sunshine for the next fortnight and he’d probably be doing something with the older kids as well since the schools were breaking up this week for the summer.

“No. That’s fine. I’ll catch him Tuesday.” By the sodding neck if Raleigh tried to pull that stunt again. Except he couldn’t strangle the local librarian, not with an audience of under-fives hanging on Raleigh’s every word. “Thank you for the kind offer, though.”

Not that he’d take it up in a month of Sundays. Heaven forbid the village busybodies should get a look at his reading matter. The thought was barely formed when he felt plastic slip from his grip. He flailed for the escaping paperback, and ended up just juggling the remaining five in his hands, as the sixth landed on the ground with a thwack and a spray of dust. A swarthy Arab Prince, bare-chested and bronzed, manhandled a veiled maiden in a desert backdrop. Sins of the Seven Veils. Could have been worse. The latest in the Highland Wolfman series was still in his increasingly sweaty clutches. Well, not the latest; the latest was somewhere on that bloody bus. His cheeks burning, Smudge scooped up the book from the dirt and pivoted away from Mrs Danridge with mumbled words of farewell.

Coffee or back to the print shop? He’d told Pete, his apprentice, he’d be about an hour—he liked a leisurely flick through the titles. Even when he picked his six books, he stayed, studying the artwork on the lurid covers. The library soothed him—even with Raleigh’s presence—and he didn’t want Pete to think he’d hurried back because he didn’t trust the lad.

Across the road, the dual scents of caffeine and sweet baked goods emanated from Latte Nights and Earl E Mornings assaulting his senses and making his mouth water. Maybe Adam had made brownies.

Coffee it was then.
 
About the Series

Renaissance is book 2 in my series, Village Love. Village Love is set in the fictional Sussex village of Slopy Bottom. I'll let Rick (from Resistance) tell you how Slopy Bottom got its name.

“It’s one p, Slopy Bottom. The village has been there centuries. Local historians think it started life as Slope Bottom since the oldest houses are on the low slope at the bottom of a hill. The rest of the village spread out into the valley as the years went by but the name stuck. At one point the village was all but owned by a French lord, which could account for the mispronunciation, and it appears to have been Slopy Bottom ever since.”

Who’s this Rick you mention? I notice he’s in the blurb for book two, as well.

Rick is the village gardener/handyman. His story of how he struggles to fit his sexuality and his London-born Pakistani boyfriend in to his life in his sleepy village home is told in Resistance (Village Love #1). Rick and Mal’s meet-cute is told in a short story, Resonance. As Resonance doesn't take place in the village it has been assigned as Village Love 0.5.

Do I need to read the other books in the series to read this one?

No. Each book deals with a separate couple. However, in such as small village people bump into each other all the time. So yes, characters will appear that the reader is introduced to in the previous books.

Will there be more books in the series?

Definitely. I'm gearing up to start work on Book 3, Trevor’s tale. I have very brief story lines, if they work out, for at least a Book 4, and maybe a Book 5. If you read a particular character that you like drop me a line and let me know, I've undoubtedly got a plan to pair him with someone!

About the Author

Lillian Francis is a self-confessed geek who likes nothing more than settling down with a comic or a good book, except maybe writing. Given a notepad, pen, her Kindle, and an infinite supply of chocolate Hob Nobs and she can lose herself for weeks. Romance was never her reading matter of choice, so it came as a great surprise to all concerned, including herself, to discover a romance was exactly what she’d written, and not the rollicking spy adventure or cosy murder mystery she always assumed she’d write. 

http://lillianfrancis.blogspot.co.uk/

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Email: lillianfrancis@rocketmail.com

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Dirty Games by Barbara Elsborg - Release Blitz

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 108,000 words

Blurb

The last thing Linton needs when he arrives home after three months in the States, is to find his beautiful flat is a squat, complete with his younger brother Dirk, who’s lying in Linton’s bed with a couple who’ve paid him for sex. Dirk isn’t even supposed to have a key. But after Linton throws Dirk out, life slams in hard and if his brother is to have any hope of a future, Linton has to play dirty. Or at least pretend to. What he hasn’t factored in is having to play the game to the bitter end.

Film star Thorne Morrisey has everything. Good looks, charm, seductive magnetism and a voice that could charm a snake from its basket. He can also be a real shit and yet people still love him - though he’d rather not have the love of his ex. Owen’s a suicidal wreck after Thorne dumped him in a very public and humiliating way and Owen’s wealthy brother has his own reasons for wanting revenge on Thorne. Max’s weapon of choice is his employee, Linton.

Linton and Thorne are on a collision course and in for the game of their lives. But who’s playing who?

Author Bio

Barbara Elsborg lives in Kent in the South of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Vulcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.
After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.

Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they were to write.

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