BLURB: Sure, being different is cool in New York or L.A., but in a two-convenience store town in the Mid-West, different can be deadly. That’s why 16-year-old star quarterback Josh Hudson has kept quiet on the fact he thinks he might be gay. All he’s concerned with is making it to graduation then making it to one of those far off cities where he can figure things out.
But his parents have other ideas. A whole string of Hudsons have attended the no drinking, no sex, no fun Crystal Falls Military Academy a half hour away. His only shot at avoiding the same fate is an athletic scholarship to a decent public school. To get that, he needs to ace the subject he hates the most: calculus. So when Olympic-level mathlete Perth Standlick moves to town and offers to exchange help with formulas and functions for help with football plays, Josh jumps at the chance.
It turns out Perth is good at more than solving equations. He plays the guitar, has dimples as long as a country mile, and can dance a mean running man. Before Josh knows it, he’s falling for him, upping his grade and discovering he’s ok being who he is. But when what’s going on between them goes viral and Josh is forced to come out, the guy Josh loves, the one who was going to help him achieve his dream, is suddenly the one threatening to ruin his life.
REVIEW: You know, I don’t usually read young adult books. I personally have nothing against them; it’s just not my thing. However, I am really glad that I gave this book a try. This book, its characters and storyline, although done many times, was very well written.
There were a few moments in the book that I felt were dragged out, just a bit, but those moments were few and far between. The editing was on point and I definitely appreciate that as a reader.
This is a story about a young man, or two young men, who are coming to terms with who they are and finding the strength to stand in their truth. I feel that this is a story that many young LGBT people can relate to as I’m sure many experience the same trials and tribulations of coming of age combined with coming out that the young characters in this book does.
I didn’t care too much for the ending but I think that it went well with the flow of the story. All in all, I think this book turned out rather nicely. I would definitely recommend this to a young person who is struggling or questioning their sexual identity. I’m sure that they would find that they could relate to these characters and this book.
BLURB: As the men at Kiss of Leather celebrate the resolution of the case of Corey’s kidnappers,Master Hunter worries that he’ll never see Tobey again.
Chuck isn’t about to let one of the key figures behind Corey’s kidnapping get away from him again.
Everything he and Stone have discovered through their months-long investigation is about to come together. However, when Chuck follows the suspect to a shipyard, it’s not only his own life that’s in danger.
Master Hunter is officially part-owner of Kiss of Leather, so he’s thrilled to raise a toast in celebration now that the mystery of Corey’s kidnapping has been solved. However, he can’t help but feel left out. Everyone is paired up except for him. He’s never believed in
monogamy before, but after Tobey unexpectedly left Kiss of
Leather and no one knows where he’s gone, did Hunter make a horrible mistake by not sharing his true feelings?
Tobey has been miserable ever since leaving West Hollywood and going back to Idaho. After breaking his own promise to himself by falling in love with his trainer, Tobey impulsively left Kiss of Leather because of something awful Master Hunter said. But things at home are worse than ever and he’s come to realize that those who are related to him by blood aren’t necessarily hid true family. The only place he’s ever felt he truly belonged was at Kiss of Leather.
Tobey has to face Hunter if he goes back to Kiss of Leather and Hunter has to figure out what he really wants from life and love. It takes a charity slave auction to show them what they’ve both been too stubborn to
see.
REVIEW: This great book is the 7th entry in Morticia Knight’s sensuous and sexy series Kiss of Leather. The ongoing drama and danger of Corey’s kidnapping comes to a completely unexpected ending that caught me by complete surprise. I really enjoyed seeing the whole gang make an appearance in this story, getting a quick glimpse into how each of the couples are doing. Tobey is a real sweetheart, but tends to be impulsive, running whenever he gets hurt. Ah Hunter!! He’s one of those silent loner alphas who make me want to scream with frustration!! He knows what he wants but it almost takes an act of Congress (pardon the pun) and someone lighting a fire underneath him to get him to go after it. Reading this series has been a fantastic
journey, and I would definitely recommend starting from the beginning.
BLURB: A bounty hunter’s partners to lovers’ story. The hunt is on… and he’s 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 – at age forty-six – that’s all Ford wanted. What he didn’t 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. He’d fought, scrounged, and survived despite a father that constantly told him he couldn’t. Dana pulled himself up by his own boot straps and made a name for himself in the marksman community. He’d been Duke’s 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 couldn’t 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, 6’3”, SEAL from the moment he and his brother came to join their team. It wasn’t easy for him to tamp down his immediate reaction to Ford’s thick muscles, full beard, and dark eyes. Still, Dana exhibited nothing but professionalism towards him, not wanting to make his ‘straight’ partner uncomfortable. So why did Ford constantly give him hell?
After Dana took back his ex-girlfriend, he’d noticed an intensification in Ford’s bad attitude. One that turned aggressive and downright antagonistic, and Dana was damned if he’d 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 who’s 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 Ford’s 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 Dana’s character. His personality was an interesting juxtaposition of vulnerability and strength. He was shy yet…not. 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 Dana’s 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.
Author A.E. Via Title: Promises Part 3 M/M GAY CONTEMPORARY/ACTION Edited by: Tina Adamski Cover Artist – Jay Aheer PAGE COUNT – 222 Release Date: June 30, 2017
Synopsis
A bounty hunter’s partners to lovers’ story.
The hunt is on… and he’s 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 – at age forty-six – that’s all Ford wanted. What he didn’t 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. He’d fought, scrounged, and survived despite a father that constantly told him he couldn’t. Dana pulled himself up by his own boot straps and made a name for himself in the marksman community. He’d been Duke’s 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 couldn’t 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, 6’3”, SEAL from the moment he and his brother came to join their team. It wasn’t easy for him to tamp down his immediate reaction to Ford’s thick muscles, full beard, and dark eyes. Still, Dana exhibited nothing but professionalism towards him, not wanting to make his ‘straight’ partner uncomfortable.
After Dana took back his ex-girlfriend, he’d noticed an intensification in Ford’s bad attitude. One that turned aggressive and downright antagonistic, and Dana was damned if he’d 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: When Ford and Dana connect, no fugitive can hide from 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.
Disclaimer: This book is about MM romance, albeit there is a very brief MF scene.
AUTHOR BIO:
A.E. Via is an author in the beautiful gay romance genre and also founder and owner of Via Star Wings Books. Her writing embodies everything from hopelessly romantic to adventure, to scandalous. Her stories often include intriguing edges and twists that take readers to new, thought-provoking depths.
When she’s not clicking away at her laptop, she devotes herself to her family—a husband and four children.
Adrienne has tons of more stories to tell, so be sure to visit her site to learn more! Go to A.E. Via’s official website http://authoraevia.com for more detailed information on how to contact her, follow her, or a sneak peak on upcoming work, free reads, VSWB submissions, and where she’ll appear next.
Dana had the waitress quickly take his best friend’s plate, in hopes it would appear he was eating alone. Dana didn’t turn around, instead using the mirror behind the bar to see that one of the men stayed outside, one sat down in the waiting area by the front door, three went to the bar, while the other two approached him.
Dana kept his composure even as the leader took Sway’s seat, the other one making his big body comfortable on the other stool. “Have we met?” Dana said drily.
The man simply looked at Dana with a “Don’t bullshit me” expression and waved over the waitress. She looked uncomfortable when she stood next to the table, her smile long gone, like she knew something wasn’t right. Sway’s charming presence was missing, replaced with ugly hoodlums.
“Hey, sweetheart. I’ll have a double of your best whisky.” The man ordered in a rough voice, his sinister smile making an unwanted appearance. Beady green eyes surveyed the shot glasses on the table and the three or four empty beer mugs. The thug looked up at Dana with a skeptical expression. “Did you drink all this yourself or am I really interrupting?”
“Nope. Just a night alone. I might have a slight drinking problem,” Dana answered, hoping the waitress caught on.
“Sad.” The guy sneered. “Make it a triple, beautiful. And put it on his tab.”
The server looked at Dana but he didn’t contradict, just nodded his head once. He didn’t want her at the table longer than she needed to be. “Sorry to interrupt your sad party for one, but I’m here to deliver a message.”
“Figured as much.” Dana looked unaffected. “May I ask who you are, or can I just call you errand boy?”
A flash of anger shone in the man’s eyes before he curved just the edges of his mouth. “I’d be careful if I were you. My name is Mack and my leniency only extends so far. Now, John said don’t hurt you… yet. Just to relay the message, so I’m going to try to do that, but don’t think I won’t drag your ass out of this cheap restaurant and pound you into the fucking concrete. We usually don’t like to make a public spectacle of ourselves, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that you’re safe just because there are others around.”
“We wouldn’t want that, now would we, Mack?” Dana said the man’s name like it tasted disgusting… it did. “So, what’s the message?”
“The Grossmans know Duke has been hired to bring them in. From my boss man to yours. Tell Duke to drop the case.” Mack held up his hand like Dana had opened his mouth to say something, but he hadn’t moved. “We don’t want to hurt you guys. My bosses know of Duke’s reputation. He always gets his man… some say he’s practically indestructible, but does he really want to test that myth? I doubt it. Our beef isn’t with you. All you guys gotta do is stay out of our way and big John is willing to generously compensate Duke.”
Dana could feel the heat of a powerful glare on him. He had to fight the urge to rub the back of his neck where the hair stood up. A feeling of bravery and brotherhood washed over him as he looked up into the eyes of Bradford King across the room, tucked behind the server’s station. The eye contact was brief but there. The alarms on their watches were silent but alerted the entire team to his location. They were used in emergencies, military ops team watches, which Ford was able to get through one of his many contacts. It didn’t typically take long for one of them to reach the other. But it felt amazing that Ford had gotten to him first, and in only six minutes.
“Stay out of the way of what?” Dana asked like he could care less.
“Our business,” Mack snarled.
The waitress brought his triple and Mack had it in his mouth and down his throat before she even left. Dana asked her for the check so Mack couldn’t order another and prolong this bullshit meeting.
“You got it?” Mack bit out.
“You didn’t say much, but the little that you did say… yeah, I got it.” Dana shrugged. Mack looked pissed but he smiled and stood, his silent goon next to him doing the same.
“Let us know.” Mack moved to Dana’s side of the table and slammed a card down in front of him. It was white card stock with ten digits on it. No name, no email, or other identifiers. “You got forty-eight hours.”
“That’s sure generous of you.”
Mack bent closer, inches from Dana’s face, and out of the corner of his eye Dana saw Ford push off the wall, ready to strike. Dana gave him a subtle signal letting him know he had this.
“You talk a good game, bounty hunter, but y’all are severely outnumbered and you know it. Your boss knows it. Do the right thing. No one wants this to get ugly. Take the money and walk.” Mack actually sounded like he wanted nothing but peace. Dana knew those kinds of men. Played you to make you trust them, then they stabbed you in the back… literally.
As they filed out the door and back into their vehicles, Ford finally came to the table. “You good?” were his only words.
BLURB: Sometimes the only way to spring a trap is to use live bait.
Teddy Austin has had more than his share of run-ins with local law enforcement. The Wyverns have a reputation to maintain, and Teddy feels it’s his duty to cause havoc whenever possible. Of course, getting arrested means time in the company of Sheriff Adrian Hayder—always a bonus—though Teddy would far prefer to have the sheriff wearing the cuffs.
When The Knights of War MC arrives in Phoenix, Trap orders The Wyverns to get inside information. In order to infiltrate the gang, Teddy must appear to betray his friends and switch his allegiance. Working undercover, however, he confirms what they have all suspected—The Knights of War are a cover for something much more sinister than a hell-raising bunch of bikers, and they fully intend to turn Phoenix into a battleground.
With Sheriff Hayder getting far too close to the truth, Teddy is left with a few problems—how to stop a war, keep his balls intact and ensure the man he loves keeps breathing.
REVIEW: This is my favorite so far in the series, but it had a few issues. The first issue was the use of some British terms that seemed out of place for Arizona biker gangs to use. Also, with the introduction of Kit in the story and both Teddy and Adrian’s attraction to him, I fully expected it to be a ménage story but nothing ever came of that. It was like a delicious dessert being dangled in front of you as a reward for eating all of your peas only to be denied at the end of the meal. The meal in his case, was delicious but I really would have loved the enticing dessert of the three of them forming a relationship.
I loved Teddy and Adrian together. Their chemistry between the two men is sizzling. The way Teddy intentionally did and said sexy, flirtatious things to get under the gorgeous sheriff’s skin was adorable. It wasn’t just sexual attraction that Teddy felt for Adrian; his feeling went a lot deeper than sexual.
It’s odd, but I felt that unlike the others, this story ended abruptly and unfinished. The characters were engaging but I felt that something should have been done with the attraction between these three men. It felt a little unfinished.
Despite this, I still liked the story and consider these two men my favorite characters and this my favorite book in the series.
BLURB: A man without scars never had to fight for something he believed in.
A new relationship takes time and effort. A new relationship with Orlando de la Pena takes a whole lot more. As a Dom, Rogue knows what he wants, but Orlando refuses to fit neatly into the box labeled ‘submissive’. He’s feisty, demanding and far too pretty for his own good.
Orlando loves Rogue and he’s learning to love The Wyverns, but he hates being stuck out in the desert. Finding a niche in the world of bikes and fierce warriors is difficult, and Orlando’s impatience gets the better of him. He walks out into the desert and runs in to an antisocial diamondback.
Rogue has more than one problem to deal with. The Longhorns MC issues a challenge for territory. The Bellazi cartel is out for Wyvern blood. The Wyverns are under siege, and Rogue has to work out how to save not just Orlando, but all of them.
Reader Advisory: This books contains scenes of mild BDSM.
REVIEW: Death Trap is the second book in this series which is a continuation of Rogue and Orlando’s story. Orlando and Rogue’s D/s relationship has grown deeper. They both realized that their feelings went beyond sex. Life at the Wyvern compound is nice but not as exciting as Orlando is used to. He hates being confined and decides to take off on an adventure that didn’t go as well as he had planned. Rogue is dealing with territorial dispute with a rival gang when he realizes that Orlando is missing.
I really enjoyed this book and so far, this series. The stories are short (less than 100 pages) but the characters and storylines are developed and don’t at all feel rushed or incomplete. I am loving this rough and tumble group of men.
Thorne thought that was that. They’d take a nice trip, get married, and spend a week luxuriating in a five-star hotel with occasional excursions to fabulous restaurants.
Riley imagined a traditional wedding with all the trappings. With all their friends and family. At Christmas.
Thorne concedes reluctantly, and a flurry of wedding planning ensues. At the same time, Thorne is wrestling with a recalcitrant client, and Riley and his business partner, Susan, are consumed with renovations and planning for the opening of their bakery. Stress on top of stress makes both Riley and Thorne doubt their relationship, and a major misunderstanding nearly silences the wedding bells.
By the time they reach their happily ever after, they’re both going to deserve all the romance they’ve been dreaming of.
REVIEW: This is the third installment in the Thorne and Dash series. In this story, the two become engaged. The proposal and engagement was cut and dry: Thorne proposed and Riley accepted. It’s the actual wedding planning that becomes a major issue. Both men have different ideas on their dream wedding. Thorne wanted something simple with little fanfare with just their loved ones in attendance with a long relaxing honeymoon whereas Riley wanted a traditional wedding, complete with all the pomp and circumstance. Stress from work and lack of communication causes the two men to crack. Reading this story gave me unpleasant flashbacks of my own experiences planning a wedding. It were those memories that had me wanting to Gibbs smack Riley at he back of his head. I thought that Thorne’s idea of a simple ceremony with a very nice reception then off to a luxurious honeymoon was a great idea and much more practical considering the date. There was too much outside stress these men had to deal with in terms of work and to with the added stress of planning a wedding scheduled for Christmas was a logistical nightmare. Reading that stressed ME out.
I absolutely love this author’s work and reading this made me want to strangle both men but the ending was so very sweet. I love how this author portrays her characters. These men aren’t perfect but they’re perfect for each other and with love, patience and hard work, they always find their happiness.
I would definitely recommend this series.
Please note that this is a series and even though it may be read as a standalone, I definitely suggest you read them in sequential order so you can get a better grasp of the characters.
**This book is also available in audiobook format.***
BLURB: Liam yearns for Master Neal’s harsh touch, but Neal fears that a part-time Master can’t give a full-time sub everything he needs.
Liam’s world crumbled after the unexpected death of his Master. Prone to panic attacks and other social anxiety, Liam doesn’t believe he’ll ever find another Master who would be willing to take on such a challenged sub full-time. Too distraught to go back to Club Consequence, where he met the man he thought he’d be with forever, he decides to give Kiss of Leather a try.
After doing a piercing gig at Kiss of Leather, Master Neal signs up to become a member. On the night he performs a demo as the final step to being accepted, he meets a sub who brings out his protective urge and makes his heart come alive. Neal isn’t scared off by Liam’s anxiety or social awkwardness. On the contrary, he finds the sub to be refreshingly honest and endearing.
They try out a scene to see if they’ll click, and their connection is everything they’d both hoped it could be. However, the road to love and a Total Power Exchange isn’t an easy one. Neal still hasn’t discovered all there is to know about Liam’s traumatic upbringing, and he’s not sure if he’d ultimately be the right Master for Liam.
Both men are forced to face the truth about love, life, and what it means to share it with another person. But before Liam can start over with Neal, he’ll have to cut the cords to his past and trust that Neal will be there to catch him when he does.
REVIEW: This great book is the sixth entry in Morticia Knight’s smoking hot Kiss of Leather series. I couldn’t help but fall in love with Liam, wanting to hug him and protect him from everything bad in the world. Neal had my admiration from the very beginning, with his upfront, straightforward attitude, and the care and gentleness with which he handled Liam has me almost in tears. This is a gorgeous, beautiful, and sexy story that I would recommend to everyone.
Crow has had his eye on baby-faced Shelton since the young man became part of the Wyverns, but Crow is a committed Dom and unsure that Shelton is ready, or willing, to become his submissive. Getting trapped together during a dust storm provides an opportunity to find out.
When the dust settles, the winds have scoured the desert and uncovered a shallow grave full of bodies. Smuggling people across the border is big business and Crow knows that the traffickers will not want their gruesome secret revealed to the authorities.
When Shelton is taken and used as collateral, Crow and the Wyverns have to decide just how far they are prepared to go to serve justice and save Shelton’s life.
REVIEW: This is the fourth novella in the Wyverns series. In this one, we finally get to Crow and Shelton’s romantic development. Now in the interest of full disclosure, I will admit that this review is form this novella which is the 4th in the series. Even though I was a bit confused as there were back stories and peripheral
characters that I was unfamiliar with, I truly enjoyed this story. The author did a wonderful job with these characters and the storyline. I loved Shelton. At first glance, it appears that he doesn’t really belong among these rough and tumble outlaw bikers but it’s clear that he is actually and integral part of their team. I think that he and Crow are the perfect fit: the rough biker and this smart, geeky and nurturing intel gatherer.
Crow’s had his eye on Shelton for quite some time but wasn’t sure if Shelton could handle being in a D/s relationship. Little did Crow know that Shelton was ready for whatever Crow was willing to dish out.
The love, respect and strong bond that these men have for each other is displayed when Shelton is danger. These men pull together in an extraordinary way and go all out to save one of their own.
This novella was most definitely an exciting little read. My confusion over the peripheral characters and backstories was minor as this was novella. With that said, these definitely aren’t standalone reads and must be read in sequential order to have to full understanding of the characters and their backstories.
BLURB: When the rest of the world crumbles and fails, you have me.
Kynan Laing gave up his mortal soul to the will of the Sources, the ancient beings in charge of the universe. With the sensual grace and speed in his vampire form, he serves in his role as a Protector for the Supernatural world. But the impending war between the Supers and the Hunters is heating up. The woman he’s charged to protect is all grown up and the perfect submissive partner he wants. Can he keep his heart under wraps while keeping her safe?
Alexa Mercury doesn’t know why she’s supposed to trust the vampire, but she does. Even when she ppushed him away, Kynan watches over her. She fraves him like no other and wants to submit body and soul to him, even if he is a Supernatural creature of the night. When circumstances beyond her control force them together, Lexa will have to decide whether to offer her heart to the vampire or risk her very soul.
REVIEW: Megan Slayer has written a taut, sexy paranormal tale that may be on the short side, but it’s anything but boring!
