BLURB: Codie “Swan” Kerr lost her family when she came out. But Trigger took her under his wings and helped her get through the ERU program to become the first female on the elite squad. But the secret she carries soon becomes an issue.
To make matters worse, all her family’s lies are about to descend on her head all at once.
Ex-JTF2 soldier Jacob Desjardins has been having come to Jesus moments over the past few months. He has been nothing but a jerk to those around him and karma has finally gotten tired of his crap.
After being rescued by Trigger and his crew, he believes his life can get back on track. But the fates have a sick sense of humor. Not only is his life spiraling out of control, he sees something in Swan that takes his breath away.
But what will Jacob do when he finds out Swan has a little more to her than meets the eyes?
And will he survive the storm heading their way?
REVIEW: This is the 2ndinstallment to the Mercs series and I must say that it turned out quite nice. The first book in the series transitioned seamlessly into this one. Here we have Swan, a beautiful assassin with the elite squad.
Jacobās character was just as well written and as vivid as Swanās in the sense of how their personalities are presented to the readers and how well they play off of each other.
As with the previous story, this one has suspense and action with a huge dose of romance and intrigue tossed in for good measure. All elements which the author successfully manages to strike a perfect balance of.
Swanās character is special in that the author has used her talents and platform to represent everyone within the LGBTQ community. This is just another step towards true representation and they did a great job of bringing diversity to an industry that has consistently centered white cisgender gay men.
I enjoyed reading this story as much as the first one. Swan isāso farāmy favorite character.
Well done, Remmy Duchene. Well done, indeed!šš¾
BLURB: Dawson āTriggerā Kerr walked away from the JTF2 angry and feeling betrayed.
My brotherās keeper, my ass.
Civilian life takes a new kind of strength, but he settles into building his business. He is content with his new lifeāa successful nightclub, amazing friends and a life away from war-zones.
Everything is coming up rosesāthat is until Claude Desjardins walks into his life.
Claude doesnāt have a choice. In order to find his brother in Brazil, he needs the best. Word on the street, Dawson is the man for the job.
But Dawson isnāt too keen on helping the Desjardins. Thereās a story there and there isn’t time to tell it. As they race against time to find out what happened to the older Desjardins brother, Claude is falling – hard.
But Claude is going to learn, if heās going to squeeze the trigger, heād better shoot to kill.
REVIEW: Okay, this book was a very good start to what looks to be a promising series. This story gives us Dawson aka Trigger and Claude. If you like action and suspense mixed with your romance, then this is definitely the book for you. The writing style is clean, crisp and straight to the point. This is what I like. This author doesnāt dally around with their stories; these men are straight forward with their attraction and feelings for each other which is a consistent thread with all of this authorās work. I actually like that. I donāt care for characters who dance around their attractions or feeling for each other. And the action wasnāt over the top or extra. It was the perfect balance of both romance and action which made the book that much more of an enjoyable read.
The ending was perfect and actually lays the groundwork for a smooth transition to the next book in the series.
This author is consistent in offering quality work. Her editing, storyline and character development was excellent and her cover was beautiful.
Vance: He’s angry and bitter over the direction his father has chosen for him in the family business ā and in his life. He may have been born into money, but Vance always saw his journey as something less grand. He’s desperate to follow his real passion which is metal sculpture, created with nothing more than scraps he pulls out of junk piles, a blow torch, and a sweat. But he lacks a critical element to make that happen: the spine to stand up to the man who moves him around like a pawn on a chessboard. He needs something ā or someone to give him the motivational push to take back control of his life.
Kyle: He’s drifted through life with a massive chip on his shoulder. He doesn’t mind being a city bike messenger, but he knows his body won’t allow him to do that forever, and riding for a living isn’t his calling in life. But with no clear plan B in place, he needs to keep his day job ā for now. The other problem? He loathes the privileged people he delivers to, despises what they stand for, and how they look down at him as if he was worthless. The only thing more prominent than the grudge he holds against them is his pride. Everything changes when a company owner’s son hits him with his car, which puts both rider and driver on entirely different paths in their lives.
But is this a path they can both take together, or will egos and societal privilege create too many obstacles to overcome?
Moved By You is a 67,000 word MM novel with an enemies to lovers theme, and an HEA.
So this is book two in this series and in order to truly understand this story and the relationships you really need to read book one. Just saying! This book picks up right where Wolf, book one left off. When I began reading this story I kept thinking, how much is this strong, beautiful man supposed to take? How much more pain is he going to have to endure before he gets his HEA? I really enjoyed our MCās, Wolf and Gage, relationship and how supportive Wolf was during all the family drama. He really stood by Gage no matter what. Wolf has totally redeemed himself by lots of groveling, lots of loving and just being there for Gage. That part will make you smile.
Then comes the part that will make you angry and sad… his family. Family, you canāt choose them so some of us get stuck with trash. I wanted to throttle his family in the first book for how they treated Gage but was certain they were in the past. Then out of nowhere BAM, here they come like the plague. But Ms. Harper pulls a rabbit out of her creative mind and turns lemons into lemonade. Especially Claudia, his sister. This book made me spit flames, and made me laugh. At times my heart soared with joy and cry real tears for Gage. I love this series so far and canāt wait for more.
E.T. Malinowski has a new queer paranormal book out: Night Kiss.
Bam Kiseu Interview
Since returning home to Seoul from their world tour, Bam Kiseu has been very busy with filming a new video, fan meets, individual appearances and spokesmodel engagements. Despite such a hectic schedule, they put together something special for their hometown fans; a spring concert. I was able to sit down with Bam Kiseu today in the hopes of giving you a bit more insight into the men who make up the group, Cheongul, HanYin, and Ki-tae, and maybe even a sneak peek at whatās in store for tonightās performance.Ā
Bam Kiseu is huge in the pop genre, did you ever expect to be one of the biggest bands in Korea?
Cheongul: No, not in the least.
HanYin: We hoped to be successful, sure, but this was more than what we expected.
Ki-tae: Maybe for you two.
Cheongul and HanYin glare at Ki-tae but there doesnāt seem to be any heat in it. He just smirks back. There is a camaraderie between the three of them, a closeness that is stronger than Iāve seen with other groups, even those who have reached the ten-year mark. Itās as if these three have been together so much longer than they have.
Are you dating anyone?
Of the three of them, I certainly didnāt expect Cheongul to blush and duck his head. HanYinās smile is bright and happy. Even Ki-taeās expression is more genuine and less professional idol. It seems they each have someone in their lives.Ā
Cheongul: Yes
HanYin: I am.
Ki-tae: We all are.
To say I wasnāt curious would be a lie.Ā
Anyone we know?
Cheongul is the only one to respond.
Cheongul: No.Ā
I can tell Iām not going to get any more out of them. Weāll just have to keep a close eye on them to see who is by their side the most, dear readers. It seems three lucky individuals have captured the hearts of Bam Kiseu.Ā
What do you enjoy most about the industry?
They look at each other for a few moments, almost as if in silent communication. Then they nod and turnback to me.Ā
Cheongul: Being able to share our music with our fans.
HanYin: Being able to perform it for our fans around the world.
Ki-tae: Helping to inspire the next generation of idols, to encourage them to keep reaching for their dreams and never stop.
Do they truly mean these words? I like to think so. Bam Kiseuās music touches a lot of people. If it didnāt, they wouldnāt have so many fans.Ā
When, if ever, do you regret being famous?
This question earns some wry chuckles. We all know there are aspects of being an idol that arenāt so great. I have to wonder what parts of being idols bother them.
Cheongul: When I go shopping, especially if itās for my home studio. I love our fans, but it can be a pain if Iām trying to replace a piece of equipment and keep having to stop to take photos or give autographs.
HanYin: Being chased through the airports. I donāt like flying to begin with and when we land, I just want to get home, but the fans seem to know our flight schedules better than we do and it gets really crowded. Itās hard to keep smiling when youā
Ki-tae: I guess it depends on where we are. There are some places where weāre not instantly recognized and so some everyday activities are easier to do. I mean when we were in America, I could run out for something small and I think I was recognized a handful of times. When Iām home, I canāt step outside my door without a crowd. We love our fans. We just need some space to breathe every now and then.Ā
HanYin-ssi, youāre known for bringing food to the set when shooting a video or commercial, how did that start and why?
HanYin: All of our production teams work really hard. Some of them even skip meals to continue working. When we were shooting our first music video, one of our technicians collapsed and had to be taken to the hospital. I didnāt like that, so I started bringing food to the set to make sure everyone had something to eat. People canāt do their best if their hungry or tired, so I make sure they are neither.
Ki-tae: Heās a bit of a mother hen.Ā
HanYin pokes Ki-tae in the side for that comment causing him to laugh and squirm away Cheongul just shakes his head as he watches them, a disapproving older brother.
Many idols have lyricists during the beginning and sometimes through most of their careers, yet, you seem to write all your own music. Why is that?
Cheongul: BLE has always believed in encouraging the creativity of its idols. As trainees we were taught the fundamentals of songwriting as part of our lessons. Sometimes, itās a matter of skill and sometimes, itās a matter of getting pleasure from writing a song. Not everyone enjoys it, we do.Ā
HanYin: I agree. Iām always bringing new songs into the studio and making these two listen to them, but Iām not nearly as bad as Ki-tae-ya. Iāve gotten calls at 4 a.m. demanding that I listen to a melody or beat, or even an entire verse and give feedback.
Ki-tae: Iām not that bad.Ā
His pout is absolutely adorable but it doesnāt seem to work on HanYin and Cheongul at all.
Cheongul, HanYin: You are, too.
Cheongul: He writes all the time and when he gets in that mode, he doesnāt pay attention to the time before calling us to listen to what heās done.
HanYin: He also has a tendency to not sleep or eat.
Ki-tae: I canāt argue, really. I do write a lot. Iāve been known to bring twenty new songs into the studio after a single day off.Ā
I canāt help but stare at Ki-tae so, of course, I catch the blush on his face. Heās embarrassed by this fact about himself. I, on the other hand, am very impressed. 20 songsā¦ in a day?
How do you determine which songs to put on an album?
Cheongul: Usually by a common theme.
HanYin: Sometimes, thereās a shared element in the beat or the melody.
Ki-tae: Occasionally, itās all three. Weāll go through all of the songs and see which ones just sort of fit together. Other times, weāll plan the songs out to mesh together, like we did with Call the Dragon, Phoenix Rising, and Tigerās Pride. Thereās a fourth one to that set, but we havenāt gotten beyond the title, yet; Turtleās Patience. Weāre planning on writing that one for the next album.
HanYin: Weāll listen to the songs individually, tweak them, play around with the beats, that sort of thing, until we all agree it works and then we record it.
Cheongul: Itās always a group effort.
Ā
Would you want to do this again?
Ki-tae: This interview? Sure.
Heās such a smart aleck.
Cheongul: She means be an idol, baka.
Ki-tae: I knew that, just teasing. Cheongul-a is too serious sometimes. We have to keep him on his toes.Ā
HanYin: Ignore them. They do this all the time. I donāt think any of us would say no to being idols again. I mean we are who we are. For all the things that make us crazy, there are more that make us happy.Ā
While HanYin is speaking, Ki-tae sticks his tongue out at Cheongul. Iāve never seen retribution promised in a look until now. I have no doubt Ki-tae is due for some payback when Cheongul gets him alone. Ki-tae went from serious idol to mischievous boy and back in the blink of an eye, but Cheongul stayed professional. Yet, Iāve seen clips and videos of him being just as silly as the other two. I wonder what gets him to loosen up?
What do you feel is the best song youāve recorded?
They do that silent communication again. Itās almost eerie.
Cheongul: Collectively, we like Crossing Time.Ā
HanYin: Itās about love lasting an eternity.
Ki-tae: Itās about continuing to search for that love until you find it no matter how long it takes. Everyone searches for love, right? Some people give up. Others donāt. Crossing Time is about not giving up.
What genre of music would you like to explore together as a group?
Cheongul: Iād like to do more with the rock/pop combination, maybe incorporate more rap elements.
HanYin: I like that idea. Iād like us try more in the folk genre, give it a pop twist, maybe. I like some of the ballads and traditional folk music.
Ki-tae: I think even as a tenor you did well with the growl in Call the Dragon. We all had that vocal training and with more practice and maybe working with someone who sings in that style frequently, we could put something together. I like the idea of working in more rock elements. The beat drops can blend with a tight guitar riff. As far as the folk music, I think we could take some traditional music and include some EDM elements, perhaps take some myths and legends, and turn them into songs, tell traditional stories through music. Thatād be cool. Itās not so much a musical genre, but it would be interesting to play with.
And just like that, I see them become immersed in the creative process, playing ideas off each other in these few brief moments. It gives me just a glimpse of what it must be like when theyāre in the studio together. They seem to mesh so well together.
Ā
Weāve heard how the Bam Kiseu sound has changed, has the band dynamic changed? If so, how?
Cheongul: I donāt think it has, not really. We still make decisions as a group and weāre still happy with how things are working.
Ki-tae: Itās a case of why change what works?
HanYin: Me neither. I think we still function the same now as we did in the beginning. I mean Cheongul-a is still the leader and we let him because heās, honestly, the most responsible one of us.Ā
That earns a smile from Cheongul and thereās no denying he is the mostā¦ sober of the three of them. Itās not hard to picture him as the most responsible one of the group.
There have never been any rumors about contention between you three, do you guys ever argue?
Cheongul: Yeah, we have arguments, especially when Ki-tae-ya is being a pain in theā¦ studio, making us sing the same segment over and over, and over a million times.
Ki-tae: Or when Cheongul-a is being stubborn and wonāt sing like I know he can.
HanYin: And then I have to throw them both out to cool off before I lock them in separate closets and finish the tracks myself. Once weāve all calmed down, we come back into the studio and everyone gets a chance to talk. Once weāre done talking, we try again. Eventually, we get over it because, in the end, this is our job and we love it.
Again, I see the camaraderie between them. They may fight, but it doesnāt change the closeness between them.Ā
How different are your stage personas from who you are as individuals?
HanYin: Cheongul-a is more talkative onstage! And he smiles more.Ā
Cheongul: Thatās because I have to worry about you two more offstage than on!
Ki-tae: No, you just really love being onstage as much as we do. Sometimes, heās just really intense no matter where he is. HanYin-a is moreā¦ boyish offstage, more playful. Onstage, heās all serious and sexy. The fangirls and boys eat it up.
HanYin: Ki-tae-ya doesnāt change much from one to the other. Heās like this most of the time! Heās a big flirt on or off the stage!
Ki-tae: Youāre a monk!
HanYin: I am not, Iām selective!
Ki-tae: Monk!
HanYin pounces on Ki-tae, putting him in a headlock. The two of them are known for their wrestling around. Cheongul just heaves a sigh.
Cheongul: See what I have to put up with? Theyāre always like this before a concert.
Fortunately, it doesnāt take long for HanYin and Ki-tae to settle down. Our time is almost up so I just have one more question to ask.
Whatās next for Bam Kiseu?
Cheongul: We have tonightās spring concert. Itās going to be a lot of fun.
HanYin: We plan on mixing it up a bit with some old stuff and some new tracks.Ā
Ki-tae: And some new takes on some old tracks.Ā
Cheongul: We also plan on releasing an album soon which will probably be a compilation of the songs performed tonight.
Ki-tae: Tonightās show should prove to be unforgettable.
I have to say it was fun talking with Bam Kiseu and seeing the way they interact with each other in person. Theyāre always playful when I see them onstage and very professional when being interviewed on TV. I thought I would get the same when I sat down with them, but they seemed very laid back and relaxed. I look forward to tonightās concert. See you there!
Blurb:
What could be frightening enough to freeze the blood of a centuries-old Vampire turned K-pop idol?
Being bound to someone.
University student Cheong Jin-woo dreams of working in the arts, especially for BL Entertainment and his favorite band, Bam Kiseu. After seeing the band perform, Jin-woo separates from his friends to explore. What he discovers backstage will change his life.
Does he embrace it or run?
Jung Ki-tae has kept his secret for centuriesāuntil a young fan interrupts his feeding. Even more disturbing is the instant bond Ki-tae feels with Jin-wooāa complication he refuses to allow. Yet resisting becomes increasingly difficult as Jin-woo and a group of students win the chance to make a video for the band, working closely with them for weeks. The obsession Ki-tae felt toward Jin-wooāeven before tasting his bloodādeepens into genuine feelings, feelings that terrify Ki-tae. But when he finds a way to break the bond, heās torn between severing the connection and protecting Jin-wooā¦.
Especially with a mysterious killer getting closer.
Jin-woo was late and Min-su was going to kill him, but if he hadnāt gone back to the studio, they wouldnāt have their visuals, and then she would have killed him slowly. Heād had to scramble to find someone with the keys, too, forcing him to miss all the other presentations. He never realized how hard it was to find maintenance personnel on a campus this size. When he finally reached Min-su, she looked scared as hell.
āWhat?ā he asked. āWhat is it? Whatās wrong?ā
āUm, Iā¦ I canāt breathe. I reallyā¦ canāt.ā Min-su puffed out her cheeks and fanned her face. āI didnātā¦. If I had known, I would have chosen a different outfit. I would have done my hair, and my makeup is justā¦. Dammit. Why didnāt anyone tell me they were going to be here?ā
āWhat the heck is she talking about, Jong-in-a?ā Jin-woo demanded.
āWeāre not just presenting to Park Soon-joon hyung,ā Jong-in said quietly.
āOf course we arenāt. Seonsaengnim is there as well,ā Jin-woo said. āThis isnāt new.ā
āItāsā¦. Weāreā¦. Jin-woo-ya, Bam Kiseu is in that room!ā Min-su said, grabbing him by his vest and shaking him back and forth. āHanYin oppa is in that room! Ki-tae oppa is in that room! Cheongul oppa is in that room!ā
Jin-woo did the only thing he could think of. He slapped her.
Min-su stumbled back a few steps and just stared at him. Then she narrowed her eyes and came at him.
Jin-woo threw up his hands in defense of the punch coming his way.
āIām sorry!ā But it never landed. He peeked with one eye. Min-su looked completely calm.
āThank you,ā she said with a sigh. āI was losing my shit, and thatās not acceptable.ā
āYouāre good?ā Jin-woo said.
āIām good.ā
āGood,ā Jin-woo said as he began to shake. āIām going to pass out now.ā
And he did just that.
Jin-woo didnāt remember hitting the floor, but he figured that must have happened, as he was staring up at the ceiling with Min-su slapping his face and Jong-in looking terribly concerned. He caught Min-suās wrist and held her hand to his face for a few moments, closing his eyes once more.
āNo, you cannot pass out on us again. Weāre up next, Jin-woo-ya!ā Min-su said, an edge of desperation in her voice.
āIām not going to pass out again. I just wanted you to stop slapping me and calm down,ā he said. Then he slowly sat up, rubbing the back of his head. He looked at Jong-in and teased, āYou couldnāt have caught me?ā
āNope, Min-su-ya was in the way.ā
āHey, this is not my fault,ā she said, putting her hands on her hips.
āWell, you were shaking Jin-woo-ya pretty hard,ā Jong-in pointed out. āThereās no need to panic. Theyāre people, just like us.ā
No, not just like us, Jin-woo thought but wisely kept the words to himself.
Author Bio
An avid reader, E.T. finds inspiration in all her favorite genres, from mainstream romance by her favorite authors to Japanese manga and anime. To her, even the classic fairytales hold that spark of motivation and if there is one thing she has learned from her many years of writing solely for herself, itās this: never deny the Muse, she gets cranky and pulls out the bullwhip. E.T. Malinowski is the youngest of seven girls. It was her love of reading that eventually led her to attempt writing. From there, a passion was born.
She began writing romance in her early teens and, at that time, never dreamed of sharing her work with anyone. With the help of several dear friends, not to mention her ex-husband, she found the courage to take that last step towards publication. As the single mother of three rambunctious boys, finding time to write is a bit difficult. Yet E.T. manages to do it, even if itās on break or lunch at a regular day job.
She has found her place in homoerotic romance. To her, love doesnāt recognize gender rel=”noopener”boundaries and is always special. An avid reader, E.T. finds inspiration in all her favorite genres, from mainstream romance by her favorite authors to Japanese manga and anime. To her, even the classic fairytales hold that spark of motivation and if there is one thing she has learned from her many years of writing solely for herself, itās this: never deny the Muse, she gets cranky and pulls out the bullwhip.
BLURB: For a lonely Cornish lifeboatman and an author whoās more used to crime scenes than love scenes, this Christmas is going to be very merry indeed!
When Jago Treherne agrees to man the Polneath lifeboats one snowy Christmas, he knows he can forget turkey and all the trimmings.
Yet when he boards a seemingly empty yacht and stumbles upon sexy Sam Coryton enjoying an energetic afternoon below decks, Jago soon realizes that he might be unwrapping a very different sort of Christmas gift this year!
Publisher’s Note: This book is related to the Captivating Captains series.
REVIEW: This is a charming and well written novella in the Captivating Captains series. I absolutely adored these characters. Although the book has two MCs, the authors decided to do something a little different by having the story pretty much told from Jagoās perspective. Even though this was the case, the story still flows quite well.
Jago is on duty and has no huge plans for holidays other than spending time at home snuggled with his cat. Now, for those who are not aware, I am a total cat lady so of course, Peregrine the cat stole the show for me for a bit.
Jago happens upon a docked yacht that he thinks is in trouble but find, to his chagrin, that it belonged to famous author and childhood friend, Sam Coryton in a somewhat compromising, embarrassing and hilarious position. Figuratively and literally.
Sam has grown jaded of the London high society life and is looking to get back to his roots, peace and quiet. It becomes clear rather quickly, these two men belong together.
This novella is sexy, funny, and charming. Each story in this series is better and better and although different, still has a cohesive feel to them. These two authors did an amazing job of telling Jago and Samās story. What I particularly love about these novellas is that theyāre so well written, the characters and dialogues so well fleshed out that they read like full length books.
I thoroughly enjoyed this novella and definitely recommend it and this series.
There’s a new holiday romance anthology out: Worst Holiday Ever.
Itās the most wonderful time of the year! OKāscratch that. Itās time for another obligatory family gathering. And nothing spices up the egg nog like bringing your partner home. Surely your belligerent brother-in law, your gimlet-eyed granny and your drunken uncle will keep it classy. With forced proximity and alcoholic beverages, what could possibly go wrong?
Decked Out by Eva Moore
A Perfect Fit by Adrienne Bell
Crazy Old Money by Kilby Blades
Stealing Christmas by Kari Lemor
Touched by Fate by Preslaysa Williams
Ringing in the Reefer by Marie Booth
The Thanksgiving Parade From Hell by R.L. Merrill
Thankful in Perdition by Erin St. Charles
Feliz Chanukah! by Meg Bellamy
This anthology is for readers who love any or all of the following: m/m, #ownvoices, plus-sized heroes, interracial/multicultural families, paranormal romance, contemporary romance, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Chanukah!
Warning: It is best to leave this one to the mature audiences. Note: Many of the stories in this anthology are not queer.
āYou hardly ate anything.ā Dalton rubbed Orrieās back. Heād suggested the donuts because he knew Orrie would be too stressed out to eat.
āI donāt know why she insists on serving quiche at these things. Who the hell eats quiche, anyway?ā Orrie picked at the spot on his finger.
Dalton shook his head. āOnly old people. And hipsters.ā
Orrie laughed humorlessly and leaned back in the seat. āYou donāt have to do the boxes this weekend. I can do it tomorrow before I leave.ā
āForget it,ā Dalton said as he started the car. āI get you to myself tomorrow until I take you to the airport, and Iām not losing a single minute of time with you.ā He leaned over and kissed Orrie sweetly. āItās been a long six weeks, baby.ā
āToo long. I missed you.ā Orrie closed his eyes and Dalton took that as a good sign. He hoped that meant Orrie would be able to relax at their next stop. Because he sure the hell wouldnāt.
Ahhhh, Casa de Bishop. The eternal bachelor pad. The house where Bishop men went to lick their wounds and drink. A lot. And today being Thanksgiving and the holy day of the pigskin, Dalton had prepared his defense. He just had to get past this next two hours, and then he and Orrie would move on toā¦his momās. Okay, make that the next four hours.
He pulled the car out of the pretentious neighborhood where Orrieās grandmother lived and drove down the hill to the more blue-collar area of Castro Valley. It was a funny town in that way. You had these newer, expensive developments up in the hills and canyons, but a lot of old neighborhoods from the forties and fifties that remained affordable for the low- to middle-income folks in the East Bay.
Peter Bishop, Daltonās father, lived in such a home, one heād inherited from his parents. The boys had grown up there, and currently, Daltonās brothers Terrence and Stanley lived there with him. Both had broken up with their significant others in the past year and now, with their divorced father, they lived the life of swinginā singles. Dalton just hoped the house was in better shape than it had been the last time he was here.
āHey, doll,ā Orrie said, reaching for his leg. āI know how much you worry about them. You donāt have to do anything you donāt want to. If you want to goā¦ā
And that was just one of the many reasons Dalton loved this man more than anything. He looked over and Orrie was smiling at him in that way that made Dalton feel like any second he was going to be a weeping mess on the floor, but in a good way. Not in the way heād grown up experiencing.
āI want to see them. I do. Weāre supposed to be thankful on Thanksgiving, right?ā
Orrie nodded, frowning. āYou are the most thankful person Iāve ever known. You see the positive in everything. Sometimes to your own detriment.ā
Dalton barked out a laugh and his eyes burned. He was tired of fretting over a situation that was never going to change.
Orrie got out of the car and walked around to Daltonās door, which he promptly opened, pulling Dalton in for an embrace that felt more supportive than seductive, and yet it had both effects. Dalton may have been the one to pursue Orrie, but Orrie had seduced Dalton with his compassion as much as his passion, with his love as much as his loving.
āIf you promise not to take any shit from your brothers, Iāll promise not to cause any bodily injury.ā
Dalton snorted and dropped his forehead onto Orrieās shoulder. āYou know theyāre going to give me shit, and I know youāre going to give it right back. Just donāt hit anyone this time. You donāt have that luxury, you know? You canāt afford any injuries.ā He thought about Orrie picking at his finger and hoped it wouldnāt get worse as the day wore on.
Orrie sighed and kissed Daltonās head. āIām insured,ā he said against Daltonās hair. āIf I happen to have an injury, theyāll find some other poor schmuck to play guitar for me. Shouldnāt be too hard. Any adolescent boy could playāā
āStop it right there. Youāre as full of shit as a Thanksgiving turkey.ā Dalton put a finger against Orrieās lips.
āIām serious, baby. Please.ā
Orrie laughed. āWe have an audience. Should we give them a show?ā
Orrie just loved to be demonstrative in front of Daltonās brothers. They couldnāt contain their disgust, not so much because Dalton was gay, but because the thought of their oldest sibling being sexually active with anyone made them want to hurl. Since Dalton had been more of a father to Terrence and Stanley than dear old Dad, they tended to treat him that way.
āIād say we should give them a show, but honestly, thatās not playing fair. If I want them to behave, I canāt exactly go sinking to their level.ā
āSo I shouldnāt fondle you right here?ā Orrie slid his hand down Daltonās chest.
Dalton winced and sucked in a breath.
āDid I hurt you? Iām sorry.ā
Dalton pressed his lips together firmly and pulled back from Orrie. āIām fine. Really.ā Was that my voice coming out sounding like a little girlās?
Before Orrie could interrogate him, which would really ruin the surprise Dalton had worked so hard to make happen, Peter Bishop slammed open the front door.
āHurry up, you two, before Terry burns the damn turkey!ā
Dalton stared wide-eyed at Orrie. āDid he just say turkey?ā
Orrie nodded, his brow furrowed once more. āAre your brotherās actually cooking?ā
āCome on, you two. I gotta get in the backyard.ā
The screen door slammed shut and Dalton jumped at the sound.
āHave your phone ready to call the fire department,ā he said to Orrie as he sprinted up the walk. Dear God, donāt let those idiots burn the place down.
Author Bio
Eva Moore:As a young woman, Eva Moore loved nothing more than to dive into the pages of a book. She even met her husband while reading a romance novel. When the second baby came along though, she found she had little time for diving into anything but laundry. Missing her stories desperately, she began to make up her own. The stories she played with while she washed dishes and changed diapers demanded space on the page, and she was hooked. Winning Cherry Adair’s Finish The Damn Book Contest has propelled her career into high gear. Eva now lives in Silicon Valley, after moving around the world and back, with her college sweetheart, her three gorgeous girls, and a Shih Tzu who thinks he is a cat. She can be found most nights hiding in her closet-office, scribbling away, and loves to hear from the outside world.
Kilby Blades:Kilby Blades is a fresh new voice in smart contemporary romantic fiction. A business executive by day, by night she writes dynamic characters into (and out of) tantalizingly complex predicaments. Critics laud her “feminist romance”, noting empowered heroines and multi-dimensional heroes who are staunch advocates for their partners, stepping back from their own spotlights in order to let their women shine. From dry wit in her angstier books to blatant humor in her lighter ones, her characters are resplendent in their witty repartee. All her stories, regardless of genre, serve up delicious dilemmas and never-before-seen plots. When she’s not writing, Kilby goes to movie matinees alone, where she eats Chocolate Pocky and buttered popcorn and usually smuggles in not-a-little-bit of red wine. Kilby is a mother, a social-justice fighter, and above all else, a glutton for a good story.
Erin St. Charles: Erin grew up watching Star Trek and reading Barbara Cartland novels (don’t hate), wishing she could create something that brings her love of science fiction together with her love of romance. Still a romantic nerd at heart, she writes sensual, diverse stories that blend fantasy, adventure, and love.
Kari Lemor:Kari Lemor grew up as one of those kids who read all night under the covers. Once she had her first glimpse of a romance novel at age 12, it was all over. Romance was in her blood. It would be many years before the stories that ran rampant in her head finally drove her to put words to paper, though. She wrote self-indulgently for the first few years and only recently began penning stories to share with others. She still writes stories that are self-indulgent but hopes others might get some enjoyment from them too. Now that her children are all grown and have moved out, she uses her spare time to create stories of love and happily ever after romances where heroes ride to the rescue of damsels who have already saved themselves. She lives with her husband in a small town in New England dreaming of warmer weather. But only if it’s near the ocean.
Adrienne Bell: Adrienne Bell is the author of over a dozen action-packed romances including the bestselling contemporary Second Service series and the new Exiles of the Realm paranormal series. She loves nothing more than writing quirky heroines with a knack for finding trouble and the hardheaded heroes who help them fight their way out of it. Adrienne lives with her husband and sons on the far edge of the San Francisco Bay Area where she spends her downtime reading, binge-watching nerdy television, and scrolling through Disneyland fan websites.
Meg Bellamy:Along with her husband, her family and her books, language is Meg’s passion. In fact, by day she’s a mild-mannered language teacher. Currently, she teaches ESL (English as a Second Language) to international students, but in her early teaching days, her main subject was French. Though her French is a bit rusty these days, she figures a trip to France would help fix that. She’s also studied Russian, Spanish and Italian. This love of language spills over into her writing craft and appreciation for books — and travel! Meg also has to travel to see other family members in New Jersey — a mere continent away from Meg’s home in Northern California. Being a published member of the community of writers with her contemporary romances and women’s fiction is the fulfillment of one of Meg’s most cherished dreams. Her first release, Homecoming, was released October 19 — a week before her birthday — from The Wild Rose Press.
Marie Booth: Marie’s a Northern California girl with a love of all things artsy fartsy – as her brother says. A theatre and fantasy geek, she writes sexy paranormal romance and has a hot contemporary series releasing this year. You can contact Marie here:
R.L. Merrill:Once upon a time… A teacher, tattoo collector, mom, and rock ‘n’ roll kinda gal opened up a doc and started purging her demons. Several self-published books and a debut from Dreamspinner Press later, with more tucked away in her evil lair, R.L. Merrill is still striving to find that perfect balance between real-life and happily ever after. You can find her lurking on social media where she loves connecting with readers, being a mom-taxi to two brilliant and busy kids, in the tattoo chair trying desperately to get that back piece finished, or headbanging at a rock show near her home in the San Francisco Bay Area! Stay Tuned for more Rock ‘n’ Romance.
Preslaysa Williams:Preslaysa Williams is an award-winning author and actress. She writes contemporary romance and women’s fiction with an Afro-Filipina twist. Preslaysa has a Bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and is currently earning her MFA in Fiction from Seton Hill University. Connect with Preslaysa online at her website (www.preslaysa.com) or on any of these social media platforms:
PUBLISHER: Knight Ever After Publishing (2nd Edition)
RELEASEDATE: October 26, 2018
BLURB: Sam is a naĆÆve young man who arrives in Hollywood to escape his brutal father. When the older, sophisticated Aaron rescues him, Sam discovers what it means to fully surrender himself to another.
Eighteen year-old Sam Cunningham is used to living with lots of secrets. Heās had to hide his true nature his entire life or else incur the wrath of his strict and abusive father. When heās faced with a horrible ultimatum, he flees to Hollywood where he hopes he can escape the fate his father has planned for him.
Aaron Rubenstein is a wealthy and sophisticated man who loses himself in painting portraits of bound men to help stave off his loneliness and despair. Unable to find a lasting connection with anyone, heās had to resort to paying lovers not only for their affections, but to be allowed to indulge in his darker passions. Aaronās only respite is his nights at the Hampton Road sadomasochism club where heās a respected Dominant.
NaĆÆve and inexperienced in the ways men can please one another, Sam takes a job at a bathhouse where he first glimpses a beautiful older man. Aaron notices the sweet towel boy watching him with interest every time he patronizes the Temple of Eros bathhouse. A traumatic incident for the innocent towel boy triggers Aaronās protective tendencies and heās compelled to rescue the gentle Sam from the clutches of the Templeās manager.
They embark on a journey together that teaches them both things about themselves that they never knew. As their bond deepens and Sam is trained for his first night at the Hampton Road Club, an unknown danger lurks. Will Samās father find him and destroy both menās chance for true happiness together? Or will Aaron protect his boy and keep him for always?
Reader advisory: This book is best read in sequence as part of a series.
REVIEW: This story is absolutely fabulous. In fact, every single book that Iāve read written by this author is fabulous. Knightās stories, characters and storylines are always well written and memorable. This series is unique in the sense that it takes place in a different era. The 1920s-1930s. That is what initially caught my attention; I wanted to see how she would create a story with BDSM in that particular time period. And let me tell you, it was glorious.
Sam is a young man who ran away from home to escape his abusive father. Itās there where he meets the wealthy and kind older sophisticated gentleman, Aaron. Together they travel a journey of sexual freedom and discovery for Sam and for Aaron, heās finally found someone he can be himself with. Both men are happy together but of course, Samās past threatens to take away the happiness theyāve found with each other.
This is a fantastic May/December M/M BDSM romance set in the Roaring Twenties. I donāt know of any other storylines, books in the genre that combines all of those elements together. This author did such a wonderful job with these characters and this storyline. The little details of the fashions, technology, language of the times really held my interest. This is the first book of what is shaping up to be an amazing series.
BLURB: Funny, sexy, evocative, and brutally honest, Ripe is Alan Semrowās ode to relationships with men. In this epistolary book, Semrow writes to the men who have impacted his outlook, reminded him of basic life lessons, surprised him in more ways than one, and left him reeling for days. Writing to one-night-flings, men he has never met, and men heāll never stop running into, Semrow touches on some of the most constant human themesālove, lust, desire, and the yearning for connection. All the while, the book details a manās journey navigating and blooming by way of the modern gay scene. Readers will find familiarity and hard truths in Semrowās statements about the intricacy and explosiveness of the intimate moments we share.
REVIEW: This book is unusual in the sense that it doesnāt have a plot, storyline, or characters. Itās more of a memoir; letters written to the men who has been a part of his life during the different stages. Heās reminiscing about the men of his past, present and who he wishes for in his future through a series of letters written from the heart.
With each letter, the author lays bare his soul. He writes about life and the things heās experienced, happy, sad, good and bad. These letters are an exploration of friendship, love, and intimacy.
This book isnāt what I would call sexual or romantic. He does hint at sexual encounters/ relationships with the various men throughout his life but theyāre not what one would consider explicit. Itās more like a reminisce; a reflection of each encounter.
Again, this isnāt a book in the sense where there are MCs, plots, storylines or tropes. What he has given us is insight into his heart and mind, his youthful dreams, longings, regrets and ultimately his growth..
BLURB: Some skeletons are better left in the closet.
Steven Sharpe is on the road to recovery. After boozing, drugging, and sex with just about anything that moved, heās making a comeback. Age is only a number, right? Why should he hang up his mic and guitar at thirty-seven when hard rock music needs a shot in the arm? And with his powerful voice, Steven figures heāll have no problem regaining the adulation he once embraced as the lead singer of StarHaze.
Despite all the crazy, fun times from back in the day, one night will forever be emblazoned in his mindāthe moment he fucked up his chance at love.
Driven and determined, Noah James is quickly climbing the corporate ladder. At twenty-eight, heās been promoted to junior partner and has finally gained his peer respect. Though Noah still gets crap for being a gay black man, he doesnāt allow that to deter him from fulfilling his goal of being the only James man graduate college and build a successful career. But the past has a way of sneaking up when he least expects it and biting him in the ass.
Ten years ago, Noah and Steven were strangers at a run-down bar with their only connection being a song. When theyāre thrown together again by chance, neither of them is prepared for the roller coaster of emotions they can no longer deny. Now, the two men must face the truth that while love is a fierce emotion, so is fear.
REVIEW: Iābe got to say that Iām not really a fan of the rockstar/pop star trope(s) but being familiar with this authorās work and my love of books with MCs of color and interracial romance, I knew that I was going to give this book a read.
Needless to say that Iām really very glad I did. Steven is a rock star whose star has dimmed due to his boozing, drugging, hard partying ways. Now that life is all behind him and heās on the road to recovery and he wants back into the spotlight.
Noah is young, hardworking, intelligent and driven. His hard work and determination is finally paying off in terms of his career. His personal life is another story.
Of course, thereās this saying about the best laid plansā¦
This story is about second chances and a lesson about skeletons in closets and your past creeping up on you.
Noah and Steven couldnāt be more different from each other but the old adage of āopposites attractā rings true with these two men.
These two men are perfect for each other but fear is working them both hard and keeping them apart. The emotions written into this story that it practically leaps off the pages at you. These characters are vivid and the storyline flows quite well. I am really glad that I had the opportunity to read this story. I definitely recommend this story.
