Month: September 2015

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The Articles of Release by B.A. Tortuga Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

RC

 

Pages or Words: 65,000 words

Excerpt:

“Want to join me?”
“Thanks, but I’ll stand. Sitting’s a pain in the ass.”
Eric blinked. That was a new one. “Uh, did I piss you off? I didn’t mean to.”
“Huh? No. No, you’re totally good. Completely. How’s your falafel?”
He hadn’t even tasted it. What was it about this guy that got under his skin? “It’s fine. What, the trainer doesn’t want to be seen with the cripple or something?”
“Pardon me?” The asshole actually looked around, like he didn’t know what Eric was talking about.
“Well, it’s not like I wear a T-shirt, but the heavy limp is kind of a giveaway.” He could do sarcasm too.
“What the hell are you going on about, man?”
“I want to know why you would rather stand and hold your food than sit with me!” That came out loud enough to draw few stares, and Eric kinda felt as if he was having an out-of-body experience.
Troy’s cheeks went a dark red, and the man moved over and set his food down. “Sorry, man.”
Sage and Win were heading over, and Troy sat at the end of the table, sitting awkwardly at the edge, legs barely tucked under.
Eric tried to breathe, to calm the fuck down, but his fury hit him about the time Sage stumbled into the table and Troy damn near went ass over teakettle onto the grass. That was it. Seriously? Seriously, this motherfucker was going to treat him like a goddamn leper because he limped? Gonna fall onto the ground rather than sit with the crip like a decent human being? Fuck, the bastard was probably one of those liberal hippie types that thought every soldier was a fucking murderer and deserved what he got.
He’d just been doing his job, goddamn it!
“Jesus, just go, would you? Some trainer you are, being ashamed of a guy with a bad leg!”
“Huh?”
“Don’t you fucking pretend that you don’t know what I’m talking about!”
“What the hell?” That was Sage, who always managed to look vaguely confused, which pissed him off too. What? Did falling in love give you the magical ability to live in fucking lala land? Huh? “What happened?”
“Just fuck off.” He wasn’t sure who he was aiming the snarl at.
“What the fuck is wrong with you?” Troy was looking at him like he had two heads and neither one of them were speaking English.
“What’s wrong with me? I’m sick of people humoring me and pretending that it doesn’t matter that half my leg is missing when they’re grossed out by it.” Eric kinda lost his shit, right there, slamming his hands on the table.
“It’s not missing.” The words from Troy were flat, dead still somehow, and didn’t really make sense.
“What?”
Troy got up, stood like he was setting himself, then carefully pulled up the legs of his jeans, exposing metal rods that disappeared into the motorcycle boots. “This is what missing looks like, just sayin’.”

ArticlesOfRelease[The]FS

Where to buy the book:
Dreamspinner e-book: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6815
Dreamspinner paperback: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6816

About the author:
Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds, getting tattooed, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing porn sites in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife (still amazing to say that), Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.
Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has gone to the high desert mountains and fallen in love. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/batortuga
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/BATortugaBooks?fref=ts
Twitter: @batortuga
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/batortuga/
Other: http://batortuga.blogspot.com
Other: http://www.batortuga.com
Other: https://instagram.com/batortuga/

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26117774-the-articles-of-release?ac=1
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer

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See You in the Morning by A. T. Weaver Blog Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

RC

 

 

Excerpt:
Jake walked into the cottage, laid the rose on the hall table, removed his jacket and hung it on a hook inside the hall closet. He took Dave’s green sweater from a hanger, slipped it around his back and hugged himself with the sleeves. The scent of Dave’s favorite aftershave filled his nostrils. My dear one, what will I ever do without you? He picked up the rose, stuck the stem through a buttonhole on his shirt and went into the kitchen. He took two glasses from the cupboard and pushed a button on the refrigerator door. Ice and green tea flavored with honey and ginseng poured into the glasses. He frowned at the glasses and set one on the table. I guess I only need one glass.
His shoulders drooped and his feet shuffled as he walked to the living room. He felt much older than his seventy-six years. He set the glass on the table next to his favorite chair, sat and pushed a button on the arm of his chair. Across the room a huge screen nearly the size of the wall rose up and displayed a menu. He pushed another button and an old-fashioned photograph appeared on the screen. Memories flooded his mind.

Buy the book:

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/418482

SeeYou 2

Meet A. T. Weaver:
A. T. Weaver is the pen name of a divorced grandmother of eleven, great-grandmother of one. She lives with her cat, Cleopatra, in downtown Kansas City, MO.
When she was growing up, the word gay meant happy and carefree and homosexuals were called queer or ‘one-of-those’. However, she never heard those terms until she was married and a mother. When two men moved in down the street from their mobile home, her husband had to explain they were queer. As far as she was concerned, they were just a couple of men sharing a trailer.
In 2003, through a TV show called Boy Meets Boy, using the sign-on of ‘alixtheweaver’ she ‘met’ over 3,000 gay men in a Yahoo group. These men called her ‘grandma J. and educated her as to the inequalities suffered by the LGBT community She became a staunch ally. She visited one of the men in San Francisco who lived just up the street from the Castro. As he showed her around, they stopped in front of what was once Harvey Milk’s camera store. Her question, “Who was Harvey Milk?” started her education into Gay history.
After the passing of Prop 8 in 2008, she attended her first ever protest rally at the ripe age of 65 where she held a church flag across the street from WBC protesters.
A. T.’s aim is to move you in some way. Whether you laugh or cry, love it or hate it, she welcomes all comments, whether good or bad.
Where to find A. T. Weaver:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alix.t.weaver
Or https://www.facebook.com/alixtheweaver
https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-T-Weaver-writer/149528070288
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/A-T-Weaver-writer/149528070288
Blog: https://alixtheweaver.wordpress.com/

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2783124.A_T_Weaver
Publisher: A. T. Weaver
Cover Artist: Ken Clark – Photo from Dreamstime
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Werewolves of Brooklyn by Brad Vance Tour with Excerpt and Giveaway

RC

 

Pages or Words: 54,000 words

Excerpt:
The wolf’s eyes were lava-yellow with hate. His growl and his snarl were meant to terrify Darien, to freeze him in his tracks, prepare him for his death.
Then something rose up in Darien, rage, frustration, primal energy. And his own lips curled, his own growl met the enemy’s.
The Duke retreated a pace, taken aback. Darien felt sharp pains in his palms and looked down. Where he’d had fingernails, he had claws, long and sharp, and the fists he was making were digging them into his flesh.
He smiled, exhilarated, wild. He lunged and snapped at his enemy, knowing that his canines had become…literally that, elongated spikes ready to tear out a neck.
Darien’s ears were ringing, something surging in him beyond mortal feeling – like testosterone but stronger, more powerful, the smell of victory, immortality.
“The King is mine,” Darien declared. “And I am his.”
He knew he’d taken a step from which there was no turning back. He was the King’s man, the King’s consort. He would open to Albeus and take him, and be taken by him, and he would be alone no more.
He was one of the pack.
And it curdled the blood of men for miles around when he raised his face to the full moon, and howled.

Buy the book: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013GIMYH4

VitoBanner

About the author:
Brad Vance writes gay romance, erotica and paranormal stories and novels, including the breakout hits “A Little Too Broken” and “Given the Circumstances.” Keep up with Brad at BradVanceErotica.wordpress.com, email him at [email protected], and friend him on Facebook at facebook.com/brad.vance.10.

Where to find the author:
http://bradvanceerotica.wordpress.com
http://facebook.com/brad.vance.10
[email protected]
BradVanceErotica on Google+
@BradVanceAuthor on Twitter
https://www.pinterest.com/bradvanceerotic/

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6886454.Brad_Vance
Publisher: Brad Vance
Cover Artist: Brad Vance

Young male fashion model posing outdoors against rustic background
Young male fashion model posing outdoors against rustic background

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Discovering Dalton (Manchester Ménage #2):Nicole Colville

PUBLISHER: Hidden Pleasures

LENGTH: 300 pages

SUMMARY: At fifteen, Troy and Liam were fostered by the same family, and although hating each other at first, they gradually became solid friends. As adults, the two foster brothers live together. Both experience tough times, each being a rock for the other, but their love had never been anything other than brotherly.

That is until they both fall for the same guy, and things get…complicated.

Dalton is fresh out of a ten year marriage. Feeling lost, he concentrates on the only thing he can control—his body. Developing from a chubby, unfit police officer into a lean, mean inked one, Dalton has never looked better, but inside, he’s never felt worse. That is until he meets two men who change his life forever. A relationship is far from his thoughts, and one with another man makes Dalton even more confused. He takes time to get to know Troy and Liam separately, but Manchester isn’t that big, and sparks fly when fate throws the three together.

Together, these three fight it out between them. Both Troy and Liam demand Dalton choose between them, but what if he didn’t have to choose? What if it could work between three?

The things in life worth fighting for are never the easiest, but they’re the ones worth holding

onto forever.

Book 2 – Manchester Menage Collection. A new stand alone book following on from Saving Samuel.

REVIEW: I can’t seem to come up with enough words to describe how excited I was to finally read this story. I waited months after reading the first book in the series (Saving Samuel) to find out whatever became of sweet Dalton.

Ms. Colville definitely didn’t disappoint her readers with this follow up. In this book, we get to know Dalton a lot more. His character is this complex combination of sweet, kind, tough, trustworthy, handsome and innocent cop. How she managed to stuff all of those qualities into one character is truly amazing.

Troy looks like this bad-boy tattooed biker but is really a sweet guy looking for someone to willing to see him—beyond the tattoos– and to love the real him. But Troy fails to not realize that the very thing he’s looking for has been with him all along. Troy has this vulnerability to him because of his past that makes him that much more endearing.

Liam is the tough alpha of the three but he too, has a soft side to him. He’s the type of man who’s not willing to commit to a man because he’s afraid of what that would do to Troy. He’s not willing to commit to another man and lose what he has for Troy. Oddly enough, Liam is already in a committed relationship with Troy and have been for years.

Dalton is going through so much in his life and poor man has reached his emotional limit. Liam is the gym owner/sometimes trainer to Dalton who has had his eye on the sexy cop for a while but never really thought to make a move on him.

Liam and Troy’s relationship is complicated to say the least. These two men love each other deeply, not really realizing that their love runs deeper than just the brotherly/friendship type of love they’ve been living for decades. They’re both keeping the other from finding happiness with anyone else. These two have this sort of weird dependent relationship. While both men are aware of this, neither one is motivated enough to change anything until they both meet and fall for the same man.

Ms. Colville takes us on a wonderful journey with these men first as individuals, then as a couple and finally a triad. This series is very well written. The characters and dialog is fabulous and each book leaves me anxious to read the next and the cover is AMAZING. Although the books can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend that you read them in sequential order just because they are that damn good.

I was so happy that these men found each other and as with Milo, Daniel and Samuel, they fit together perfectly.

To say that I am anxiously awaiting to read about the next ménage would be an understatement. I highly recommend this author and this series.

RATING: ???AMAZING???

AMAZON

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Striped and Bear Audiobook by Artemis Wolffe Narrated by Gus Klondike

Audibles Studios Presents:

http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Striped-and-Bear-M-M-Gay-Shifter-Mpreg-Romance-Audiobook/B014QG1QC4

striped audioBlurb

Matthew Bruner is a bear shifter destined for greatness. Or so, that’s what he’s always been told. As the next in line to become alpha of his clan, Matthew’s days of singlehood are drawing to a close. Long since committed to a prearranged mating, Matthew finds himself feeling trapped and, worse, afraid. In a desperate attempt to prolong his freedom, Matthew flees his family’s ancestral home and heads to the nearest city. It’s there that he meets Ezra Tier, a tiger shifter with a bad streak the size of a mountain.

Ezra Tier has spent the better part of his life not giving a damn. He goes where he wants, does what he likes, and answers to no one. Leading a life as a globetrotting rogue has its perks, and for Ezra one of those perks has been the ability to pick up and move on whenever things get too complicated and messy. So when he encounters a simple mountain bear shifter with broad shoulders and a shy personality, it’s all Ezra can do to maintain his unattached persona.

When a familiar and dangerous presence shows up in search of Matthew to bring him home, Ezra must change his ways in order to keep his newfound love by his side. Failing that, Matthew will be forced to go through with his prearranged mating and Ezra will lose him forever. Can these two shifters from different worlds come together in time to save their budding relationship? Or will the experience leave their hearts stripped and bare?

Review

(From previous)

Matthew is a bear shifter whose clan has him slated to mate for political/business purposes. He runs away because he can’t mate a female and doesn’t want to be tied down to the family business anyway.

On his travels he meets Ezra, his destined mate, and a tiger. Ezra and all tigers are footloose and fancy free, so at first he fights the mating because he can’t see himself tied down to a mate, especially bears who like to build a den and stay in one place.

In the end there is a grand battle with the evil father and the two mates end up HEA.

**

This is a very short, free read on Kindle Unlimited. The sex is super hot and the story pretty sweet.

I enjoyed it for what it was, a light, fluffy, fun read.

Audio

I hadn’t heard a narration by Gus Klondike before but he was an excellent choice. He did a great job adding in emotion and differentiating the voices. I really enjoyed this narration and thought it was a great way to experience this book.

4.5 of 5 hearts

4.5

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Pride and Modern Prejudice Audiobook by AJ Michaels Narrated by Rusty Topsfield

Dreamspinner Presents
http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6785

BlurbPrideandModernPrejudiceAUDMED

What happens when Jane Austen’s immortal characters are thrust into 21st century Pennsylvania, with an all-male twist?

Liam Bennet has always been a good judge of character, but when William Darcy is thrown into his social circle, everything spins out of control. Darcy is proud, cold, arrogant—and strangely captivating. When Liam’s brother and Darcy’s business partner start seeing each other, Liam cannot avoid this enigmatic businessman. But does he want to?

As Liam struggles to find his identity in college and acknowledge his feelings, he must deal with the fortunes of his four brothers, his gossiping mother, and the possibility of a large inheritance that could save his family from financial ruin. Emotions come to a boil when George Wickham, a world-weary musician, stumbles into town and ignites a feud with Darcy. He threatens to expose a long-hidden past, and Liam must decide for himself who William Darcy really is and what he really wants.

Review

I was skeptical of this when I saw the original ebook listing but it got good reviews so when given the opportunity to take a listen to the audiobook I thought I’d give it a try.  In general, re-makes are not my thing and though I loved Pride and Prejudice the blurb felt too close to a direct translation for my comfort.

So I gave it a try, but in the end I found I wasn’t interested enough to keep going.  I was just overwhelmed by the dry, stilted manner in which the story proceeds. It worked for Jane Austen – in 1813, but it didn’t work for me in modern times.  It felt too “busy” and not “juicy” enough if that makes any sense at all.

I won’t rate it because I didn’t finish it.

Rusty Topsfield was a fine narrator. He tried to give voices to the different characters but didn’t do enough to make me stay with the story, definitely not his fault.

DNF

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Demon of Mine by Rayna Vause

Dreamspinner Presents:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=6778

DemonOfMineBlurb

Climbing the corporate ladder can be hell….

As a Collections Demon, Zavier grants his “clients” one wish in exchange for their souls. His job sucks, but once you make a deal with Corporate South, they own you. The trouble is, Zavier’s not a very good Collections Demon, with his tendencies to spurn authority and find loopholes to help deserving clients out of their contracts. He’s under scrutiny from the head of his department, who would quite literally like to see him burn. He just needs to close a simple deal to get upper management off his back. Instead, he meets Ryan.

Ryan is desperately searching for a way to save his dying sister. He doesn’t believe in magic and demons, but he’s out of options. Zavier’s not what he expects in a demon, and even more unexpected is the strong sense of familiarity—very intimate familiarity.

While trying to free Ryan from his contract, Zavier discovers secrets unscrupulous even by South standards. Exposing them could cost Zavier everything, but it might be Ryan’s only hope.

Review
(Warning, spoilers.)

Ryan’s sister is dying of cancer – in a desperate move he makes a deal with a demon for his soul in exchange for her health. Zavier is the demon called on to make the deal, only Zavier and Ryan have a history.

Together they realize that all is not how it seems and that even in “hell” mistakes can be made. With some help from a friend in high places, they find a way to beat the system and try for a second chance at a lifetime together.

**

I see that I might be in the minority here, and I really wanted to like this book, but I didn’t.

The pluses: I liked the characters: Ryan is funny but nicely stubborn and not always in a good way. Zavier is impetuous but has a heart full of love. Adrian is appropriately mysterious and sexy and I hope he gets his own book next. Maggie is sweet and supportive. Serena and Mr. Simon are good at being bad.

The minuses: There were so many plot holes I couldn’t keep track. There seemed to be no “rules” in this alternate reality where hell is like a corporation that deals in souls but still makes people work every day in a remarkably “earth” like environment. I didn’t get it. How is it selling your soul to be granted an eternal life with an apartment and a job and restaurants and… ? It didn’t make sense.

Then there’s the “clerical error” thing… huh? How is that not monitored and fixed and isn’t there some sort of checks and balances going on? If not a heaven/God, then what do the angels do? Why in the world would that even happen and since it did how do you explain Ryan and his “deal” the first time around? Who is keeping track and promoting people? Surely there is some “higher being or thing” keeping track of this stuff. Why wouldn’t they catch all these mistakes and misdeeds? I just didn’t understand the corporation analogy.

I also didn’t get Jason’s role at all. If he’s such a good friend why in the hell would he recommend Ryan sell his soul in the first place? And once he realized that he had wouldn’t he be overcome with guilt? And how is he allowed to “know” all about demons now?

Then there’s the bickering between the two lovers about which Ryan is the real guy… come on, really? There isn’t enough to fight against, we have to fight over an earlier incarnation?

To me this story needed someone sitting down and simply pointing out plot inconsistencies. It bugged me so much that I was completely thrown from the story over and over to the point that I didn’t really care about Ryan and Zavier making it because the whole thing was so implausible to begin with (even given a total acceptance of demons and souls and angels and magic etcetera).

So, I will be a voice of dissention, but I cannot recommend this but give it 2 of 5 hearts for the attempt, the cover and the original idea.

2

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Take Your Pick by Missy Welsh Tour with Interview and Giveaway

RC

Today, I’m very lucky to be interviewing Missy Welsh author of Take Your Pick.

Hi, Missy. Thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

Hello! Thanks so much for hosting me today. I’m not too complicated, I am addicted to carbs, and I need an app on my phone to yell at me so I work through my to-do list. Sometimes I’m pink and frilly, but mostly I’m denim and bare feet. I’ve worked in membership management, IT, customer service, and marketing, but it’s writing fiction that I truly love.

Take Your Pick is about Peter Kim and his 5 housemates exploring their sexualities in the name of ultimate friendship. See, Pete’s in love with all of them and it’s become a secret he can’t contain any longer. After he’s found out, he’s both thrilled and wary about his housemates’ decision to spend a day with him doing whatever he wants, including sex. Pete’s going to learn a lot about each of them as well as himself by the end of this story.

Give us an interesting fun fact or a few about your book.

It’s about 6 college age guys who live together and, well, all of them end up having sex with Pete throughout the course of the story. Yup, Pete’s a very busy guy! (I’m so laughing at myself right now…) I’ve never written a book with so much sex in it. At the same time, though, it actually turned out to be a love story.

How did you come up with the title of your book?

The inspiration for the book is a photograph of five, bare-chested guys lined up in a row. My first thought was that they looked like they were waiting for someone to take their pick of them. Eventually, I decided that they would’ve asked Pete to do that.

Give us an insight into your main character. What does he do that is so special?

Pete has a lot of love in him for his housemates. I think he could’ve been just fine living the rest of his life without any of his best friends ever knowing he was sexually attracted to them as well. He might’ve gotten to know guys in college and been able to shift his attraction to other men and been very happy. But since I’m in charge of this story world, they do find Pete out and make him a wonderful offer instead. I think Pete is special because he’s able to jump on that offer and live in the moment, come what may.

What do you think makes a good story?

Emotionally involving the reader. I’m hoping Take Your Pick will not only, uh, stimulate readers, but maybe make some hearts clench, a few eyes tear up, and get a giggle or three going. That makes a book a success.

What does your family think of your writing?

I was honestly worried about telling any of them what I wrote when I was first published, but only because LGBT anything had never been something we’d discussed. They laughed at Jack from Will and Grace, muttered about how Ellen didn’t have to come out, and swore they didn’t know anyone gay. Nowadays, they still laugh at Jack, they respect Ellen, and they know and like a lot of gay people. I think I’ll go so far as to say that, by writing these books and being honest with my family about what I’m doing, I’ve opened their minds and hearts to being more understanding and compassionate toward LGBT people and equality for everyone.

Excerpt:
I watched them pile into the behemoth Devon’s mom had loaned for tonight’s trip up to Cleveland. They all looked good in their club clothes. Nothing flashy or too tight, but I’d spread some fashion sense around and they’d believed me every time. Not a single girl would be able to resist my boys.
Of course, there would be plenty of boys who’d be unable to resist them either.
Just like me.
I waved as they drove off, equal parts relieved and lonely. I didn’t want to let them go without me, but I had been wound way too tight lately. I had on one other piece of clothing—the tightest pair of briefs I owned—just to help mask the boner I kept springing every time I’d been near them for the past three days.
Something had to give, and it was going to happen in a gush of orgasmic heat all over my fist.

Buy the book:
Amazon—http://amzn.to/1Jup0Tg
All Romance eBooks—http://bit.ly/1JupqJv

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Meet Missy Welsh:
Missy Welsh stares into space a lot, has conversations with cats, takes notes while people-watching, records conversations (not the ones with cats), named her laptop Norbert and her phone Pushkin, has backups of her backups’ backups, faints at the sight of a misused semi-colon, and will often ask socially unacceptable questions of strangers.
Basically, she’s a writer.

Where to find Missy Welsh:
Facebook: http://on.fb.me/175mi7V
Twitter: http://bit.ly/1EiCGVk
Missy Welsh Book News (email list), http://bit.ly/1coHgOY
All Romance eBooks Author Page, http://bit.ly/1VanTjS
Amazon Author Page, http://amzn.to/P6ilxR

Goodreads Link: http://bit.ly/175mtjK
Publisher: Missy Welsh
Cover Artist: Thorny Sterling
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Candy Man Audiobook by Amy Lane Narrated by Philip Alces

Dreamspinner Presents:
http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/Candy-Man-Audiobook/B014WARB1O

candy audioBlurb

Adam Macias has been thrown a few curve balls in his life, but losing his VA grant because his car broke down and he missed a class was the one that struck him out. One relative away from homelessness, he’s taking the bus to Sacramento, where his cousin has offered a house-sitting job and a new start. He has one goal, and that’s to get his life back on track. Friends, pets, lovers? Need not apply.

Finn Stewart takes one look at Adam as he’s applying to Candy Heaven and decides he’s much too fascinating to leave alone. Finn is bright and shiny—and has never been hurt. Adam is wary of his attention from the very beginning—Finn is dangerous to every sort of peace Adam is forging, and Adam may just be too damaged to let him in at all.

But Finn is tenacious, and Adam’s new boss, Darrin, doesn’t take bullshit for an answer. Adam is going to have to ask himself which is harder—letting Finn in or living without him? With the holidays approaching it seems like an easy question, but Adam knows from experience that life is seldom simple, and the world seldom cooperates with hope, faith, or the plans of cats and men.

Review

(From previously on site)

Adam is having a rough life. His mother and grandmother treated him like pond scum growing up, so he joined the military to prove he was “worthy”. He fell in love with one of his fellow soldiers, only to be left high and dry when his lover didn’t want to come out of the closet. He returned to the states to go back to school, but lost his grant when his car died and he could no longer attend classes. With his last gasp, he heads up to his cousin’s apartment for 6 months of free rent to try to get his life in order.

With what feels like divine intervention, Adam stumbles into Candy Heaven following the Help Wanted sign and is immediately set to work. His boss also plays the role of his fairy godfather and matchmaker by hooking him up with Finn, the sandwich delivery guy.

Finn is young, idealistic, freshly single, and unstoppable. He sees the darkness in Adam and knows he can bring in the light. By pairing his cheery disposition with offerings of free food, he slowly breaks through the walls surrounding Adam’s heart.

Adam, who fully believes he isn’t worthy of someone like Finn, does what he can to stave off the romance, but when he really needs help, Finn is there and it’s Finn who helps him see that he does have value and most importantly – hope.

**
This is one of Amy’s relatively “low angst” stories. Of course she will make you cry (for me it was at least twice) but most of the story is full of “awwww”. I was reminded of her story Christmas Kitsch in that Oliver – little Oliver – was the force of nature – blowing in and taking charge. In The Candy Man – that’s Finn. He won’t take no for an answer and he’s fearless.

I also really enjoyed the secondary characters and I really hope Joni gets her girl one day and that we get to read more about Rico’s romance. (Fingers crossed!). The vaguely paranormal part of the story left me with a new respect for Pixie Stix, as well!

Amy can describe a scene so thoroughly that I could picture Adam’s drawings, Finn’s hair, Gonzo’s fight against the medicine – everything. Adam’s sketch book journal was a particularly wonderful vehicle for showing both us and Finn the inside workings of his brain and past and I thought it was a tremendously clever tool.

I am thankful for this sweet story with little angst she has given us to brighten up our holiday season.

Audio

Philip Alces is growing on me I admit. I really enjoyed listening to this and thought he did a great job with Finn and Adam – especially the emotional times. I think he’s growing more comfortable with that aspect of his narration and it shows.

5 of 5 hearts

5

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My Hero Audiobook by Max Vox Narrated by Jared Bradford

Max Vos Presents:  http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/My-Hero-Audiobook/B0147LP8RC

my heroBlurb

This is a gay male romance with explicit sexual situations between men.
When he was 16 years old, Rich Miller saved a young man from drowning at his local pool. Little did he know that years later, as a senior in college and Olympic diving hopeful, Rich would meet up once again with Johnny Milloway, now a big football player – and when Rich says big, he really means “bear”. The shy jock remembers his saviour, and the two men become friends.
Johnny isn’t put off by the fact that Rich is gay. In fact, the more time he spends with Rich, the more curious he becomes. Johnny wants to know all kinds of things – what it’s like to kiss a guy, for instance. Only it doesn’t stop there…
Rich finds it difficult to believe that this relationship can go anywhere. Johnny is straight, and Rich isn’t prepared to deal with the heartache he knows will come his way in the future. He has enough on his plate as it is – the worlds are just around the corner. His father would rather watch a football game than spend time watching his son dive. What he doesn’t count on is Johnny, who can be very determined. And having Johnny in his life proves to be a catalyst for some pretty earth-shattering changes.

Review

Rich, out and proud diver, rescued Johnny, straight football hero, once when they were kids – hence the name, My Hero. They meet again later in life, at college and become friends.

Johnny has a heart of gold and makes sure that everyone in his life treats Rich with respect. He doesn’t care that he’s gay and makes no bones about it with his friends. (This is especially important in the South, where the story takes place. Where football reins supreme.)

Over time, their friendship develops into something more sexual. Little forays into physicality that eventually lead to the them dating seriously.

Johnny, as you’d expect, has a bit of a hard time accepting that he might be gay (or bisexual) and the couple almost splits for good. But… with some fairly big leaps… Johnny repairs his relationship with Rich AND Rich repairs his relationship with his dad AND Rich ends up going to Worlds for a diving championship AND there is very little fall out surrounding the big gay reveal.

**

In general, you do have to take this story with a grain of salt. It’s a romance, first and foremost, and some things that happen are a little to “easy” to be believed, but touching nonetheless.

I loved the chemistry between Johnny and Rich, because though Johnny is the bigger guy, Rich has all the experience, so it’s a nice twist.

The boys are downright raunchy at times and very age-appropriate (ie sex on the brain all the time, food sex, marathon sex, sex on the dive platform… you get the idea!) but it’s all really fun.

The angst and drama aside, the bulk of this story is a fairly light-hearted, GFY/OFY sort of exploration of the self and though we get a very good HFN/possible HEA, you do have to use your imagination and hope to see them as a long term couple.

Audio

Jared Bradford is a new narrator for me. He does a fair job of trying to give everyone a unique voice and his attempts to make a southern girl voice are admirable if not entirely believable. I think that the audiobook was a good addition to the overall experience and if it wasn’t my favorite narration experience, it was definitely worth the listen.

4 of 5 hearts

4

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