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Safety In Numbers Book Blast by Jessie G! Plus Excerpt and Giveaway!!!

10/31/2015

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Author Name: Jessie G.
Book Name: Safety In Numbers
Series: Sizzling Miami
Book: Five
Pages: 241
Words: 76,000 words
Categories: Gay fiction, M/M Romance, Romance
Release Date: October 31, 2015

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“Bros stick together no matter what.”

When Chris and Liam made that promise, they had no idea how important it would become or how it would be tested in the most brutal way. Nine years later, their bond cemented in blood, that relationship is all they have to hold on to. 

“No matter what happens, this friendship will be the one constant we can count on.”

When Billy and Owen made that promise, they knew exactly how dangerous the world could be. They survived prison by protecting each other and they survived freedom by holding that promise sacred. Now they want more than just to survive and they want it from the brothers whose bond is as strong as their own.

“We are stronger together than we’ll ever be apart.”

When Owen reaches his breaking point, Chris jumps at the chance to make things right for all of them. With the future in their grasp, will they realize their strength is in their numbers and finally become the family they crave?

Author’s Note: This is NOT a foursome, but the story of two couples that needed to be told together.
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Amazon Pre-Order Link: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B014E90EXA
ARe Pre-order Link:
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-safetyinnumbers-1901179-149.html 
KOBO:
https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/safety-in-numbers-4 
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That silence hid a lot from their friends, but Liam knew Chris was plagued with memories far worse than his. That’s why they decided not to celebrate alone this year. Billy and Owen were expected any minute and it was the first time they invited anyone to join them. The anniversary was bittersweet for them and they chose to celebrate it because becoming brothers meant that much to them. “Do you think they’ll find it stupid?”

Chris just shrugged as if it was no skin off his back what they thought and Liam knew that was just bravado. Fact was, they both very much cared what the two men thought. “Liar.”

His brother sighed and dropped his head back. As if shit wasn’t fucked up enough, they fell for two bastards just as fucked up as they were. “I know you’re worried about Owen. The business with Colin is growing out of their control and I’m not sure why he thinks it’s a good thing. Is he trying to prove something? And the middle of the night phone calls from the FTR? He’s looking more and more fragile every day.”

Liam knew he wasn’t stating anything new. What he didn’t know was what Chris intended to do about it. Lately, when it came to Owen, Chris conveyed zero intent and seemed to be waiting for Owen to read him as effortlessly as Liam did. Their brother bond had been forged through blood and he was afraid Chris’s expectations of Owen were unreasonable. “Do you see his face every time he thinks he’s failed to understand you? The weight of it is crushing.”

Instead of regret, all Liam saw was anger in Chris. It wasn’t a common emotion for Chris and Liam could name every time he saw it. The fact that Chris knew what he was capable of if provoked had made him extremely conscious of that emotion and he often went to great lengths to contain it. 

Owen was the very definition of insecure. Just the type to inspire Chris’s protective instincts, which Liam knew for a fact Owen did. Hell, he inspired Liam’s protective instincts. Owen was stubborn though and he often distanced himself, keeping things bottled up until they manifested elsewhere. Like in panic attacks that felt like heart attacks, which he also tried to hide. Liam nearly lost it when they found out that Billy was keeping Owen’s secret.

Chris nodded slowly, as if he completely followed Liam’s train of thought and waited for him to connect the dots. And just like that, Liam understood. “You’re pissed because he doesn’t come to you when the panic sets in. That he hides it from you and they hide it from us.”

It made total sense, but he had to wonder if they were expecting too much. After all, they couldn’t call what was going on with either man a relationship. No, they were four fucked up bastards trying to come together in some romantic—what? Not a foursome, eww…he loved Chris, but yeah, that just wasn’t happening. And Owen wasn’t his type any more than Billy was Chris’s type. But—always with the fucking buts, right?—what was happening was very definitely happening to the four of them, and Liam now had to wonder if that was the problem, because trying to come together was definitely not the same as being together.

Chris shook his head and shifted in his seat. No, he was right. It wasn’t just their brother bond that made it impossible to move forward as two separate couples. Billy and Owen had formed their own unique friendship in prison and were no more likely to move forward without the other one either. “Just once, couldn’t we have done something the easy way?”

The fire door banged open and Liam turned to see Billy and Owen, arms full of brightly wrapped packages, struggling to pull a huge cluster of balloons through the door. It was a shocking contrast to their dark thoughts and so uncharacteristically sweet of both men. Billy caught their surprised stare and yelled, “Is this where the party’s at?” 

“It is now.” It might seem silly, but it was exactly what they needed and exactly who they needed it from. Maybe they hadn’t been expecting too much at all. Liam rose to give them a hand and glanced down to see the look of longing in Chris’s eyes and thought maybe it was time they all expected more.
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Like many readers, the dream of being a writer has been with me a long time. After three decades of trying, I'd begun to doubt. Thanks to social media, I followed my favorite authors hoping to glean some words of wisdom as I pounded out half-formed ideas with alarming regularity. Two repetitive themes emerged: to be a great writer you must read a lot and your butt must be in the chair every day like it's a job. The more you write, the easier it will be to write and the better you will be at writing. I took that advice to heart and write every day. With six published books to date, three series in the works and a full schedule of releases planned for the next two years, it's been amazing to have made this dream my reality. 
I am a firm believer in marriage equality, love at first sight, power dynamics and happily ever after. I'm a lover of strong secondary characters and series filled with families, biological or chosen. All are themes you'll find throughout my books. 

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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jessiegbook 
Facebook Author Page:
https://www.facebook.com/JessieGBooks
Facebook Author Group:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/jessiegbooks/ 
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/JessieGBooks 
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/jessiegbooks/ 
TSU:
http://www.tsu.co/jessiegbooks 
Ello:
https://ello.co/jessiegbooks 
G+:
https://plus.google.com/+Jessiegbooksmm/posts
Tumblr (NSFW):
http://jessiegbooks.tumblr.com/
Goodreads Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/jessiegbooks 
Publisher: Jessie G. Books
Cover Artist: Andrew Reyna 

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bhuja1


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Tour Dates & Stops:  Parker Williams, KathyMac Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bike Book Reviews, 3 Chicks After Dark, Bayou Book Junkie, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Charley Descoteaux, Andrew Q. Gordon, BFD Book Blog, V's Reads, My Fiction Nook, The Blogger Girls, Multitasking Mommas, Happily Ever Chapter, The Hat Party, Wicked Faerie's Tales and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy. Gay Media Reviews, Velvet Panic, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Sassygirl Books, Unquietly Me, Jill P Rand
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Signs of Desire by Tempeste O'Riley Cover Reveal

10/30/2015

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When a night out turns into a matchmaking scheme, they thought communication would be their biggest challenge to their happily ever after....

Signs of Desire
by Tempeste O’Riley
Desires Entwined, #4
M/M Erotic Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reese Dante
Release Date: November 30, 2014 (ebook/print)
Length: Novel / 200 pages
PreOrder:

♥ ♥ ♥ Dreamspinner Press ♥ ♥ ♥

Add to: Goodreads

Simon Tyler knows his job as a gay romance author makes his lack of faith in love more than a little ironic, but he’s tired of being used for his wallet. When a night out turns into a matchmaking scheme orchestrated by his best friends—though he’s not the target—Simon’s not thrilled, but since he’s sworn off happily-ever-after anyway, he goes along with it… until he meets the object of their efforts, Adrian, and finds perhaps he hasn’t given up on love after all.

Professor Adrian Keys has tried to date hearing men before, but being deaf himself, he’s never had any success at making a connection. After his friends con him into going out and Adrian realizes it’s all an elaborate plan to set him up, he braces for yet another failure, only to discover there is a spark—except it’s not with the man his friends had in mind, but with Simon Tyler instead.

Not all their friends have found a way past their romantic failures, but Simon and Adrian might be on the path to happily-ever-after.

They all debated what to eat and chatted for a little, Adrian mostly staying quiet and watching the others. He noticed one of the other men seemed just as out of it as he was, the one Chase had called Grayson. He was handsome, tall, and powerful like Rhys, but he had long black hair, deeply tanned skin, and light brown eyes that were almost amber. He was a little thinner than Chase’s partner, though just as intimidating a presence. The other man who caught his attention was named Simon. Adrian knew a little more about him because Chase spoke of his closest friends often, and Adrian loved meeting Chase’s friends even if the outing was nerve-racking. Simon had light brown hair, big puppy brown eyes, and a slender body. The longer Adrian looked, the more he wondered how Simon would look when dressed in something a little less bulky. A tap to his shoulder pulled Adrian out of his musings. He turned and realized the server was back with their dinners and blushed at how entranced he’d been. He didn’t usually stare, hating when others did that to him. “Sorry.” “No sorrys.” Chase hugged Adrian, then dug into his bowl of chicken and dumplings. Simon waved to get Adrian’s attention and smiled when he looked up from his country-fried steak and mashed potatoes with white gravy. “Chase said you were his teacher before and are now a friend.” Adrian nodded. “How’d he convince you to go out with his skinny butt?” Heat infused Adrian’s face as he laughed. “Chase was very sweet and asked nicely.” “I love your laugh, by the way. It’s deep like your voice, kind of carefree.” Simon looked slightly sad. Adrian knew he’d had a hard time lately. Chase said he’d been cheated on a year ago and had refused to date since. Adrian knew the feeling, though he pushed the thought away, hoping not to dwell on why he was alone. He ducked his head slightly. “Thanks? I don’t know how anyone sounds, even myself, so it’s always weird to get comments like that.” “I said the same when we went out,” Chase commented. “But don’t let him fool you. He’s an excellent teacher and speaks in all his classes. He knows his voice is good.” “No, I know it’s clear enough for you to understand. That’s something I work hard to make true, but I have never heard my voice, so I have no idea how I sound. And well.... Chase was the first person to ever say something like that.” He worked regularly with various computer programs to improve and maintain his speech, knowing if he didn’t it could cost him his position at the college. He had always struggled to make sure he spoke well for Hearing people, considering his family’s opinion of his Deafness. His dad knew sign language, but his mom refused to learn, insisting he learn to be “normal.” Adrian had always thought that was extremely unfair, especially as a child. Considering his hatred of being dependent on others for his communication, he was thankful he could read lips and speak as well as he did. “Then you know the wrong people, ’cause he’s right.” Simon nodded to emphasize his point, confusing Adrian more. Why would he be so determined with his compliments? Shrugging off his curiosity, Adrian tried to push past the topic. “What do you do?” Simon’s eyes tightened at the edges slightly, his shoulders drooping a little more. “I’m a writer.” “He’s a romance author, and a damn good one,” Jamie, or James as he knew the guy’s actual name was, said. Chase talked about his best friend often, though this was the first they’d met. “Don’t let him talk down about what he does.” “James, hush. He’s not interested in what kind of writing I do.” “Yes, I am. I love to read. Would I know any of your work?” Adrian didn’t have a large collection of romances, but he had read some. He couldn’t think of any authors named Simon, though. “You’re an author?” Grayson asked, turning to join their conversation. The nod seemed reluctant, but the smile on Simon’s face, while small, looked genuine. “Yeah, I write under the name Tyler Jacobs, a pseudonym, but I have a few books out. But, um, I thought we were trying to get to know Adrian and Grayson, not more about boring ol’ me.”

   

“I found it a beautiful tale of unhappiness changed to romance and then love with a happy ending.”

—Rainbow Book Reviews, on “Designs of Desire”

“Designs of Desire is a tough realistic book that is touched by violence countered by the growing love between the two heroes.”

—Sensual Reads, on “Designs of Desire”

“It’s a great book to fall into and enjoy some really good characters.”

—Love Bytes, on “Desires’ Guardian”

“This is my favorite in this series so far. I love seeing how these characters are growing, all of them. As individuals, as couples, as friends, and as a family.”

—MM Good Book Reviews, on “Desires’ Guardian”

“The writer did an excellent job with the characters, they are likable and perfect. Not perfect in the way that they have no flaws, but in a way that they grab you and complement each other.”

—Love Bytes Reviews, on “Temptations of Desire”

Designs of Desire – Simple Desires*+ – Bound by Desire* – Desires’ Guardian – Temptations of Desire – Truth in Lace* – Desires’ Pride*

Micah’s Medicine+ – Caged Sanctuary – Whiskers of a Chance

*shorts in series +shorts in anthologies

Tempeste O’Riley is an out and proud pansexual genderfluid whose best friend growing up had the courage to do what they couldn’t—defy the hate and come out. He has been their hero ever since.

Tempe is a hopeless romantic who loves strong relationships and happily-ever-afters. Though new to writing M/M, they has done many things in their life, yet writing has always drawn them back—no matter what else life has thrown their way. They counts her friends, family, and Muse as their greatest blessings in life. They lives in Wisconsin with their children, reading, writing, and enjoying life.

Tempe is also a proud PAN member of Romance Writers of America®, WisRWA, and Rainbow Romance Writers. Tempe’s preferred pronouns are they/them/their/theirs/themselves. To learn more about Tempeste and their writing, visit

http://tempesteoriley.com.

Website ♥ Goodreads ♥ Twitter ♥ Facebook ♥ Google + ♥ DSP ♥ Blog

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Found At The Library by Christi Snow 5 Star Review

10/29/2015

2 Comments

 
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His entire life, Tommy Garrett has dealt with self-doubts. He thought he’d conquered the majority of them until a chance meeting with an author brought his illiteracy to the forefront...again. Growing up with un-diagnosed dyslexia has left Tommy barely able to read, but books are his Nirvana. Now he spends his life creating art dedicated to the love of those “untouchable” items.
 
Robert McIntyre, Mac, is a best-selling, highly celebrated author. But his point of view has become a little bit too narrow...until Tommy opens his eyes. That chance meeting has changed everything about his world. He has no idea how to find the beautiful man he met, and offended, at the library book sale. But when he does, Tommy’s life is in crisis-mode. It’s the holidays and Mac can’t just standby when Tommy needs help, whether Tommy wants it or not.
 
Two artistic men. One shared passion for books.
 
Life is hard, and sometimes when conflict arises you have to write your own plot twist to pull yourself out of the fray.
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We were asked if we could review this book, and I jumped at the chance.  I have read Christi’s other m/m books and loved them – and this book was no exception.
I loved Tommy and Mac in this book, and their first meeting was not quite love at first sight – rather Mac decided that Tommy was the worst person ever for using books to create his art (not that Mac has ever seen his art).  Tommy cannot enjoy reading books as he has dyslexia, but he had found a way to express his love of books.  Mac gets dragged by his agent to go to a showing at the local art gallery and it is here that Mac sees the work that Tommy creates with the books – and he is completely blown away.

When they meet again, Tommy is over tired and distressed by a crisis going on in his life, and Mac just seems to take over everything for Tommy.  I have to admit Tommy says he is like a stalker, and I have to say I agree! He has the keys to Tommy’s studio, been running his studio and buying groceries… not the norm I would say.

Things go rather downhill for a while, but Mac is so taken with Tommy, that he leaves things for a while and then tries again – but going slowly this time.  All is fine again for a while, but again Tommy seems unsure of Mac, and the two split again. 

I am not going to spoil how they get back together, but this is the part of the story that I really loved.  I could feel the emotion on each page, but I have to admit I was getting annoyed with Tommy at times where he mistrusted Mac so much, but then again perhaps Mac was rather overzealous with showing his feelings for Tommy. 

I also really love how Christi has set up that there is another book to follow, and I can’t wait until this book comes out, just to see what is happening with Tommy and Mac. I highly recommend this book, as you never know what is going to happen next between the author and the artist.
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​Tommy unlocked the door to his studio with his ass dragging. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been so completely exhausted. But that didn’t matter. Ryder needed him. He was simply here to take a shower and grab some fresh clothes and food. He only had a forty-five minute window while they ran some tests, so he didn’t have time for the catnap he so desperately needed.
As he walked in, the studio phone rang, but he ignored it. He couldn’t think about work or his first real big break last night that he’d completely missed out on. That wasn’t important now.
Shower, feed Ampersand, and then food for him. That was all he had time for. He bound up the steps that led to his loft apartment and turned on the water in his bathroom. Ten minutes later, he almost felt human again. Wrapping a towel around his waist, he glanced in the mirror, and his bloodshot eyes stared back at him. He should probably shave, but maybe the dark stubble would detract from the dark circles under his eyes. Besides, he simply didn’t have time to do any more.
“Hello, is anyone here?”
Tommy stilled. Someone had come into the studio. Shit, did he leave the door unlocked? “Sorry, mate, we’re closed for the day,” he yelled back. “You’ll have to come back another time.”
The door down below shut as the customer left. He hated to turn someone away, especially right before Christmas, but he couldn’t do anything about it today. Maybe in a couple of days he would have time to hire someone to open the shop.
Digging through the piles of clothes on the floor, he looked for something clean that would make him look reputable enough to get a straight answer from the doctors. His torn, ink-splattered jeans and T-shirt yesterday hadn’t done him any favors, and he needed them to take him seriously.
He ran his hand over his face. Exhaustion pulled at him. How many hours had it been since he’d gotten any sleep? It had been at least two days since he’d found his brother, Ryder, possibly even three. He’d lost track somewhere along the way. But that’s what happened when a person found the only family they had left unconscious and dying from a drug overdose.
Finally, he located a dark pair of jeans that didn’t have stains or rips. That would have to do. Since he spent his life inside a studio that was about as dressy as he got. He figured the suit he bought for last night’s showing would be too much. Besides he’d bought that for something happy. To wear it now seemed like a travesty, and he didn’t want to do anything else to piss Lady Karma off today.
He dropped the towel and stuck one foot in the leg of the jeans when he heard movement behind him. He swung around, got tangled in the jeans, and crashed to the floor naked. He looked up into the eyes of the guy who’d been haunting his dreams for almost two months.
***
That tight ass, with high, muscular cheeks, was the first thing Mac saw when he entered the room in search of the artist. Then the whole, very fine, body turned and shifted. Mac’s nerves caught fire as he recognized that curly mop of hair. The look of complete surprise on the man’s face would have been humorous if it hadn’t precluded his hard tumble to the floor. This was the guy from the book sale. Tommy.
And he was naked.
So naked.
Mac knew he shouldn’t, but he looked. This man had a body that looked so much better than Mac had ever suspected...long lean muscles that were slightly defined, a nice dusting of chest hair, and nipples the color of his favorite candy caramels. Mac just thought insomnia had plagued him before. From now on, every time he closed his eyes, this vision would fill his mental picture. And wow, what a vision it was.
Despite being tall, Tommy’s long legs and limbs complemented his broad shoulders and hard chest that narrowed to his tapered waist. And there it was... holy cow, his cock was impressive, even in its completely relaxed state.
Mac tilted his head. Well, maybe not quite so relaxed as Tommy’s dick began to harden under Mac’s gaze.
“Hey, perv,” the man yelled as he tried to cover himself with his hands. “What the hell do you think you’re doing? Get the hell out of my loft. This is private property.”
Despite his hands shielding the member, Tommy’s cock hardened more. The sight gave Mac ideas...ideas he hadn’t had in years. When was the last time he’d had the urge to bottom?
But as he glanced up at the red-face of the beautiful man, Mac realized the guy was right. Damn, he was being a pervert. Mac turned his back to allow Tommy to untangle his long, muscular legs from his jeans in private.
“Sorry,” Mac said. “I wasn’t expecting you to be naked, and then I got overwhelmed by the sight of all that luscious skin of yours. You’re right, that was pervy of me and I apologize for it, but I’m assuming you’re Thomas Garrett.”
Clothing rustled behind him.
“Yeah, and who are you so I can give the right information when I call the police?”
Mac winced. Yeah, this wasn’t the way he wanted to start off this relationship...again.
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As an avid reader her entire life, Christi Snow always dreamed of writing books that brought to others the kind of joy she felt when she read. But...she never did anything about it besides jot down a few ideas and sparse scenes.
When she turned 41, she decided it was time to go after her dream and started writing. Within four months, she'd written over 150,000 words and hasn't stopped since.
She's found her calling by writing about sexy, alpha heroes and smart, tough heroines falling in love and finding their passion. An author of nine novels, she's truly living the dream and loving every minute of it. Her days in her West Texas home are spent reading, writing, and taking care of her husband, two kids, and two cats.
Her tagline is... Passion and adventure on the road to Happily Ever After. She's loving this adventure!
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Full Domain (Nice Guys Series #3) by Kindle Alexander Cover Reveal!!!

10/28/2015

5 Comments

 
Title: Full Domain
Series: Nice Guys Novel #3
Author: Kindle Alexander
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: Coming Soon
Honor, integrity, and loyalty are how Deputy US Marshal Kreed Sinacola lives his life. A former SEAL now employed by the Special Operations Group of the US Marshal Service, Kreed spent most of his life working covert operations and avoiding relationships. Never one to mix business with pleasure, his boundaries blur and his convictions are put to the test when he finally comes face-to-face with the hot computer geek he’s been partnered with. Hell-bent on closing the ongoing case for his longtime friend, he pushes past his own limits and uncovers more than he expects. Aaron Stuart strives for one thing: justice. Young and full of idealism, his highly sought after computer skills land him a position with the National Security Agency. Aaron’s biggest hazard at his job is cramped fingers, but all that changes when he is drawn into the middle of a dangerous federal investigation. Aaron gets more than he bargained for when the FBI partners him with a handsome and tempting deputy US marshal. His attraction to the inked up, dark-haired man provides another kind of threat altogether. Aaron tries desperately to place a firewall around his heart and fight his developing feelings, knowing one misstep on his part could ultimately destroy him. The solution isn’t as easy as solving the case, which is treacherous enough as it is. But the growing sexual attraction between them threatens to derail more than just Kreed’s personal convictions as he quickly learns temptation and matters of the heart rarely fit easily into the rules he’s lived by. Will Kreed be able to convince Aaron to open his heart and face the fact that sometimes the answers aren’t always hidden in code?
Best Selling Author Kindle Alexander is an innovative writer, and a genre-crosser who writes classic fantasy, romance, suspense, and erotica in both the male/male and male/female genres. It's always a surprise to see what's coming next!
I live in the suburbs of Dallas where it's true, the only thing bigger than an over active imagination, may be women's hair!
Usually, I try for funny. Humor is a major part of my life - I love to laugh, and it seems to be the thing I do in most situations - regardless of the situation, but jokes are a tricky deal... I don't want to offend anyone and jokes tend to offend. So instead I'm going to tell you about Kindle.
I tragically lost my sixteen year old daughter to a drunk driver. She had just been at home, it was early in the night and I heard the accident happen. I'll never forget that moment. The sirens were immediate and something inside me just knew. I left my house, drove straight to the accident on nothing more than instinct. I got to be there when my little girl died - weirdly, I consider that a true gift from above. She didn't have to be alone.
That time in my life was terrible. It's everything you think it would be times about a billion. I love that kid. I loved being her mother and I loved watching her grow into this incredibly beautiful person, both inside and out. She was such a gift to me. To have it all ripped away so suddenly broke me.
Her name was Kindle. Honest to goodness - it was her name and she died a few weeks before Amazon released their brand new Kindle ereader. She had no idea it was coming out and she would have finally gotten her name on something! Try finding a ruler with the name Kindle on it.. It never happened.
Through the course of that crippling event I was lucky enough to begin to write with a dear friend in the fan fiction world of Facebook. She got me through those dark days with her unwavering support and friendship. There wasn't a time she wasn't there for me. Sometimes together and sometimes by myself, we built a world where Kindle lives and stands for peace, love and harmony. It's its own kind of support group. I know without question I wouldn't be here today without her.
Find out more by visiting www.kindlealexander.com or email me at [email protected]
 
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Jesse's Diner by Cardeno C! 4.5 Star Review and Giveaway!!!

10/27/2015

16 Comments

 
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Jesse's Diner
Series: Hope #2
Author: Cardeno C
Release Date: September 29, 2015
Pages: 112

GMR 4.5 STAR REVIEW-PAUL


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Two men with a shared history and a mutual attraction must be honest with themselves and each other so both their dreams come true.

Quiet, unassuming Tanner Sellers spends his time running a diner in Hope, Arizona. Not particularly social, twenty-two-year-old Tanner keeps to himself and enjoys his simple life, but he longs for someone to call his own. In his most secret fantasy, that someone is sexy Steve Faus. But Steve is his friend’s father and mentor’s widower and therefore off-limits.

Despite some challenges, thirty-nine-year-old Steve Faus has had a good life. He’s extremely successful at work, has a great relationship with his college-age son, and lives in a wonderful town. Eighteen months after losing his partner, the one thing Steve lacks is someone to share his life. If Steve is honest with himself, that someone is the young man he has known and cared about for years. Steve and Tanner want one another, all they need is a little push in the right direction to make both their dreams come true.
  
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Jesse's Diner-Hope #2 by Cardeno C

Twenty-two-year-old Tanner Sellers runs a diner in Hope, Arizona and he's not the most outgoing guy as he leads a very simple life but he has always yearned for a man to love for himself. He's always wanted the hot Steve Faus but he is his friends father so it's kind of hands-off but if he could have anyone it would be Steve.

Thirty-nine-year-old Steve Faus has lead a very happy life. Very successful at work, a great relationship with his son and had a beautiful partner who he lost 18 months ago. Now the only thing missing is a special person to share his life with and he knows who the guy is……Tanner. Will Tanner and Steve be together given that they both are so into each other? Or will their fears keep them apart?

Steve is getting over the death of his beloved partner and their son introduce Tanner into the family years ago. Tanner is looking for that true love that has eluded him and he was never into the casual sex life style as to why he still a virgin and he's always wanted that special person to be Steve. I loved how the flirtation happen as it added some great humor to the story as Steve was not good at it and Tanner was so naïve to it.

CC Cardeno did it again with a beautiful love story. I for one can't get enough of her novels and my only issue was that this novel was not long enough as I loved reading about Tanner and Steve. I found this love story between a 22-year-old and a 39-year-old worked so well and was written so realistically and brilliantly done. I loved how completely different these two characters were and their undeniable connection was so intense and beautiful. I truly love the writing of CC as she never ever lets you down with her brilliant and descriptive writing and how she writes many different genres is fantastic. This author writes in such a detailed way that you find yourself completely transported to Jesse's Diner and what a complete thrill that was. The way she writes of a man working his way into the heart of another is simply brilliantly and beautifully done. I can't recommend this novel, Jesse's Diner by Cardeno C enough for anyone who wants to read a beautiful love story!

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About this author
Cardeno C. - CC to friends - is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few "awwws" into a reader's day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno's stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Heartwarming Stories. Strong Relationships. Forever Love.



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Discovery (Drakyl Ranch Book 1) by Thianna Durston  4 Star Review

10/26/2015

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Aaron thought he was dying, Jaret showed him how to live.
Now the only thing standing between them and forever
is an ancient enemy set on their annihilation.

Living in Montana and working the ranch is all Aaron wants to do for the rest of his life. Diagnosed as allergic to the sun thirteen years previous, every day is a struggle to get out of bed. Having to wear long-sleeved shirts, gloves, and even material to cover his face from the effects of the sun, just makes it all worse. Now, in his thirty-second year, he is sure this will be his last summer. While he hates it, he knows he needs to come to terms with the truth and put things in order for his younger cousins. Before he does so, he heads out for one night of pleasure before facing what’s coming.
 
Jaret loves excitement and new adventures. For over five hundred years, he has sought them out. In Montana on a whim, he comes across someone he doesn’t expect, someone who makes him feel things he does not understand and does not want to give up. In no time at all, he feels like he cannot live without Aaron. The only problem is Aaron doesn’t know who he is, what he is, nor that he isn’t going to die. Not on Jaret’s watch. With a plan to help the other man discover who he is in place, he only has one thing to worry about: whether an ancient enemy will come and destroy everything he now holds dear.
 
Warning: This book is a paranormal m/m romance with some horror elements. It also crosses cowboy and vampire genres. If you don’t think cowboys look hot with fangs, you’re missing out.
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This is so different to any paranormal m/m romance books that I have read.  It took me a little while to get into the story, but once Aaron and Jaret had met, all hell was let loose!!  I then actually began to really enjoy this book, it was about the romance building between Aaron and Jaret, but more importantly it was setting the scenes for further books.  It also explained as to why everyone was at the ranch, and it was then you also found out that Aaron was not the only Drakyl on the ranch, but it was also revealed why none of the boys on the ranch know what they are.

Aaron had been told he was allergic to the sun, but in reality he was a Drakyl.  Convinced he was dying, he decides that he is going to have one last night of pleasure, and it is here that he meets Jaret.  Jaret is also a Drakyl, but the difference is that Jaret knows exactly what he is. 

When Aaron and Jaret first meet, it was totally lust at first sight, and after a brief encounter, Aaron falls asleep in his truck, and when he wakes he feels better but has no idea why. Jaret cannot get Aaron out of his mind, so follows his scent and ends up at the ranch, where he starts working – but only at night.

Jaret also meets Aaron’s uncle at the ranch, who recognizes Jaret for what he is, and also confirms that Aaron is also a Drakyl.  As Aarons uncle is dying, on Jarets arrival he decides that he must tell Aaron the truth about his heritage, and what it all means to him.  This part I found the most fascinating as it is like the author has found a new breed of paranormal, and you were finding out about Drakyls and then also their mortal enemies Vampyr.

Although Aaron and Jaret were together, they did not have the HEA you usually get in books, but rather you will need to read the next book in the series to find out if they manage to find a way to defeat the Vampyr who seem determined to destroy Aaron.  I am looking forward to seeing what happens with the rest of the boys at the ranch, and if they finally find a way to defeat the Vampyr.
 
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​Strange sensations overtook him as Jaret looked up and nodded at him, as if this was all supposed to make sense. His fingers tingled and he flexed them over and over, his upper jaw throbbing painfully, the ache increasing exponentially as Jaret picked up the lion. A low rumble filled the air but Aaron wasn’t sure where it came from and he couldn’t look away from the man walking toward him.
 
“Inhale, Aaron,” Jaret said in a seductive tone. Unable not to obey, he did.
 
In an instant, everything changed. Over the sound of his own heartbeat, another drowned it out. The pumping of blood through a heart. The scent of fur and dust and most of all, the elixir filled his nose and his jaw tightened so much he felt it would crack. His whole body shook and his eyes dropped to the animal in Jaret’s hands. He…wanted it. He just wasn’t sure why.
 
When Jaret reached him, he jerked the animals head back with a snap, ending its life. Before Aaron could even piece together why that seemed wrong, the scent of the elixir filled his nostrils. Agony seared through his mouth as something tore through his gums. Logical thought was gone and he acted on pure instinct. Yanking the animal from Jaret’s arms, he sank his fangs into its throat. Warm, luscious elixir entered his mouth and he drank and drank and drank.
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​Thianna Durston is a writer by day and supernova by night. Or at least that’s what the faeries tell her. And who is she to deny those pesky *cough* lovely little creatures?
 
She lives in the Pacific Northwest, though her heart belongs elsewhere. In the meantime, until she can return to the place she calls home, she happily lives in a city that still thinks it’s a small town. Thankfully, it has given her muse lots of amusing places to start a story.
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Finding Beck by Louise Lyons 4.5 Star Review

10/22/2015

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Author: Louise Lyons

Title: Finding Beck
Publisher: Smashwords
Cover artist: Simon Searle
Release date: October 20, 2015
Length: 33,400 words
Genre: Contemporary, 1990s, Gay Romance, Coming Out

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​Martin Lynch has spent the past few years following his best friend Graham’s example, dressing up to go out to their favorite rock club on Friday nights and going through the motions with girls, always missing that spark everyone talks about. 

One night in Jezebels nightclub on Martin's twentieth birthday he meets Beck, an androgynous person he initially tries to tell himself is “Becky”. But eventually when Martin feels that excitement he’s never experienced before and the evidence becomes too much to ignore, he’s forced to admit to himself that Beck is a man and accept that he could be gay. 

Martin fears the reactions of his best friend and his parents, but in his heart he knows that finding Beck has given him the one thing that’s always been missing, and he prepares to deal with the reactions of family and friends when their secret is discovered.
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I really did enjoy this book, you were (through Martin) getting an insight of the life of a man who usually follows whatever his best friend does.  Martin has slowly realised, that although he usually agrees and goes out with Graham Friday nights and weekends to meet girls , that he is not feeling anything at all for the girls that they do meet…… until he met Beck.
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Beck doesn’t hide who he is, but due to the way he dresses and the long hair he is often mistaken for a girl! This doesn’t make him change who he is though.  Although his cousin knows he is gay, this is something that he has kept from his parents, as he is not sure how they would react.

The first date between the two doesn’t go well, as Martin is stood up by Beck, who believes that Martin thinks he is a girl, which he did at first, but thought more about it and realised that Beck was a man, and he had feelings he had never experienced before.  Martin is really upset at being stood up, and to me seems somewhat confused by this I think because it was a man that stood him up!

I loved reading how the relationship between the two bloomed, neither took anything for granted, and although they had a couple of hiccups through not voicing their true feelings, what they had was too special so they got through these times.  What surprised me most was that it was Beck who was the more insecure of the two, even though Martin was in unknown territory with dating a man.

To me personally, the depth of their feeling and the love they had for each other really shone through when they came out to their parents and the reactions they encountered.  They knew that the other was there to support them, no matter what.  
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I left the flat at half past one and caught a bus to the adjoining town of Grimsby. When it pulled into the bus station at ten to two, and I looked out the window at the Barge which was right next to the station, panic filled me. I felt like a real shit for having asked Beck to meet me, and now I was going to ditch her… him. What if I’m wrong? What if she really is Becky?

I stumbled off the bus and dragged a hand through my hair. I’d never been so confused in my life. I’d known—I had to have known when we were kissing, and I’d been rock hard, desperate to touch and be touched. No one had ever made me feel like that. The way Beck’s lips felt on mine, firm and eager; the way his body felt in my arms until he pulled away.

I sat down on a bench and rested my elbows on my knees, my head hanging. Was this why I’d felt so little with all those girls? I really wanted someone like Beck? What would my parents say? And Graham?

“Fuck,” I muttered. Five minutes. I couldn’t be seen sitting outside the pub looking like I wanted to run away. I got to my feet, strode across the paved area toward the Barge, and stepped onboard. In two minutes I had a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale in my hand and had taken a seat in a corner, relieved that no one I knew was in the pub. In fact other than me there were only four other people huddled in a group. I wiped my hands on the edges of the seat, took a gulp of my beer, and checked my watch. Two minutes. My heart slammed against my ribs and I grabbed for the beer again, desperate to relieve my dry mouth.

Minutes passed and I repeatedly glanced at the steps leading up to the entrance, but no one else entered the pub. I finished my beer as slowly as I could manage, and eventually two men came in, but neither one was Beck. One of them had a pet rat sitting on his shoulder and I stared in fascination as he collected drinks and crisps from the bar, and sat down with his friend. He fed the rat bits of the crisps while he sipped his drink. Weird.

Two thirty came and went, and the time crawled onward to three o’clock. I returned to the bar for another beer and hovered there, unsure whether to stay or go. I’d never been stood up before. Maybe Beck had got held up. Or maybe he’d changed his mind the same way I had.

I stayed just in case. I made my second drink last until almost four o’clock, holding my breath every time someone new entered the pub, and my spirits sinking a little more each time it wasn’t Beck. Eventually, I left my empty bottle on the nearby table and made my way up the steps and out into the humid air. The word pathetic came to mind when I thought about how I’d sat there alone for two hours when I’d clearly been stood up. I’d have laughed at anyone else doing that and called them a loser.

​By the time I reached home I was fed up and angry with myself. It was probably for the best that Beck hadn’t shown up. I’d only been going to tell him it wasn’t going to happen, so he’d saved me the trouble. Except I’d still sat there for two hours, waiting and hoping.
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Louise Lyons comes from a family of writers. Her mother has a number of poems published in poetry anthologies, her aunt wrote poems for the church, and her grandmother sparked her inspiration with tales of fantasy. Louise first ventured into writing short stories at the grand old age of 8, mostly about little girls and ponies. She branched into romance in her teens, and MM romance a few years later, but none of her work saw the light of day until she discovered FanFiction in her late twenties.

Posting stories based on some of her favorite movies, provoked a surprisingly positive response from readers. This gave Louise the confidence to submit some of her work to publishers, and made her take her writing “hobby” more seriously.

Louise lives in the UK, about an hour north of London, with a mad Dobermann, and a collection of tropical fish and tarantulas. She works in the insurance industry by day, and spends every spare minute writing. She is a keen horse-rider, and loves to run long-distance. Some of her best writing inspiration comes to her, when her feet are pounding the open road. She often races into the house afterward, and grabs pen and paper to make notes.


​Louise has always been a bit of a tomboy, and one of her other great loves is cars and motorcycles. Her car and bike are her pride and joy, and she loves to exhibit the car at shows, and take off for long days out on the bike, with no one for company but herself.
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Redeeming Hope by Shell Taylor Blog Tour 4.5 Star Review and Giveaway

10/20/2015

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AboutTheBook

RedeemingHopeLG
Title: Redeeming Hope 

Author: Shell Taylor 

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press 

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase 

Length: Novel – 206 Pages 

Release Date: October 5, 2015 

Blurb: Home for Hope: Book One 

Fifteen years ago Elijah Langley’s world came to an abrupt halt with the death of his high school boyfriend. He keeps his past—and his sexual orientation—hidden until he attends a fundraiser for The Center for HOPE, an LGBT youth center, where he meets Adam Lancaster, HOPE’s infuriatingly stubborn and sexy founder. 

A survivor of a turbulent childhood, Adam understands better than most the challenges his youth face. He’s drawn to Elijah’s baby blues and devilish smile but refuses to compromise his values and climb back into the closet for anyone—not even the man showering time and money on HOPE. Months of constant flirting wear down Adam’s resolve until he surrenders to his desires, but Elijah can’t shake his demons. 

When a youth from the center is brutally assaulted, Elijah must find a way to confront the fears and memories that are starting to ruin his life, so he can stand strong for those he loves.
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​Eli clutched the glossy eight-by-ten as tears welled in his eyes. He could hardly believe the emaciated, washed-out figure in the picture was the same person he’d centered his entire world around just a few weeks earlier. Eli would recognize that face anywhere. God knows, he’d spent enough time staring at it—running his fingers over those soft lips, sucking on the kidney-shaped birthmark just below the ear. He never imagined he’d see those eyes so lifeless.
“It’s him,” Eli whispered, dropping the picture on the officer’s desk.
His mother rested a hand on his shoulder. “E.J.—”
“Don’t pretend to care, now that he’s dead.” Eli shrugged out of her grasp and clenched his jaw to hold in the gut-wrenching sobs brewing in his chest. “Will I need to identify the body in person too?”
The officer avoided Eli’s eyes, but his voice was kind. “If you’re certain, this is good enough for us. He’ll be released in the next thirty-six hours. Will you be claiming him, or will the city keep him?”
Eli’s eyes widened, and panic ripped through his heart. He’d never expected the search to end with a dead body, and there was no way he’d be able to give his boyfriend the funeral he deserved—the one Eli owed him for his own part in Brian’s death. Prepared to beg, he turned and met his father’s eyes for the first time since Brian disappeared from their house almost three weeks earlier.
“We’ll take care of his arrangements.” Eli’s mother spoke quietly but firmly, and his father dipped his chin in silent agreement.
Relief carried Eli back to his parents’ car, but grief consumed him as soon as he slid into the back seat. Burying his head in his knees, he shut out the rest of the world. Eli didn’t leave the quiet safety of the car until long after he arrived home, his cheeks crusted with salty tears from mourning the loss of the future he’d been so sure of.
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​​If you are looking for an emotional read, then this book is it.  You will laugh at some parts, but also feel immense sadness at others.  I should also point out that there is not a HEA at the end of the book, as the story continues into book 2.

Elijah is in the closet, due to his high school boyfriends’ death when he was 17 years old.  He was totally devastated by this event, and literally closed himself off from anything that could be termed as affection – even from his parents.

Adam runs a youth center, and he knows firsthand what a lot of the kids are feeling, and this means he has total empathy with them.  Adam is also out and proud – don’t get me wrong he doesn’t broadcast it, but he will not be with anyone who keeps him as a secret.

When the two meet, there are sparks galore, but Adam realizes that Elijah is in the closet and decides that nothing can happen between them….. Elijah is upset by this, but to me comes across as confused as to why he feels this way.  One night, while together, the continuous sparks ignite into a night spent in bed together, but the next morning Elijah is having second thoughts about it all, and their relationship - if you can call it that  - is over before it has begun.

It is now I notice how complex a person Elijah really is, what you realize is that rather than being afraid, he is in the mindset that he is not a good enough person for Adam, and that he doesn’t deserve to be loved, and that he is convinced that Adam can do far better than him. He may run a successful company, but it is now plain to see that Elijah feels very insecure.

When the youth from the center is assaulted, you see a completely new side of Elijah, but also with it you see it brings back the memories from his boyfriend’s death.  However, this seems to bring out the best in Elijah, and for once he sees clearly what he wants from life, but knows he must be honest with everyone in his life including his parents and especially Adam.  

I must also add, that Adam has his own secrets that he has not revealed, so in that way he is as guilty as Elijah of holding things back.  At the end of the book, you get a preview of book 2, in which you realise that Alex's secrets are just about to come out..... 
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The thing that really hit me with this book, is that the kids that attend the center, go there to feel safe, but at the same time, are afraid of what will happen, as it is adults that have generally caused their problems, and the adults that are meant to help them could  also send them back.  I know this is a book of fiction, but to me it emphasizes why we need to have places like this for the LGBT Youth to go and feel safe to be themselves.
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  AboutTheAuthor   

Shell Taylor is a full-time mother of three exuberant and loving kiddos and one fur baby, a tiny but fierce Yorkie-poo named Rocco. As a Christian who practices love, grace, and humility rather than hatred and judgement, she tries her best to instill these same virtues in her rowdy kids. She just recently learned how to crochet to start bombarding new mothers with matching hats and booties. She is a huge Marvel fan and because of the superhero-plastered tees paired with jeans and Chucks has been told when helping out in her son’s classroom that she looks more like the students than a parent. Her favorite way to procrastinate is to binge watch entire seasons on Netflix. Best of all, she’s been married ten years to a man who’s turned out to be everything she never knew she needed.

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TourSchedule 

October 6: 
MM Good Book Reviews 
Drops of Ink 

October 7: 
My Fiction Nook 

October 8: 
Molly Lolly: Reader, Reviewer, Lover of Words 
Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents 

October 9: 
The Purple Rose Tea House 
A Celebration of Books 

October 12: 
Wicked Faeries Tales & Reviews 
Bike Book Reviews 

October 13: 
Hearts on Fire 

October 14: 
Diverse Reader 

October 15: 
Bayou Book Junkie 

October 16: 
Wake Up Your Wild Side 

October 19: 
Jessie G Books 

October 20: 
World of Diversity Fiction 
Gay Media Reviews 

October 21: 
Prism Book Alliance 

October 22: 
BFD Book Blog 
Love Bytes Reviews 

October 23: 
Divine Magazine
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The Making of Matt by Nicola Haken Blog Tour 5 Star Review & Giveaway

10/19/2015

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Title: The Making of Matt
Series: Souls of the Knight
Author: Nicola Haken
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: October 19, 2015
Matt Carter, self-proclaimed sex-god and drummer for world renowned Souls of the Knight, didn’t have the time or inclination for planning his future, preferring to fill his days with music, women and alcohol. He didn’t want or need anything else in his life.
Until the band parted ways and he found himself no longer living the dream. 
Bored and lonely, with too much time and money on his hands, Matt turns to his best friend, Alex Clark, to help devise a new direction to take his life in. Together, they embrace their newfound venture, as owner and manager of one of L.A.’s hottest gay clubs – Kaleidoscope. For the first time, Matt has a plan. He knows where life is heading.
Until a devastating phone call turns his whole world upside down, sending him straight into the comforting arms of his best friend and leading him to doubt everything he’s ever known or believed about himself. 
Alex had always been content with his unrequited feelings for his rockstar friend, but as Matt starts to question if he might actually feel the same, he runs as fast as his feet will allow. 
Has Matt gone too far? Has his reputation as an irresponsible womanizer who refuses to take life seriously, finally managed to push his best friend away for good?
Or is Alex hiding secrets of his own?
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Wow, wow, wow, OMG…… I could go on like this for the whole review! This book is truly amazing, and I am so glad that I have read it.  It is has to be the best book I have read this year (and I have read loads).  Reading this book, I have laughed or rather howled with laughter and I had tears in my eyes at parts too. 

Matt is a total slut, and he would agree with me! What you saw if what you got – he said what he thought, often not engaging his brain to mouth filter! I was honestly cringing at some of the things he was saying, mostly due to where he was at the time he said them!  Matt has no idea what to do with his life, even after the band parted ways, he seemed to continue the same thing…. Women and alcohol – and always the alcohol to excess.

Alex has always loved Matt, but due to his biggest secret, he has decided his love will be unrequited. He will always be there for Matt, and when the place where Alex works comes up for sale, they decide to embark on a new adventure together as owner and manager of a gay club, which they call Kaleidoscope.  They seem to become closer, but when Matt seems to want more from Alex, he runs as fast as he can without any explanation for Matt.

Then Nicola completely excels herself with how she writes when you find out Alex’s secret. It is an essential part of the story, so I am not going to reveal on this review what it is, but this is the first book I have ever read where the subject is treated with such sensitivity, but is also so informative.  To me this showed that Nicola had not just added this into the story on a whim, but that she had researched into it thoroughly, to ensure the facts were correct.
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Although this book is part of a series, you can actually read as a standalone – which is what happened with me as sad to say I had not read the other books in the series (sorry Nicola, will be remedying this soon).  I cannot recommend this book highly enough, as I have already said I believe that this is the best book I have read this year, and I can guarantee that this book will be one that I read again (and again, and again……).
“Matt, are you telling me you think you’re in love with Alex?”
“No! Yeah…fuck I don’t know. I can’t be, right?”
“If you’d asked me an hour ago I’d have said ‘don’t be so fucking ridiculous’, but after listening to you, fuck I really don’t know. Answer me this, you said he touched your dick and you freaked. Why, if you kissed him first?”
“Because I almost came right there in my fucking sweatpants and it scared the shit outta me. It made me question everything I’ve ever known. I mean come on, you can’t just turn gay, right?”
Just saying it out loud sounded fucking ludicrous.
“You’ve lived an extraordinary life, Matt. Maybe it’s something that’s always been there but never had an opportunity to come out.”
“I’ve met plenty of guys, Saw. Never once have I been attracted to a single one of ‘em.”
“Have you ever had your dick out of a woman long enough to actually get to know a guy before though?”
“Touché.” I laughed, not just at Sawyer’s comment but at the whole situation I found myself in. “This is all Jake’s fault, you know.”
“And how the hell do you figure that?”
“Because everything was fine before he came on the scene. We were happy living for the music and women, and then he shows up with all his fucking gayness and passes it on to you. Then, like the pair of you were some kind of butt bandit magnets, Ryder comes along. Then like the gift that keeps on giving the gayitis spreads and suddenly life is all gay porn, gay clubs and gay fucking underwear. It’s gayness overload, dude! I’m fucking telling you that shit is contagious.”
Sawyer snickered, rolling his eyes at the same time. “Is there such a thing as gay underwear?”
“According to Ryder,” I said, shrugging before undoing the button on my jeans to expose the branded hem of my underwear. Sawyer raised his eyebrow, one side of his mouth curling up into a smirk. “They’re comfortable,” I said, feeling the need to defend my favorite pair of shorts. “What the fuck am I gonna do?”
Nicola lives in Rochdale, England with her husband and four children (six if you include the dog and cat!) She is the author the author of the m/m romance Souls of the Knight series, and is currently working on a standalone with new boys, James and Theo, due for release early 2016. When she is not busy playing with her imaginary book friends (or talking about them with real life friends!) she can usually be found carrying out her ordinary mum/housewife/all round slave duties. Oh, and if the kids ever ask, she moonlights as the Pink Power Ranger while they're sleeping...
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Angels Of Mercy: Volume One-Elliot by SA Collins!!! 5 Star Review, R-Rated Excerpt and Giveaway!!!

10/18/2015

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Angels Of Mercy
Volume One-Elliot
SA Collins
Released: March 23, 2015
540 Pages

GMR 5 STAR REVIEW-PAUL


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On the cusp of his senior year at Mercy High, Elliot Donahey, an out but terminally shy gay young man who keeps to the shadows – never wanting to be seen or noticed – suddenly finds himself in the arms of the highest profile jock on campus, local star quarterback, Marco Sforza. Their lives, and those closest to them will never be the same.

Set against the backdrop of competitive sports, this character study work deep dives into the lives of these young men who each must "play the game" so Marco can continue to play the game he loves. They are just trying to find some small slice of happiness to call their own amidst their hellish final year of high school.

Author's Note:
Angels of Mercy is first and foremost, a character study. A great deal of it is inner-monologue. Elliot will pause the action, will break momentum as he grapples with his world – all the while flipping a finger to the fourth wall. He knows you're there. It was far more important to me as its author (and a gay man) that the reader come away with the whys of Elliot’s choices in how he navigates his often tumultuous world. The same can be said of Marco (his jock boyfriend) who will pick up the tale with Volume Two (due summer of 2015). I’ve read much queer literature and what I find rather interesting is that for the majority of it, very little is written about the character’s headspace. When you live in a world where you constantly have to be vigilant as you navigate through, it can make for some very powerful storytelling. That is my goal in writing these boys’ lives. I want the reader who may not be queer themselves to come away with what it might be like to be in a gayboy’s shoes – constantly polling and pulse-checking your world because your very survival depends upon it. All of that while you hope, you secretly pray, that you’ll find someone who will see you too and find they can’t live without you in their world. A small slice of happiness to call your own. And though you do everything to keep to yourself, you may still run into those who find your very existence threatens who they are and how they think the world should run. I pull no punches with this work. They are hormonally charged eighteen year old young men who are sexually active. While the sex is present in the work it is not gratuitous in that the main character does evolve from his physical intimacy with his high-profile boyfriend. It is not a genre romance read either, though it has a very strong romance threaded in the work. These elements bring a light to their world that attracts all the wrong attention. In a time where more queer youth are coming out to their teammates and their loved ones, I find that work of this nature is both timely and necessary to tell. I hope you'll find it as interesting and provocative a read as I believe it is.

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Angels Of Mercy-Volume One-Elliot by SA Collins

Elliot a shy guy at Mercy high is out for all intents purposes but he prefers being in the background that is until he meets Marco, the star quarterback and nothing will ever be the same for either boys again.

When Marco makes a play for Elliot and to see his reaction was so funny that this hot quarterback is actually coming onto him was some of the greatest scenes to read. Marco is so persistent and nothing will keep him from the guy he loves even though the object of his attention is having a hard time excepting Marcos love. When Elliot finally gives into the quarterback is when things really start to heat up and the beautiful connection between these guys is something so very special. The relationship starts off and Marco needs to stay in the closet for the time being and Elliott needs to find where he fits into is quarterbacks life.

I really enjoyed these characters, Elliot knows who he is and owns his sexuality and even though he might be shy it's very clear how he's accepted being gay. What really spoke to me was how Marco the hot quarterback liked and went after Elliot. They look like they come from different worlds which they actually are but Marcos attraction to Elliot is so intense that I found myself rooting for them right from the start.

Just loved the self discovery journey that Elliot and Marco took and the great love that they found along the way. The way the author grows these characters together in such a beautiful story was some great writing. I felt connected right away to the great story that these men shared. I quite enjoyed this novel as the setting was so rich and the characters were so well written in depths of pure true honesty. I'm a huge fan of sport genres and was a beautiful setting of true gay romance and what the price of love actually costs. I found the pages flowed beautifully and the author captured their love so brilliantly that I found myself lost in their love. The author was highly detailed in creating this type of story and the characters were developed beautifully. I'm looking forward to reviewing the entire series and I highly recommend Angels Of Mercy: Volume One-Elliot to anyone who loves reading a great true gay romance novel.


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Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/p6ykrms
AllRomance - https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-angelsofmercyvolumeoneelliot-1766747-145.html
BarnesAndNoble - http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angels-of-mercy-volume-one-sa-collins/1121493073?ean=2940151831222
Smashwords - https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/529495
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Upcoming Releases  
Angels of Mercy – Volume 2: Elliot - due Fall 2015.

Angels of Mercy - Diary of a Quarterback Part 1 - due Late Fall 2015
Angels of Mercy - Diary of a Quarterback Part 2 - due Early Winter 2015
Angels of Mercy - Volume 3: Pietro (The Sins of the Solstice) - due Early 2016

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Angels of Mercy V1 - Extract (R-Rated)

I already surmised that he was a man full of surprises. He was thoughtful, gentle and very passionate. But the most surprising thing about him was his patience. I was a jumble of nerves and conflicting emotions. Not about him. I knew I loved him. I was overwrought inside, concerned if I would make the grade, be an adequate lover the way he would wish me to be. Turns out, I needn't have worried.
He was so sweet-tempered, taking his time to undress me slowly, gently batting my hands away anytime I tried to help him. With a lone small table lamp on the nightstand next to the bed, our bodies shadowboxed on the wall behind us. In that silhouette I became so ultra-aware of how inadequate my body was in comparison to his. I tried to hide it, painfully aware of how glorious he was, and how not, I was.
He smiled softly, but he said I was perfect for him in every way. He reminded me gently of how long he had watched me, how his desire to have me for himself had built over the past two years. Then he said the most amazing thing to me: he told me that he hoped that he would be everything I would want in a lover, that what I thought mattered to him so much that he was a bit nervous. He hoped it would be good for me. His hands were trembling, a slight quiver to his voice. My heart melted for him.
I just watched him. I heard the words; I knew what they meant. But for the life of me I couldn't make it make sense. I could see he was becoming pensive, being so vulnerable with me about his insecurities. There was no way I was going to let him think he would ever be inadequate.
I pulled him to me and we fell onto the bed with a ferocity that I didn't know I had. We tangled; we writhed, our bodies becoming slick with the passion we felt for each other. And it mattered to me that he was just as unsure as I was. Marco, my confident, sexy-as-hell boyfriend, was vulnerable with me. He allowed me to see that in him. And it mattered. It mattered in ways I couldn't even fathom in that moment of our passion. It was something I found I would ponder from time to time thereafter. Truly astonished that someone who seemed so sure of himself and his place in the world, was worried about what I thought of him, of whether he'd measure up to what I wanted. If anything, it made my heart flutter just thinking about it, the way that sentiment from him did. But after that admission, I could see it in his eyes. Tucked there, in the furthest reaches, along with his abiding love for me was the fear that he'd fail me. Absurd. Completely absurd that he could ever fail me.
His kisses brought me back to the moment.
He whispered that he loved me, every inch of me, proving to me that he did by covering every inch of me in soft kisses. I tried to return each of his ministrations, but he wouldn't have it. He said it was my night. He wanted to spend the night making love to me, pleasuring me, letting me take from him what I wanted.
And make no mistake, I wanted him.
When the moment arrived, he looked into my eyes, and he spoke of our love again , of how he knew how much trust I was putting in him. I had reason to be concerned  he was no shrinking violet. Italian Stallion didn't begin to cover it. But there was no way I was not going to do this. With an ample gob of lube, he worked his fingers into my ass to get me used to it. I knew he didn't have to do that, after all, he was a hormone raging teenage boy as was I. He could have just plowed me for all I was worth. But he didn't. That's not my Marco.
After a few minutes of his fingering me because we'd watched it on a porn once (exchanging charged looks between us as we did so), I told him I thought I was ready. He leaned down and we kissed very tenderly. He asked me again if I thought I was sure. He wanted me to have a way out if I was worried. No way. I was in all the way. I wanted him to take me, no matter the pain, no matter the cost. He slicked up his sizable condom-sheathed cock, my eyes wide at how much of him there was. I wasn't sure how all of him was going to fit in so little of me. But I'd remembered the porn videos about it and saw that some twinkish guys like me were able to take some massively hung men  so in theory it was possible. A part of me was inflamed with the possibility, but the more reasonable part, the part that was speaking fairly loud at this point, wasn't so sure.
He paused, unsure if we should do this. No going back. I reached down between my legs and gripped that slicked up monster cock of his and pulled him to me, letting him firmly know that we'd passed that point of no return the moment we became a couple. I wanted him to know that I was good with it. I wanted it. I wanted him.
I don't know if he thought it would be sexy or if he was trying to distract me from that impressive cock of his, but when he pressed into me, kissing me while he was shaking it a bit with his hand as if that would get me to loosen up further, there was precious little that would have distracted me from what I was feeling. There was no denying it. It hurt, far more than I was prepared.
With my sharp intake of breath and a deep moan, he stopped his eyes soft with fear, saying over and over how sorry he was that we should stop. When he began to withdraw I found something within me clicked, I knew I didn't want him to stop. I hooked my feet around his back and drew him forward. I was already committed to being there for him. I would endure anything for him even if that meant enduring the pain as if he were cleaving me in two. I was determined for my body to learn of his passions and not only accommodate them, but become adept at pleasuring him. I never wanted to become so good at something as I did in that moment.
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SA Collins hails from the San Francisco Bay Area where he lives with his (legal) husband, their daughter and, wonder of all wonders because he only just broke 50, a whirlwind of a granddaughter. Their home is filled with laughter and love. A classically trained singer, and a theater actor for many years (under another name), Mr. Collins is all about the story telling and the spell a good yarn can weave for an audience. This is Mr. Collins foray into writing but, as with all his creative endeavors, he leaps right in and figures it out as he goes along. It's been a winning combination thus far so why break a working formula?

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SA “Baz” Collins
Author of Gay Literature Fiction across multiple sub-genres


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Website/Blog:  http://www.sacollins.com/blog


Check out my podcast  [WROTE (WRitten On The Edge) Podcast]
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