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***Pre-release Book Blitz!!*** Relearning the Ropes by D.C. Juris, with Excerpt and Giveaway

6/30/2016

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Title: Relearning the Ropes

Author: DC Juris

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kristin Norris

Release Date: 7/6/16

Heat Level: 5

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 10,485 words

Genre: M/M Romance, BDSM, Kink

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Relearning the Ropes Cover

Synopsis

When his good friend Julius dies unexpectedly, Marcus finds himself saddled with a new submissive–Charlie. But Charlie comes with a history, and a whole host of issues and problems that Marcus has never really dealt with. Marcus knows he loves Charlie, and Charlie loves him, but he'll have to set aside his old theories about BDSM and relearn the ropes, so to speak, if he wants to be the Dom Charlie needs him to be. Previously published by Breathless Press.

Excerpt

Marcus rolled over to stare at the clock. 3:25 AM. A month ago, at precisely that moment, his phone had rung. He'd answered it, expecting it to be the only person who ever called him that late, his friend Julius, but instead it was Julius' lawyer. The man apologized for waking Marcus, but Julius was dead -- condolences, of course -- and Julius left the care of his sub, Charlie, to Marcus, and could Marcus please go over to Julius' house and fetch Charlie? At 3:45 AM that morning Marcus went and picked Charlie up, and, for the past month, Charlie slept in the spare bedroom across the hall. Marcus hadn't slept since. Not that he didn't like or want Charlie. He did, on both counts. Loved Charlie, was quite in love with Charlie. But if Marcus had wanted a live-in sub -- which he hadn't, his life was far too busy and complicated, and he was entirely too set in his ways -- he wouldn't have chosen one like Charlie. Charlie was a complex little creature: delicate and high-maintenance. He took everything Marcus knew about how to treat a sub and turned it upside down. He thought back, remembering how, a little over two years ago, Julius had phoned him in the middle of the night, music blaring in the background so loudly that Marcus could barely hear himself speaking, let alone Julius. Julius had gone down to his favorite club, spotted Charlie, and Marcus had ended up loaning him five hundred thousand dollars to buy the battered and bruised sub out of the sex slave ring he'd been held captive in. Charlie had come such a long way since then, learning to live as a sub instead of a slave, and finding a niche in the working world. Marcus didn't want to do anything to set him back. Marcus groaned and flipped over onto his other side, putting the mocking glare of the clock's bright red numbers behind him. Aside from Charlie, Marcus had never dominated a man he'd loved. He had no clue how to reconcile the two. Charlie needed clear boundaries, a clear definition of their relationship, but how was he supposed to define their relationship to Charlie if he couldn't define it to himself? He tried to treat Charlie like any other sub, but the fact of the matter was Charlie wasn't just any other sub. Sold into sexual slavery at fifteen, Charlie had been dragged all across the country before he'd landed in Julius' hands. Marcus was all business when he served as a Dom at Anton's BDSM playhouse, clinical, almost; for most of the men he played with, that was enough -- the domination, the control. But Charlie, Charlie needed more. The only question, was could he give it? He sighed and squeezed his eyes shut, trying to force himself back to sleep.

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Torquere Press

Relearning the Ropes SquareMeet the Author

Romance author, sci-fi fan club Captain, cosplayer, reigning Queen of Monkeyland, and random menace. Yep, we're talking about DC Juris. She’s a cupcake-making, football-watching, rubber-duck-collecting, drag-show loving, full-of-fabulous-with-a-capital-F kinda gal. She's also an ordained minister and an amateur photographer. She lives in Upstate New York with her husband, three dogs, and three cats. When she's not writing, you can find her in her favorite chair watching Star Trek and Supernatural repeats on Netflix, or surfing the web for porn. Er…research. Surfing the web for research. She may speak softly but she lives and loves loudly. Just ask the neighbors. ::wink:: https://www.facebook.com/danielchristianjuris www.twitter.com/dcjuris https://www.pinterest.com/dcjuris/ @dcjuris on Instagram and Periscope http://dcjuris.blogspot.com

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Release Blitz!!  Picked Fresh by Posy Roberts, 5 Star Review, Excerpt, Book Trailer, Playlist and Giveaway

6/24/2016

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Title: Picked Fresh
Series: Naked Organics #2
Author: Posy Roberts 
Genre: M/M Romance
Publisher: Labyrinth Bound Press
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Hudson Oliva loves stability. He was a throwaway teen before finding Kaleidoscope Gardens, but has since thrived at the commune. When Jude Garrity moves in, life gets even better, but Hudson still craves more. He knows he has to be satisfied with their exclusive status being temporary and that Jude will eventually navigate his full sexual awakening with their other housemates.

Hudson has a journey of his own to make. It might only require going home to settle his grandmother’s estate, but he plans to use his time away to figure out how to temper his feelings for Jude and bury his jealousy once and for all. But when Jude joins him on his trip, Hudson falls even deeper in love, especially after Jude stands by his side when he finally confronts his mother for rejecting him.

However, it’s not all hearts and flowers while they travel. They’re over two thousand miles from home when Hudson learns a ruthless corporate farm threatens the commune they both love. In order to save their way of life, Hudson must ask his mother for help. And if he wants a chance at a stable future with Jude, he has to tell him the truth about his feelings, no matter if it ruins the harmony he’s tried so hard to preserve.

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​I really enjoyed reading this book, it really gave you an insight into both Hudson and Jude., and what they have managed to overcome to become the men they were.  

Hudson had to go and settle his grandmothers estate, which he really wasn't looking forward to - especially as he thought Jude had to stay at the commune to finish his coursework assignments.  However, what he didn't know was that Jude had been working all hours to things completed so he could go with Hudson.

The two embark on their journey, both of them looking forward to spending time together, but not realising things would not go as smoothly as they wished.  Jude receives a phone call, and this now means that they have to make a detour on the way.

I am not going to spoil things and say what happened on their detour, but you do get to understand Jude a lot more, and to me even Hudson was in awe of what Jude had endured.  Once the detour was concluded, Hudson and Jude were back on the road towards the horse ranch that his grandmother owned.

Their journey was quite the roller coaster ride, but at the same time the two become closer, especially as they learn more about each other. Hudson becomes more agitated the closer they are to the horse ranch, mostly as he knows his mother will be there, and they didn't part on the best of terms.

Their arrival at the horse ranch was quite tense, as rather then see she had made mistakes, Hudsons mother seems to think that she was the one wronged.  Hudson finally vents all his feelings about things, but still his mother is playing the wounded party...... until Jude tells her some home truths.,

In the middle of all this going on, Hudson receives a phone call from the commune letting him know that a ruthless corporate farm is trying to buy the farm next door to them, which would then signal the end of the commune, which is their real home.

Is there any way to stop what is happening back home at the commune?  Will his mother actually help when Hudson really needs her?  Are Hudson and Jude going to be totally honest with each other, and admit the depth of their feelings for each other?

I look forward to reading more on this series, and catching up with the others within the commune - especially Leo and Charlie. Now there is a complex relationship, will Leo ever be honest with Charlie and vice versa.
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Jude shifted in his seat and stared at Hudson. Hudson couldn’t take his eyes off the road, but the desire to turn toward Jude and mirror him was overwhelming. “What was your first impression of me when I met you at the farmers market?”
“Should I be diplomatic or honest?”
“Honest.”
Hudson ran that day over in his mind. It was crystal clear, still, even though it had been more than nine months ago. Jude had meandered from stand to stand. He initially stood out from the crowd because of what he was wearing: a bright blue, almost turquoise wool coat over a black turtleneck and tight black jeans. In the blur of quilted plaid flannel and fleece hoodies in various shades of drab, olive, and Carhartt, Jude was all Hudson could see.
“I couldn’t keep my eyes off you. You were… stunning.” He shook his head. “I don’t know another word for it. I was talking to some customer about how we raised our chickens, and when I saw you, I stopped midsentence. I stared, felt like a dirty old man because you looked so young, and when I turned back to the woman to carry on our conversation, I had no idea what we’d been talking about. Literally none. It was like looking at you sucked the words out of my throat and the thoughts right out of my head.”
Jude chuckled. “Seriously? Was it the coat?”
“It made you stand out, but no, it wasn’t the coat. It was everything about you. Your broad shoulders and your hair and your eyes and your fucking lips.”
“You like my lips?” Jude pulled his rose-flavored lip stuff out of his front pocket and made a show of smearing it across the bottom one. Then he rubbed his lips together and licked them, all while staring at Hudson with soft bedroom eyes.
The bus vibrated, a jagged noise piercing Hudson’s ears as he drove too far to the right, edging his tires onto the rumble strip. “¡Coño!” He maneuvered back into the center of his lane.
Jude laughed. Hudson’s heart thundered against his rib cage.
“You’re evil,” Hudson said. “Evil, I tell you!”
“Maybe.” Jude bit at his bottom lip.
“Stop. Stop tempting me with your fucking gorgeous mouth. I can’t have you doing that shit while I’m driving.”
“Okay.” Jude smirked but kept his tongue and teeth from doing anything else. He put away those hazel sex-eyes too. “So, how did you see this trip going down?”
“Just like that?” Hudson was incredulous.
“What?”
“You can just turn it on and off like a switch?”
“With you, sure.”
“Well, I can’t.” Hudson gestured to his crotch, where his dick was obvious, thick, and quickly moving on its way to fully hard, even though Jude had stopped the licking and the biting.
“Want me to touch you?” Jude’s voice was breathy as he slid his warm palm up Hudson’s inner thigh. He thumbed over the head of Hudson’s cock, and Hudson got harder. Jude played with just the head, moving back and forth, his touch light and delicious.
“Want me to drive off the road?” Hudson managed not to sound choked off.
“No.” Jude pulled his hand away and smiled like the devil. “I want you to drive. And I want you to tell me about what you want to do on this trip besides the obvious. And for the record, turning it off doesn’t happen like a switch. Turning me on with one look, easy!”
“You’re dangerous.”
“Damn right I am.”

Book Trailer
​Road Trip Playlist
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Interested in reading how Hudson ended up living at Kaleidoscope Gardens? Read Naked Origins—Hudson for free. This is not a romance, but for those who want to dig a little deeper, this story covers much of Hudson’s history that is hinted at in Picked Fresh. Visit https://posyroberts.com/2016/02/02/free-read-naked-origins/ to read the summary and download it.
Title: Farm Fresh
Series: Naked Organics #1
Author: Posy Roberts 
Genre: M/M Romance
Publisher: Labyrinth Bound Press 
Posy Roberts writes about the realistic struggles of men looking for love. Whether her characters are family men, drag queens, or lonely men searching for connections, they all find a home in her stories.
Posy is a Jill of all trades and master of the drill and paintbrush. She’s married to a partner who makes sure she doesn’t forget to eat or sleep during her writing frenzies. Her daughter, a budding author and cinematographer, helps her come up with character names. For fun, Posy enjoys crafting, hiking, and singing spontaneously about the mundane, just to make regular life more interesting.
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Blog Tour!!  Misinformation by Keelan Ellis - 4.5 Star Review, Teasers and Giveaway

6/22/2016

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Book Title: Misinformation

Author: Keelan Ellis

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Book Length: 197 pages

synopsis

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Ethan Daniels, host of a popular conservative cable news program, has never thought of his bisexuality as a problem, even though he has never acted on his attraction to men. Since his divorce, his desire has become more acute. When he meets Charlie Woods, his daughter’s first grade teacher, they have an instant spark, but Ethan hesitates to act. His contract is up for renewal, there are already rumors swirling about him because of a brief encounter from his past, and the last thing his employers want is for one of their stars to come out publicly.
 
Charlie avoids romantic entanglements because he prefers living on his own terms. He keeps love and sex completely separate, never seeing anyone more than a few times. Hooking up with a closeted celebrity like Ethan seems safe from emotional involvement, even if they have to keep their fledgling relationship secret. 

​The last thing they expect is to fall in love, but their strong mutual attraction moves them both to make changes neither of them thought they wanted or needed.
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GMR - 4.5 Star Review
I have to say I really disliked Ethan from the beginning. I really didn't like the way he was treating other people.  However, the more I read, the more I began to understand Ethan and realise that everything was not as black and white as you first thought.

Although Ethan knows he is bisexual, he does nothing when he finds a man attractive - that is until he met Charlie Woods, his daughters first grade teacher.  He is really drawn towards Charlie, but I think due to where he works, and also worrying about what other people may think, he seems to think he has to suppress his attraction.

However, while out for a drink, or rather while out getting drunk one night, he runs into Charlie, and the two return to Ethans apartment and things get rather heated.  It doesn't take long for Ethan to get cold feet again, and tell Charlie he can't see him again.

Although he was the one to stop everything, Ethan is feeling unsettled, upset and not sure of anything now.  Charlie is also devastated, something I don't think he has felt before.  Both realise that their feelings run deep, but Ethan feels that he really can't act on them.

Can Ethan ever get the courage to admit publicly he is bisexual?  Will Charlie wait for him - however long it is?  Does Ethan admit  things to his ex-wife and daughter? ......  read and find out!! 

I have to say, although I thoroughly disliked Ethan to begin with, as I read and realised the outside pressure put on him I could understand him more.  It was like he had no control over what he did with his life, that he had to make sure he was socially acceptable to everyone - even if this meant he could not live the life he wanted and needed.
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Bio: Keelan Ellis is an east coast girl for life, a progressive, a lover of music and musicians, a mother of two very challenging girls, a loyal though sometimes thoughtless friend, a slacker, a dreamer and a bad influence. She likes true crime podcasts, great television and expensive craft cocktails made by hipsters in silly vests.

Social Media Links:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kellisauthor

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13923273.Keelan_Ellis

Blog: http://keelanellis.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KeelanEllisAuth

Blog Tour Stops: June 16 Sinfully Gay Romance Gay Book Reviews June 17 All in One Place Jessie G. Books Love Bytes June 20 Inked Rainbow Reads The Novel Approach June 21 Molly Lolly Gay Media June 22 BFD Book Blog My Fiction Nook June 23 Book Lovers 4Ever June 24 Bayou Book Junkie June 27 Velvet Panic June 28 Two Chicks Obsessed
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Book Blitz!!!  Snare by Racheline Maltese & Erin McRae, with 4 Star Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

6/17/2016

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Title: Snare

Publisher: Torquere Press

Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Release Date: 6/22/16

Heat Level: 4

Pairing: M/M/M Ménage

Length: 26,800 words

Genre/Tags: Gay fiction, paranormal, urban fantasy, menage, M/M romance

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Snare Cover

Synopsis

When Elliot Iverson, a municipal employee responsible for paperwork pertaining to New York City's vampire population, knocks on the door of the Gramercy warren, he wants only to resolve a clerical error. But a sudden snowstorm, a new friendship, and an ill-advised threesome force Elliot to make some big choices about his own life and death.
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While I did actually enjoy reading this book,  there was something missing, but I am just not sure what.

Elliot (or Eli as he is in the book), to me comes across as someone who has led a very sheltered life, and although he has moved away from his parents, he is still rather naive.  

When he arrives at the Gramercy Warren, he is unsure what to expect, one thing he didn't expect was to meet someone he was attracted to, which he did find with Matthew. Although uneasy about being in the warren, he follows Matthew to his office, and then stays with him until late.  When he goes to leave, he finds himself snowbound and staying in the warren - which actually scares Eli totally.

Eli is uneasy when seeing the Dead people and the vampires, but stays close to Matthew.  He has no intention of staying long in the warren, just long enough for the storm to pass and the subways to re-open. However, this all changes when he meets Richard, and he does the unthinkable.

Now Eli has big decisions to make, on what he wants to do. Does he stay or does he go?  Does he actually love Matthew or even Richard? Is there any kind of future for Eli in the Warren?

Excerpt

When Matthew pulls open the door, a blast of wind and snow swirls in. The snow is piled up on the stoop, and as they watch some of it crumbles onto the carpet of the foyer. The street is drifted with white and all Eli can see is billowing white globes of snow around each of the streetlamps. “Okay, there’s no way you’re leaving,” Matthew declares, pushing the door shut again and cutting off the frigid stream of air. Eli’s glasses fog up again, but only briefly, and once they’re clear he sees Matthew turn to regard him thoughtfully. “Even if the subway’s still open it’s going to take you forever to get home. Do you want to stay for dinner?” As he asks, he leans forward and puts his hand over Eli’s where he’s gripping the strap of his bag. All at once, Eli realizes that he is in a house with Dead people and vampires; that if the trains are down he has effectively no way to get home; and that he’s being propositioned. “Oh my god,” he says. This is entirely the thing his mom had fretted about, at length, when he announced his intention to move to New York. Because con-artists, homosexuals, anarchists, and vampires. It’s her worst nightmare. Maybe there are drug dealers here too. Matthew tips his head curiously. “Oh my god,” Eli says, more frantically. “Oh my god. I can’t get home.” “Yeah?” Matthew asks, nonplussed. “Horror stories start like this!”

Purchase

Torquere Press

Snare Square

Meet the Authors

  Erin McRae and Racheline Maltese write the LGBTQ Hollywood romance series Love in Los Angeles (Torquere Press) and the theater-based Love’s Labours series (Dreamspinner Press). Their work has also been published with Cleis Press and Supposed Crimes. Erin is a writer and blogger based in Washington, D.C. She has a bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of Toronto, and a master’s degree in International Affairs from American University where she studied the role of social media in the Arab Spring. Racheline’s fiction, non-fiction and poetry has appeared in numerous outlets. She is also a producer and writer on Serial Box Publishing’s Tremontaine (available in print from Simon & Schuster’s Saga Press). Together, they write stories and scripts about the intersection of private lives, fame, and desire. Facebook | Erin's Twitter | Racheline's Twitter | Erin's Goodreads | Racheline's Goodreads | Erin's Amazon | Racheline's Amazon    

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Seeing Red by TC Orton Blog Tour, with 4.5 Star Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

6/6/2016

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COVER DESIGN: Fiverr

https://www.fiverr.com/

 

BLURB

Down the twists and turns of the London alleyways, where Chinatown meets the highstreets, lies a small venue where unknown rock bands often play to crowds of less than one-hundred. Isaac is nineteen, living on the sofa of his best friend’s brother – Eric – after his bible-loving parents tossed him aside because of his sexuality. After two years of struggling to make sense of his life, Eric and Charlotte convince Isaac to attend Red’s gig; an up and coming rock band with a small cult following. All hell breaks loose and Isaac is left injured, with the whereabouts of his friends unknown and his body crippled on the ground. It’s then that the four members – Troy, Nicolai, Kyle and Moss – aid Isaac by infecting him with a ‘magical’ virus that grants immortality in exchange for consuming blood. The ‘Paranorm’ world is exposed to Isaac. Vampires, werewolves and warlocks lurk in the depths of the city he has lived in his entire life, but he won’t become one with the night until he completes his nine-month transition, leaving him in the hands of the band and at the mercy of vampire politics.

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We first meet Issac when he is out with friends, going to a concert. However the evening doesn't go as planned,  as there is an accident and Issac is fatally wounded.  As he lays dying, he seems quite prepared for it, and can literally feel the life draining out of himself.

The band that Issac went to see - called Red - were not as they seemed either.  Their "gimmick" of red eyes was not because of contacts but because they were vampires, and Issac had caught the eye of one member of the band. 

As Issac lay dying, the band together took the decision to help Issac, although Issac himself had no idea of what was happening.  When he finally woke up, he had a lot to learn..... his life was never going to be the same again. 

We then go on a journey with Issac for the transition from being human to being a vampire., which actually it takes months., it is not immediate.  We soon find out that he has to learn the new way that his life will be., especially with his eating.

However, there are other things that being a vampire means, and Issac also has to learn these, but he finds it hard at times.  He seems to grow close to Nikolai, but events that happen soon put this to the test.

I don't want to say what happens, as I hate spoilers in reviews!! What I will say is that I really enjoyed this book, it took a totally new way of looking at changing from human to vampire, and I loved reading about it.  I hope that there will be more books like this one, especially to see what happens to the others in the group..  To me personally, I can honestly see these characters in a series, even more so due to the other people encountered along the way. 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1TpucOk

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1WHolKq

TEASERS

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EXCERPT #1 “You don’t have to.” Nicolai seemed to notice my hesitation. “I want to,” I replied as I began to shift my body down the sheets, my face dropping closer to Nicolai’s to plant another kiss on his lips before my mouth moved to his neck. I used my tongue to leave a trail of saliva from the tip of his earlobe, down between his pecs and over his hard abs until I was knelt at the foot of the bed with my mouth hovering around the waistline of his jeans as my entire body began to shake with nerves. I wanted this; I really wanted this, but what if I was no good? At least if we were doing everything then I could rely on Nicolai to lead the way, but this required some talent on my part. Nicolai reached down, undoing the button on his jeans and sliding the zipper down as he used his free hand to ruffle my blonde locks that I just realized might get in the way. I ran a hand through my hair, pushing the strands over my shoulders and hoping that they’d stay put. I reached out, grabbed the tip of Nicolai’s jeans and tugged them down, also bringing his black boxers down with them and causing his thick shaft to spring up in all its glory.  

EXCERPT #2

I took a moment. Breathing deeply. Letting my chest rise and fall slowly. Composing myself before forcing a smile onto my quivering lips, and then I turned around to head back downstairs, as if I wasn’t fazed at all. Only, when I shifted my body towards the exit, Moss was standing with his cold stare fixed on me. “I’m fine,” I said quickly in my defense. Moss sighed. He began walking towards his room and turned his head from me. “Didn’t ask,” he replied in a gentler tone than usual as he took his messy, green hair into his bedroom and slammed the door shut behind him. At least I didn’t have to worry about him smothering me with overbearing affection anytime soon.  

AUTHOR BIO

Born January 6th 1993, T. C. resides in the United Kingdom, living with his partner Peter Jones and their dog, Drake. T. C. has had a passion for supernatural stories from a young age, often scribbling down his latest ideas instead of focusing on whatever task was at hand during the long school days. At the age of twelve, he penned his first romance story featuring himself and the boy he had feelings for set in a fantastical land full of werewolves and wizards. Ever since that day, T. C. has made it his mission to entwine his leading gay protagonists with epic paranormal adventures.

 

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PREVIOUS BOOKS

Omega Moon

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College Climax (Book 1)

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Summer Climax (Book 2)

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Resurrection by S. Davidson - 5 Star Review and Giveaway

6/2/2016

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His war has just begun.
Triggers: Deals with PTSD, death, and injury.
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Two men with painful, complicated pasts who have shut themselves down from ever loving again. Complete opposites of one another, one raised in a strict military household, who grew up with the sole purpose of becoming a soldier and defending his country, only to have that cut short by an IED; and the other raised in the rodeo, small town and ranch life his safe haven; and their chance meeting.
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How the two of them end up in some small town diner can only be credited to divine intervention. But are both men too damaged? They say God works in mysterious ways. Well, he certainly had his hands full when he chose these two for saving.
Is it too late?
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I have to say, this is one of the hardest reviews I have written - I am at a total loss of finding the right words to explain how brilliant this book was.   Now I loved this book, but I did shed some tears while reading this, due to the way the author put the emotions into her characters.  I also have to say part of the book deals with PTSD, which some may find upsetting.  From the beginning this book deals also with death and injury. 

The book is split into three parts - In the first we meet Jamie, who comes from a totally homophobic military family. From a young age, he was pushed to be the best he could be, taught not to think of others but only of himself and how he could be better.

When Jamie went away to College, he then met Shannon and Derrick, and it was here that Jamie was learning more about himself, but also keeping this part well hidden from his family and his team mates too. When Jamie finished college, he had enlisted in the army so moved away, but unbeknown to him, Derrick had also moved to be close to him.

The two become an item, and each time Jamie had to move, Derrick moved too, until finally they rented somewhere together.  It gave Jamie a place he felt grounded, and could act normally..... until he received the most devastating news while away on deployment.  Jamie then kind of lost it for a while, but he managed to pull himself together and get picked to join the elite Delta, once he had finished one last tour with his team.  However, things do not go according to plan........

The second part of the book is about Chris.  He came from a loving family, living on a ranch and doing the rodeo circuit from a young age. Things changed when he met Ben at college, and after an bad fall retired from rodeo, content to build the life he wanted with Ben.

Chris and Ben had a successful business, and loved working together, and everything was looking rosy, until the day Ben had an accident at work, and the news from the hospital was the last thing either thought they would hear.  After trying to stay where they were and keep their business successful, Ben admitted to Chris that he wanted to move away, back down to their cabin, which was nearer to Chris's parents too.

Chris built a new cabin to Bens specifications, and they loved it there. A few years later, the local general store owner died and Chris jumped at the chance of purchasing the business and making his own mark on the small town they lived in.  They both seemed to be living the life they wanted.... until Bens health deteriorated for the last time.

We then move onto part three, which is when Jamie somehow manages to arrive in the small town that Chris lives in, however he is now living above the general store, no longer able to face the cabin he built for Ben.

Chris and Jamie slowly forge a friendship together, and the more time they spend together, the more that Jamie opens up to Chris - but what Jamie doesn't realise is that Chris has his own demons to deal with. 

I am not going to spoil it and say what happens, but the two men have to endure some heart wrenching times together, and sometimes it seems like they have reached the end of the road.  However, one thing that sticks in my mind from the book is the saying "Everything Happens For A Reason"..........  

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Who is Shelly Davidson? Shelly is someone who has been writing literally her entire life (and that’s a LONG time) and has always written M/M. Her first story was back in high school and she hasn’t stopped since. Of course, Shelly never dreamed of getting published, so needless to say, she’s in heaven! Shelly loves her characters. Her writing focus is real people, flaws and all, who are hurting or damaged, but deserve a little joy in their lives. Shelly was born and raised in Arizona, but currently lives in California because that is where the money is!

​She is currently single but has a grown daughter and an adorable grandson both of whom she loves dearly. While she usually stays pretty much to herself, she does have a Bachelor’s in Social Services and a diverse background that ranges from theater to health care and currently works in accounting, she swears it’s not as boring as it sounds. While this is her first publication, it is by far not the last! She plans on being around for quite some time! You’ve been warned!
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Blog Tour!!  Stained by Chris T. Kat, 5 Star Review, Excerpt and Giveaway

6/1/2016

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Author Name: Chris T. Kat

Book Name: Stained

Release Date: June 1st, 2016

Blurb:

Blair Clark has reached his breaking point. Forced to leave one job because of sexual harassment, he’s having difficulty finding another. Since no one believes what happened, Blair’s left with a stain on his employment record that he can’t get rid of. He’s had to move back home with his mother. As if that’s not bad enough, he realizes his crush, Travis, is simply using him. His romantic life looks as hopeless as his job search.

Jack Ross is sure he’ll never find anyone who’ll love him for who he is. All anyone sees is the port-wine stain on his left cheek—not the man behind it. Even his mother thinks he should get rid of it. But the procedure is difficult and painful.

When Blair applies for a secretarial position with Jack’s firm, both men learn that beauty is, indeed, in the eye of the beholder. It’ll take a lot of trust to chase away their insecurities, but if they take a chance on one another, love will find a way.

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance

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Blair is such a sweet small built man, but when I began to read this story I was wondering why he was with his friends with benefits, long time crush Travis, as he really did treat Blair badly.  It was while he was out with Blair and Blair’s friends that he actually met Jack Ross, but not in a good way. 

Blair was trying to get away from Travis and his friends after being called a fairy, and for not looking for a man’s job.  They all constantly belittle him, and Blair thinks that Travis will stick up for him, but he is so wrong at that….. Travis will always just look out for himself, but sadly Blair seems to be blinkered against his faults.

Blair literally bumps into Jack in a bar, and when he catches sight of the port-wine stain on his cheek, he is reminded of something else totally, but Jack assumes he is repulsed by it.  Much to Blair’s dismay, when he arrives at his job interview, he finds the man he bumped into at the bar, and again he reacts to the port-wine stain, but makes matters worse when he then loses his temper when asked about his previous job, and why didn’t he bother to report it!!

Strangely, Jack decides that Blair is someone he can work with, as he came across as someone who can hold his own, and would not be walked over (well, in his working life, private life not so sure!). 

Although not off to a brilliant start of their working relationship, Blair and Jack find that they can work well together, and everything seems to be going well….. until the evening Blair decides to go and see Travis after work….. and then everything takes a turn for the worse.

Blair is late into work the next day, and Jack is furious with him… but this changes as soon as Jack gets a look at Blair, and then the anger disappears to be replaced with a caring, tender Jack. However, Blair’s day is about to get worse, and he is sure that Jack will fire him for something he has nothing to do with, and he gets more and more distressed.

Does Jack trust Blair? But more importantly does Blair trust Jack, or is he going to be like other people?  Will Blair let Jack help him, or does he push him away?  Will Blair be able to recover from what has happened, and will he keep his job?

​I totally loved this story, so much so that I have read it more than once.  You can really feel Blair’s despair at what is happening to him. You saw first-hand how he tries to shut it all out and disappear into his safe place in his mind, which he has always done, especially as he was bullied for being so small and slight – I guess it brings home that bullies will always pick someone smaller than them, and use their size to terrify their victim. 

Excerpt: From Chapter One

“Can’t I?” I gazed into Travis’s brown eyes, the same eyes I dreamed about at night. In those dreams they were filled with love, but when I looked now, I only saw cruelty, arrogance, and something more, something darker I didn’t want to think about.

“No.” Travis snatched my chin, held it tightly between his big fingers and forced me to keep perfectly still. “No, you can’t. Choose a manly job and they’ll stop. Keep flaunting your sexuality and that’s what they’ll do.”

“Flaunting my sexuality? What’s that got to do with my job?”

“You’re a secretary, for fuck’s sake. It’s a woman’s job. Now stop adding fuel to the fire and cowboy up.” Travis’s voice remained low but it held an angry edge to it, one I recognized well.

I dropped my gaze, and a moment later Travis let go of my chin. Breathing out a sigh of relief, I winced when another guy asked, “Having trouble keeping the fairy in line?”

“Are you kidding?” Travis replied, puffing up his chest.

Enough was enough. I bolted up, ready to leave, when a big hand clamped on my arm. I tugged, but the grip tightened. Anxiety blossomed into fear, especially when the table dropped into sudden silence.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Travis hissed.

My tongue stuck to the roof of my mouth, making it impossible for me to answer. What the hell was wrong with me? Why had I pursued Travis for so many months? Just because of his looks? Sure, he was hot, and exactly how I liked my men—big, fair-haired, and brown-eyed. But there was no love lost between us. Travis would never come out as gay, even though he liked to fool around with me whenever it was convenient for him.

“Blair, sit your ass down again, you’re attracting attention.”

When Travis pulled at my arm with more force, I planted my feet. I didn’t anticipate Travis letting go all of a sudden, leaving me to stumble backward. I crashed into someone behind me, taking us both to the ground.

Rolling to my knees and away from whomever I’d thrown, I apologized, “I’m so sorry. Did I hurt you?”

Heat flooded my cheeks as embarrassment swept over me. Holding out a hand for the guy I’d tripped, I recoiled when the man sat up, revealing his face. A gasp tumbled over my lips and I stared openmouthed. The skin of the man’s left side was stained in red, giving him a slightly scary appearance, as if he’d been badly burnt.

“I’m fine,” the man said, his brows creasing in a frown. Obviously he’d seen my reaction and wasn’t too thrilled about it.

I couldn’t help but stare even more. The man’s dark blue eyes bore right into me, daring me to say anything. The stained skin drew my attention, no matter how hard I tried to look elsewhere. It looked so painful, a large blotch of red that started below the man’s eye, covered his whole cheek, and tapered out at his jawline.

“It’s not contagious, if that’s what you’re afraid of,” the man said in an icy tone. He rose in one fluid motion, holding out his hand for me to… to what? Help me up? Why would he do that?

I eyed the outstretched hand, hating myself for the fear coursing through me. Just when I was about to take the man up on the offer, two big hands grabbed my waist and hoisted me to my feet.

Buy the book:

 

amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stained-Chris-T-Kat-ebook/dp/B01FKGHIC6

Are: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-stained-2037263-149.html
   

Meet the author:

Chris T. Kat lives in the middle of Europe, where she shares a house with her husband of many years and their two children. She stumbled upon the M/M genre by luck and was swiftly drawn into it. She divides her time between work, her family—which includes chasing after escaping horses and lugging around huge instruments such as a harp—and writing. She enjoys a variety of genres, such as mystery/suspense, paranormal, and romance. If there's any spare time, she happily reads for hours, listens to audiobooks or does cross stitch.

Where to find the author:

Twitter: http://twitter.com/christi_kat

GoodReads: http://www.goodreads.com/ChrisTKat

Blog: http://christikat.blogspot.com

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/Chris-T.-Kat/e/B008FQQH2Q

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5767496.Chris_T_Kat

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Bree Archer

Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Divine Magazine, Alpha Book Club, Gay Media Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, V's Reads, Kirsty Loves Books, MM Good Book Reviews, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, The Jena Wade, A.M. Leibowitz, Making It Happen, BFD Book Blog, The Blogger Girls, 3 Chicks After Dark, Jessie G. Books, Man2ManTastic, Nephy Hart, Open Skye Book Reviews, Butterfly-O-Meter, Inked Rainbow Reads, Velvet Panic, Molly Lolly, The Hat Party, Bayou Book Junkie, Three Books Over The Rainbow, Havan Fellows, Oh My Shelves, Book Lovers 4Ever, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, Outrageous Heroes  

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