Making it Happen: dark romance

I’m not ready to lose it all for a beautiful dark temptation

Blurb

Tomás

I’ve lost everything.

Forced into a prison masking as a school, I find myself in the crosshairs of more than one killer. My savior? The arrogant prick who wants to control me. Kieran is a nightmare wrapped in a seductive package and when he sets his sights on me I don’t know whether to fight him or kiss him.

Kieran

I am the eldest bastard of one of the four founders of Arcadia University, and I will do anything to see my family fall.

The secrets I’ve kept hidden behind my heart now threaten to bury me alive with the arrival of Tomás. He consumes my space, my thoughts, my nightmares. I hate him for how he makes me feel. This toxic attraction between us forces me to question what matters most—vengeance, power, love. But Tomas doesn’t fit into my world of lies and violence and I’m not ready to lose it all for a beautiful dark temptation.

Excerpt

Kieran

The front door opened and closed as I put my dish away. Getting under Tomás’s skin made me feel alive. I couldn’t kill him yet, but I could f*ck with him.

He straightened when he caught sight of me. A hint of pain crossed his features, but he quickly schooled it before he grabbed a glass of water. Without paying me any attention, he downed the water. I couldn’t help but take in his profile. The soft line of his jaw, the smooth suntanned skin, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he swallowed. I had the urge to cup his throat, feel his pulse. He lowered the cup and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. Why my d*'ck chose that moment to twitch made no sense. I wasn’t attracted to him. No way. My erection in the field had to do with the adrenaline rush, not him.

He rinsed the cup and put it away. “What?” he finally said. “You want to finish what we started?”

The image of him stretched out on top of me was what came to mind. My d*ck against his thigh. And the f*cker had grinded against me. I’d felt his erection too before he jumped off me as if his ass were on fire. Then he ran.

If I expected Fox to let go of Dasher, then I had to stop reacting to this prick like I wanted to shove him out a window. I still didn’t know Tomás’s true bloodline. Murdering him would cause attention and right now, that would be more dangerous than letting him live.

“I think we got off to a rocky start,” I said.

He snorted. “Really? I hadn’t noticed.”

Cocky f*cker almost made me smile. “You’re a part of the four whether we like it or not. Means that we might be family.” Bile rose in the back of my throat. I already knew we weren’t blood related, but he had to belong to one of the four.

That made him snap his mouth shut. I could see the want of his comeback. He vibrated with it. It took several seconds of silence for him to finally speak.

“I’m not your family,” he said in a tone that seemed absolute. As if he knew without a doubt that he had no blood ties to any of us. “My family is dead.”

My brain buzzed with all the questions I wanted to ask him. Why was he here? Who sent him here? What was his background? Who are you?

He lifted his hand to wipe his face and winced. Dropping his hand to his side he scowled at me. “You’re f*cking psycho. It was just a game.” He made a hasty retreat to his room, holding on to his ribs.

A game?

The asshole needed to learn the rules of this place.

I heard his door close but not the chair. I breathed in a moment, just letting myself calm down.

Not happening.

Reaching his door, I pushed it open without knocking. It almost slammed against the wall. Everything I’d meant to say drained away at the picture of Tomás bare chested in front of me. His pants were unbuttoned and hanging low on his hips. Every bit of him exposed awakened something feral inside of me. A desire so deep, I feared releasing it. I suddenly forgot how to breathe, to talk, to make sense of sh*t.

“What the f*ck?”

The angry sound of his voice snapped me out of my stupidity, and I remembered why I entered in the first place. “You think this is a game? Where the hell do you think you are? Who the hell do you think goes to school here? Because they aren’t friends, they aren’t life-long partners. They’re sons and daughters of assassins, drug dealers, mafia, cartel, and the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.” I should’ve shut up. But I couldn’t. For some reason, I needed him to understand. “Nothing in this place is a game. It’s a test to measure your strength, and out there,” I pointed at the window, “beyond the campus, they’ll rip you apart. So if I were you, I’d really start thinking about alliances. Consider who has your back before someone drives a knife right through it.”

His eyes widened, his mouth opened and closed, and I felt that stirring inside of me that burned all my nerve endings. Then he had to make it worse. “Why do you hate me so much?”

About the Author

Roxas writes dark, forbidden MM Romance with morally gray characters you will love to hate. Beautiful Dark Temptation is her first novel in a planned series.

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Monday, February 12, 2024

Spotlight-Excerpt & Giveaway: AFTER MIDNIGHT by Blake Allwood (A Fallen Fairytales Dark M/M Romance)

After Midnight: A Fallen Fairytales Dark M/M Romance

Author and Publisher: Blake Allwood

Cover Artist: Samrat Acharjee

Release Date: January 26, 2024

Genre: Dark M/M Romance

Tropes: Fairytale Retelling, Hurt/Comfort

Themes: Self-discovery

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length: 91 585 words/332 pages

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

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In the shadows of Denver's comedy scene, a bartender named Dominique becomes the unexpected star of his own twisted Cinderella tale. Is love strong enough to save him from his wicked stepmother?

Blurb

After Midnight is an enchanting tale that reimagines the classic Cinderella story as a dark and passionate gay romance. In this modern retelling, Dillon, a talented and aspiring comedian, finds himself drawn to Dominique, a sexy bartender at the local comedy club.

Dominique, whose unfortunate life mimics the story of Cinderella, selflessly cares for his younger stepsisters while facing a treacherous stepmother.

Amidst the glittering lights of the comedy club, Dominique and Dillon’s love slowly grows as they overcome the challenges created by a willful and selfish adversary.

After Midnight is a captivating journey of resilience and the power of love; but is love enough to save Dominique when his hateful stepmother tries to end him once and for all?

Fallen Fairytales is a dark M/M romance, multi-author series. Each book may be read as a standalone, but why not load up your Kindle, kick back, and enjoy sexy men, shenanigans, and deliciously dark fairytale retellings.

Content warning: This is a dark romance, and readers sensitive to certain content should make note of the following triggers: racism, homophobia, child neglect, kidnapping, false allegations, lawsuits, embarrassment, loss of parent, grief and loss, manipulation by a parent figure, MC close to death.

Excerpt

Ashton Pipkin was hilarious, even though I had to Google most of his nineteen eighties references that went right over my head. The early crowd seemed to get his jokes, though. I knew I’d be lucky if I could get a third of the laughs he did, but I sure wasn’t gonna let that put me off.

I listened to him for several minutes before he stopped abruptly. “Hey, kid. I didn’t give you permission to listen to my set. What are you doing, trying to steal my material?”

I glanced around the room, not knowing who he was talking to. When I looked back to the stage, Ashton was standing with his hands on his hips, staring directly at me. “Yeah, I’m talking to you. What’s your angle?”

“Sorry, sir,” I said, sitting up straighter in my seat. “I just wanted to listen to your set. I didn’t mean any harm by it.”

He put his hand up. “You shouldn’t be watching another performer rehearse without their permission. By now, you should know that basic etiquette. So, I’m gonna ask you again. Are you trying to steal material from me?”

“No, of course not.” I tried to sound smooth even though his accusation took me by surprise. Inside, I was mortified. “I’m still finding my feet performing for the older crowd and I wanted to get in the mood.” My lame justification sounded pathetic even to my ears.

The older man cocked an eyebrow, not unlike my Papa K did when he suspected I was lying to him.

“In the mood, you say? Hey, barman,” he called out toward the bar. “Please come here a moment.”

The bartender must’ve finished shelving some more bottles first because it took a few moments before I heard him walking toward us. “This kid is telling me he’s sitting in on my rehearsal so he can ‘get in the mood,’” Ashton said, using air quotes. “Do you think that’s a load of garbage, or am I way off my game tonight?”

“Hmm, well, let’s see,” the man said in a sinfully deep voice that, honest to God, sent shivers down my spine.

I looked up and caught him scanning me up and down. I could feel my face growing warm from his intense perusal. When our eyes met, the corners of his mouth turned up into a cheeky grin.

“What’s the funniest thing you’ve ever said?” he asked me.

I sputtered, my mind going blank. He had the most piercing green eyes, accented by his rich dark skin tone, and his attention never wavered from me. I’m not sure if it was his question or having a man this good-looking raking his gaze over my body, but I was officially flustered.

When I didn’t answer, he asked, “Do you find Mr. Pipkin funny?” The man’s cheeky grin was still in place, now accompanied by adorable as hell dimples. I’d always been a sucker for dimples. My mouth felt as dry as the Sahara and I swallowed thickly.

“I, um… I don’t know,” I said stupidly, my entire body flashing hot.

“How do you not know? Haven’t you seen him perform before?” he asked.

“Y-yeah,” I stuttered, unsure where this was going.

“So, if you’ve seen him perform, did you think he was funny?”

I shrugged, feeling embarrassed but trying to play it cool. “I didn’t really get most of his jokes,” I admitted. When I chanced a glance toward the stage, Ashton’s scowl signaled that he’d grown significantly more agitated. Dammit, I was clearly saying all the wrong things and making a fool of myself in front of him and a seriously hot barman.

“Why didn’t you get his jokes?” the guy asked, sounding curious. I took a moment to gather my thoughts and regain control of myself.

“I think I’m too young to understand the old pop culture references,” I replied honestly, feeling a little more confident now. If they wanted my honest opinion, I’d give it.

The man looked up at Ashton and shrugged. “I think you’re safe. He doesn’t seem to be old enough to get your humor.” His grin was now a full-on smile and I adored it.

Ashton was grinning now too. “And I suppose you do?”

The man shrugged. “Oh, I know quite a few old people who make me watch old TV shows. I would call them classics, but I’m not that rude.”

Ashton snorted a laugh. “Old and classic, is it?” he asked, and I suddenly realized with great relief that the conversation was no longer about me. “You know I can tell Miss Rita you called her old, and she’ll rip you a new one.”

“Miss Rita adores me,” the handsome man said with a laugh, then gave me a playful wink before he strolled back toward the bar. I couldn’t help my eyes following him as he left. It wasn’t my fault they trailed down his backside and came to rest on his very well-filled pair of pants.

“That may be,” Ashton called after him, “but if you call a prideful woman old, you might not be adored much longer.”

He shrugged but kept the huge smile on his face as he resumed his work behind the bar.

About the Author

Blake Allwood was born in west TN, then moved to Kansas City MO after attending college in Lamoni, Iowa. He met his husband in 1995 and they officially married in 2015, once gay marriage was legalized. In 2017, he and his husband sold their home, purchased an RV and began traveling the country with their two dogs. Their travels provide the inspiration and settings for many of his novels.

Typically, Blake can be found relaxing in the RV or by the fire with his laptop and their Jack Russell Terrier, Buddy, curled up between his legs demanding attention. Denver, their Siberian Husky mix is often asleep at his feet or playing tug of war with Blake’s husband.

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one of 5 ebook copies of Changing His Tune (Road to Rocktoberfest)

Wednesday, December 27, 2023

New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: ELEX: SONS OF HECATE Volume I by Mellanie Rourke

Elex: Sons of Hecate Volume I

Author and Publisher: Mellanie Rourke

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Release Date: December 26, 2023

Genres: Dark Romance, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Tropes: Hurt/Comfort

Themes: Overcoming adversity, rags to riches

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 92 000 words/320 pages

It is a standalone story and first in a series. The other books will be coming out in 2024.

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Alone, they are victims. Together, they may topple an empire.

Blurb

Elex is a slave even though his father is King of Alexandria. Disinherited once his elemental magic developed, he was banished to the Alexandrian Legion to "learn his place" at the non-existent mercies of his new masters. Humiliated and abused, he learns the hard way that he can't always protect the ones he loves.

Now the time of the Machi Thanatos approaches, a deadly competition where Legionnaires must battle their foes and each other for the dubious honor of a lifetime of slavery at the hands of Elusians, Alexandrians with the ability to control Elex and his fellow Mageians by Suppressing their ability to use magic.

Elex will fight to the death to protect himself and those he loves, but during the Machi he meets Helios, a shapeshifting Soma from the rebel country of Illyria. Helios will fight for what he loves, too, and this savagely fierce little Mageian is quickly adding his name to that list.

Separately they are two victims of the whims of Alexandrian Elusians. Together, they may discover a secret that could topple an empire.

Excerpt

The moonlight slowly slid across his face, casting his scarred side in shadow. Finally, he spoke.

“What did you want me to ask you that I didn’t?” he asked.

I closed my eyes. F*ck. He’d know if I was lying. In for a penny.

“I wanted you to ask me if you could kiss me,” I whispered finally. He didn’t move at my words, and I suddenly felt like the biggest idiot. How could this beautiful, courageous, kitten-saving man ever want someone like me? Especially after just sharing everything my own blood had done to me.

Feeling suddenly filthy, I was on my feet and pulling away from him without thinking. “Yeah, dumb thing to think, I know. Probably been drinking too much of that vodka.”

“That sentence was a lie,” he whispered. Then without warning he was in front of me. He slowly reached out and cupped the back of my head and drew me close. He was standing so near to me that I could feel his breath on my cheek. “But that first one…”

He swept his thumb over my lips.

“Truth,” he whispered, a small, sad smile forming. He moved even closer, his breath hot on my skin.

“Kataramenos,” he said, drawing my name out. My heart pounded in my chest at his nearness, and my body flushed both hot and cold at the same time.

“Kat. May I kiss you?” he asked, finally.

I swallowed hard, my nerves on fire. I couldn’t believe someone like him might want someone like me. I couldn’t look away from his eyes, which were brighter than the moonlight. I could see my reflection in his gaze. It was almost unrecognizable. It was a person who was strong. Confident. Whole. Someone who deserved something good in his world. Someone I wanted desperately to be.

I nodded, unable to form the words.

He moved forward slowly, just brushing his lips across my own. The zap of our magics built to a vibrating hum as he licked gently across my lips with his tongue. I opened my mouth slowly, savouring the taste of the vodka as he slid into my mouth, the gentle heat of his body pressing against mine.

He held me like I was something…precious. Not fragile, exactly, but something valued. I had fooled around with other Mageia in the past and been used by Elusians against my will. This was completely different from any of that. None of those encounters, even the willing ones, had ever made me feel cherished. Safe. Made me feel like he did.

About the Author

Mellanie Rourke lives in Akron, Ohio with her spouse and their furry menagerie of 3 young adult roommates (because ‘they aren’t kids anymore’), two dogs, three cats, and five ferrets.

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Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

a $25 Amazon gift card, one of two $15 Amazon gift cards,

or one of five ebook copies of Mason’s Run or Nicki’s Fight.

Monday, December 11, 2023

Cover Reveal & Excerpt: ELEX: SONS OF HECATE Volume 1 by Mellanie Rourke

Elex: Sons of Hecate Volume I

Author and Publisher: Mellanie Rourke

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Release Date: December 26, 2023

Genres: Dark Romance, Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

Tropes: Hurt/Comfort

Themes: Overcoming adversity, rags to riches

Heat Rating: 4 flames

Length: 92 000 words/320 pages

It is a standalone story and first in a series. The other books will be coming out in 2024.

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Alone, they are victims. Together, they may topple an empire.

Blurb

Separately they are two victims of the whims of Alexandrian Elusians. Together, they may discover a secret that could topple an empire.

Excerpt

The moonlight slowly slid across his face, casting his scarred side in shadow. Finally, he spoke.

“What did you want me to ask you that I didn’t?” he asked.

I closed my eyes. F*ck. He’d know if I was lying. In for a penny.

Feeling suddenly filthy, I was on my feet and pulling away from him without thinking. “Yeah, dumb thing to think, I know. Probably been drinking too much of that vodka.”

He swept his thumb over my lips.

“Truth,” he whispered, a small, sad smile forming. He moved even closer, his breath hot on my skin.

“Kataramenos,” he said, drawing my name out. My heart pounded in my chest at his nearness, and my body flushed both hot and cold at the same time.

“Kat. May I kiss you?” he asked, finally.

I nodded, unable to form the words.

About the Author

Mellanie Rourke lives in Akron, Ohio with her spouse and their furry menagerie of 3 young adult roommates (because ‘they aren’t kids anymore’), two dogs, three cats, and five ferrets.

Facebook | Facebook group

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Giveaway!

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win

a $25 Amazon gift card, one of two $15 Amazon gift cards,

or one of five ebook copies of Mason’s Run or Nicki’s Fight.

Wednesday, June 28, 2023

Series Tour: THE LONE FAMILY by Ace Fawn - Includes Excerpt!

SERIES TOUR - THE LONE FAMILY by ACE FAWN

SERIES DESCRIPTION

The Lone Family is a dark and gritty M/M mafia romance series featuring the enemies to lovers trope and the forced proximity trope between dangerous men in the criminal underworld.

This steamy trilogy is best read in order.

Genre: Contemporary M/M Dark Romance

Overall Heat Rating for the series: 5 flames

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK 1

He’ll rebel at every chance he gets, even if it means sleeping with the enemy.

His Playmate

(A dark M/M enemies to lovers mafia romance)

Author and Publisher: Ace Fawn

Cover Artist: The Book Brander

Length: 21 054 words/90 pages

Release Date: February 1, 2023

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity

Themes: Mafia, Gangster, Kidnapping, BDSM, Age Gap

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

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Blurb

One mistake has twisted Diego Montosa’s world into darkness.

He kidnapped Wolf Lone’s only son, and the same thing has now happened to him.

Diego has been taken captive by an irresistible yakuza boss, broken down, and turned into his personal plaything …

Wolf is ruthless, subjecting his new pet to painful punishments and addictive pleasures. But Diego is a vicious young gang leader and will rebel at every chance he gets … even if it means sleeping with the enemy.

Content Warning: This book contains BDSM, spanking, impact play, dubious consent, collaring, restraints, age-gap relationships, kidnapping, and violence. Reader discretion is advised.

BOOK 2

His Bodyguard

Author and Publisher: Ace Fawn

Cover Artist: The Book Brander

Length: 21 014 words/89 pages

Release Date: March 1, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Dark Romance

Tropes: Bodyguard Crush, Forced Proximity

Themes: Mafia, Forbidden Love, Age Gap

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

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Blurb

Levi never wanted a bodyguard, but when he has a run-in with the police, his father hires a bodyguard to keep him out of trouble. Nick is handsome and protective, and Levi develops a crush on him. But Levi isn’t allowed to date his bodyguard, let alone sleep with him.

Nick isn’t supposed to be attracted to the boss’s son. They have to keep their relationship professional, and Nick can’t let his feelings get in the way of his duties. But when Levi kisses him, Nick doesn’t want to hold back anymore.

One thing leads to another, and Levi gets Nick into his bed. They must keep their forbidden affair a secret, but that’s not easy to do when Levi has already let Nick into his heart and isn’t willing to let him go … even if they get caught.

BOOK 3

His Challenger

Author and Publisher: Ace Fawn

Length: 19 130 words/82 pages

Release Date: March 31, 2023

Tropes: Enemies to Lovers, Forced Proximity, Found Family

Themes: Mafia, Kidnapping, Age Gap

It is a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Blurb

Trained to be a lethal assassin since he was a child, Mathew is assigned one final test from his boss: to kill his brother, Diego. But when Mathew fails the mission and is caught, he is held captive by the enemy for questioning.

All Rex needs to do is make sure Mathew doesn’t escape. But Mathew fights back and proves he is a force to be reckoned with. Rex is consumed by a strong desire to dominate Mathew and to make the enemy his own. Rex must stay in control, but the longer he and Mathew are alone together, the harder it is for Rex to resist the sexy assassin.

Dangerous men, especially killers, are not supposed to love each other. Mathew knows he shouldn’t be attracted to the enemy, but he develops a hunger for his captor that he hasn’t experienced before … and Mathew can’t deny himself any longer.

Trigger Warning: This book contains explicit sexual content, spanking, age-gap relationships, kidnapping, dubious consent, self-harm/attempted suicide, and violence. Reader discretion is advised.

Excerpt from His Playmate

Diego was stopped from leaving Wolf’s bed by a handcuff around his wrist. He had sat leaning against the headrest for the entire day, his body throbbing and his feet aching.

The warmly lit bedroom was large with a connecting bathroom and walk-in wardrobe. It had wide-paned windows that looked out into the darkness. Diego chewed on his lower lip, growing agitated. A cigarette would be nice, especially out on the balcony in the cool night air.

This was some sort of mental torture. Wolf was treating Diego like he was nothing more than a captive. Diego didn’t have much energy left; Wolf was purposely weakening him. Wolf was forcing Diego to be reliant on him. Diego didn’t like being dependent on anyone because it made him powerless. As much as Diego hated to acknowledge it, Wolf had dominated him, and Diego had already submitted.

The door opened, and Wolf walked into the bedroom, a riding crop in hand. Diego couldn’t stop his body from involuntarily tensing, and he narrowed his eyes at the weapon.

“And I thought you had forgotten about me,” Diego said, his tone sarcastic.

“How could I? You’re all I think about,” Wolf said, mocking him.

Diego rolled his eyes. “Get lost.”

Wolf stopped by the bed, never taking his gaze off Diego as he asked, “Did you think about what you’ve done?”

Diego glared at him, but he didn’t say anything. He had tried not to focus on what had happened because losing brought him a great deal of shame. But the memories of what he’d experienced at Wolf’s hands kept filling his mind anyway. Diego had realized that Wolf was always a step ahead of him.

“Diego …”

“Yes, I have,” Diego said bitterly.

“Are you going to strike at me again?” Wolf asked.

“No.”

Wolf looked pleased. “Good. If I’d known the cane would make you submit, I would have used it on you earlier, pet.”

A spike of heat shot through Diego’s body and pooled in his groin. Diego had slept with plenty of men in the past, but no one had taken ownership over him the way that Wolf did. Diego had gotten used to taking care of himself and being independent. The thought of losing his freedom was terrifying. His captor was a threat in more ways than just punishments. “Stop calling me that.”

“You seem to like it,” Wolf said.

There was a small part of Diego that did like it. Because of the way Wolf said it … his voice deep and smooth. The word seemed to roll off of Wolf’s tongue naturally. There was a hint of something in Wolf’s tone when he called Diego his pet, and it wasn’t hate. But it was his enemy saying it to him, and Diego knew that he shouldn’t want to belong to Wolf.

Diego kept eye contact with Wolf, and it was starting to stir up a feeling of vulnerability in him. Here Diego was, naked and chained to a bed, his captor looming over him with a dark smile on his lips and a riding crop in his hand. No one had done this to Diego before, and that unnerved him

About the Author

Ace Fawn writes sometimes dark and always steamy contemporary M/M romance featuring mafia and billionaires.

An avid reader of M/M romance, she loves books about D/s relationships, the enemies-to-lovers trope, and the forced proximity trope, and tends to involve these themes in her own writing.

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