I Smell Sheep: m/m

Showing posts with label m/m. Show all posts

Thursday, April 27, 2017

Cover Reveal: Illegal Contact (The Barons) by Santino Hassell

Illegal Contact (The Barons)

by Santino Hassell

August 15, 2017

The rules of the game don’t apply off the field in this first Barons novel.

New York Barons tight end Gavin Brawley is suspended from the team and on house arrest after a video of him brawling goes viral. Gavin already has a reputation as a jerk with a temper on and off the field—which doesn’t help him once he finds himself on the wrong side of the law. And while he’s been successful professionally, he’s never been lucky when it comes to love.

Noah Monroe is a recent college grad looking for a job—any job—to pay off his mounting student debt. Working as Gavin’s personal assistant/babysitter seems like easy money. But Noah isn’t prepared for the electrifying tension between him and the football player. He’s not sure if he’d rather argue with Gavin or tackle him to the floor. But both men know the score, and neither is sure what will happen once Gavin's timeout is over…

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About the Author:

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Santino Hassell was raised in Brooklyn by a strict Catholic family, but he was anything but traditional. He grew up to be a smart-mouthed, school-cutting grunge kid, then a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into an unlikely romance author.

Santino writes queer romance that is heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, his belief that human relationships are complex and flawed, and his own life experiences.

Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Book Series Review: His Royal Secret (book #1) and His Royal Favorite (book #2) by Lilah Pace

The first in an enchanting new male/male romantic duology from Lilah Pace, author of Asking for More and Begging for It.

His Royal Secret (His Royal Secret #1)

by Lilah Pace

July 19, 2016

185 pages

Penguin Group

James, the handsome, cosmopolitan Prince of Wales, is used to being in the public eye. But he's keeping a king-sized secret...James, next in line for the throne, is gay.

He’s been able to hide his sexual orientation with the help of his best friend and beard, Lady Cassandra. Sometimes he feels like a coward for not coming out, but he daren’t risk losing the crown. If he did, the succession would fall on his deeply troubled younger sister, Princess Amelia. To protect her, James is willing to live a lie.

While on holiday, he meets Benjamin Dahan—a rugged international reporter with a globe-trotting, unattached life—who catches far more than James's eye. And when Ben is transferred to London, it seems fate may finally be smiling on James.

But what began as a torrid fling grows into something far more intimate and powerful. Soon James will have to decide who he is, what he wants from life and love, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for the truth...

“I'm absolutely desperate to read the next book. This is the kind of male/male romance I hunt down and devour. Hats off to Ms. Pace.”--Anna Zabo, author of Due Diligence

"His Royal Secret is delightful and romantic, with a wonderfully fresh take on a modern-day handsome prince." --C.S. Pacat, author of Captive Prince

His Royal Favorite (His Royal Secret #2)
by Lilah Pace

August 16th 2016 by InterMix
The conclusion of Lilah Pace’s racy, romantic male/male duology following His Royal Secret...

James, Prince of Wales, is making history. He's decided to come out to his subjects—and the world. However, telling the truth means exposing his relationship with lone-wolf reporter Benjamin Dahan. Although Ben never wanted commitment, the unexpected depth of his feelings leads him to join James in the media's harsh spotlight.

When the news story explodes across the globe, Ben can endure the mockery and dirty jokes. But after his tragic past is cruelly revealed, his life begins to implode. Can even his love for James be worth this?

James has it no easier. His revelation divides the country and sparks turmoil within the royal family. He must struggle to defend not only himself and Ben, but also his younger sister, who hovers on the brink of a breakdown that could endanger her life.

Is Ben strong enough to survive the onslaught and stand by James' side? And will James have to make a choice between Ben and the crown?

Review

Everyone knows I like to ride the dark urban fantasy/horror carousel with a hint of forbidden love. But...I have an embarrassingly weak spot for sickly sweet contemporary gay romance. Combine that with the Prince falling in love with a regular person troupe and EMREGERD SQUEE! Told you, embarrassing.

This plot is as cliche as any fairy tale prince story: Prince (future King of England) who appears to have everything, but is deeply lonely and miserable on the inside, has a chance meeting with an ordinary guy. They have lots of great "secret" sex with no strings—we all know how that turns out—they start falling for each other and...issues and feels happen. Lots and lots of feels, which is where the squees come in.

I was lucky (and you are too) that both books in the duology are out, so you can binge read the whole story like I did. It is well written and the characters are complex and easy to connect to. Prince James puts his family duty before his own happiness, like a good son. Even helping hide his sister's mental illness. He has accepted his fate—till he meets Ben. Ben is an American economics reporter who gets roped into covering a royal event. A rainstorm forces James to take refuge in Ben's bungalow...and what happens there is the inspiration for the covers *snicker*. A one night-stand slowly becomes more. The author sets a realistic pace for their relationship. And unlike some, the ending of book one is actually happy. The painful feels start in book two. But don't worry, this is a fairy tale romance with a happy ever after.

If you haven't read a m/m romance, this might be a good one to try. It is a love story first; the sex isn't too explicit, but still sexy.

4.5 "Checkmate" Sheep

SharonS

About the Author:
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Lilah Pace is a pseudonym for a New York Times bestselling author, so she can’t give away too much about herself here, but she has lived everywhere from Italy to the United Kingdom before putting down roots in the American South.

She’s addicted to Diet Coke, loves her dog, and daydreams about several British movie stars (though usually no more than two at a time).

And while it took her a long while to get up the courage to write books, now she hopes she’ll never stop.

Wednesday, June 15, 2016

Authors After Dark Attending Author Spotlight: Carrie Pack + excerpt

I love summer because that usually means I have time to attend conventions and meet with readers. This summer I’m making appearances at several events but I’m really excited about Authors After Dark in Savannah from August 3 to 7. If you’re on the fence about this one, please let me sway you to the (After) Dark Side. It looks like it’s shaping up to be an awesome week and it’s a real steal as far as cons go.

As for me, this will be my first time attending this convention and I’m really looking forward to it. AAD sounds like an absolutely awesome event and I just love Savannah. (By the way, If you’re looking for more stuff to do in the area, I’d recommend Savannah Smiles. It’s a dueling piano bar not far from the convention hotel, and I just love it!)

I’ll be in town for AAD from Wednesday to Sunday (August 3-7) and I have a couple of special things planned. I’ll pop in to other events as well, but these are guaranteed times when you can get to know me. On Friday I will be sponsoring breakfast from 8:30 to 9:30 with several other awesome authors. From 11 a.m. to noon, I’ll be in the Q&A room hosting a fun game where you can get to know my wicked sense of humor. And of course, I’ll be at the book signing on Saturday. I look forward to meeting everyone and having some fun.

In the meantime, I’d love to introduce you to my work. I write LGBTQ-focused romance that tends to focus on characters learning to be true to themselves. My latest release, In the Present Tense, is about a young man named Miles who has an unusual dissociative disorder that causes him to time travel. Miles’s journey involves trying to reconnect with a past love and find a cure for his rare condition. This is a book that will appeal to fans of paranormal and sci-fi as well as those who love a good suspenseful story.

My debut, Designs On You, is an M/M romance reminiscent of When Harry Met Sally. What can I say? I’m a fan of the Friends to Lovers trope.

Read on to find out more about each book and I hope to see you at Authors After Dark!

IN THE PRESENT TENSE:
Miles Lawson goes to sleep dreaming of a future with his boyfriend Adam, but wakes to find he is married to Ana, an acquaintance from high school. When he learns he has been time traveling, Miles is consumed with finding a cure for his rare condition—and finding his first love. But will he be able to convince Adam he is telling the truth before it’s too late?

EXCERPT:

Miles sat there and tried to make out shapes and colors in the dark room as he searched his brain for a memory of anything.

Nothing looked familiar. His desk, his drum set, the sheets—all gone. Not one thing looked the way it had when he’d fallen asleep, and Ana certainly hadn’t been in his bed.

He tried to replay the previous day’s events, but everything seemed fuzzy, like a fogged bathroom mirror that he couldn’t wipe clean.

Why was everything so fuzzy?

Last night… What happened last night?

Adam had come over and they were watching TV together, and Adam had given him a small stuffed giraffe because Miles was scared about having surgery. He reached for his left arm, expecting to find the cast that had been there for the last two months, but it wasn’t there. His heart began to beat so loudly he glanced over at Ana to make sure she was still asleep.

Unable to determine what had happened to his cast, Miles resumed his tally of the previous evening’s chain of events. At around ten-thirty, his mom said Adam had to leave because they had to get up early to go to the hospital. He had taken his pain meds and gone to sleep with the phantom of Adam’s goodnight kiss on his cheek. He’d been happy.

He’d gotten a text from Ana earlier in the evening, but she was only wishing him luck with the surgery. She hadn’t come over. In fact, as far as Miles knew, Ana had been several hours away in her dorm room.

So how had she gotten into his bedroom? And who had changed his sheets?

He threw off the covers and stood up, noticing he was only wearing a tight-fitting pair of boxer briefs instead of his usual basketball shorts.

He looked around the room for anything familiar, but it was still dark out, and all he could see were shadows and vague shapes. On the dresser opposite the bed, he found a few framed photos. Squinting to see without turning on a light, Miles studied the images carefully.

As his eyes focused, he recognized a couple of the photos. One was from last year’s prom: Adam wearing that ridiculous corsage Miles had bought him, Ana being dipped by her date, David, as all four of them smiled widely in front of a cheesy faux tropical scene. One of the frames held a collage of photos of his and Ana’s friends. He recognized Adam, Lucky, Antonio, Dahlia and Brienne. But the last one, the largest of all the photos, was of him and Ana—her in a flowing white dress and him in a black suit, both wearing broad smiles and flanked by Miles’s parents and a woman Miles had only seen once: Julia Espinosa, Ana’s mother.

A loud clatter echoed through the bedroom as the frame hit the edge of the dresser and fell to the hardwood floor. This wasn’t his room, and he didn’t remember that photo being taken.

"Go back to sleep," Ana mumbled, her voice muffled by the pillow.

"Ana," he whispered, risking her full anger, but unable to stop himself, "we’re married."

"Thanks for the update. Now go back to sleep before I divorce your dumb ass."

He dropped to the floor on his knees, barely even noticing the sharp pain of bare skin hitting the hard surface.

Married. To Ana?

What the hell had happened?

DESIGNS ON YOU:
If graphic designer Scott Parker has to design one more cupcake company logo, he might lose it. So when tasked with retouching photos for a big fashion client, a stunning, lanky model mesmerizes Scott and occupies his fantasies long after the assignment is finished. When the model is assigned to one of Scott’s projects, Scott discovers that the object of his desire is nothing like what he imagined. Despite Jamie Donovan’s aloof and dismissive behavior, Scott struggles to forge a friendship with him, all the while trying to keep his attraction at bay. Will Jamie follow through on signals that he may be interested, or will he forever be the beautiful man in the photograph, an untouchable fantasy?

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About the Author:

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Carrie is the author of two novels—Designs On You and In the Present Tense—and a part-time college professor. She recently left her job in marketing to actively pursue her writing career. Her early career focused on advertising, journalism, and public relations while she also did freelance writing for businesses in the nonprofit sector. Carrie lives in Florida, which she fondly calls America’s Wang, with her husband and four cats.

Authors After Dark 2016 Savannah

http://authorsafterdark.org/

Thursday, October 29, 2015

Top 10 Reasons to Try the Unbreakable Bonds Series by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott

Top 10 Reasons to Try the Unbreakable Bonds Series

It’s release week! Shiver, the first book in the Unbreakable Bonds Series, is now out and Rinda Elliott and I couldn’t be more ecstatic. But with so many awesome books out there, you’ve got to be wondering why you absolutely MUST pick up this book now. Well, to help you, I’ve come up with the Top 10 Reasons to Try the Unbreakable Bonds Series.

10. The Alpha Male – Lucas Vallois is the alpha. He’s the controlling millionaire who is determined to make the world bend to his will so he can protect his friends. He’s the glue that holds them together. One person even thinks of him as Jupiter (the planet, not the Roman god) because he has this massive gravitational force that simply holds people in his orbit. And there’s something so heartwarming to see man like that bend just a little bit for love.

9. The Broken Soul – Dr. “Snow” Frost breaks my heart. He’s the wounded figure, the emotional train wreck that somehow manages to hold it all together by sheer will so that he can save the lives of others, even if it means sacrificing bits of his own soul. He’s the one you’re dying to see healed and happy… but it’s a long road to get there.

8. The Chef – Ian Pierce is the bit of sweetness in this mix of alpha dogs. He’s the one who’s there with a cup of soup and smile when you’ve had a rough day. He’s got the easy laugh and the sweet smile that steals your heart even before you knew it was vulnerable. But don’t be fooled. There are shadows behind his eyes and deep scars that are too easily overlooked.

7. The Smart Ass – Rowe Ward is the man with a snarky quip on the tip of his sharp tongue at all times. He’s always got the quick comeback that will make you laugh even as it cuts. But there was never a more loyal friend. He’s not the type to ask questions when he’s called. He just prepared with duct tape, tarp, bungee cord, and an alibi.

6. The Straight and Narrow – Hollis Banner is the detective who is determined to protect the little guy and see that the law is obeyed. He sticks to the straight and narrow, but he’s also familiar with shadows. He might even be willing to stray more to the shadows to protect someone who captures his heart. If only he knew what he was getting into by taking on this crew….

5. The “Let’s Try Something New” – Andrei Hadeon thought this was just a job. He’d protect his boss’s best friend and that would be it. But when he saw that lazy grin, it was like all the air had been sucked out of the room. Now with every passing day, he finds himself craving more… more of something he never thought he would and he’s loving every second of it.

4. The Mystery – Fires, car chases, gun shots, murder conspiracy, and property stealing – it’s just an average day when you’re a millionaire property mogul. Okay, maybe not. But Lucas isn’t about to just roll over when he’s attacked. He’s going to uncover the threat personally.

3. Location, Location, Location – Cincinnati might not be the first city you think of when it comes to a vibrant nightlife, rich culture, or gorgeous scenery, but then you’ve never had a local showing you around. I lived in this interesting river valley for the first three decades of my life and I’ve got the inside scoop on all the scintillating places you need to know about. I can give you the sights, sounds and feel of a place as if you’re standing there with the boys.

2. The Sex – Hot. Really… just … wow. When an author brags about devoting more than 5,000 words to a particular scene … well, you can trust that she’s being thorough.

1. All this loveliness is mixed up in a single book – And all of this fun and excitement is jam-packed into the first book, Shiver. Meet all the boys, run along on this adventure through the dark, twisting streets of Cincinnati and take a chance on something new.

5 Sheep review: Shiver (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 1)

Shiver (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 1)

by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott
Print Length: 295 pages
October 27, 2015
Lucas Vallois is always in control. He’s building an empire in the glittering city of Cincinnati and created his own family from his three close friends. The self-made millionaire has everything he wants within his tight grasp. But his world starts to crumble after he’s jumped by a trio of thugs late one night after leaving a club. The warning is clear—give up his new property venture or end up dead.

Caving to the demands of his friends, Lucas accepts the help of bodyguard, Andrei Hadeon, as he hunts for the source of this new threat. But as Lucas gets closer to uncovering the danger, he realizes the sexy Romanian bodyguard poses an even bigger risk to his carefully constructed world. Trapped by a need he never expected, Lucas must find a way to deny the shiver of longing he cannot control.

His brother. His warrior. His heart. Four friends. Unbreakable bonds.

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website: http://drakeandelliott.com/

tumblr: http://drakeandelliott.tumblr.com/

Rinda Elliott
I’m an author who loves unusual stories and I credit growing up in a family of curious life-lovers who moved all over the country. Books and movies full of fantasy, science fiction and romance kept us amused, especially in some of the stranger places. For years, I tried to separate my darker side with my humorous and romantic one. I published short fiction, but things really started happening when I gave in and mixed it up. When not lost in fiction, I love making wine, collecting music, gaming and spending time with my husband and two children.

She is the author of the Beri O’Dell urban fantasy series, the YA Sister of Fate Trilogy, and the paranormal romance Brothers Bernaux Trilogy. She also writes erotic fiction as Dani Worth. She can be found at RindaElliott.com. She’s represented by Miriam Kriss at the Irene Goodman Agency.

Jocelynn Drake
Love comes in many varied forms. There is the love of family, love of country, and love of chocolate. But for Jocelynn Drake, one truly treasured love is the love of a good story. This former Kentucky girl spends the majority of her time lost in the strong embrace of a good book. When she’s not hammering away at her keyboard, frowning at her monitor, or curled up with a book, she can usually be found cuddling with her cat Demona, walking her dog Max, or flinging curses at the TV while playing a video game. Outside of books, cats, and video games, she is completely enamored of Bruce Wayne, Ezio Auditore, travel, tattoos, explosions, fast cars, and Anthony Bourdain (but only when he’s feeling really cranky).

She is the author of the urban fantasy series: The Dark Days series and the Asylum Tales. She also occasionally writes as Joy Douglass when she’s in the mood for a little historical romance. She can be found at JocelynnDrake.com.

Saturday, October 17, 2015

Shiver (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 1) by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott

Shiver (Unbreakable Bonds Series Book 1)
by Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott
Print Length: 295 pages
October 27, 2015
Lucas Vallois is always in control. He’s building an empire in the glittering city of Cincinnati and created his own family from his three close friends. The self-made millionaire has everything he wants within his tight grasp. But his world starts to crumble after he’s jumped by a trio of thugs late one night after leaving a club. The warning is clear—give up his new property venture or end up dead.

Caving to the demands of his friends, Lucas accepts the help of bodyguard, Andrei Hadeon, as he hunts for the source of this new threat. But as Lucas gets closer to uncovering the danger, he realizes the sexy Romanian bodyguard poses an even bigger risk to his carefully constructed world. Trapped by a need he never expected, Lucas must find a way to deny the shiver of longing he cannot control.

His brother. His warrior. His heart. Four friends. Unbreakable bonds.

amazon

I'm a Jocelynn Drake fan from way back. She writes the kick ass urban fantasy series Dark Days (female protag) and Asylum Tales (male protag). So I was surprised to see her delve into the m/m romantic suspense genre along with co-writer Rinda Elliot. I was a little hesitant because m/m is new to Drake and Elliot is a new to me author, but I was also excited for what they could bring to the table.

Shiver was everything I hoped for and more. I didn't want to put it down. I loved these characters. It is an alpha-male hot mess (I mean that in the best possible ways). In m/f romance, a caveman mentality is a big turn off, but if you pair that up with another caveman alpha-male...fireworks! The series revolves around four friends (three are gay and one is hetero and married) who have an emotionally deep and loyal bond. We were given a peek into their backstories but there is no doubt these men would kill and die for each other. The glue that holds them together is Lucas Vallois. When their lives were falling apart it was Lucas that put them back together, but at what cost? I adored Lucas for his alpha tendencies that covered up a lonely and complicated man. Enter Andrei. Sparks fly and the sexual tension between these two can be measured on the Richter scale.

While this is a romantic suspense, it is mainly a romance. The suspense plot faded into the background when compared to the inferno of Lucas and Andrei's feelings, which was fine by me since it is a character driven story. There are a lot of m/f authors jumping on the m/m train because there is a large market out there for it. Not all have been able to pull it off as well as Drake and Elliot.

The story was fun and passionate and I can't wait to read Snow's story.

5 "Shivering" Sheep

SharonS

website: http://drakeandelliott.com/

tumblr: http://drakeandelliott.tumblr.com/

Thursday, September 17, 2015

Book Review: Base Instincts (Demonica #11.7) by Larissa Ione

Base Instincts (Demonica #11.7)
by Larissa Ione

ebook, 150 pages
September 12th 2015

by Riptide Publishing
As a Seminus demon, Raze’s life literally depends on having sex with females. The problem is that he doesn’t desire females, and it’s physically impossible for him to be with males. Thankfully, he and his best friend, Fayle, have an arrangement that keeps him alive . . . if lonely. He finds some solace in his work as a medic at Thirst, a vampire club known for its rough clientele. But his carefully structured world turns upside down when he meets a mysterious male who makes him want what he can never have.

Slake is an assassin used to getting what he wants, and what he wants is Raze. But he also wants to earn back the soul he sold when he was a much different demon. All he has to do is capture a runaway succubus named Fayle and hand her over to her family. What he doesn’t count on is being caught himself by a web of lies—and his attraction to Raze.

Raze and Slake must navigate a dangerous world to be together. But as Fayle’s jealousy of their relationship turns deadly, they find themselves embroiled in a battle not only for their love, but their lives and souls.

amazon

For all the Ione fans out there...this is a gay romance. I repeat, m/m. I am a fan of Ione's (OMG sexydemonalphamales) Demonica series and I'm a fan of gay romance so I was tickled to find Base Instincts. It is published by a gay romance publisher, Riptide Publishing, so this story is aimed at a new audience that isn't familiar with Ione's Demonica series. There is a lot of basic world building info added along with meeting some of our favorite Demonica characters like Eidolon, Wraith, and even Revenant makes an appearance. Since it has been so long since I've read the Demonica series it was a nice refresher course.

One thing Ione does well is take two tortured characters in impossible situations and mash/mix/blend/crush them together into a happy ever milk shake of goodness. In the case of Base Instincts I honestly didn't know how she was gonna pull this one off...but that clever girl...I didn't see that twist coming.

Ione has taken on some important social issues with this book. One I can't talk about because it is the big plot twist, but kudos to her for putting it out there. The story is typical Ione and yummy going down. The sexual parts are pretty tame so if you were thinking about giving a gay romance a try then this might be a good place to start.

I think Ione needs some more experience writing m/m, but she does a fair job of it. It did feel like a hetero romance was written and then the girl was swapped out for the guy...kind of hard to explain unless you've read lots of m/m.

I would give the story plot and romance 4 sheep, but the m/m aspect 3 sheep...so you get an average of 3.5...fudge a little because the writing is well done...and I think I will settle on

3.75 Sheep!

SharonS

About the Author:

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Air Force veteran Larissa Ione traded in a career as a meteorologist to pursue her passion of writing. She has since published dozens of books, hit several bestseller lists, including the New York Times and USA Today, and has been nominated for a RITA award. She now spends her days in pajamas with her computer, strong coffee, and supernatural worlds. She believes in celebrating everything, and would never be caught without a bottle of Champagne chilling in the fridge…just in case. She currently lives in Wisconsin with her U.S. Coast Guard husband, her teenage son, a rescue cat named Vegas, and her very own hellhound, a King Shepherd named Hexe.

Monday, February 23, 2015

Spotlight: The Last Grand Master (Champion of the Gods #1) by Andrew Q. Gordon

The Last Grand Master (Champion of the Gods #1)
by Andrew Q. Gordon
ebook, 350 pages
Published February 1st 2013

by Dreamspinner Press

In a war that shook the earth, the Six gods of Nendor defeated their brother Neldin, god of evil. For the three thousand years since, Nendor and the Seven Kingdoms have known peace and prosperity.

But then a new wizard unleashes the power of Neldin. Meglar, wizard king of Zargon, uses dark magic to create an army of creatures to carry out his master's will.

One by one, the sovereign realms fall. Soon the only wizard who can stop Meglar is Grand Master Farrell, the Prince of Haven, the hidden home of refugees. An untried wizard, Farrell carries a secret that could hold the key to defeating Meglar-or it could destroy the world.

While helping Nerti, queen of the unicorns, Farrell saves Miceral, an immortal muchari warrior the Six have chosen to be Farrell's mate. But Farrell approaches love with caution, and before he can decide how to proceed, Meglar invades a neighboring kingdom. Farrell and Miceral find themselves in the middle of the battle. Farrell pushes himself to the limit as he and Miceral fight not only to stop Meglar but for their very survival.

Buy Links: Amazon-Barnes and Noble-DSP Publications

About the Author:

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Andrew Q. Gordon wrote his first story back when yellow legal pads, ball point pens were common and a Smith Corona correctable typewriter was considered high tech. Adapting to the times, he now writes with a shiny new MacBook that he sets on the same desk as his manual typewriter and vintage adding machine.

Long a fan of super heroes, wizards and sports, Andrew’s works include high fantasy, paranormal spirits, magic as well as contemporary fiction. He is still trying to find the perfect story that will include all his favorites under one cover.

He currently lives in the Washington, D.C. area with his husband, their young daughter and dog. In addition to dodging some very self-important D.C. ‘insiders’, Andrew uses his commute to catch up on his reading. When not working or writing, he enjoys soccer, high fantasy, baseball and occasionally sleeping.

Sunday, February 15, 2015

Sunday Swag: Kallysten

Sunday Swag Team!
Riverina Romantics
I Smell Sheep

Featured Author: Kallysten

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About the Author:

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Kallysten is a writer of romance novels and short stories, most of them with paranormal elements.

Her first eBooks were published by Linden Bay Romance in 2005. The defunct Venus Press subsequently published a few of her short stories. Because so many of her stories are linked as series and part of the same universe, she decided it would make sense to have them all in the same place, which is why she self-published, first with the co-op Alinar Publishing and now on her own. When she sees calls for submissions that speak to her muse, she sometimes tries for them, and was published this way by Samhain and Torquere.

signed postcards, trading cards, bookmarks and a screen cleaning charm

Head over to Riverina Romantics and win more Swag!

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Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Book Review: Anterograde by Kallysten

Anterograde
by Kallysten
When Calden wakes up – every time he wakes up – the last thing he can recall is a debilitating headache that even his medical background failed to identify as anything more serious than a regular headache. He also remembers his decision to ignore the fact that his best friend Eli is married and to tell him about his long-standing feelings for him. He remembers June second.

But it is not June second anymore. The tattoos on his arm and chest prove it. They also tell him why he doesn’t remember anything past June second… and why Eli sleeps in his bed now.

When Calden wakes up – every time he wakes up – he gets to discover Eli is in love with him for the first time all over again.

"Anterograde amnesia is a loss of the ability to create new memories after the event that caused the amnesia, leading to a partial or complete inability to recall the recent past, while long-term memories from before the event remain intact." -wikipedia

I’ve put off writing this review because I was quite sure how to do it. The books we love are always the hardest to review. Let’s start with this is a gay romance. Now I know a lot of people don’t care for that, but this story is about so much more. There are a few sex scenes that can easily be skipped if you prefer not to read that.

There are two things that make this story stick out from the romance crowd. It is hyper focused on the two men, their relationship and dealing with Calden’s medical condition. A few other characters float in and out but they are peripheral. There are mentions of a complicated history for these two but it doesn’t go into that. I think this story is set in her “The Demon’s Age” series world and people live in a post-apocalyptic world where demons are trying to destroy the human race.

The most interesting element of the book and what makes it so unique is the way it was written. The chapters alternate between Calden and Eli in first person POV, but the time line of the events aren’t the same. Eli’s side of the story starts in the past on June 2 into the present, Calden’s is told from the present back to the past when he got sick on June 2. It doesn’t seem like it would work but it does! There is the option to read both POVs on the same timeline, but you will lose some of the emotional and disconcerting impact of the story that gives the reader a better understanding of what the characters are dealing with.

These two characters touched me and they are beautifully written. Kallysten is a talented author.

5 “stepping stone” Sheep

Sharon Stogner

About the Author:

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Thursday, July 24, 2014

Spotlight: The Incubus Saga #1 by Amanda Meuwissen

Incubus (The Incubus Saga #1)
by Amanda Meuwissen

Paperback, 1st Edition, 371 pages
Published July 1st 2013 by BigWorldNetwork.com, LLC
Nathan only ever wanted a normal life, but for him, life, family, and love are anything but normal.

On the other side of the Veil, dark and light fae exist outside the knowledge of most humans. Nathan Grier was born human, but his twin brother Jim is a changeling. On the run since they were children, time for both of them is running out. Turning to fae hunter Sasha Kelly for help, Nathan must soon face his growing feelings for the other man while trying to save himself and his brother from a fate worse than death.

This series is an Urban Paranormal Fantasy/Gay Romance story that kicks off the beginning of an epic trilogy of love, family, and a fight to save the world.

Excerpt:

Sprinting was actually not the best way to describe Nathan's slogging and slipping through the mud, trying to avoid trees, rocks, and other nameless bits of nature which he did his best to baptize with expletives. It wasn't long before his breath was coming in harsh pants. He was fit, but he was carrying a good extra ten pounds of rain water soaked into his clothing and felt like he was running through quicksand.

Nathan was thankful when the pursuit brought him into a more heavily wooded, slightly elevated area. The going was a lot easier, but he still had to stop running to get a lead on the sounds of the golem over his own harsh breathing, the slap of wet clothing against his body, and the sucking noise of his feet in the mud.

He wasn't even really sure if he was gaining on the thing. It seemed to be moving on a course parallel to his. At least they soon started heading downhill, but that also meant that Nathan started to pick up speed.

Bursting out of the trees into a clearing, Nathan was moving faster than he could control. He saw two things very clearly. First, Sasha had just run into the clearing from the opposite side and was standing with his phone at his ear. For the life of him, Nathan couldn't understand why Sasha was staring transfixed at that part of the trees. Sasha was also breathing heavily, and combined with the cell phone might explain why he couldn’t hear Nathan yelling at him in warning.

Because the second thing Nathan saw was the golem hurtling across the clearing toward Sasha’s turned back.

Changeling (The Incubus Saga #2)
by Amanda Meuwissen

Paperback, 468 pages
Published June 10th 2014 by BigWorldNetwork.com
Nathan Grier’s dark fae bounty looms overhead. As he faces the very real threat of becoming a slave to the bounty’s owner, his brother Jim uses his changeling abilities more and more trying to save him. Every changeling throughout history turns evil once their powers manifest, meaning time may be running out for both of them as Jim nears True Awakening.

Fae hunter and incubus, Sasha Kelly, is prophesized to save Nathan, but while Nathan has embraced his feelings for the other man, he fears their time together will be cut short—either from his impending fate…or Jim’s.

Excerpt

“You have…what? Less than thirty years life experience? And you think you can beat almost two-hundred?” Faust sneered.

He had an arm hooking both of Nathan’s arms behind him, which made Nathan’s eyes water with the pressure on his injured shoulder. All of Faust’s weight was centered on a leg that was thrown over Nathan to keep him pinned to the floor.

“When you’ve seen what I’ve seen, touched magic and fae as much as I have, you start seeing everything differently,” Faust said. “Like being able to recognize a succubus and fool her senses. Or weave tapestries of memory just to steal a few meager years. The Veil is coming to an end, boy, and only an immortal will be able to keep up with the dark fae once they retake this world. They already have everything in motion. The chosen changeling has already been tapped. It is only a matter of time.”

Nathan felt a chill run through his body at the mention of the ‘chosen changeling’. His sore shoulder was screaming in pain, and he knew he was being self-conscious of the wounds on his chest, which was slowing him down.

“Ah, but you…I knew there was something about you,” Faust continued. “The house wouldn’t have taken you even if you had chosen the other door like your friends. Because the thing is…” Faust’s voice fell to a whisper beside Nathan’s ear, “…you can’t steal life from the damned.”

About the Author:
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Amanda Meuwissen serves as the COO and Managing Editor for BigWorldNetwork.com and oversees editing and series selection, as well as being involved in marketing and promotion. Amanda is also featured as an author and narrator for several BigWorldNetwork.com series.

Amanda is the author of The Incubus Saga and The Collector, and has been the lead editor on all publications through BigWorldNetwork.com.

Amanda has a Bachelor of Arts in a personally designed major from St. Olaf College in Creative Writing, and has been writing and posting fiction and blog articles online for many years, including maintaining the company blog for Outsell LLC. Amanda spent a summer writing screenplay script coverages for a company in L.A., and is an avid writer and consumer of fiction through film, prose, and video games.

Sunday, May 4, 2014

Alpha Male Diner: Cade and Quinn by Susan Mac Nicol (Double Alchemy Book Tour) + giveaway

Good evening! Welcome to the Alpha Male Diner, where you can indulge your taste for all things sweet and savoury. Let me show to your table - a cozy, candle lit venue in the corner of the room, overlooking the water. It might be dark outside, but we hope you like the ambience inside…

Hello, I’m Sue and I’ll be your waitress tonight. Let me run through the Specials Board with you and you can see if anything takes your fancy.

Cade Mairston (Water Sprite)

Entrée

-One silver eyed sexy anthropologist
-lean swimmers body
-soupcan of cheeky attitude
-lazy grin that turns bones to mush -without too much cooking

Quinn Fairmont (Warlock)

Main Course

-serving of blond masculinity
-whole bunch of arrogance smothered with a small serving of vulnerability
-core of ruthless steel
-huge dose of responsibility resting on broad shoulders
Seasoning - Sorcerer
-liberal dose of fierce arrogance
-dark stare that sees into your soul
-loyal and powerful warrior
-tendency to cause trouble wherever he goes

How do we suggest we serve this delectable dish?
Well, the best way is to settle in for the night, grab a good cup of coffee or tea, or whatever beverage takes your fancy, savour page by page, ensure tissues are handy for the drool on your chin, relax, bake in the steamy atmosphere then give a deep sigh of content once completed. Should the oven overheat, turn it off until it cools down then begin again.

Taste Test

The lure of Cade’s blood pulled Quinn to him and halfway across the room Quinn had to stop to catch a breath. Perhaps the Mirrabar blood took a little while to work because there was still a primeval urge in his loins, an uncontrollable tightness that made him feel faint with longing. His trousers seemed to have shrunk to midget size. He waited a few moments, breathing deeply and after a while he heard a faint buzzing in his ears as the antidote started to work. His body started to feel more relaxed and the fierce desire had dissipated.

Cade was scowling now, an expression which made him look fiercer than ever. Quinn chuckled softly as he approached him with the glass of red wine. Cade’s eyes widened as he saw him. His high cheekbones flushed pink.

“Mr. Mairston, fancy seeing you here,” Quinn drawled. He held up the glass of wine. “I imagined you to be a red wine sort of man. Was I right?”

Cade regarded him thoughtfully. “I am indeed, Mr. Fairmont.” He took the glass from Quinn carefully, watching his face as he did so. “I didn’t realise you would be here tonight.”

“It’s one of the charities I support,” Quinn explained as he tried hard not to look down at the swell of the other man’s obvious arousal at Quinn’s nearness. Despite the contents of the vial Quinn had ingested, Cade’s groin seemed to beckon him to bury his face there. He groaned inwardly.

Christ, he really needed some self-control or he was going to get his arse kicked or worse, arrested. Doesn’t this bloody stuff work properly?

He cleared his throat. “It’s good to see you again. May I say you look very handsome? The most stunning man here tonight without a doubt. That suit is a definite wardrobe asset.” He grinned wickedly.

Cade’s face grew rosier, the freckles across his nose on his pale skin standing out darker. Quinn wanted to bite that rather Roman proboscis and he swallowed, moving away swiftly lest he be tempted. “Did the Institute ask you to come in Professor Tickler-Brown’s place? I heard something had happened and he couldn’t make it. Bad for him, but I have to say, good for me, being able to see you again.”

Cade nodded warily. “Yes, Ambrose had some sort of family emergency.” He swallowed, his hands fidgeting at his side.

Quinn saw the uncertainty in Cade’s eyes as he dealt with feelings for him that he couldn’t explain. Confidently he moved closer to the other man, seeing his pupils dilate, hearing his quick, indrawn breath. Quinn knew he was being very unfair but this wasn’t the time to be fair. This was the time to conquer.

“Would you like to go sit down somewhere?” he enquired. “Perhaps you can tell me about what you do at the Institute and we can get to know each other a little better?”

Cade nodded, his hands shaking. The red liquid he held in the glass surged gently. Quinn put his hand gently on Cade’s shoulder as he guided him to the table. His hand tingled as he touched Cade, and he felt the rush of blood under Cade’s skin. Taut muscle felt incredibly welcoming under Quinn’s eager fingers.

Cade started and goose bumps blossomed on his bare neck. He seemed to be having trouble breathing and Quinn saw the desperate rise and fall of his muscled chest under the tailored shirt.

Cade’s silver eyes regarded Quinn with confusion, his lips trembling as he sought, no doubt, to understand what was happening to him. Quinn would bet his pension (if he had one) that Cade had never felt this way before. The knowledge made Quinn heady with power. He sensed the raging desire in the other man’s body for him.

He smiled in satisfaction as he moved behind Cade, inhaling his scent and his intoxicating essence. Quinn wanted to rip Cade’s clothes off to reveal what he imagined was smooth, sweaty, heated skin. He wanted to run his hands through the man’s wavy, silky hair and hold it in his hands.

Double Alchemy
by Susan Mac Nicol
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group
Release Date: 25th March, 2014
Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance
Powerful yet tormented modern warlock Quinn Fairmont must initiate the silver-eyed Cade Mairston into the world of witchfinders, Withinners, and what can happen when two men fall truly, madly, deeply in love.

THE WORLD IN SHADOW

In modern London there lurks a warlock, Quinn Fairmont. Dangerous, powerful, tortured, sharing his body with the soul of an ancient Welsh sorcerer, Quinn is never alone—and never wholly himself. He fights against all those who would exploit his kind. He takes pleasure where he can find it.

In the forest of Hampstead Heath, Quinn’s hometown, Cade Mairston appears to him like a waking dream. Lithe, lean and silver-eyed, he evokes feelings in Quinn unlike any other: lust with true affection, immediate and shocking. Cade is clearly more than he seems. And yet, if a man of the world, Cade is innocent. He knows nothing of warlocks, witchfinders or Withinners. He knows nothing of what he is, what he might be, or what he might feel. For him, the story is just beginning. Magyck, peril and passion await.

amazon

Book Trailer:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K91KLzo5-Og

About the Author:
Website | Blog | Twitter | Facebook
Goodreads | Pinterest
Susan Mac Nicol was born in Leeds, UK, and left for South Africa when she was eight. She returned to the UK thirty years later and now lives in Essex. Her debut novel Cassandra by Starlight, the first in a trilogy, was published last year by Boroughs Publishing Group in the US. Sue’s latest story, Double Alchemy is her fifth m/m romance.

Sue has written since she was very young, and never thought she would see herself becoming a Romance writer, being a horror/psychological thriller reader all her life. But the Romance genre is now something very close to her heart and she intends continuing the trend.

Sue is a member of the Romance Writers of America and the Romantic Novelists Association here in the UK.

Susan Mac Nicol is also author of The Magick of Christmas, Confounding Cupid, Cassandra by Starlight, Together in Starlight, Stripped Bare, Saving Alexander, Worth Keeping and Waiting for Rain.

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