BLURB: The rings have been selected. The champagne placed on ice. The cake decorated.
And the pre-wedding sex is off the charts…
Lucas Vallois and Andrei Hadeon are finally ready to walk down the aisle. Thereâs just one small problem.
A ghost from Lucasâs past shows up days before the wedding, desperate for help. Against his better judgement, Lucas and his best friend, Ashton Frost, plan a fast trip back to the one place they swore theyâd never go: their hometown in Oklahoma. But the danger is worse than they expected.
Now, theyâre in a race to track down a killer, keep a young girl safe, and get Lucas back in time to say, âI do.â
REVIEW: WOW! What else can I say? When I heard that book 5 was about Lucas and Andrei’s wedding I couldn’t wait to read it. I knew that meant all the guys would be together again and wherever they were, trouble would not be far behind. Well that was an understatement. Lol! I enjoyed this book so much I didn’t want it to end. It easily earned a 5star rating from me. Lucas and Andrei’s love for each other is just as fierce and hot as it was when they first met and we see that from the beginning of this book, (lol) all the way to the end. We get my control freak Lucas with the arrogance of a billionaire, Ashton Snow Frost and his wicked sense of humor, sweet Ian (who’s high on wedding fumes). I died laughing at that comment, and Rowe with his devil may care attitude “the embodiment of chaos”. I want a Rowe in my life!
We get to know more about Lucas and Snow’s past. The unbearable childhood they each had to endure that later forged their friendship and brotherhood. We meet some of Lucas’ family members like Nicole and Taylor along with his despicable parents. My heart broke for the anguish so much intolerance had caused. We also meet some new members of Ward security Seth and Cole. We were briefly introduced to a friend of Taylor’s, by the name of Bran with pink hair. I can’t wait to get his story as I’m sure there is one.
Finally, you will love this page turner. It will have you crying at times and laughing out loud at others. The action ad suspense will have you on the edge of your seat and the sex will make you blush.
When private investigator, Shane Stephens, is hired by the mayor of Cincinnati to track down the hacker who has been threatening him, Shane is sure this is the opportunity to launch the Merleau Detection Agency into the big time. He even convinces Rowe Ward of Ward Security to loan him one of his best IT specialists, Quinn Lake.
Shane, a man who prefers casual intimacy, is surprised by his attraction to the moody computer geek, but when Quinn suggests they have fun for the month heâs on loan, Shane happily agrees. Both men are expecting nothing more than a good time.
But the investigation takes an unexpected turn and they quickly discover they are facing more than a hacker out to ruin the mayorâs re-election chances. And as they spend more time together, they realize their relationship may be a lot more than just a good time.
With only weeks until the election, Shane and Quinn race to gather the proof they need while dodging bullets and possiblyâŠfalling in love.
Excerpt
After one quick knock on Roweâs door, he stepped inside without waiting for him to call since he was already expected. But he stopped short when he saw the tall man standing next to Roweâs desk, his hands on his slender hips as he grinned down at Rowe. Quinn couldnât stop his eyes from quickly sweeping over his broad shoulders and chest that tapered into a narrow waist. His eyes snapped back up to find a pair of brown eyes that twinkled as they finished checking him out as well.
âSorry,â Quinn mumbled, instantly taking a step backward. âI can come back.â Rowe rarely saw clients. He had customer representatives that handled talking to the clients. Of course, with Roweâs lack of a filter, it was better if he didnât talk to the new clients directly.
âNo, come in, Quinn,â Rowe said sharply. He stood behind his desk, drawing Quinnâs gaze to his shorter but broader frame. His dark red hair stood up slightly as if heâd been running his fingers through it. Quinn never took that as a particularly good sign.
With a quick jerk of his head, Quinn stepped in and shut the door behind him. The other man was smiling at him, that assessing look still in his eyes, and Quinn didnât want to think about the fact that he was dying to take another longer look at him, but not with the freaking boss in the room.
âQuinn Lake, this is Shane Stephens. Heâs a private investigator with The Merleau Detection Agency,â Rowe introduced.
Shane extended his hand to Quinn and Quinn clenched his teeth, trying to hide his discomfort at taking Shaneâs hand. His own palms were sweaty, making the momentary contact awkward. Why the fuck was he always so damn awkward around hot guys?
âRowe tells me youâre the best,â Shane said, releasing his hand.
Quinn couldnât help the skeptical look he shot at Rowe, who only shrugged as he sat down again. âWell, I said you <em>and</em> Gidget are the best.â
âIs this about a job?â
âSit, Quinn.â Rowe absently waved toward the two chairs in front of his desk. He shuffled some papers around without seeming to actually look at them, placing them in piles at the edge of his desk.
Shooting one last uncertain look at Shane, Quinn moved to the farthest chair and sat, his tablet clenched in both hands. His mind raced as he tried to figure out why heâd been called into this meeting. Clients didnât meet with Rowe, and Quinn didnât meet with clients unless theyâd already been assigned a bodyguard. And while theyâd worked with some private investigators in the past, Rowe wasnât usually involved. He had a company to run.
âShane recently acquired a client who is the victim of a hacker,â Rowe started.
Quinn looked up at Shane, who was still standing beside Roweâs desk, his mind finally turning away from too many questions to a problem he could understand. âIdentity theft? Bank accounts drained?â
âNo, not yet.â Shane shook his head, some of his dark curly hair falling forward against his temple. âAt least, not that weâve uncovered.â
âThen how do you know this client was hacked?â
âThere are other signsâŠbut I canât go into it.â
Quinn frowned for a second. That certainly wasnât going to make his job easier. âWell, do you just need improved protection? Alerts on accounts? Weâve got a comprehensive list of things we can do to help shore up the clientâs account protection and privacy.â
âShane isnât looking for protection from the hacker for the client.â Rowe paused until Quinn looked back at him. âHis client has hired him to track down the identity of the hacker.â
âWhoaâŠâ Quinn said on an exhale, sitting back in his chair. ThatâŠthat was not an easy task. Most hackers were pretty damn good at not being found. You had to be if you wanted to survive as one. If you sucked, you were usually snagged by the FBI pretty damn fast. Quinn would know. Heâd started hacking at a young ageânot stealing other peopleâs money but just breaking through security systems because he could. It took the feds a solid five years to catch him. But his boss knew all this. Rowe knew everything about the people working for him.
âWeâre not equipped to handle this level ofâŠâ Shane frowned at Roweâs computer as if he blamed it for his problems. âWell, weâre not staffed yet to handle computer things like this. I can do some of the forensic research in accounting matters, but I need a computer genius like you.â
âThatâs why I agreed to loan you to Shane and his business partner, Ethan, for one month,â Rowe announced.
Quinn was out of his seat in a shot, hovering over the edge of the desk as he looked down at his boss. Pain shot through his chest, and he was suddenly having trouble catching his breath. Panic clouded all of his thoughts. He loved working for Ward Security. Heâd been there for just less than two years, and heâd never found another place where heâd felt like he fit so damn perfectly. This was home. These people he worked with, they were his friends. He didnât have to hide or pretend or feel uncomfortable.
And RoweâŠRowe had always been amazing. Sure, he could be cranky and a little crazy. He was always loud and tended to speak before thinking. But Quinn always knew exactly where he stood with Rowe. He always felt like Rowe had his back.
But thisâŠ
âAre you getting rid of me?â
âWhat?â Rowe snapped. âWhere the fuck did you get that idea?â
âYouâre hiring another IT person. I saw the listing. And this? Putting me âon loanâ?â
Rowe groaned and scrubbed a hand over his face. With a heavy sigh, he pointed back at the chair Quinn had just vacated. âSit.â Grudgingly, Quinn followed direction while Rowe looked over at Shane. âCan you give us a minute?â
Jocelynn Drake and Rinda Elliott have teamed up to combine their evil genius to create intense gay romantic suspense stories that have car chases, shoot outs, explosions, scorching hot love scenes, and tender, tear-jerking moments. Their first joint books are in the Unbreakable Bonds series.
BLURB: When shifters Aleco and Pedro find their world torn in two, they have to stick together, fight together and be as one in a way they never have before.
For Aleco the pieces of his happiness jigsaw have finally fallen into place. With his son Neo now content with a new mate, itâs time for him to celebrate with the two people he loves and desires most in the world.
But little does Aleco know that waiting for him and Pedro is the worst news of all. The third in their relationship is missing, vanished without a trace. There one minute, gone the next.
In their frantic dash to find her, a desperate passion is fueled and their emotions collide with fiery consequences. Taking solace in each other is all they can do.
But will they find her? And why has she left them? The only thing left is to keep hunting for the answers and following her trail.
Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of anal sex.
This novella reads like a full length book and will definitely hold your interest. Please note: these books, in my opinion arenât stand-alone and is best when read in sequential order so you have a better understanding of the series and characters.
BLURB: A bounty hunterâs partners to loversâ story. The hunt is on⊠and heâs the prey.
Bradford (Ford) King was sure he had the rest of his life mapped out. Though he was no longer a SEAL Lieutenant, his brother was home safe and he had a job that still allowed him to satisfy his hunger for hunting bad guys. Life was simple, no distractions or complications â at age forty-six â thatâs all Ford wanted. What he didnât want was his work partner, sniper/watchman, Dana, giving him s**t all the time.
Dana Cadby had grown up labeled a roughneck from the wrong side of the tracks. Heâd fought, scrounged, and survived despite a father that constantly told him he couldnât. Dana pulled himself up by his own boot straps and made a name for himself in the marksman community. Heâd been Dukeâs bounty watchman for five years. It was his job to ensure their safety, watch their backs. At thirty-three, he was trusted, well respected by his peers, his bosses, his friends⊠so why couldnât he earn the same respect from his partner?
Dana knew he was bisexual before he graduated high school. He also knew he was attracted to the huge, 6â3â, SEAL from the moment he and his brother came to join their team. It wasnât easy for him to tamp down his immediate reaction to Fordâs thick muscles, full beard, and dark eyes. Still, Dana exhibited nothing but professionalism towards him, not wanting to make his âstraightâ partner uncomfortable. So why did Ford constantly give him hell?
After Dana took back his ex-girlfriend, heâd noticed an intensification in Fordâs bad attitude. One that turned aggressive and downright antagonistic, and Dana was damned if heâd just lay down and take it. He was gonna make that man respect him if it was the last thing he did.
When Duke sends Dana and Ford out to track down their most dangerous bounty yet, they both embrace the fact that they make one hell of a team⊠but they fight tooth and nail against the powerful intimacy brewing between them.
Beware: If Ford and Dana connect completely, god help the fugitive whoâs in the sights of the hunter and his watchman.
This story is a part of a series but can stand alone. It does not end on a cliffhanger and has a HEA.
REVIEW: This is the third book in this fantastic series by this author. And when I tell you that it’s amazing, I mean it. This book continues with Dana and Fordâs story. This story, as with all this author’s work was such a pleasure to read. It was also a pleasant surprise because I wasn’t expecting this pairing.
Dana is the youngest on the team and in my opinion, the most vulnerable, emotionally speaking of course. I loved Danaâs character. His personality was an interesting juxtaposition of vulnerability and strength. He was shy yetâŠnot. He was confident yet insecure.
Ford was a gruff and tough former Navy Seal. He’s loyal and fiercely protective of his younger brother. He’s also stubborn. Well, both men are stubborn. So much so that I wanted to reach in and Gibbs smack both of them at the backs of their heads to knock some sense into both of them. I especially wanted to snap Danaâs girlfriend like a twig. The ole bony, salad eating wench that she was.
You know a book is good when the characters make you yell at your reading device. I was yelling at, smacking and positively howling at my iPad, these characters are just that vivid.
I love her writing style. You’re not going to get any pretty lavender words or flowery dialogue from the men in her books. I also love the fact that her characters are men of a particular age and everyday working men. What I also appreciate is the fact that she’s not afraid to use the word bisexual. These men are BISEXUAL. Not ‘gay for you’, ‘out for you’ or any of the other tropes that erases the bisexual identity.
I can’t express how excellent this book is. I equate reading this author’s work to mama cooking in the kitchen and when she’s finished, you end up with the most delicious meal. Yes, she has truly put her foot in the pot with this book.
This book, heck, this series is definitely highly recommended.
BLURB: : After breaking away from the small conservative town where he was born, Nicholas Cole has been working as a dancer at The Warehouse, a dimly-lit bar where men can retreat from public view and indulge in hidden fun. His coworkers welcomed him with open arms and watched as he grew to be their top dancer. Never one to be distracted by a relationship or a handsome face, Nicholas seeks the constant excitement of dancing for large sums of money and teasing the countless men who worship him.
When a party of women and straight men walk through the door, Nicholas is surprised to say the least, but one guy in the group catches his eye.
Personal fitness coach Clint Meyers is attached to the arm of a pretty girl who seems to monitor his every move, but she doesnât notice when Clintâs eyes land on Nicâs barely-clothed body. His coworkers insist heâs wasting his time lusting after a straight guy, but Nicholas is captivated by Clintâs ripped physique and chiseled face. The two men begin to meet in private and bond over their love of fitness, but Nicholas is distracted by the presence of a strange new loner who shows up at The Warehouse and refuses to accept rejection. As Nicholas copes with an unwanted and potentially dangerous admirer, he and Clint start to explore â and push â Clintâs boundaries.
REVIEW: Okay so let me very honest, I didn’t even read the blurb before I began reading this book. I was genuinely excited to read Jason’s latest because I had heard some positive comments from other friends of mine. So as I read the first say 15% of the book I was uncertain as to where the story was headed. This part of the story is a very raw and probably very realistic look at what goes on at a club with go-go dancers. Nicholas, one of our main characters is a go-go dancer in a bar called “The Warehouse”. He was extremely good looking and in great shape so he was easily a very popular guy. Nic came across as somewhat conceited though, which made him less attractive to me.
As the story progresses we meet Clint, a very handsome physical trainer who is also straight…or so he thinks. I don’t particularly like him either. He comes across bi-curious and weak. But as I continued reading and getting to know all the secondary characters, Greg, Allen, Kelly and Kenneth my feelings change about the MC’s. Their relationship moves very slowly as Clint tries to figure things out.
I ended up enjoying the book a lot. However, I felt our MC’s never got enough time together. Certain parts of the story dragged on too long, and not enough time was given to Nic and Clint. I wanted a lot more of them.
BLURB: DeMatteo Santiago is the Alpha of one of the largest prides in North America. He is a young, successful lion shifter, surrounded by a large family and his devoted lover. By anyone’s account he has more than any one man can ask for, but his lion cares of nothing except finding their mate.
An unexpected business trip pits DeMatteo and his long awaited mate on opposite sides of the courtroom. But when challenged by ex-lovers, nosey siblings, and crazy hunters, DeMatteo realizes that finding his mate was the easy part. The real question is whether they will live long enough to be together.
This release is an M/M paranormal shifter romance. This series will contain, graphic violence, graphic language, and Mpreg. What it will not be is an instant mate fairytale, as forces set out to destroy everything and everyone.
REVIEW: Alright, now weâre finally getting into the story of Mattâs life after his parent’s deaths. Now, as I’ve stated before, I love shifter stories in general, lion shifter in particular because I’m one of those crazy cat ladies that love all things feline. I will also admit that I like Mpreg stories; they fascinate me. So, put both of those elements together and of course I’m in.
Matt is a alpha lion of a large pride. I like the fact that he’s not just a lion shifter. He’s a highly successful and sought after attorney in the human world so I like how the author wrote him to be able to balance interacting in and with the human world as well as the paranormal world.
The human world is where he finds his true mate, Sean. Sean’s the opposing attorney in a very messy human divorce. Matt is ecstatic that he find his mate but there’s just a few glitches in the program. One, Seanâs human so there’s the how-in-the-hell-am-I-going-to-explain-this aspect to this mating. Two, they’re both with other peopleâSean has a girlfriend, Matt a boyfriend so there’s the how-in-the-hell-am-I-going-to-make-a-clean-break aspect of those situations. Seanâs breakup was painless compared to Mattâs. I felt so very bad for Hugh! It was to the point that I didn’t care for the Mattâs character at all. Even though Matt made it clear that whatever they had was just sex, I still felt that he could’ve handled it with a lot more grace than he did. The way that he did it was a bit foul. It was like he told Hugh and then reminded him that he was just something to play with until the real thing comes along. It was sad. I understood that he made it clear in the beginning what type of relationship it was to be but fifteen yearsâŠI felt he could’ve at least given the poor guy a week or two before just tossing him out of the house. And Mattâs sisters didn’t make the situation any better. I actually loathed them for they way they treated Hugh. I felt like they were all rubbing salt in a cut Matt inflicted. It’s like Hugh has been mistreated all his life and were aware of that but didn’t care. They acted like insensitive bitches. And I didn’t care what happened to or with them for the rest of the story.
Thereâs threats from all sides, human hunters and other paranormals. Add in the mess from the breakup with Hugh and it’s not an easy walk for Matt and Sean. And you know what? They didn’t deserve one. I felt that they deserved every bit of drama and chaos that came their way; they deserved the karma over how their exes were treated.
I really enjoyed reading this book. You know the author did a great job when the reader has such visceral reactions to the characters and you’re absorbed in the storyline.
The only thing about the book that I didn’t quite care for was the tenses. I think it was told in a–I don’t know-narrative voice?  I’m not sure if that’s what it’s called. It was like someone was telling you the story as opposed to you reading it as it’s happeningâŠI can’t explain it properly but it drove me nuts. I tried to roll with it but after the first chapter I ended up substituting the tenses and the changing the wording in my head and that made it easier for it to click. It weird, I know but it’s a quirk of mine.
I usually hate cliffhangers but if the story’s really good, as this one was, I don’t mind it so much. Especially this time because I had the next book on hand so I was able to quickly get to it. In all, I think it worked out rather nicely.
Eight years ago, I was visiting Lahaina, Maui when I encountered a painting in a gallery window on Front Street. The painting was called Spirit Lover and it captivated me and has held me in its grip ever since. In it, a young woman is in the arms of a powerful-looking Hawaiian man. He is striking. Solid. Masculine. He is all-consuming.
He is also a ghost.
During the day, the spirit loverâs body disappears below the waist. At night, in certain light, his bottom half reappears. I was fascinated by the painting and since I was staying nearby I kept coming to look at the painting day and night. And then an idea formed in my mind. The young man managing the gallery noticed me one morning he tried to interest me in buying the painting but I didnât happen to have thousands of dollars loitering in my wallet.
But, as he lifted the painting out of the window and took it inside for me to look at it under special lights, I realized how magical that painting was and I could have wept for not having the money to buy it.
It gave me an idea, though. When I returned to my holiday house, I began work on Phantom Lover and created the story of a local hula master posing for a painting. I named him Kimo Wilder and he became real to me. No. He was larger than life to me. I have no idea where the story came from but a few days later I met a real hula dancer in Lahaina and he was training at a local halau, hula school, and he invited me to come and watch.
I met some wonderful teachers and dancers through him. I learned so much that I never knew about hula. For example, learning hula takes many, many years and requires great sacrifice. Dancers spend a long time away from their families to prepare for competition. It sometimes feels like they are preparing for battle.
Many young children in the islands are taught from an early age. In some areas, the children live with their teachers and fellow students in special schools. They are taught secrets about their culture that are taught by word of mouth since there was no written language until the missionaries came to the islands in the 1800s. The childrenâs talent is noticed at a young age.
Some hula is very painful, such as one performed on the knees. I watched as young girls cried rehearsing a long dance devoted to the goddess Hina (moon goddess), but they loved the dance. Loved the pain.
For a long time, Hawaiian language, music, dance, and literature were banned in the island stateâs schools. Today, a huge movement is holding strong and the artists of the Hawaiian culture no longer practice in secret. The more I learned the more I wanted to know about the Hawaiian culture that it became more important than ever for me to create a character that was authentic to its religion and philosophy. Many of those friendships are still important to me today. I have maintained those ties and cherish them and still continue to learn the role of the male hula dancer in the world yesterday and today.
Hula dancers are storytellers.
They have in their hands and feet the heartbeat of their culture, the history, and their songs. The hula dancer conveys so much with the mere twitch of a finger, which is why people always say âkeep your eyes on the hula dancerâs hands.â
I know I always do!
Here is a synopsis of Phantom Lover. Itâs the first of 16 books in my series, which I am re-releasing through The Pele Press.
The rest will be coming soon. Once they are all released, I will be writing more. I am giving away 2 copies of the ebook, AND a copy of the audio book to two lucky readers so please post a comment telling me what you think of male dancersâŠand what do you think of hula?
Hawaiian hula dancer Bobby Kikawa has deep fantasies about the alluring, mysterious Kimo Wilder, a gifted kahuna and kumu hula, a hula master. He becomes even more fixated after Kimo poses for an erotic painting called Phantom Lover. He plans to seduce Kimo even though the man is straight, married and known for his extreme loyalty to his wife. âšâšAlone on a hot night after dance rehearsal on the big island of Hawaii, Bobby manages to persuade Kimo to let him service his neglected, extremely hungry passions. When the young dancer awakens a part of Kimo that nobody else ever has, Bobby both fears and welcomes the incredible power Kimo has over him. The legendary dancer inserts himself into Bobbyâs life, but not everyone is happy about their burgeoning romance. âšâšThings go from one extreme to another with interference from family and friends. Are the men prepared to sacrifice everything for each other? Their red-hot fling threatens not only Kimoâs marriage but Bobbyâs sanity when he discovers Kimo is a âKeeper of Secretsâ in the Hawaiian culture…a man born of fire and hidden, taboo, dark magic the ancient Hawaiians called Lua. âšâšNOTE: This book was previously published. This reissued version of the book has been re-edited.
A.J. Llewellyn is the author of over 200 M/M romance novels, who was born in Australia, and lives in Los Angeles. An early obsession with Robinson Crusoe led to a lifelong love affair with islands, particularly Hawaii and Easter Island.
Being marooned once on Wedding Cake Island in Australia cured her of a passion for fishing, but led to a plotline for a novel. A.J.âs friends live in fear because even the smallest details of their lives usually wind up in her stories. A.J. has a desire to paint, draw, juggle, work for the FBI, walk a tightrope with an elephant, be a chess champion, a steeplejack, master chef, and a world-class surfer. She canât do any of these things so she writes about them instead.
A.J. I started life as a journalist and boxing columnist, and still enjoys interrogating, er, interviewing people to find out what makes them tick.
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From Riptide:Life hasnât been good to Francis Murphy. Heâs survived twenty-one years of homelessness by hooking and taking handouts where he can find them. When the local shelter is vandalized, heâs forced to seek food at the Grace and Light Church, where he runs into the pastorâs son, Randy.
Life hasnât been good to Francis Murphy. Heâs survived twenty-one years of homelessness by hooking and taking handouts where he can find them. When the local shelter is vandalized, heâs forced to seek food at the Grace and Light Church, where he runs into the pastorâs son, Randy.
Life hasnât been good to Francis Murphy. Heâs survived twenty-one years of homelessness by hooking and taking handouts where he can find them. When the local shelter is vandalized, heâs forced to seek food at the Grace and Light Church, where he runs into the pastorâs son, Randy.
Life hasnât been good to Francis Murphy. Heâs survived twenty-one years of homelessness by hooking and taking handouts where he can find them. When the local shelter is vandalized, heâs forced to seek food at the Grace and Light Church, where he runs into the pastorâs son, Randy.
Randy Wright believes the best in others. He’s immediately drawn to Francis, even though Francis is hardened and wary. When Francis is attacked by one of his johns, Randy and his family take him in and offer him temporary work. Randy always thought he was straight, but something about Francis has him yearning for more than just friendship, and realizing he might be bisexual.
Francis is attracted to Randy too, and Randy and his parents say theyâve always believed in gay rights. But talk is cheap. What are the odds that these Christian parents will remain open-minded when it’s their own son in a relationship with another man?
Kimi’s thoughts:
Every now and again a book comes along that speaks to the heart. this is one such book- a bittersweet tale about a young man who is homeless and is selling his body to survive. He gets food where he can, including showing up at places that offer food to customers and event attendees. This leads him to try to mingle at an event run by Grace and Light Church where he doesn’t manage to blend in as well as he hopes. This leads to him becoming a sort of project for the pastor’s family, though they are genuinely fond of him personally.
Just how their deep-seated prejudices they don’t know they have actually run is revealed though when their son Randy, tipped to be his father’s pastoral successor, realizes that he’s bi-sexual and is in fact in love with Francis. The prejudicial attitudes explored here run true, from certain church members’ attitudes towards the homeless in general  to the way sex workers are viewed, as well as the old chestnut about a gay person being able to ‘confuse’ a straight person and make them do things they shouldn’t.  It’s also a story about courage and personal growth, not just Randy’s and Francis’, but that of others who are involved in situations that arise. While gritty, it isn’t a tear you apart read, but one that manages to uplift and shed a light on the darker corners of modern society.
Maen is a Gold Warrior, an elite defender of Aza City, respected by his fellow soldiers and favored by his imperious Mistress for services both in and out of the bedchamber. His loyalty and commitment are unwavering until he recruits Dax, a captivating and challenging Bronzeman who, despite his youth and inexperience, seduces Maen with his fierce hero worship. When theyâre captured by enemies of the City, Maen risks everything to save Dax: his position, his faith, and even his life. But he loses his lover to the rebels and upon his return to the City is stripped of his rank. In Aza, where a soldierâs only lawful devotion is to the City and his Mistressâs pleasure, the disgraced Maen is placed under the watchful guard of the arrogant Gold Warrior Zander and relegated to preparing a Royal History for the new Queen. But his discoveries cast a new and shocking light on the past and threaten to stir revolution in both citizens and rebels. With the help of the lively and inquisitive scribe Kiel, Maen initiates a chain of events that will change their world foreverâand offer him the chance to regain both his honor and his heartâs desire.
Kimi’s thoughts:
First off, let me state that while there is a romantic element, this is NOT a romance. It’s essentially a re-release of two of her previous works- The Gold Warrior and Twisted Brand as a single work. It takes place on a colony world, one that was settled by humans so long ago and remained cut off long enough that they have evolved a matriarchal society that is very old world in scope. So while it is sci fi, it is also very much a fantasy. There’s intrigue aplenty as factions chafe under the current regime and struggle for freedom. It should be noted that there are a lot of m/f sex scenes due to the nature of the Mistress and slave societal order, but the romance itself is m/m. Please note it is is not dub-con as Maen enjoys the sex he has with his female mistress and looks forward to it; there’s no bisexual erasure going on here. I quite enjoyed reading as the richly detailed world came to life and Maen discovered the truth of their historical past and how the freedom of the people came to be subverted.
An excellent story and one I’ll no doubt return to read again and again.
BLURB: Is there a fated path we follow, or is it simply a series of coincidental events?
Police officer Kellan Howard is rumoured to have spent too much time in sub-zero temperatures, leaving him with a block of ice for a heart and women lining up to help thaw it. Mountain climbing is his only love, leaving no time for a relationship, and although meaningless sex satisfies his physical need, itâs empty. When he attends a fatal traffic accident, he didnât expect his entire life to change. Along with a final message, Kellan is offered something else from the dying man: the chance to fall in love. Kellanâs never considered being with a man, but when he meets Valentino, heâs instantly drawn to him.
Suffering from crippling agoraphobia, talented Italian artist Valentino has a solitary existence, only experiencing life outside the house through his partner Stuart. When their relationship comes to an abrupt end, Kellan helps ease his suffering. A deep bond binds the two men together, and the sexual tension canât be denied, but Valentino questions if the distance between their very different lives is too much, and if they can bridge the gap by themselves.
Ballet dancer Blue has a vibrant personality which demands attention, but his humour and courageous attitude are a shield. Blueâs good at making others believe in themselves, but what he needs is someone to believe in him. He could be the bridge both men are looking for, but Blueâs never allowed anyone to get too close, and when Kellan and Valentino enter his life, he desperately tries to protect his heart and his secrets.
When all three meet, the chemistry is undeniable, but each have fears about moving forwards. Together, they learn love comes in many forms. It canât be restrained or labelled, and it doesnât always appear in the way you first imagined.
EXCERPT
âBlue!â both Things screeched at the same time and Blue cringed. âYouâre a bunny?â
âYeah.â Blue sighed. Heâd explained this to his sisters, like, four times over the past two days what heâd be wearing for their charity event. If he wasnât related to them and knew both his mum and dad, then heâd so guess inbreeding was the cause of the Things. âYou look awesome!â
Both twins smiled that same bright smile and turned around simultaneously. They always dressed the same, ever since they were born, well, ever since they were conceived really, so it was no surprise both Things insisted on wearing Aliceâs blue dress. They looked adorable though. With their flaxen hair tied back with a black ribbon and their pale skin seemingly airbrushed over, Blue was sure theyâd get tons of donations.
No one could turn down the mentally handicapped, could they?
Okay, theyâd never been diagnosed with anything, but Blue was confident it would happen one day soon.
Porsche and Mercedes gave him a kiss on each cheek, then just stood there⊠waiting, looking right at him. Expressionless. Serene in their obliviousness.
âWhat?â Blue looked through narrowed eyes at them.
âSoââ PorscheâŠ
âWhat do weââ MercedesâŠ
âDo?â Both!
They were living proof aliens existed! Seriously, one day some secret government agents would turn up, Area fifty-one-ing the place and taking the twins away for special tests.
Blue turned his nose up. âYouâve worked here, like, almost every day for the past year. What do you mean, what do we do? Work! Do the things you do every day.â
Both Things cocked their heads to the left, and Blue shuddered internally seeing their Children of the Corn vacant look. One of usâŠ
âOkay⊠soâŠâ Blue stepped back and looked around at all the complicated coffee machines. âYou know, do stuff. Coffee shop stuff!â Oh, yes, he was awesome at this managing thingy. âMake coffee!â Yes! He totally knew what he was doing. His one-month experience at Costa was coming back to him.
Unfortunately, heâd been fired from that job⊠Something about blowing up one of the machines or something â Blue wasnât really listening because he was covered in sugary foam, and that shit was hard to get out of your hair. Luckily, most of the customers and all of the staff were covered in it too, so Blue didnât stand out as being odd.
It could have been anyoneâs fault. Just because he was the one standing next to the machine and pushing all the buttons didnât mean it was him who caused it to explode.
It totally was his fault, but stillâŠ
That machine was like some sort of bomb just waiting to go off. BOOM! No warning or nothing. Well, thereâd been some sort of flashing lights and buzzing, but Blue had ignored them and continued playing around with the knobs and switches.
He failed to mention that part to Shayne though.
For no reason at all.
None!
Considering his duties as supervisor done, he decided to set up three big bright yellow buckets and signs for people to leave donations in, then had some cheese on toast and a coffee. It was actually alright, so the twins had learned something in their year there. There was a constant stream of customers and Blue had to leave his coffee to help serve. Before he knew it, the morning rush was over and he set the twins up in the kitchen so they could start preparing the sandwich fillings for the next wave of hungry vultures.
As he quite obviously didnât know what he was doing with the coffee machine, when it needed refilling, he called Thing One to come sort it out, and he took her place with Thing Two.
It was while Blue was stuffing his face with a chicken tikka toasted pita that he snuck a peek at Porsche to check she was okay. Left alone to her own devices she could do anything, or more likely, nothing!
He leaned against the door, peeking through the gap in the frame, watching her secretly. He found her standing still, vacantly lost in her own little world while she waited for another customer to come in. He was about to throw a slice of cucumber at her face to see if she was still with them, when the ringing of the doorbell chimed and she came back to reality, smiling pleasantly at whoever walked through the door.
Blue stuffed another huge helping of pita in his mouth, then choked on it seeing who had just come into the shop, coughing up chunks of un-chewed chicken tikka, and making Mercedes run to him, slapping his back really hard! Like too hard.
Crazy bitch was trying to kill him!
She must have some sort of hidden strength because she practically knocked Blue through the open fire door and into the yard outside with one hit. He was choking more because of her help. They ended up in the yard, taking part in some sort of teenage girl slapping fight while he struggled to get her off him, and she tried to save him. Blue was acting like some deranged wild blue bunny fighting for his life, and her like some crazed Alice whoâd taken too much coke and was off her face, attacking random innocent bunnies.
He could see the headlines of tomorrowâs papers: Alice in Wonderland Charity Event Tragedy. Two dead and more injured. How did it happen!
âFor the love of God, stop it. You’re making it worse.â Blue leaned against the wall, rubbing his back and breathing hard. âWhat the hell is wrong with you? Do you take steroids, have you been working out, what about some sort of alien powers which have appeared as you got older? I knew you were the evil twin. I just knew. Right from birth.â
Mercedes, AKA, Thing Two, stroked his back, cooing at him like some dove. âFeel better now?â
âFeel better? You crazy cow! You just nearly gave me a serious spinal injury. I’m lucky I can still walk. I may need corrective surgery later in life and it will all be your fault, Xena Warrior Princess.â She sagged her shoulders, toying with her hair and looking sheepish. Blue hugged her tightly and gave her a kiss. âOh, get back inside and finish those fillings before our Shayne gets back. I need to snoop on Porsche.â
His only saving grace was that no one had seen him. So after grabbing a cloth to wipe his face down, he took up his secret position again, spying on his sister and the customer.
REVIEW: This is the third book in this wonderful series and gives us Blueâs story. I absolutely adored Blueâs personality. He and Kellanâs interactions with each other in the beginning had me in tears from laughing so hard.
The beginning of the book was sad; it started off with a heartbreaking tragedy. That tragedy however, is what brings these men together. The connection that these men make was fate and Ms. Colville as usual, tells this story in the most beautiful way.
Kellan is a man whose life is flowing along familiar lines. On the outside, he appears content with his life, but lately, he’s feeling unsettled and unsatisfied with the predicable paths his life is taking. An accident changes his outlook and an odd request from the man involved changes everything for him.
Blueâs character had so many layers to him. His personality takes on these interesting juxtapositions that I found fascinating. He’s flighty, yet grounded, confident and tough, yet self-conscious. He’s intelligent and funny and has a wicked tongue. He’s surrounded by friends and family who loves him yet he’s lonely.
Valentino is an artist who hasn’t been out in the world for quite some time, relying on a friend and his lover to bring the world to him. He’s content with this until his world is shattered.
Three men all on different paths in their lives. We as humans are all connected; it only takes Fate to bring us together.
This author masterfully takes her characters through every emotion: fear, longing, sorrow, grief and happiness. And she takes the reader along for the ride.
This author is absolutely brilliant. I love to read and I can honestly say that there are few masters in this genre and Nicole Colville is definitely one of them.
Take a bow, Ms. Colville. You have as usual, given the readers another masterpiece.
RATING: đđAmazingđđ
Author Information
                   NicoleColville
Welcome to the home of bittersweet M/M romances which will leave you craving more
Nicole Colville was born and currently lives in Leeds, England. She is a wife to her very understanding hubby and mother of two young girls who somehow manages to fit in being a full-time author of m/m romance and erotica into her busy home life.
She loves writing complex characters in bittersweet romances which will leave you addicted and craving more from her men
Although best known for her popular series, Hidden and Knights to Remember, she also enjoys writing with friend, and fellow author, E.M Leya. Together they have published two books in their Sinful Temptation Collection with more planned.
