New Release-Review & Excerpt: LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY by Colette Davison - Includes Giveaway!

Lessons in Chemistry

by Colette Davison

Cover Artist: Designs by Morningstar

Release Date: July 27, 2023

Genre: Contemporary gay romance

Tropes: MMM, college/university romance (all characters are over 18), slow burn, fake date, opposites attract

Themes: Finding yourself while finding each other

Heat Rating:  3 flames

 Length:  96 500 words

It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited 

Universal link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  

What do a nerd, a jock, and a slacker have in common? Each other.

Blurb

When Auggie’s controlling father threatens to cut short his studies, it’s time to put his life in order. Add one cute nerd and one dedicated swimmer, and he has a new lesson to learn—how to love.

Emory is all kinds of confused. He really, really likes Auggie but is also in love with his best friend, Casey. Then Auggie comes up with a plan to see if Emory and Casey share any chemistry, and nothing will ever be the same again.

Casey lives for swimming and snuggling his best friend, Emory. Except Emory is in love with him, Auggie’s confusing him, and suddenly he has to confront his feelings and his sexuality.

Three men and one conundrum. How can they all get the guy?

Lessons in Chemistry is a slow-burn MMM college/university romance between an inexperienced nerd, an asexual jock, and the slacker who’s been around. There’s a fake date, first times, three guys finding their way in love and life, and a whole lot of snuggling.

Excerpt

“I want to kiss you,” I tell him.

Casey tilts his face up so I can lean down to give him a closed-mouth kiss. It’s long, tender, and soft. His lashes flutter as I pull away and smile at him.

“That was lovely.” He lays his head on my chest again.

I smile and kiss his hair.

“That’s nice too.” He half rolls, so he’s semi-facing Auggie.

Auggie seems to know exactly what Casey wants. He pushes up onto his elbow and kisses Casey. Even though it’s a sweet kiss, watching them still turns me on. They look stunning together, especially as Auggie’s beard scruff creates a red texture on Casey’s chin.

Auggie pushes up farther and kisses me over Casey. I’m aware of Casey glancing up from the movement of his head. Is he watching us as our mouths open and our tongues connect? Auggie lies down again, and the three of us go back to snuggling.

After a while, Casey shifts position and snuggles against Auggie. I turn to spoon his back, which is a new experience. I’ve never spooned with anyone. It’s nice being so close to him, having his back resting against my chest. I loop my arm over him and stroke Auggie’s arm. A thrill runs down my spine. We’re in a three-way relationship. Okay, so it’s brand new and tentative and awkward, but I’m lying in bed, cuddling two amazing and beautiful men.

Copyright Colette Davison 2023

Carra's Review

Emory has never been with anyone before; never been kissed, dated, nothing.  His journey is about first times, experimentation, and first loves.  He gets embarrassed easily, and has definitely cornered the market on adorable blushes.  Being in love with his best friend Casey is hard when he believes Casey is straight.  To confuse things more, he has feelings for his new friend Auggie…but he’s confused because he can’t have feelings for both of them, can he?

Casey has never been with anyone before either, but his reason is not at all the same as Emory’s.  Casey is the asexual jock, though he’s never realized before what his sexuality was, or why he’s never had any sexual feelings for anyone.  Not that he was ever bothered by this; he just went about his life, happy to have his best friend Emory at his side willing to cuddle him at the end of the day.  Casey overthinks things once Auggie enters the picture, particularly once he starts to feel happy butterflies not just when Emory makes him happy, but with Auggie as well.

And then there’s Auggie, our once-and-done player who’s just out for a good time with no interest in anything serious.  He’s a party guy, not interested in his classes—though there’s a reason behind that—but the more time he spends with Emory and later with Casey, the more his attitude changes as he realizes what he really wants.

All three are young—right about nineteen/twenty—and that shows in their interactions and how they speak.  Emory in particular comes across as very naive, a wide-eyed innocent.  Each has their own journey to follow, aided by the others, so there is a good deal of self-discovery going on with all three of them.  There is plenty of character growth for all three, and even Auggie’s overbearing father (with his unrealistic expectations) gets in on the act.  The majority of the book is Emory, Casey, and Auggie finding themselves and how they fit together, with a touch of family drama that I knew was coming, but felt very satisfied with when it happened.

Overall, Lessons in Chemistry was a 4-star read for me.  This is the first college-age romance I’ve read in a while that has the characters at an earlier portion of their studies; I usually stick to books with older characters who’ve had time to gain life experience and not sound so young.  But the interactions between these three were well written and concentrated on character growth, which I do appreciate and that made this an enjoyable read for me.  If you’re a fan of M/M/M, enjoying new adult romance, or representation of asexual characters, this story will tick a lot of boxes for you and you’ll want to add this one to your collection.

About the Author 

Colette’s personal love story began at university, where she met her future husband. An evening of flirting, in the shadow of Lancaster castle, eventually led to a fairytale wedding. She’s enjoying her own ‘happy ever after’ in the north of England with her husband, two beautiful children and her writing.

Blog/Website  |   Facebook Page   |  Facebook Group: Colette’s Cosy Corner

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Spotlight-Excerpt & Giveaway: JADE: FIRST AND LAST by M.D. Grimm (The Stones of Power #9)

Jade: First and Last

The Stones of Power #9

by M.D. Grimm

Release Date: July 11, 2023

Cover Artist: Kris Norris

Genre: Fantasy, M/M Romance

Tropes: soulmate, redemption, villain-to-hero

Blurb

Morgorth and Aishe must contend with a deadly threat that could spell disaster for their world.

Payshthas were the first of the Mother’s intelligent children. It is rare for true friendship to form between them and another species—which makes Morgorth’s bond with Enfernlo unique. And it is due to their friendship that Morgorth doesn’t hesitate to answer Enfernlo’s plea for help.

A thief has stolen something vital from Enfernlo’s colony—a stone of power.

Their hunt for the stone leads them to a war torn kingdom, and Aishe can hardly stomach what he sees. The devastation urges him to assist however he can, no matter the risk. Meanwhile, Morgorth is faced with reminders of the monster he used to be, and contemplates how far he’s come, and yet how far he still has to go. And when his estranged mentor joins them on their search, Morgorth is forced to confront his resentment and sense of betrayal, and use Master Ulezander as a tool to save the payshthas.

Forced into a deadly quest where trust is in short supply, and faced with challengers for the stone, Morgorth must put his faith in those he loves and in himself... and become a champion not just of the Mother but for Karishian itself.

Warnings: magic violence, dragon violence, war-torn country

Universal Buy Link: 

https://www.mdgrimmwrites.com/the-stones-of-power-series

Liminal Fiction (LimFic.com) - QueeRomance Ink

Excerpt

Morgorth snarled a word, and his magick speed shot him like an arrow into the tunnels. I followed in his wake, focusing on the eight gVattaren who were running away. The hard sand didn’t hinder us, and I caught up with their shorter strides. I shot two in the neck before those remaining reeled around and attacked. They cursed and squealed as their blades blinded me when the sun broke the horizon. I dropped my bow and grabbed my short sword.

With my own snarl, I barreled into them. My blade sang as I swung at their arms and heads while also dodging and swerving as they tried to stick me with their knives. The six surrounded me, and while a few broke through my defenses and slashed at my legs, their blades glanced off my armored clothing. It didn’t take long for the gVattaren to realize they couldn’t puncture through the cloth to my flesh.

One sneaky fellow sliced the back of my uncovered hand while another threw a blade at my face. I ducked and hissed at the sting on my hand. I cut off their arm while slashing at the one who’d flung the knife.

“What do you hope to accomplish?” I asked, spitting mad. “Do you not see the payshtha over there? He can burn you to a crisp in an instant!”

“Then why hasn’t he?” one of them said, voice raspy and filled with dark amusement.

I turned to the mocker and found an opening to kick them in the head. They dropped like a stone and the other five hissed and snarled.

“I’m not done having fun yet,” I said.

I trusted Morgorth to recover whatever they’d thrown into the tunnel as I gradually moved them farther away from the Jesllan. The small group was vicious and quick, fueled by rage. I would have been bleeding from many shallow wounds if Morgorth hadn’t enchanted my clothing. But then they surged toward me all at once, and one leapt upon my back, trying to stab my face. I gripped their wrist and twisted sharply. With a snap and a scream, they fell off me, dropping the blade. Unfortunately, with their other hand, the stabber grabbed my wrist and used their weight to force me to drop my sword arm. Then they clung and bit my hand, turning the previous slice into torn and mangled flesh that gushed blood.

I screamed, unable to shake them off.

I dropped my sword.

Seizing the opportunity, the other four attempted to saw their way through my clothing. They clung like leeches, and their combined weight made it hard for me to move.

“Get off me!” I punched at their heads with my free hand and struggled to keep my face beyond their reach.

“Close your eyes!” Enfernlo bellowed.

I snapped them shut an instant before hot air slammed into my back and engulfed me. The gVattaren shrieked in agony as the five spasmed against me. Then all the weight vanished, and it was silent except for the roar of the wind. Then that, too, dissipated.

I swayed and fell to one knee, panting. When I opened my eyes, I grimaced. The streaks of ash against the crystallized sand told me it hadn’t been hot wind, but payshtha fire. He’d disintegrated the gVattaren, just as I’d warned them he’d do.

Payshthas, like mages, could control their fire and who it harmed. To some extent, at least. But while mages needed to retain the connection to their fire, payshthas could direct it even when the bond was severed.

I tucked my mangled hand to my chest and grabbed my sword with the other. It was no worse for the wear, much to my relief. I turned and jolted. Enfernlo stood just behind, towering over me, his teeth bared, his eyes glimmering dark with rage. His wings were unfurled to their full span, and his posture reminded me of a striking snake or diving bird.

I was grateful my bowels didn’t betray me.

“Aishe!”

I turned and Morgorth engulfed me in his arms.

“Careful,” I said, grunting.

He jerked back and swept his gaze over me before focusing on my hand. His mouth twisted and his magick flared. “I’m sorry. Right after I retrieved that bomb they threw in, another group leapt out of the sand and attacked.”

I cupped his cheek with my good hand and met his gaze. “I’m all right.”

“Show me your hand,” Enfernlo said.

He no longer looked about to attack, and I breathed easier as I held out my hand. A gentle stream of fire blew out of his mouth and landed on my wound. It seeped into the torn flesh, glowed yellow, and then vanished. The pain stopped, my hand as good as new.

“Thank you.” I touched his snout.

Then I turned to Morgorth and cupped his cheek again. “And thank you for the clothes.”

He grunted. He covered my hand on his cheek and kissed my palm.

About the Author

M.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!). Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!).

After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier. Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.

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New Release-Review & Excerpt: SOLSTICE by Eli Easton & RJ Scott (Lake Prophet Mysteries #1)

Solstice

by Eli Easton & RJ Scott

Series: The Lake Prophet Mysteries, Book 1

Genre: Mystery Murder Suspense

Blurb

From the dramatic peaks of the Olympic mountain range to the small town of Prophet, murder is only a footstep away.

Gabriel is a former undercover cop haunted by the things he's seen and done.  He returns to his small hometown of Prophet, taking on the role of sheriff, hoping to mend his fractured relationship with his estranged brother and rebuild his life.  But when a chilling murder occurs at Sentinel Rocks, a sacred Makah site on Lake Prophet, Gabriel's dreams of peace and reconciliation are shattered.  Gabriel navigates a web of intrigue, with a long list of suspects; from local tribal elders to fervent Solstice worshippers and even those hunting the elusive Bigfoot.  When the brutal murder leaves Duke, a loyal Labrador retriever, as the sole witness, Gabriel stumbles upon an unexpected ally —a local animal behaviorist named Tiber.

Tiber, a newcomer to Prophet, seeks refuge in this remote haven, attempting to escape his own inner demons.  Armed with his extraordinary ability to communicate with animals, he offers his expertise through video consultations, helping pet owners with their beloved companions.  While he attributes his skill to his academic background, his intuition and flashes of insight owe as much to his Navajo heritage as to science.

With the relentless rain washing away sins and good intentions alike, Gabriel and Tiber must begin to confront their own vulnerabilities and unravel the truth.

Available on Amazon and in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US - Amazon UK

Excerpt

A corpse.

A chill ran down my spine. I’d seen bodies in LA with horrific injuries that haunted me to this day, but there was something so wrong about this man laid bare to the elements, the mist of rain swirling around him, his skin gray as drops of water collected and ran down his muscled stomach. This was a man who looked after himself, built, strong, maybe a hiker, or one of the open water swimmers who loved coming to the lake?

His upper torso was exposed to the elements but navy jogging bottoms, covered the lower, and he wore running shoes and socks. He was on his back between the two upright stones, his arms and legs spread, and his sightless eyes faced us with his head turned our way. There was extensive bruising on his face, darker on one side, running from his cheek up into his hair, but it was so bad that from ten feet away it was impossible to ID him for sure even if the guy was someone I knew. 

“F*ck,” Devin muttered and took an instinctive step forward, but I held out a hand to stop him moving.

 “What about a pulse?” my rookie asked hurriedly. “Shouldn’t we check for that? Procedure for finding an unconscious person?”

“Normally, but it’s clear there’s no pulse.” The victim was unmoving and there was an X scored into the man’s chest, digging deep into his breastbone, and tearing his flesh apart. I could see the purple stain of lividity at the underside of one arm. He was very dead.

I stumbled back a step in shock. The mark was deliberate, considered. Please don’t let this be a serial killer with a propensity to carving Xs into their victim’s chests.

“…Sheriff?” Devin asked. “What now?”

Carra's Review

I have to say, Solstice is one of my favorite reads so far this year.  Between the excellent writing, intriguing characters, and the emotional wallop this story packs, I was thoroughly entranced from start to finish.  And now…I want MORE!

We spend a good chunk of the book without knowing Gabriel’s full backstory, but come to find out there is a reason for that.  While it might have drawn a tiny bit of frustration out, I understood it later on.  It’s the same with Tiber; we know he’s been hurt in the past, and while there are bits and pieces along the way, the full tale doesn’t emerge until much later on, and when it does it’s heart-wrenching.

The scenes involving animals were the ones that pulled most of my emotions out, and yes my eyes may have welled up a time or two.  Much of that could be attributed to Tiber’s almost otherworldly connection he has with the animals.  But I also felt an emotional connection to Mike, the victim, and I really felt his loss in a big way by the end as all the details come out.  

There are a few suspects to consider, and while I was mostly sure of who the ultimate culprit was, I had enough doubts to still be hanging on the edge.  I’m usually not a big mystery reader,—whodunnits are just not my thing—but this one really drew me in, first with the eerie cover and then with the writing, characters, and emotion.

It definitely was the huge hit my emotions took during this story that cemented my overall rating for this book, which was a full five stars.  The romantic elements are downplayed here, mostly due to the characters’ pasts, especially Tiber’s, but there is a hint at something more to come so I’m really looking forward to see how things go between them in future stories.  This really was a fantastic read, and I highly recommend to any mystery or M/M romance fan.  For a first collaboration between these two authors, they really did an outstanding job!

About the Authors

Eli Easton

Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister's daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013.  She has published over 30 gay romances.

Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particularly admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story.

Website - Newsletter - Email - BookBub - Amazon - Goodreads - Twitter - Facebook Group

RJ Scott

RJ Scott, author of M/M romance.  Writing love stories with a happy every after - cowboys, heroes, family, hockey, single dads, bodyguards.

USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott has written over one hundred and fifty romance books.  Emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, single dads, hockey players, millionaires, princes, bodyguards, Navy SEALs, soldiers, doctors, paramedics, firefighters, cops, and the men who get mixed up in their lives, always with a happy ever after.

She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn't with family either reading or writing.

The last time she had a week's break from writing, she didn't like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a box of chocolates she couldn't defeat.

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Spotlight-Excerpt & Giveaway: BETTER LATTE THAN NEVER by CC Bridges

Better Latte Than Never

by CC Bridges

Finn's love stories always end in death.

He's made millions writing as author Morgan Heart and his fans can't get enough of his tragic love stories. But a bad breakup results in a killer case of writer's block, and Finn needs to try something drastic to fix it, like. . .going to a coffee shop to write. There's got to be a reason it's a cliche, and in his world, cliches sell.

He shouldn't be flirting with the hot, younger barista. He shouldn't be using said beautiful barista as another character to kill off in his new book. And he sure as hell shouldn't be getting his heart involved, especially since he's still keeping his real identity secret.

Working at his aunt's coffee shop is a temporary thing. . . that's been going on for eight years now. One day soon Enzo is finally going to make it big with his art and move on. But when Finn walks into the cafe - confident, mature, put together, everything Enzo is not - he can't help developing a huge crush, even if Finn is a customer.

As their relationship deepens, Finn's deceptions and Enzo's insecurities threaten to undermine everything they are starting to build together. If they can each confront their inner demons, then Finn might be writing a happy ending for the first time in his life.

Better Latte Than Never is an m/m age gap, coffee shop romance featuring a slow burn attraction that grows steamier than an espresso machine.

Warnings: Mention of partner betrayal, death of character's parents in the past

Universal Buy Link

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Excerpt

Yeah, the cafe was so damn predictable. Except for this new guy.

Enzo downed his cake and tossed the plate into the trash. He should really square up with his aunt before she left for the day. Still. What if the guy left before Enzo could say anything? He’d make his rounds with the regulars after, but right now, Enzo couldn’t contain his curiosity about the stranger.

He threw on his apron and sauntered over to the corner where the stranger sat half-hidden behind a laptop. If this went wrong, Enzo could claim he’d come over to offer a refill. Not to, you know, see if the guy’s smoldering look when Enzo had walked in the door meant anything.

“Hey.” Enzo cleared his throat. “Thanks for coming to my birthday party.”

The guy looked up from his computer, those gorgeous eyes moving slowly upward in a way that made Enzo want to blush. His jaw was straight and covered with a smattering of stubble. Enzo wanted to rub his hands along it and enjoy the feel of the soft roughness against his fingertips...and in other places. There was an adorable sprinkle of freckles across his sloped nose. But his lips—perfect and pink and a bit too full for a man—were what made Enzo’s thoughts move straight into the gutter.

“It was my pleasure. Enzo, right? I’m Finn.” He held out his hand.

Enzo took it, squeezing tightly. Finn had a firm handshake, but his palm was soft and warm against Enzo’s. When he pulled away, Enzo curled his hand into a fist, wanting to savor that feeling.

“Finn? Is that a nickname?”

“It’s short for Finnegan.”

“Ah, a nice Italian name.” Enzo grinned and, happily, Finn laughed at his joke.

“What brings you to our cafe?” He winced at how terrible that sounded. Apparently Enzo completely forgot how to flirt when it was a customer he thought was hot. He could charm the old ladies like nobody’s business, but a cute guy? Nope.

Finn nodded at his laptop. “Came for the Wi-Fi and stayed for the coffee. And then the surprise party.”

He picked up his fork and stabbed the last piece of cake left on his plate. “This cake is amazing.”

“Everything my aunt bakes is amazing.” Enzo watched the bit of chocolate make its way to Finn’s mouth and the sensual way his lips closed around the metal of the fork. That shouldn’t be turning Enzo on right now, but God, if he didn’t want to follow that piece of cake with his own tongue against Finn’s lips.

“So what do you make that’s amazing?” Finn asked with a wink, and that was when Enzo knew they were in business, or at least on the same wavelength.

He could feel the blush creeping up his cheeks. “I don’t bake, but I do brew a mean cup of espresso.” 

“I’d love to have a taste.”

“You’ve got—” Enzo gestured to his own face. A smear of chocolate had found its way to Finn’s chin.

“Here.” He picked up a napkin from the table and brushed it away.

Finn took the napkin, his fingers tangling with Enzo’s for a moment. His eyes were smoldering. “Thank you.”

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About the Author

CC Bridges spent her childhood visiting other worlds in books, comics, and the starship Enterprise. It's no surprise that she ended up a librarian, being surrounded by the books she loves so much. She writes about amazing worlds with honorable heroes. Her hobbies include paying money to get locked in a room for an hour so she can solve puzzles to escape, along with the aforementioned reading. She lives with her husband and son on the Jersey Shore. She is currently pursuing an MFA from Southern New Hampshire University.

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Giveaway!

CC is giving away a $10 Amazon gift card with this tour:

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