Review & Giveaway: MUST LIKE SPINACH by Con Riley

Con Riley - Must Like Spinach

Release Date: October 21, 2016

Length: 84,200 words

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

Jon's future in New York seems bright. He's on the corporate fast track as an executive problem solver, but somehow he can't help feeling hollow. Yearning for a life spent outdoors makes no sense if he wants to flourish in this city, nor does losing his cool with clients when they make bad decisions. Only leaving the East Coast behind for three months can save his business reputation.

His exile in Seattle has unexpected upsides. Jon's rented home has a garden where his true passions blossom. It's overgrown yet idyllic - perfect if he didn't have to share it with another tenant. Tyler might be as cute as hell, and their landlady adores him, but Jon can't let himself fall for someone who seems lazy.

Three months could be enough time to see Tyler clearly, but choosing which to nurture long-term - love or a business career - might take Jon longer than one summer.

Carra's Review

Everything about this book from its title to its characters to its characters' words and actions is an exercise in not everything being what it seems...not judging a book by its cover...and not jumping to conclusions about a person based on what you see and hear on the surface.  I do confess that at first I was not one hundred percent pulled in to the story-but the deeper into it I got, the more that changed until I didn't want to put it down.

I really loved these characters.  It was extremely easy for me to identify with Jon from the aspect of wanting to speak his mind to his clients, even if that's not what he is supposed to do, and getting lost in a task when he needs to decompress.  He has an innate need to do the right thing, and to follow his heart as opposed to his head.  Now Tyler-he's just amazing.  He is incredibly selfless, taking care of others and shouldering responsibility even when it's not really his to take on.  He is so sweet and trusting, and is far and away my favorite character in this story.  I like how the relationship between Jon and Tyler develops over time as they slowly learn more about each other, and by the end the bond between them feels strong and right.

The cast of supporting characters is diverse and as I mentioned before-not everyone is as they seem.  Discovering everyone's true self is half the fun of this story, and each and every one of them continually adds more and more depth the further into the story you get.  By the end, I was completely wrapped up in all of them and I was actually wishing for more to read because I didn't want to let them go...especially Jon and Tyler.  That ending was wonderful, and I was left with a case of the happy sighs.

Must Like Spinach is a delightful story that gets 4.5 stars from me (and a couple of extra happy sighs).  I highly recommend this to M/M romance fans, and this one's for readers 18+ for adult language and M/M sexual content.

Author Bio

Con Riley lives on the wild and rugged Devonshire coast, with her head in the clouds, and her feet in the Atlantic Ocean.

Injury curtailed her enjoyment of outdoor pursuits, so writing fiction now fills her free time. Love, loss, and redemption shape her romance stories, and her characters are flawed in ways that makes them live and breathe.

When not people watching, or wrangling her own boy band of teen sons, she spends time staring at the sea from her kitchen window. If you see her, don't disturb herÛsheÌs probably thinking up new plots.

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Release Blitz: THE HUNTRESS by Dawn Robertson & Kristen Hope Mazzola

This book is one crazy TREAT this Halloween! The Huntress by Kristen Hope Mazzola & Dawn Robertson is NOW AVAILABLE! #FREE with Kindle Unlimited!

BUY NOW:

#FREE with Kindle Unlimited!
★ Amazon US ★ Amazon UK ★

Blurb

I am not a good person. In fact, I am the worst of the worst. I was dragged down into the gutter and have thrived in this seedy underbelly where I was recreated. Reborn as Eleanor McGuire, socialite and professional hitwoman. The filthiest, dirtiest, high profile pieces of sh*t, I end them.

I am the huntress.

Corrupt men are my prey.

Coming soon:

The Hopeless: Amazon Pre-Order

Releasing Nov. 30, 2016

I am not a good person.

In fact, I am the worst of the worst. I am a god. I give life and I taketh away. I can ruin someone at the drop of a hat and often do it for fun. Yet the world would never know. I smile for the cameras and live the privileged life. But with every vile existence comes the opportunity for redemption.

She is my Redemption.

I am the Huntress.

Society doesn’t realize how deadly I truly am.

The Nameless: Amazon Pre-Order

Releasing Jan. 2, 2017

I am a good person.

In fact, I am the best of the best. I am a saint. I made the greatest sacrifice of my life in hopes of forgiveness from my sins. I saw the light and he saved me from the darkness.

I am Nameless.

Does anyone know who I really am?

Dawn and Kristen want to warn you: this is not for the faint of heart! But if gore, violence, and extreme sexual situation are your cup of tea, this is the series for you.

About the Authors:

Kristen Hope Mazola

I am just an average twenty-something following my dreams. I have a full time “day job” and by night I am an author. I guess you could say that writing is like my super power (I always wanted one of those). I am the lover of wine, sushi, football and the ocean; that is when I am not wrapped up in the literary world.

Please feel free to contact me to chat about my writing, books you think I’d like or just to shoot the, well you know.

A portion of all my royalties are donated to The Marcie Mazzola Foundation.

Author Links:

Facebook - Amazon - Twitter - Website - Goodreads

Dawn Robertson

Three times best selling author Dawn Robertson was born and raised in Connecticut before relocating to Florida in 2013. The same year first novel, Hers debuted as an Amazon Best Seller. Replicating that success with two additional novels in the following years.

The Indie publishing world has grown to love her raw writing style depicting strong women in real life situations, topping the charts in erotica, romance, and romance-suspense. Robertson has even insinuated that the female characters in her book mirror her real life. But, that I'll leave to speculation.

When Dawn Robertson is not writing she is a full-time Real Estate professional in Florida, and mother of three amazing children.

Author Links:

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Spotlight-Excerpt: THE MEDDLERS OF MOONSHINE by A.E. Decker (Moonfall Mayhem #2)

The Meddlers of Moonshine

By

A.E. Decker

Series     *     94,000 words / 344 pages     *     Fantasy

Blurb

Something is rotten in the town of Widget, and Rags-n-Bones knows it's all his fault. Ever since he snitched that avocado from Miss Ascot's pack, things have been going wrong. Armed with a handful of memories he never realized he had, Rags-n-Bones searches for a way to put right whatever he did to Widget in the past. If only he knew what it was! Unfortunately, the only person who seems to have answers is a half-mad youth that only Rags can see.

Widget is also suffering from a ghost infestation that has the townsfolk almost as spooked of outsiders as they are of actual spooks. While Rags-n-Bones seeks answers in the past, Ascot offers the town leaders her service as an exorcist, only to be handed an ultimatum: banish the ghosts or be banished herself!

Who's meddling with Widget? To catch the culprit, Ascot and Rags-n-Bones must match wits with a shifty sorcerer, a prissy ex-governess, and a troublingly attractive captain before the town consigns itself to the graveyard of history.

Buy Links

Amazon - Barnes and Noble - Kobo - iTunes - World Weaver Press

Excerpt

There was a hand in the forest, and it held an avocado.

“Miss Ascot bought it for me,” said Rags-n-Bones, clutching it to his chest as he ran. The dead leaves crunched softly underfoot, thick and bouncy as a crispy cloud. “That means it’s not stealing.”

On his shoulder, Nipper squeaked. Being a rat, Nipper was hazy on the concept of “stealing.” Generally, he felt if you could get something in your mouth, it was yours.

Rags-n-Bones wished he were a rat. It would make dealing with guilt much easier. I should never have rummaged through Miss Ascot’s pack, he thought, ducking around a birch. His thumb caressed the avocado’s soft, pebbly skin. If I’d waited, she, or the Captain, or Sir Dmitri, or the Mighty Terror from the Deepest Shadows would’ve awakened and given it to me. He leaped over a log, mouth watering in anticipation of the avocado’s rich, buttery flavor. I should go back right now and—

Squeak? Nipper stuck his nose in Rags-n-Bones’ ear impatiently.

Rags-n-Bones gave up. He’d take whatever punishment arrived later. Right now, the torment of not eating the avocado was too great to bear. “There’s a grove up ahead,” he replied. “Around that cone-shaped boulder. We’ll eat it there.” Avocados required privacy for proper consumption.

How could you possibly know there’s a grove ahead? asked a small part of his brain not drunk on avocado-lust. You’ve never been here before.

He shrugged. Ahead just seemed like a convenient place for a grove. A small circle of beech trees, with an old oak smack in the center, its gnarled, moss-covered roots gripping the hummock it sat atop like an old man clutching a tea cake.

A foot skidded out from under him as he rounded the boulder, kicking up a trail of wet leaves and the smell of tannin. That’s a lot of detail for a mere hunch. Why, you can visualize the oak, can’t you? That thick, knobby trunk. Those bare, crooked branches. And carved into the bark—

Six feet into the grove, Rags-n-Bones stumbled to a halt and stared vacantly at a patch of earth. Something was very wrong. Was he being watched?

He whimpered. He was being watched. A disapproving stare pressed almost tangibly on the top of his bowed head. Branches swayed creakily overhead. He watched the wind skitter a fallen acorn across the carpet of leaves.

Squeak? Nipper scrabbled at his cheek.

I have to do it. Slowly, Rags-n-Bones lifted his gaze to meet the watcher’s.

The avocado hit the leaves with a soft crunch as his fingers abruptly slackened. Punishment had arrived sooner than expected.

Author Bio

A. E. Decker hails from Pennsylvania. A former doll-maker and ESL tutor, she earned a master’s degree in history, where she developed a love of turning old stories upside-down to see what fell out of them. This led in turn to the writing of her YA novel, The Falling of the Moon. A graduate of Odyssey 2011, her short fiction has appeared in such venues as Beneath Ceaseless Skies, Fireside Magazine, and in World Weaver Press’s own Specter Spectacular. Like all writers, she is owned by three cats. Come visit her, her cats, and her fur Daleks at wordsmeetworld.com.

Social Media Links:

Twitter - Goodreads

Book Review: FRACTURED HYMNS by A.M. Arthur-5-STAR TOP RECOMMENDATION!

Synopsis

Still firmly in the closet at the age of thirty, Ethaniel Shockley is content leading a solitary—if lonely—life working on a construction crew with fellow military vets. After a tragic worksite accident leaves two of his friends dead, Ethaniel returns to his family home to recuperate from a spiral leg fracture and severe Post Concussive Syndrome. He may be lucky to be alive, but he hates the independence he’s lost.

Matthew “Angel” Garrett has worked at Shockley Stables for three years, content to muck stalls and polish saddles, and to be as unnoticeable as possible. Except for weekly church outings, he avoids going into town so he doesn’t see The Look. The Look that says “I know you went to prison for killing a man.” 

A chance conversation with Ethaniel gives Angel hope that maybe he can have a friendship with the gorgeous Shockley sibling he’s crushed on for years. But the more time they spend indulging in their shared love of music, the clearer it becomes that they both want more. Ethaniel sees a kindred spirit in Angel, whose soul just as fractured from his time in prison as Ethaniel’s is from war. But Angel has another, deeper secret that haunts him—one he’s positive will destroy this new song with Ethaniel before it’s even written.

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Buy Links

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Carra's Review

Sigh. Ethan and Angel? They are simply beautiful together. Both hurt, both damaged, both lonely. This story is a wonderful look at the two of them finding each other, and helping each other heal and move on-even in the face of more heartbreak and pain.

I can’t pick one over the other for who I loved more, I just loved them both equally for different reasons. Ethan is recovering from a work injury that took the lives of two of his friends, and this after spending time in the military in Afghanistan slowly having pieces of his soul chipped away by what went on over there. Add to that the fact that he is still in the closet to almost everyone and that’s a lot of strain for one man to endure. Angel had a horrible, traumatic childhood culminating in an act in the heat of the moment that changing the course of his life. And while that change was not for the better at the time, it eventually led him to Ethan.

Fractured Hymns was incredibly emotional, not just for Ethan and Angel, but also for the other members of Ethan’s family for multiple unrelated reasons. It all made this story very angst-ridden and dramatic, with several parts that had my heart hurting-and some tears falling. I was so worried at some points that something terrible would happen to tear Ethan and Angel apart, and it kept me on edge through much of the story. Needless to say, I was riveted to every page and did not want to put this book down.

There are some religious overtones built in to the story, and while I’m not usually a fan of that it was not overt enough to deter my enjoyment of the book. The overwhelming theme was the healing of two hurting men finding solace and love together, and I enjoyed every minute of it.

5 stars for Fractured Hymns, and this story also gets a Top Recommendation from me in the M/M romance genre. It is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and M/M sexual content. Be prepared for the emotions, and keep your tissues on hand. I can’t imagine anyone not loving Ethan and Angel, and I already know I’ll be re-reading this story in the future.

About the Author

A.M. Arthur was born and raised in the same kind of small town that she likes to write about, a stone's throw from both beach resorts and generational farmland.  She's been creating stories in her head since she was a child and scribbling them down nearly as long, in a losing battle to make the fictional voices stop.  She credits an early fascination with male friendships (bromance hadn't been coined yet back then) with her later discovery of and subsequent love affair with m/m romance stories. A.M. Arthur's work is available from Samhain Publishing, Carina Press, Dreamspinner Press, and SMP Swerve.

When not exorcising the voices in her head, she toils away in a retail job that tests her patience and gives her lots of story fodder.  She can also be found in her kitchen, pretending she's an amateur chef and trying to not poison herself or others with her cuisine experiments.  

Contact her at am_arthur@yahoo.com with your cooking tips (or book comments). You can also find her online (http://amarthur.blogspot.com/), as well as on Twitter (http://twitter.com/am_arthur), Tumblr (http://www.tumblr.com/blog/am-arthur), and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/A.M.Arthur.M.A ). 

New Release-Excerpt: CHERISHED SECRETS by C.B. Clark

CHERISHED SECRETS
 by C.B. Clark

New Release: WANDS, SPELLS, & MAGIC TALES Box Set

WANDS, SPELLS, & MAGIC TALES

Book Review: THE GOD OF JAZZ: FUGUE, CONCORD by Varian Krylov

After years struggling to realize his dream of directing a feature film, on the final night of his fundraising campaign Godard is on the cusp of having everything he ever wanted. The man he loves is upstairs waiting for him, and he's just a few dollars short of his GoFundYourself goal.

Then everything falls apart.

His personal and professional life in ruins, when his old nemesis from film school offers to fund his dream project if he's willing to shoot it in Spain, Godard knows it's a deal with the devil. But he also has nothing left to lose.

Among the labyrinthine streets of Barcelona's Barrio Góthico, the city's vibrant music scene, and the sun-gilt beaches of the Costa Brava, Godard begins making shooting his dream project and putting his life back together, largely under the domineering gaze and deft touch of Ángel, the god of jazz.

But Ángel is keeping a secret, and a deal with the devil always comes at a price.

Amazon - ARe - Smashwords

Carra's Review

Now that was one damn fine story.  It’s a romance, a drama, an emotional upheaval and I absolutely did not want to put it down.  Aside from the author’s penchant for reusing certain terms a bit too often, this story is a standout example of angst and heartbreak turned into newfound love, while also giving readers a journey of rediscovery for one of its main characters.  It goes from sweet and sassy to sensual to teasingly erotic, kicking things up a bit with a touch of kink as well.

There’s no doubt that Godard has been broken personally and professionally when the story first starts out, and he’s given a chance to start over-at least temporarily.  He truly believes in what he has written, and jumps at the chance to bring it to the screen-even if he might be making a deal with the devil to do it.  Meeting Ángel and falling under his spell makes for one hell of an intimate story, punctuated by drama and insecurity.  Their relationship just drew me in, and I was unsure until quite a ways in just as Godard was whether Ángel’s intentions were pure and true.  The uncertainty was just another way to keep me glued to the pages.

I was also completely intrigued by the story-within-a-story of the movie being made-Godard’s vision being brought to life.  I was just as pulled into that as I was into Godard and Ángel’s relationship, to the point where I’m actually a bit disappointed that there’s no movie for me to actually see in the end…that is how thoroughly pulled in to this story I was.

This story pulled my emotions all over the place, from heartbreak to lust to worry to fear to love and everywhere in between.  The tension, drama and pain of the beach scene between Godard and Jordi (Godard’s former film school nemesis) was particularly powerful…while in counterpoint to that the intimate scenes between Godard and Ángel range from loving to passionate to raw and carnal-and are just as powerful, and at times even more so.

An emotional rollercoaster, erotic dance, and descriptive drama, The God of Jazz: Fugue, Concord was a 4.5-star read for me.  This story is strictly for readers 18+ due to adult language, erotic M/M sexual content, and a disturbing scene of attempted rape that may be a trigger for some readers.  I highly recommend this story to fans of M/M romance, especially those who like the extra drama from emotionally powerful scenes.

Author Links

Facebook - Blog - Twitter

New Release: I SEE YOU by A.P. Hallmark-Includes Excerpt!

I SEE YOU
by A.P. Hallmark

New Release: GUARDIAN OF DREAMS Box Set

GUARDIAN OF DREAMS

Cover Reveal & Giveaway: ALPHA BARMAN by Sue Brown

Sue Brown - Alpha Barman

Release Date: November 24, 2016

Blurb

Jake Tyler walked out of Special Ops two years ago, a devastated, broken man after he discovered his sister brutally murdered by her husband, Riley. Since then he's found a kind of peace running a rural bar. The last thing Jake Tyler expects is his former team to turn up with grim news. Jake's ex-brother-in-law has escaped from prison and is heading Jake's way. The team is here to protect Jake, whether he likes it or not - a decision reluctantly shared by their leader, Jake's ex-lover Mitch Mitchelson.

Mitch is angry and hurting. The man he trusted - the man he adored more than anything - abandoned both his team and Mitch. Jake never gave Mitch a chance to help or come to terms with his desertion. Regardless of mission protocols, Mitch isn't about to open his heart again to that kind of pain.

But the strong attraction between them can't be denied. How are they ever going to work together when Mitch still resents Jake's disappearance, and to Jake, the team represents everything that destroyed him in the first place? And meantime they wait for Riley to find them... and to settle the threat once and for all.

Author Bio

Sue Brown is owned by her dog and two children. When she isn't following their orders, she can be found plotting at her laptop. In fact she hides so she can plot, and has become an expert at ignoring the orders.

 Sue discovered M/M erotica at the time she woke up to find two men kissing on her favorite television series. She had an Aha moment and put pen to paper that same day. Sue may be late to the party, but she's made up for it since, writing fan fiction until she was brave enough to venture out into the world of original fiction.

Email - Website - Facebook - Twitter - Blog

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Review & Excerpt: NOT WHAT HE THOUGHT by Melissa Kendall

NOT WHAT HE THOUGHT Castle Wolves Series Book 3
by Melissa Kendall

Spotlight-Excerpt: DARK BREW by Diana Rubino

DARK BREW by Diana Rubino

Review & Giveaway: ALL HALLOW'S EVE by Annabelle Jacobs

Annabelle Jacobs - All Hallows' Eve

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Length: 81,000 words

Buy Links: 

Amazon US - Amazon UK

Blurb

Will a centuries-old broken heart ruin the promise of new love?

Dominic Ashworth is descended from a long line of witches, although the family practice of witchcraft died out generations ago. Forever connected to a dark history, the house he grew up in remained in the Ashworth family for generations until his estranged father sold it.

On a mission to check out the new owners, Dominic runs into Caleb Jones and gives the gorgeous man his phone number-but getting a date should be the last thing on Dominic's agenda.

Caleb and his best friend, Zach Briceworth, are oblivious to the heartache and magic tied to the foundations of their new home. When strange things start to happen, the truth emerges and surprises them both, especially as everything revolves around Caleb's new love interest.

After a shaky start, Caleb and Dominic settle into an easy relationship, falling faster than either of them expected. But with Halloween approaching, the possibility of danger increases. The past is not always as it seems, and the ripples of a tragic event threaten to put an end to everything between them.

Carra's Review

All Hallow’s Eve is a perfect read for the Halloween season to really get you in the mood, but can be enjoyed any other time as well.  It has a great story that goes back generations filled with witches, spells and a banished soul, and all of that coming to the forefront in the present day with all manner of creepiness and unearthly incidents occurring around the main characters.  You know the story has to be good when the spooky parts have you wanting another person in the house with you and the lights on until you’re definitely sound asleep.  I’m also a bit wary of my mirror now, too.  But even with that, my heart still broke for Alexander and Liam—and they’re not even the main characters of the story—while at the same time hoping things between Dominic and Caleb would work out.

Dominic is a true believer in his family’s history, and is determined to make sure his ancestor’s wrath doesn’t break through in the present.  He meets Caleb who has moved into Dominic’s former family home with his best friend Zach, and they become close-though with the shadow of danger lurking and Caleb not knowing Dominic’s true connection to it all, some angst and drama are injected into the story as well.  I did like the two of them together, though I would have liked to see more of them getting to know each other outside of the physical aspect of their relationship so I could feel more attached to them as a couple.  Though that physical aspect did make for some sexy reading ;-)

The story has a solid family history background that makes a great backdrop for all the phenomena that start occurring, and I actually found myself a bit more intrigued by that aspect of the tale then by Caleb and Dominic’s relationship…though not by much more.  There’s plenty of suspense buildup throughout the story, which made the final confrontation scene that much more exciting and its resolution very satisfying-particularly at the very end during the epilogue.

I really liked this story, and I can see myself reading it every year during Halloween time to really get me in the spirit of the season.  All Hallow’s Eve was a solid 4-star read for me, and I’d recommend this story to M/M paranormal romance fans 18+ for adult language and M/M sexual content.

Author Bio

Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They're usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it-fighting enemies and adversity-but they always find love in the end.

Twitter - Website - Email - Facebook

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