Fall Together by Isobel Starling - Blog Tour

Author: Isobel Starling

Buy Links: Amazon US Amazon UK AllRomance

Length: 524 pages

Blurb

Two Hearts collide on a London Tube train...

Artist Emily Raven really has no choice in getting up close and personal with model Pieter Bayer when they’re pushed together in a crowded train carriage. Their close proximity kindles a conversation, which leads to them discovering they have an acquaintance in common, that of art director Darien Hollgoode. So, when Pieter invites the artist to accompany him to the photo shoot he’s heading to, Emily decides it’s a perfect opportunity to catch up with her roguish old friend Darien, and spend time with her gorgeous new friend, Pieter.

They begin a deeply erotic affair. However, not everyone is happy about their blossoming relationship. 

Pieter’s best-friend Simeon is secretly in love with him, and Emily’s manipulative old friend, Darien, holds an explosive secret to Pieter’s past... that will change everything.

Set between Berlin and London, this beautifully life affirming erotic romantic tale tells of how two damaged souls learn to trust again and in trusting each other, find that 'something more'.

This book was previously published under the title "Schonling" and was re-titled in 2016.

Please note: There are scenes of a sexual nature in this book and strong language through out. Reader discretion is advised.

My thoughts

This story in Fall Together takes the reader on a fast paced and very erotic ride. From the moment Emilie and Pieter first literally bump into each other in an overstuffed tube carriage in London, to the moment when they’ve created their own perfect world together, these two barely come up for breath, and as a result, neither does the reader.

From the moment Emilie first glares at Pieter it is clear that these two are made for each other, even if it will be another five weeks before they get to act on the attraction they both instantly feel. And when they do get together Emilie and Pieter manage to set each other alight. When it’s just the two of them, there’s no doubt these two characters belong together, if only the rest of the world would stop putting obstacles in their way.

Personally I enjoyed the chapters and scenes featuring Emilie and Pieter getting to know each other and exploring each others’ bodies more than I did those featuring almost every secondary character. It would appear that both Pieter the model and Emilie the artist have managed to surround themselves with people who use and/or abuse them. The mystery for me wasn’t so much that these things had happened to them, but more that the people who’d caused them pain and confusion where, for the most part, still an important part of their lives. I couldn’t find any redeeming qualities in either Simeon or Darien and was at a loss why they were still part of Pieter and Emilie’s life when the story starts.

The funny thing is that for once it wasn’t the main characters themselves who created obstacles to overcome on their way to happiness; it was the people around them. Where it would have been easy to turn the age difference between them or the fact that Pieter is bisexual, or even their individual careers forcing them to spend huge chunks of time apart, into relationship threatening issues, none of them do. Any conflict in this story is the result of outside forces trying to come between them and forcing them to deal with forgotten or repressed and at times heartbreaking memories in the process.

This is a very erotic story and the sex scenes are beautiful as well as imaginative and enticing. There isn’t much Emilie and Pieter aren’t up for, and the reader gets to enjoy it all with them.

One thing that didn’t work very well for me is the fact that the story is written from multiple perspectives and that the point of view freely jumped from one character to another. A small voice in the back of my mind kept on saying ‘stop head-hopping already’, even though I was well aware that strictly speaking this wasn’t head-hopping at all, just a different way of telling the story. This however is a personal preference and I can easily imagine that other readers might be delighted to for once get to see everybody’s motivation rather than having to infer it from what the main characters chose to share.

Overall this was a sexy, fast paced and intriguing story. And while I really didn’t care for Simeon in this story I have to admit I am kinda intrigued that the next book in this Pretty Boy series will focus on him. He’s got quite a bit of redeeming to do and I’m very curious as to what form that will take.

Author Bio

Inspiration strikes at the strangest of times. 

Born in Germany, Isobel Starling spent most of her twenty-year professional career making art.  She relocated to the UK and, faced with the dreaded artist’s creative block, Isobel started to write and found she loved it more than making art. 

Isobel’s first novel “Schonling” was a best seller in the GLBT-Bisexual genre on the ‘All Romance ebooks’ site.  She mainly writes M/M Romantic comedy thrillers and has just completed her sixth book.  Isobel has also signed French translation rights for novella “As You Wish”. 

Isobel adores the M/M genre and enjoys writing about wounded souls and the complexities of personal relationships.  Despite not having found proof yet, Isobel believes in love at first sight and endeavors to give her men a thrilling journey and a satisfying ending!

Social Media links:

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Notes & Roses by Rozenn Scott

246 Pages:

Stanford Creek #1

E-book

The blurb:

Cody is running from the ghosts of his past. Will Megan's love be enough for him to make a stand?

With his stalker behind bars, former boy band singer CJ Taylor is starting a new life. He’s bought a house in a small Vermont town, and taken back the name he was born with. Two years have passed since he was last in the public eye and as Cody Brennan, he’s finally feeling safe. Desperate to find some peace, all he wants is to connect to the music in his head, write new lyrics and forget the tragedy in his past.

What he doesn’t count on is meeting Megan. From her amber eyes to her tempting smile, she is everything he thought he could do without, the very thing he promised himself to avoid. But he’s thrown into her family and her life, and suddenly he’s found a place he wants to stay.

Megan Campbell is horrified when a stranger, covered in blood, collapses in her shop. When that same stranger, wild and angry, abruptly becomes someone very different, it’s not her safety she is worrying about, it’s her heart.

Megan’s first instinct is to tame the powerful attraction she has to this stranger, but very soon desire becomes something more. Between them can they find the words to make things right? And can they stay safe long enough to fall in love?

My thoughts:

It has been some time since I last read an M/F romance. Not so much because I’ve suddenly fallen out of love with the genre, but more because I was trying to catch up with the new to me M/M genre. Notes and Roses was a wonderful book to take me back to my (reading) roots.

The story hooked from the start when a bleeding, bearded man stumbles in the shop run by Megan Campbell and her cousin Rachel, and collapses. Despite his dishevelled appearance and the potential thread he might be, Megan can’t deny she’s interested in the stranger. When he returns to the shop, all cleaned up, to apologize that interest turns into attraction.

Cody’s reaction to Megan is pretty much the same; he can’t get her out of his head. But he’s nowhere near ready to share all his ghosts and demons with somebody else, no matter how he might feel about her.

Despite Megan’s very protective brothers and extended family having their doubts about Cody and Cody himself being afraid that getting close to Megan will mean his secrets will be revealed, the two of them can’t fight the attraction between them and very quickly grow very close. And, as Cody’s past infringes on his present, danger lurks, from all sides.

In the past I’ve often been frustrated with M/F romances because, with a few exceptions, they seemed to present me with either helpless, fragile leading ladies or their exact opposite, women so independent they end up acting stupidly just to prove they don’t need anyone. Megan in this book, thankfully, fell into neither of those categories. She was the kind of leading lady I do like to read about; independent, with a mind of her own and yet smart enough to know that she can’t always do everything herself. She may resent the way her brothers are over protective when it comes to her, she is not ashamed to ask for their help when she needs it. It made her both relatable and recognisable and I found myself rooting for her right from the start.

The same balance was present when it came to Cody. He hasn’t begun to come to terms with everything that has happened to him in the past, and at times appears to be afraid of his own shadow. But when push comes to shove he is brave enough to be honest and selfless enough to think of Megan first.

I enjoyed this book. It had the right combination of romance and suspense—even if I did think Megan was a bit too naïve when it came to the man who had been bothering her. The attraction between Megan and Cody was palatable from the start and the intimate scenes between them were sexy without being overly descriptive. Finally I have to say that the title of this book was a stroke of genius on the author's part. If it's the job of a title to cover the contents of the book, Notes & Roses worked on every level. 

Long story short: this was a delightful and gripping read and I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

Buy Links:

Amazon         Amazon UK             ARe

Rule Breaker by Lily Harlem: Promo Post

I’m delighted to welcome Lily Harlem and her new book, Rule Breaker, to my blog today. Sit back and enjoy while Lily tells you all about the book and herself and treats you to a juicy excerpt in the process.

Rule Breaker by Lily Harlem

Rule Breaker, a dark erotic romance novel by Lily Harlem, is out now from Totally Bound and all other good ebook retailers including Amazon Amazon UK ARe Kobo B&N Sony ibooks.

Set between London and France this novel pushes boundaries and will take you on an adventure and keep you in suspense. Falling in love with the wrong person is easily done, getting carried along in a whirlwind of passion is hard to resist. Join Lacey and Miller on a wild ride of lust, desire and fighting to be with the person you can’t live without, even if the rest of the world is against it.

Back Cover Information

Locks, keys and prison bars can’t contain a love that’s meant to roam wild and free, but when that love is let loose, will Lacey be able to handle what’s heading her way?

Rules are meant to protect the innocent and keep danger at bay—except for me. The lines blur, and it all started when I met the ultimate bad boy. But is he? Miller Davenport might be big, bad and brimming with sin but he’s confessed his crimes and for ten years he’s served his time and walked the line.

Everyone deserves a second chance, right? And as his nurse—the one person who understands him—I can’t help but count the days till we can be together properly, without guards watching over us and without every look and word we share censored.

When that day comes, though, will our desire for each other explode and take me to the new heights he’s promised? And if so, how will I survive such intensity?

One thing is for sure. With Miller I’ll be whisked up in a whirlwind of his dark energy and a tornado of his lust, and likely taken to the very edge of what I can handle. I can’t help a few nerves, though, as release day approaches, because if it all comes crashing down, who can I depend on when I’ve ridden into the sunset with a man who’s broken all the rules? Will I be saved or will I have pushed everyone and everything too far?

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of exhibitionism, anal play and light restraint.

Excerpt

“Yeah.” He nodded. “Yeah, you’re right. I’ll just go with the first one they show me. Fuck it, it’s a cake shop. They’ll all be bloody nice.” He glanced at Miller then back to me. “Do you mind if I make a call while you—?”

“Not at all, go ahead.” I waved him to the seat. “This is my last time with Miller anyway, so I’m sure he’ll behave.”

Miller’s jaw was tense. His eyebrows drew low and a small muscle flexed in his cheek.

Barry pulled out his phone and, without glancing at me again, dropped his bulk into the chair—the legs scraped on the hard floor. He started scrolling over the screen.

“Come on,” I said to Miller.

He followed me into the clinical room.

I walked up to the counter and reached for my tray of equipment.

“Lacey.”

I startled. He was right behind me.

He set his hands on the work surface, one either side of my body, trapping me against it with his torso.

“What?” I whispered, glancing at the door, my head brushing his.

“Tomorrow,” he murmured, his mouth right against my ear.

A thrill and a chill went through me as my neck and scalp tingled and tightened at his nearness.

“What about it?” I placed my right hand over his, cupping his hard knuckles. It was a bold move, but touching him was what I craved—I couldn’t help myself.

I heard him pull in a breath. “Meet me.”

“Where?”

“Anywhere you fucking want. Just be there.” He paused and pushed a little harder against me.

His groin, the outline of his cock, semi-hard, nestled against the crack of my buttocks.Lust blazed through my veins. Damn it, tomorrow was too long to wait.

But we had to.

“There’s a pub, round the corner from here,” I said. “The Cow and Slipper.”

He turned his hand and gripped my forearm. His fingertips pressed over my pulse points, his fingers were big and dark against the delicate veiny underside of my wrist.

“I’ll be there at noon,” he said.

“So will I.”

“Thank you.” He pressed his cheek against my ear. The weight of his head was heavy against mine.

I leaned into him. The daring, risky move heightened all of my senses. His chest against my shoulders, his breath on my cheek and his stubble against my temple. And damn, his body shoved into mine, his cock pushing through clothes against my arse. I wanted it. All of it.

“We’ll take it slow,” he whispered. “Get to know each other without a boss watching over us. Speak freely about what we want. I’m not in it for a lay. What we have is special. I’m doing this because I want you—always have, from the first time I saw you.” He paused. “But you know that.”

I swallowed and turned. I did know that.

He released my wrist.

I looked up at him. This was the closest we’d ever been. I was surrounded by him, wrapped up in him. It was where I wanted to be.

He leaned a little closer and his chest brushed against mine.

My nipples drew into pinched peaks, scraping against the inner cups of my bra.

“I thought of you last night,” he said. He lifted his hand and caressed my cheek. The small hard patches of skin, from where he banged weights, scratched against my flesh.

“What did you think?” I asked, my hands hovering. I wanted to touch him but didn’t dare, for fear that I wouldn’t be able to stop.

I glanced at the door again.

“Shh, it’s okay. I can still hear him talking,” he said.

“Maybe you should tell me tomorrow, when we don’t have to rush.” My heart was racing, adrenaline swamping my system. The thought of Barry catching us like this had me on a knife’s edge, but I couldn’t push Miller away. Barry had been instructed to behave like Miller might be a danger to me, yet I’d never felt safer than at this moment with Miller’s full attention—with Miller, big, bad now-tamed Miller, looming over me.

I knew what he was, what he was capable of, but he’d been reformed. He was being let out. The judge, the crown, had decided he’d paid for his crimes and he was no longer a danger to society.

Which meant he wasn’t a danger to me.

“I’ll tell you tomorrow then,” he said, lowering his head. “If that’s what you want.”

I stared into his dark eyes, at the way his lashes pointed slightly downward. They weren’t curled, and he had a tiny freckle like a teardrop under his left eye. I hadn’t noticed that before. Hadn’t been close enough.

“I’ll look after you, hen,” he whispered. “Don’t ever be afraid of me. I’m not violent. I’m a good man now. I’ll be your good man for as long as you’ll have me. I promise. I won’t hurt you.”

“I’m not…scared, that is.”

“Good.” He leaned closer still. I looked at his lips. I could see every tiny dent and crease on them, his top one was thinner than the bottom and with stubble peppered right up to the outline.

Fuck, is he going to kiss me?

We couldn’t.

Not here.

Not now.

“No,” I mouthed.

He pressed his closed lips to mine. They were dry, yet soft. He held my head in both of his hands and pushed his hard body forward, trapping me against the counter.

I whimpered and clung to his forearms. Terror and desire warred within me. I’d lose my job. He could lose his good-behavior privilege and be held for the remainder of his sentence.

It was the most reckless kiss I’d ever experienced, yet also the gentlest, sweetest connection I could ever remember.

He pulled back.

I opened my eyes.

His were still shut.

He furled his tongue over his bottom lip, as though tasting me there.

“Jesus,” he said quietly. “How the hell am I going to get through this last night without you?”

“Stop.” I rested my hands on his chest and pushed. “Please, save this for tomorrow.” Again I threw a glance at the door.

“Okay.” He opened his eyes, released me and stepped back. He held up his palms as if surrendering. “This last bit is the hardest though. I guess it’s like running a marathon. It’s all shit but the last mile? The last hundred yards? That’s what really gets you here.” He banged his chest. “It’s the shitiest bit.”

“I suppose.” I rubbed the tip of my index finger on my lips, reliving the sensation of his mouth on mine.

“Fucking genius you are, Lacey,” Barry said, walking in.

A flash of surprise went over Miller’s face.

Alarm must have crossed mine too.

Neither of us had heard him finish his conversation or been aware of him approaching the clinical room.

Bloody hell. If he’d come in ten seconds ago…no, make that five seconds ago.

First Reviews

5* “It's been a while since I read anything by Lily Harlem, and as always, I thoroughly enjoyed this story. It may seem like this is going to be your typical good girl falls for the bad boy, but she's thrown in a few surprises that had me turning the pages as quick as I could to find out what was going to happen. I definitely recommend this bad boy romance!”

5* “I finished reading this book a few days ago and it is still playing on my mind!”

Add Rule Breaker to your Goodreads shelf

About Lily Harlem

Lily Harlem lives in the UK and is an award-winning author of contemporary erotic romance. She writes for publishers on both sides of the Atlantic including HarperCollins, Totally Bound, Pride Publishing, Evernight Publishing, Xcite, and Sweetmeats Press. Her work regularly receives high praise and industry nominations.

Before turning her hand to writing Lily Harlem worked as a trauma nurse and her latest HarperCollins release, Confessions of a Naughty Night Nurse draws on her many experiences while nursing in London. Lily also self-publishes and The Silk Tie, The Glass Knot, In Expert Hands and Scored have been blessed with many 5* reviews since their release.

Lily writes MF, MM and ménage a trois, her books regularly hit the #1 spot on Amazon Best Seller lists and Breathe You In was named a USA Today Reviewer’s Recommended Read of 2014. Her latest MM novel is Dark Warrior.

Lily also co-authors with Natalie Dae and publishes under the name Harlem Dae - check out the Sexy as Hell Box Set available exclusively on Amazon - The Novice, The Player and The Vixen - and That Filthy Book which has been hailed as a novel 'every woman should read'.

One thing you can be sure of, whatever book you pick up by Ms Harlem, is it will be wildly romantic and down-and-dirty sexy. Enjoy!

Find Lily on the Web

Website http://www.lilyharlem.com/

Blog http://www.lilyharlem.blogspot.com/

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SHE'S GOT IT ALL by Jewel Quinlan, Promo Post

Link to trailer on YouTube:  https://youtu.be/_NAe-Du28pQ   

Blurb:

She’s living her dream, not knowing she’s stolen someone else’s…

For Kayla Cross, getting a job as a DJ at legendary club Grace in Ibiza is a dream come true. It’s what she has worked for her entire life. Even if she had to do it behind her parents’ back, like a dirty secret—then and now. She left everything behind in order to give it her all, and she finds it’s going to take far more than the level of confidence she has in order to pull it off.

Lex Granger thought the job was his. But it wasn’t. And not getting the DJ job means another season of bartending, and watching longingly as others play on stage. When his boss orders him to make Kayla feel at home, he almost rebels. But his need to pay bills wins over his emotions. He resents his competition but can’t help being affected by her sunny disposition, talent, and long, lean form. Walking the line between admiration and envy can be agony...

Now available for only 0.99!

Amazon|  iTunes  |  Kobo  |  Nook

Add it to your shelf on Goodreads

Excerpt:

Kayla had seamlessly taken control of the sound system a few minutes ago and the stuff she had been playing was good, better than the typical pre-recorded shit. But what caught his attention now was the sound of her voice. She was singing into the mic on her headset. Not lyrics but a beautiful stream of notes that seemed to flutter from her gut up to her vocal cords in a lilting sound that was captivating.

The notes she sang rose and fell, exotic and mysterious with the intriguing underlying beat. Her voice called, it drew…and soon women rose from their seats to the small dance area to move and sway with the music, and the men followed them. The same people who had been oblivious of the music a moment before as they’d smoked and talked were now giving their full attention to Kayla.

It wasn’t just the music that mesmerized them; it was Kayla herself. She was a vision. Her blonde hair gleamed under the lights, and her shoulders and hips writhed in a sexy dance, and all the while she continued to turn knobs and flip switches to make the music she sang to. She was absorbed in it and having a great time. Sometimes her hair flicked when she gyrated, as if in punctuation to her movements. Combined with the sound of her voice, she was like a beacon—the song of an angel caressing and drawing everyone in. It was like nothing he’d ever heard before.

 “Hola!” said a man in an aggressive tone, waving a one hundred Euro bill. “Can we get ten shots of Patrón?”

“Of course. Right away, friend.” Lex focused back in on his job.

It was awhile before he could come back up for air. But when he did, he noticed that the space was packed with bodies dancing to the music Kayla played. And, although she was keeping it mellow as instructed, it was the biggest crowd he’d ever seen on the terrace during the day. Security continuously went through, trying to keep key paths clear.

Hands holding cell phones were up in the air, outstretched toward her, as they took pictures and videos. Through it all, she wore the brightest smile he’d ever seen, occasionally lifting one hand to press the earphones closer. She changed the tempo to a faster beat and the crowd responded with cheers. She bounced up and down in joy, hand waving above her head with exhilaration, and the people lifted and pumped their fists in mimicry.

She was every bit as good as any DJ they’d had before and more. She was the embodiment of everything he thought he would have experienced and felt had it been him on the stage. Somehow, she caught him watching, and gave him a cheery wave. Embarrassed, he waved awkwardly back, and then pulled his eyes back down to the bar. And, even though he could acknowledge that Rick had been right, that she was good, he couldn’t help feeling the tiny nugget of palpable distaste lodged deep in his chest.

      

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About the author, Jewel Quinlan:

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.

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