Now Available: ADJOINING ROOMS by Alex Winters - Includes Excerpt!

Adjoining Rooms

by Alex Winters

Publisher: JMS Books, LLC

Release Date: March 4, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Friends to lovers, Second chances, Unexpected reunion

Themes: compassion, comfort, safe landing

Heat Rating: 4 flames   

Length:  18 694 words

Is it a standalone story and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Buy Links

JMS Books  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

One knock could change their lives forever…

Blurb

Knox Townsend can hardly believe it when he walks into Playgroundz Café Store #57 to find his old high school crush, Trevor Channing, working the cash register. Once upon a time, the two had shared a smoldering, passionate, once in a lifetime kiss while their prom dates were passed out and… never spoke of it again. Suddenly, Knox is Trevor’s boss and back in tiny Seaside, Florida for the next week to convert his cold brew coffee machines to the upgraded model. But suddenly, the only thing Knox really wants to upgrade are his feelings for Trevor, long simmering but suddenly reignited. This time, Knox hopes, for good! 

Trevor hasn’t seen Knox in four years, ever since he left town right after graduation without so much as a backward glance, let alone anything as civil as a goodbye. Suddenly he is Trevor’s boss, in town for a whole week to oversee his franchise café’s equipment upgrades and staying at the same hotel where they’d shared their first, and only, kiss: the Seaside Inn. What Knox doesn’t know is that one of the front desk clerks is his regular customer at Playgroundz Café’ and, for a few free gift cards and extra soy whip on his daily latte, Trevor has just checked into the room next door to Knox’s. The room with the adjoining doors he plans to keep unlocked all week, just in case!

Excerpt

Knox slid close, if only to breathe in Trevor’s vaguely innocent scent and feel the heat wafting from his lean, tempting body. “You know what I have in mind, tease.”

“Listen, let’s not rush things,” Trevor chuckled wryly, enjoying his time in the cat bird seat. “I mean, you’re here all week, right?”

They stood halfway between the sushi bar and the hotel lobby, Trevor’s Jeep—at least, Knox assumed it was his Jeep, owing to the half dozen Playgroundz Café stickers littering the bumper—the only car left in the otherwise empty parking lot. “Fine, sure, if you’re playing hard to get or whatever, I get it, but you’ve still had, like, three carafes of sake, so…why not stay the night and drive in tomorrow when you’re good and sober, you know?”

“Hmmm, tempting,” Trevor teased, digging his hands in the front pockets of his faded salmon cargo shorts while gently drifting from foot to foot in the empty parking lot. “Even if I’ve only had two carafes and I could probably, maybe, kinda drive tonight.”

“Why risk it, old pal?” Knox murmured, clutching a handful of Trevor’s casual sea foam T-shirt in his grip and tugging him toward the stairwell that led to his room on the second floor. “Besides, second chances, right?”

Trevor rolled his eyes even as he followed dutifully. “Good thing the old Seaside Inn still has two queen size beds in every room,” he muttered, still playing coy even as Knox found it harder and harder to walk with every step toward the possibility of another dreamy kiss with his first, and most powerful, boy crush.

“Jesus, Trev, when did you become such a prude?”

“Hmmmmm, not sure,” Trevor mused as he drifted up the steps a pace or two in front of Knox. “Maybe the day you left town without a second glance, let alone another word. Probably then, Knox, is when I became such a prude.”

Trevor stood on the second-floor landing, turning slightly to make room for Knox. They stood, face to face, nearly the same height, and Trevor’s full lips, glossy and thick, aglow beneath the dim light just above. “This feels weird, right?”

Knox snorted, dragging the old school hotel room keychain from his pocket, the key dangling from the vaguely Christmas tree shaped plastic that still had the room number printed under the faded Seaside Inn logo: 224. 

“Which part?” He drifted down the hallway toward his room, the air warm and soft on their skin as Knox slowly followed. “Me showing up in your café this morning? Me being your boss? Me being in town? Me drinking too much sake? Or, oh yeah, me staying in the same hotel where we first, you know…”

They were at his door now. Knox’s heart was pounding, his palms sweaty and hands trembling as he struggled to slither the key into the lock. It finally stumbled in, but they didn’t, the door only partly open as Knox felt Trevor still had more to say before finally coming inside.

“Kissed?” Trevor finished for him. “You can say it, you know? It happened, right? It wasn’t just a dream of mine?”

Knox nodded, voice soft and low to match his confessional gaze. “It happened, Trevor. I wanted it to happen. Wanted it to happen since that first time I saw you in homeroom.” He drifted closer, so close, on the empty walkway. Trevor was leaning back against the wrought iron railing across from the half-open door, as if waiting for something. Knox wasn’t sure what. Maybe even Trevor wasn’t sure what. Both of them, it seemed, were grasping at straws, cocky in ways neither of them truly felt, and shy in others. It felt like starting over, and Knox was as nervous as he’d ever been.

“Phew, okay, because…we never talked about it, you know?”

“I’m tired of talking about it,” Knox grunted, inching closer as he put a hand on either side of Trevor’s along the weathered upstairs railing. 

Trevor swallowed. Hard. And loud. Loud enough for Knox to hear. “Me too,” he squeaked, involuntarily licking his lips. “So, what are we gonna do about it?”

Knox leaned gently in, winked and gave Trevor a soft, smooth, aborted kiss. With another wink he stepped back and reached for the doorknob. “Come inside, Trev, and find out.”

About the Author

Alex Winters is the pseudonym of a busy restaurant manager whose curious young staff would love nothing more than to follow him around the dining room reading his steamiest, most romantic passages aloud! When not writing romantic holiday stories of various heat levels, he enjoys long walks with his wife, scary movies and smooth jazz. Visit him at www.awintersromance.com to see what stories are brewing up next!

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New Release-Review & Excerpt: STARBOARD by Ava Olsen (Voyagers #2) - Includes Giveaway!

Starboard

(Voyagers Book 2)

Author and Publisher: Ava Olsen

Cover Artist: Angela Haddon

Release Date: March 21, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, collaborators to lovers, close proximity, second chances, bisexual rep

Themes: coming out – bisexual rep, second chances, redemption

Heat Rating:  4 flames

Length: 262 pages

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

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

Dylan Aylmer is a Hollywood actor struggling to make a comeback.

Falling in love with his ghostwriter wasn’t part of the script.

Blurb

Dylan: I’ve lived my adult life under the Hollywood spotlight, but no one really sees who I am. I’ve gone down the dark path of drinking my anxiety away, along with my career, but now I’m searching for the light again. My struggle to stay sober has me releasing long held secrets. 

 A contract to publish my autobiography means laying everything in the open. When I meet Max, my ghostwriter, I’m not sure how our collaboration is going to work. He’s a university professor from New York with more degrees than I can count and I’m a guy from West Texas that barely finished college. And he may be my ghostwriter, but Max is anything but invisible. 

 Intimate confessions lead to heightened emotions and an unexpected love that fills up all my empty places. I don’t know what the future holds, but I want Max to be a part of it. 

I’m done hiding in plain sight. It’s time for this star to finally shine. 

Max: I’m an established university professor and a celebrity ghostwriter. Why ghostwriting? Because it pays. And I need the money. My ex-husband likes to threaten me with legal battles over custody of our daughter and while he has family reserves, I don’t. 

 So I take a summer ghostwriting contract, a celebrity tell-all. I expect to meet another self-absorbed actor, but Dylan Aylmer doesn’t fit any pre-conceived mold. His eyes are so haunted that I can’t look away and now I’m curious to unlock all his secrets.

What I find is not only a man trying to mend his broken soul but a beautiful person that is so much more than outward appearances. I swore I’d never be vulnerable to heartache again, but Dylan has me breaking all my steadfast rules. 

 Am I chasing a shooting star, soon to be gone, or is our love the kind that shines forever?

Excerpt

“My part in this book deal is supposed to be kept confidential. There’s a reason it’s called ghostwriting. I hope to hell that reporter didn’t get my photo.”

The worst-case scenarios ran through my mind, but I forced myself to remain calm. We arrived at the gate and after we provided our ID, we were escorted to a private waiting area. At least in this section, there were two security staff on standby. Neither of us were in the mood for small talk and sat quietly until Warren entered the room a few minutes later.

“I had security escort that guy out of the airport. It’s all under control.”

“Are you sure about that? Did he get any photos?” I asked, concerned that my anonymity was no more.

“He didn’t, Max. And we’ve done our best to ensure your name is kept out of the press. That’s part of the reason why you’re working on a yacht in the middle of the Mediterranean instead of downtown New York. But Dylan is still a celebrity, and he gets attention, and yes there is always the possibility of news leaking. You’ve done this kind of work before, so why the concern now?”

“Usually everything is done virtually.”

“The in-person request was my idea,” Dylan replied. “Mainly because of the timing with my film and for other privacy reasons.”

“I agreed to the contract. It’s just that I have a thirteen-year-old daughter.” I ran an agitated hand through my hair. “You see where I’m going with this.”

“I do, but again, there’s no reason to be worried,” Warren replied. “It was one reporter and he got nothing.”

“If my ex-husband sees my name or my daughter’s in the tabloid news, he’ll flip out.”

“Husband?” Dylan asked with a raised brow.

“Ex. Is there a problem?” I said, turning in my seat to face him. Dylan better not have any issue with my sexuality, or I would walk out of the airport right now, contract be damned. 

“Nope,” he shook his head and smirked at me. “Just nosy.”

I let out a surprised laugh, despite my growing anxiety. 

“An honest answer from someone in show biz.” I placed my hand on my chest. “I’m honored.” 

Dylan’s smirk faded as quick as it came, and I could sense the shift in his mood. “I can tell that you really don’t want to do this, and I won’t blame you if you want to back out. You have priorities you need to consider.” 

The look of resignation on Dylan’s face touched something in me. That was highly unusual. My ex often accused me of being unfeeling because I didn’t let my emotions get involved in certain decisions, and maybe he was right. I tended to be more rational and analytical. So why this man, a stranger, should spark my empathy was beyond my comprehension. 

“I’m going to hit the head before we board. Thanks for seeing us off, Warren.” Dylan shook his hand and walked away, leaving a vacuum of sorts. Like he’d taken all the oxygen along with him. 

Warren motioned to the exit. “Time for me to get going. And stop worrying, Max. Focus on the book. That’s the priority.” He paused and shook his head. “Look, I won’t bullshit you. There’ve been many times when I wanted to kick Dylan’s reckless butt to the curb. But he’s worked hard for a fresh start. He’s got a new movie role. And the book. I want to ensure both succeed, and Dylan along with it.”

“I’ll do my best,” I responded as Warren nodded and walked away.

Part of me wished I’d never have to work with Dylan, but the bigger part of me called me a liar. I didn’t even know the man and yet I was intensely curious about him, and that right there made the writer in me stand at attention. There was more to Dylan Aylmer than a model pretty face and a salacious past. 

It was those sad, hypnotic eyes. He’d cast a strange kind of spell on me, and I was determined to find out why.

Carra's Review

I always enjoy a good bisexual awakening story, and Starboard is a great example of this trope done well.  There is a great cast of characters, and the two main characters of Dylan and Max are well-rounded and easy to like.  Dylan is an alcoholic, two years sober after a couple of prior relapses.  As a well-known actor who has been in the closet for his entire career, it’s easy to see how stressful things are for him.

The beauty of the premise of this story—Dylan having Max as his ghostwriter for his autobiography—is that there is a built-in mechanism for the two of them to learn about each other where the reader can get a lot of information on their backgrounds without it feeling like an information dump.  And yes, even though the book is about Dylan, Max volunteers information about his own life to help put Dylan more at ease for the whole process.

There is also some natural drama in Max’s life due to his ex and their ongoing arguing over the custody of their young teen daughter.  But even with each of their issues, the more they get to know each other, the more entwined with each other they become.  There’s an emotional connection for sure, and their physical chemistry is extremely evident.

There is the anticipated angst when, even with their best attempts at hiding from the paparazzi, they’re spotted and outed.  I’ve come to expect this to happen with these types of “famous person in the closet” stories, but it was handled well.  I did feel that by the end Dylan and Max were a bit much with the lovey-dovey towards each other compared to their usual personalities.

This is the first book I’ve read by this author, and while this is the second book in the series it can absolutely be read as a standalone.  It has a strong supporting cast of characters, with plenty of obvious opportunities for more stories.  My only nit-picky thing would be the overuse of the word murmur; that’s a whole heck of a lot of people talking super-softly, often when that is not really what they are doing.  

My overall rating is somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars, so we’ll call this one 3.75.  And this story is definitely for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

About the Author 

Ava Olsen writes steamy and dreamy contemporary romances filled with heartwarming characters, cheeky banter and swoony moments. 

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New Release-Review & Excerpt: ROAD RULES by Brigham Vaughn (Rules of the Game #1) - Includes Giveaway!

Road Rules
By Brigham Vaughn

Rules of the Game, Book 1

Rule #1: Hockey Comes First

As NHL team captain, Zane Murphy’s goal for the upcoming season is simple: take the Evanston River Otters all the way to the Stanley Cup.

Rule #2: Only On the Road

But an unexpectedly hot night with his best friend and teammate Ryan Hartinger throws Zane’s carefully laid plans and his sexuality into disarray.

Rule #3: Don’t Fall in Love with Your Best Friend

When feelings begin to creep in, Zane will have to decide if he’s willing to throw out the rules and risk his career and his friendship for a chance at winning it all.

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Excerpt

“That was a sick goal at the end of the second period, man.”

Zane Murphy looked away from the NHL game on the TV screen to smile at his new road roommate. “Thanks. Your pass was a beauty.”

“I’ve gotcha tape to tape, my dude. Tape to tape.”

Zane gave him an amused glance. He still wasn’t sure what to make of Ryan Hartinger.

They were only a few weeks into the season and Ryan was a freshman player. He was a solid winger and a great locker-room guy. He had an infectious energy on and off the ice and so far, Zane was pretty pleased to have him as a liney.

He was a little less sure how he felt about rooming with him on the road though.

Ryan reminded him of a not-very-well-trained golden retriever.

And he talked. A lot.

“Keep it up and hopefully we’ll have a better season this year than last,” Zane said with a sigh as he glanced back at the Boston vs. Dallas game.

Last season, the University of Michigan’s ice hockey team had been knocked out of the Frozen Four in the first round to a school that shouldn’t have been able to beat them. It still stung.

If only he’d gotten that last goal in the net instead of the puck bouncing off the post like that …

“If we keep it up, maybe someday we’ll be playing there,” Ryan said, nodding at the TV.

“God, I hope so.” Zane didn’t even try to hide the longing in his voice.

“Hey, you’ve already been drafted by the Otters. You’ve got a great shot at it.”

Zane settled back against the headboard of the hotel room bed, trying to push down the warm glow that settled in his chest at the thought of his draft day last summer. The Otters were a newer NHL expansion team in the Chicago Illinois area and Zane was itching to play for them.

He’d been watching Anders Lindholm—their top line center—burn up the league for years with Boston and a shot at playing on a team with him was everything.

Some guys Zane knew had called him crazy for planning to finish his degree first but his parents were pretty strongly in favor of him earning one in case the NHL didn’t work out, and Zane understood that.

Besides, U of M’s team was so f*cking good. Zane had gotten a ton of experience, dialed in his game, and felt much more seasoned as a player than he had a few years ago. And he was looking forward to another shot at the college hockey championship this year.

It meant he’d probably have to spend less time bouncing between the Otters and their AHL affiliate. He hoped so anyway.

Carra's Review

As the start of a series, this story definitely does its job of pulling you in and leaving you wanting more stories in the same world.  Zane and Ryan’s journey from straight friends through both of their bi-awakenings to so much more was gradual and progressed at a natural pace, allowing time for them to explore the more emotional aspects of their friendship as things unfolded.

Zane is the more serious, responsible of the two, always with his eye on their goal when it comes to hockey (no pun intended…well, okay, maybe a little LOL).  Ryan is the more laid-back one, but is still a steadfast support for them both.  Their deep connection even before going pro is evident, and once they are in the big leagues they are like two halves of a whole even before the intimate changes in their relationship begin.

This is easily one of my favorite friends-to-lovers books, because Zane and Ryan are far and away one of the best, most suited matchups I’ve read with this trope.  I couldn’t imagine one without the other, and watching as their relationship journeyed from new teammates to inseparable lovers was incredibly satisfying.

I’m excited for more in this series, but for now I’ll be happily content with Road Rules, which I’ll definitely be rereading in the future.  If you haven’t yet guessed, this was a 5-star read for me and I’ve added it to my Top Recommendations.  If you’re a fan of friends-to-lovers, or just of hockey romances, you’ll want to exercise that one-click finger ASAP ;-). These guys are scorching hot together, so this story is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

 

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About the Author:

Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time author. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.

Her books range from short stories to novellas to novels. They explore gay, bisexual, lesbian, and polyamorous romance in contemporary settings. Pronouns: she/her

Connect with Brigham:

Link Tree: https://linktr.ee/brighamvaughn

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New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: WORTH THE FIGHT by Denver Shaw

Worth the Fight

Author and Publisher: Denver Shaw

Cover Artist: Steamy Designs

Release Date: March 21, 2023

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Opposites attract, sports romance/MMA romance, grumpy/sunshine, multicultural characters, found family

Themes: Protect who you love

Heat Rating: 4 flames 

Length:  56 600 words      

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

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

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A bad boy who lives outside the law. A compassionate soul focused on helping others. Sometimes rules are meant to be broken... for love.

Blurb

Caden
Helping my brother was my focus. He got into trouble and I’ve been using my skills in the ring to prevent loan sharks from breaking his kneecaps... or worse.
Until I met Noah.
He’s a good man who makes me want to be better. A man who doesn't lace up his gloves and step into underground rings. But I have one last fight coming. This time the stakes are higher than ever. What I have to do to save my brother could cost me the man I’m falling for.

Noah
I should have walked away and never looked back when I first met the MMA fighter with honey-gold eyes. Yet Caden’s charms are too appealing to ignore. As a social worker it's important for me to keep my nose clean.
And Caden is a red flag in every way.
Still, he’s hot as sin and I can't seem to stay away. I’m taking a risk by opening myself up to him, but I'm convinced beneath that bad boy exterior beats the heart of a good man who is worth the fight.

Excerpt 

I texted Austin that I was here and that he needed to get his skinny butt to the entrance.

I got back what looked like a seat assignment from him, but this place was a maze. There was a man nearby who looked like he knew his way around, or was someone that worked here. Even if he didn’t, he might know where the seats were. But my breath caught in my throat as I surveyed him: black pants, white shirt; tall, muscled; short, blackberry-colored hair and honey-gold eyes. On their own, his features were possessed by dozens, perhaps hundreds of other men, but there was a certain something about this particular man. He exuded an easy confidence, a sex appeal that drew me in. It had been years since I’d been in a serious relationship, months since I’d had sex, and looking at this guy made me seriously think, albeit fleetingly, that maybe I should put myself back out there and at least consider dating again.

I shook myself from the temporary brain paralysis the man had reduced me to. 

“Pardon me, sir,” I said, “I haven’t been here in a long time; I’m trying to figure out where seat F3J is. Do you have any idea?”

He smiled down at me. I felt the caress of his gaze roaming over me, but not lingering too long in one spot, which took him out of the ‘creep’ category and put him into the ‘typical male’ category that he probably couldn’t help being in anyway. Not to put too fine a point on it, but I did have on my burgundy suit, which perfectly molded to my body.

Was he gay, or at least bisexual?

“F3J,” he repeated, smirking about something. “F3J…well, I might be able to help you hunt it down. Are you…here with someone?”

“I am,” I said. “Young guy, skinny, mixed.”

“Anything serious?” the man asked, casually—too casually.

I laughed. “Um…no, he’s my nephew.”

“Oh!” He wiped imaginary sweat off his forehead. “I see. That’s good.”

“Is it, now?”

“Well, see,” he said, “I figured there was no way I was lucky enough to meet a single guy in a place like this. I mean, what are the chances a man like you is unattached?”

Well, he answered my question. He was definitely gay or bisexual.

I pursed my lips and gave him the look I gave the kids that tried to bullsh*t me at work. “Oh, you’re a little slick. What, just because I’m here without a guy, I must be unattached?”

He shrugged. “Are you?”

“Here without a guy?”

“No, unattached.”

I made him wait a second. “Maybe I am.”

“Here’s the thing,” he said, leaning in a little bit. He smelled like a minty aftershave and sweat, the clean sweat of a man straight after a workout. “I figured any man who was with you wouldn’t stay behind if you left the house looking like that. I know I wouldn’t.”

“What, so he’d own me?” I wanted to be righteously angry, but it was hard. Those eyes…

“No,” the man said. “But he’d never miss a chance to be with you. I think you’d probably own him.”

“Oh, okay. Okay.” I nodded slowly, smiling now. “You’re slick and smooth at the same time. Listen, can you help me find my seat or not?”

“Is that an interview question?”

“I’m not taking applications.”

“Give me your phone number, and I’ll take you straight there.” He winked at me.

I almost did. It was fun, and it had been a long, long time since I’d been flirted with by anybody that wasn’t an inappropriately forward client. That happened plenty. This, though, was a bona fide stranger who didn’t know me from Adam, and seemed like he thought I was looking cute.

But, let’s be honest here; the little fantasy I had a few moments ago about putting myself out there was just that, a fantasy. I ate takeout every night for dinner. I ate most of my lunches at the office. I had heard about days off, and I vaguely remembered having them…or maybe I only dreamed about that once. That stack of case files on my desk? It hung around the back of my head like it had astral projected itself to follow me around the world outside my office.

It was a nice thought, but no, sir; the next date I had time to go on would be the one day off I would get between the day my office burned down and the day they relocated me to another one and printed out all my files again—thank God for the cloud.

“It’s not that easy,” I said with my own wink. “But good try. You’ve got real skills. I applaud your smoothness.” I stepped away from him. “I’ve got no time for guys who hit on guys for sport.”

He feigned a wound to the chest, but he was still smiling. “Fair enough,” he said. “I’ll keep that in mind, then. I’ll at least give you a hint, though.” He pointed toward the ring. “F stands for ‘floor’—your seat’s near the ring. Enjoy the fight!”

Yeah, I felt a little bad about being so hard on him, but you’ve got to shut all that down hard if you’re gonna shut it down at all. A man like that, yeah, okay, probably he’d be good for a short-term thing. I could admit that. All that muscle and sweat…

About the Author

Denver Shaw is a girl who enjoys the simple things in life: the first sip of coffee in the morning, the changing colors of sunset, and clothes fresh out of the dryer- although she doesn’t enjoy folding them. When she isn’t reading romance stories, she spends her time plotting and writing them.

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Audiobook Release-Review & Excerpt: FAIRY CAKES IN WINTER by Lane Hayes - Includes Giveaway!

Fairy Cakes in Winter
By Lane Hayes

Narrated by Michael Dean

A grumpy baker, a quirky ad man, and a recipe for forever…

Scott

So this cute guy sits next to me on the plane and proceeds to talk my ear off for hours. Not good. I don’t like talking and I don’t like strangers. But Theo’s sweet, smart, and sexy—the perfect distraction from business woes and personal worries.

Okay, things got overly friendly, but we’re adults and we know the score. I’m too old, he’s too nice, and we live on different continents.

Then, out of the blue, he shows up at my bakery with that pretty smile and a list of wacky marketing ideas—like how to make fairy cakes a thing.

I don’t like fairy cakes.

But I do like Theo, so…maybe?

Theo

The new me takes risks. The new me is brave and confident. The new me flirts with hunky, imposing bears on planes while traveling to a foreign country.

It’s going well, thank you.

However, my plans to do some sightseeing, drink tea, and eat my weight in biscuits every day get derailed when I realize there might be a way to help Scott and prove a few things to myself.

Don’t worry. I won’t fall for the grumpy baker. No way. He’s complicated and broody and—

Uh oh…it might be too late. Help!

Fairy Cakes in Winter is a bisexual, age-gap, grumpy/sunshine MM romance featuring a sexy baker, a sunny tourist, and a few dozen fairy cakes. 

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Excerpt

The flight attendant directed traffic with a smile, pointing the college-aged twentysomethings hefting giant backpacks to the far side of the plane before picking up her microphone. She gave the usual rambling speech, asking passengers not to crowd the aisles or stuff winter jackets into the overhead bins…Yadda, yadda.

I listened with half an ear for important info, like when this tin can was expected to get in the air and what time we’d land in London. Not that it mattered. I’d been on the late flight from Seattle so often, I knew I was in for a nine-and-a-half-hour ride and that I’d arrive at Heathrow sometime in the late afternoon. I also knew I’d be too disoriented to care about anything other than grabbing something to eat on my way home.

I had to admit, I was one of those weirdos who kind of liked the hum of airplane noise, and there was something vaguely comforting in the routine I’d established over the past seven years. I shrugged off my coat and made sure my headphones were within reach—along with my iPad, reading glasses, and the Ziploc bag of homemade trail mix my sister had sneaked into my carry-on bag. Then I buckled up, settled in, and hoped like hell that the seat next to mine would magically remain open.

Of course, that rarely happened. And I highly doubted my wish would come true this time around ’cause A, cross-Atlantic flights were rarely empty, and B, I didn’t have that kind of luck. The best I could hope for was a quiet neighbor. I peered over at the empty window seat and sent up a quick prayer for it to stay that way before slipping my readers on to check messages on my phone.

My ten-year-old nephew informed me he’d already beat my high score on Madden, my parents asked if there was any way I might finagle a trip home in the spring, and my sister claimed she’d added more M&M’s to her trail mix this year. She also asked if I was okay.

I sent an exclamation sign to Emmett, a heart symbol to my folks, and a thumbs-up to Heather. None of those messages required a wordy response. I’d learned that it was best to stick to basic communication with my family. Emmett was happy with the occasional poop or wind emoji, and my parents liked hearts. Real words got tricky. My parents knew that coming home for Christmas had been a stretch for me. I couldn’t swing another trip too soon, and it was best to avoid circular arguments.

And questions that might spark conversations about an old ex and his new wife. Yep, a thumbs-up was much easier.

I added another for posterity and was about to switch my cell to airplane mode when a new message from Becca lit up my screen.

Call me when you land! I’ll pick you up. Btw, I made a gorgeous lemon meringue pie I’m dying for you to try. Safe travels! xo

Carra's Review

The first things that come to mind about this story are cute, sweet, and that it is just a really satisfying story.  And yes, I may have shed a tear or two at one point.  I think though that I’d label this more “Reluctant/Sunshine” than “Grumpy/Sunshine” for the matchup between Scott and Theo.  Extra points for being set in England, primarily in Bath which is one of my favorite cities to visit.

Theo is such a sweetheart, and is a perfect contrast to Scott.  Even with Scott trying to keep things professional between them, and Theo trying to not get in too deep when he knows things can only be temporary, they still are amazing together.  Theo fit right in with everyone there and was a whiz at coming up with marketing ideas for Scott’s business.

Even with that one point at which my eyes became a bit misty, this was still a feel-good story that left me wanting to just hug both Theo and Scott.  Fairy Cakes in Winter gets 4.5 stars from me!  I listened to the audio version, and overall Michael Dean’s narration was great.  The character voices were consistent and pacing was good, the only thing that was a little off for me were the accents for the British characters…so four stars for the narration.

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About the Author:

Lane Hayes loves a good romance! An avid reader from an early age, she has always been drawn to well-told love story with beautifully written characters. Her debut novel was a 2013 Rainbow Award finalist and subsequent books have received Honorable Mentions, and were winners in the 2016, 2017, 2018-2019, 2020-2021 Rainbow Awards. She loves wine, chocolate and travel (in no particular order). Lane lives in Southern California with her amazing husband in a newly empty nest.

Connect with Lane:
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New Release-Excerpt & Giveaway: DEATH by Sienna Moreau (The Four Horsemen #4)

Death

(The Four Horsemen Book 4)

Author and Publisher: Sienna Moreau

Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Release Date: March 15, 2023

Genre: Dark MM paranormal romance

Tropes: Unrequited hate, Demon/Horseman of the Apocalypse, hurt/comfort, possessiveness 

Heat Rating: 4-5 flames

Length: 112 000 words

The books must be read in order. The first three books need to be read to understand this story. The series concludes in this book.

This book does not end on a cliffhanger. It is a HEA.

Goodreads

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link  |  Amazon US  |  Amazon UK

It all began with the kiss of Death.

Blurb

Abaddon, the Destroyer, right hand of Lucifer, has returned from the dead with one thing on his mind: revenge on the Horseman who kept him from taking back what is his. But spending time alone with Death has awakened something between them, resulting in an experience that he enjoys more than revenge. The natural conclusion is to keep doing it, of course. He never planned on his heart getting involved with a Horseman he can’t even touch.

Death is the fourth Horseman of the Apocalypse, arriving only when the end is near. The Apocalypse he and his brothers were summoned for this time is over, lost when they lost one of their own, but the stakes are higher now than ever before. It isn’t just Earth that’s at risk; the fate of existence now hangs in the balance, with a power-hungry God ready to unleash a new world order.

Death cannot touch another and has resigned himself to spending his existence alone, until a kiss changes everything for him. When Abaddon returns, and they pick up right where they left off, Death doesn’t fight the attraction that spirals out of control faster than they can keep up with it. Death cannot feel Abaddon’s skin against his own, but Abaddon breaks so beautifully under him anyway, taking everything that he can give and asking for more.

Abaddon had never imagined that he would love anyone or fall so hard, so fast. Death had never imagined that he would find someone to walk beside him, someone to call his own. Time is running out for them, and if they don’t find a way to push back against the powers vying for them, all will be lost.

The last Apocalypse is coming, and no one is safe.

Death is the fourth and final book in the Four Horsemen series, filled with snark and morally questionable characters. This book is not a standalone and must be read in order.

Content warnings: religious themes, extreme violence, gore, blood play, masochism, and others.

Arachnophobia warning: There is also a dog-sized pet spider named Paul who just wants to be loved.

Death is a 112,000-word dark paranormal MM romance featuring unrequited hate, Angels, Demons, Horsemen of the Apocalypse, snark and banter.

Excerpt 

When Abaddon stepped out of the fog, his mouth dropped open in surprise. What the f*ck? He was right back where he’d started. Death was standing in the middle of the hallway, watching him through his hood. Valkyrie was now standing beside him, her sheer size making the already small space feel that much smaller. Places like this hadn’t been built for Beings like them, and especially not for the legendary Horsemen’s mares.

“What did you do?” Abaddon snarled, advancing on Death.

Death didn’t stop Abaddon from shoving him against the wall, and neither did Valkyrie. Abaddon did what he’d been wanting to do since they’d returned and yanked Death’s hood off.

Death’s handsome face came into view instantly, those milky white eyes looking right at him. He had a dimple in his chin that Abaddon had never noticed before. He looked like he was made of porcelain, fragile and delicate. Even his five o’clock shadow didn’t detract from how vulnerable he looked without the protection of his hood.

“Careful,” Death said quietly.

“Thought you wanted that kiss,” Abaddon sneered.

“Killing you was the point last time,” Death said. “I don’t wish to do so again. Not unless you give me no choice.”

Abaddon fisted his hands in Death’s cloak on either side of his body. He was so close to Death’s face that he could feel Death trying to suck him in. The aura around him was reaching for Abaddon, and Abaddon wavered forward, wanting that too.

Death placed a gloved hand on his chest and gently pushed him so there was more distance between them, enough for Abaddon to get his wits about him. “I said I would if I could, but we can’t.”

Abaddon shook himself out of his trance. F*ck. Why was it so easy to lose control around this Being? “Why can’t I travel through the fog?” he asked, trying to find any distraction to stop himself from taking the kiss, anyway.

“You can,” Death said calmly. “To almost any place that exists. But it takes a great deal of Power to get through the fog to the gates of Heaven. You no longer possess that Power.”

Abaddon’s heart dropped, and he masked it with an angry twist of his face. He wouldn’t show weakness, especially not to Death. “F*ck you.” He had plenty of strength left. He didn’t need his poison to wreak havoc or to destroy everything in his path.

“I will take you.”

“I don’t need your help.”

“It is not a weakness to ask for it,” Death said. “There is strength in it.”

“In what world? Needing help is a weakness and in my world when you show weakness the consequences are never worth it. They parade it around and use it against you.”

“I seek nothing in return,” Death replied softly.

Abaddon wanted to scream at him, hit him, hurt him, make him bleed, the same way he felt like he was inside, just from this conversation. The physical pain was absent but what was left in its wake was somehow worse.

“Then why do you look at me like that?”

“Like what?”

“Like you want something.” Abaddon knew. He could see it.

Death shifted, bending his head closer. His lips hovered above Abaddon’s ear and a thrill ran through him. If he moved even an inch Death would touch him and it would be all over. He could already feel himself weakening from the pull. Death was already starting the process, because even being this close to him meant death was calling.

“I do want something,” Death whispered, his breath brushing Abaddon’s ear, pin pricks of pain curling around the curve and sending a shiver through him. “The same thing that I know you want. And when I decide to take it, I won’t ask. Now get on the horse, Abaddon.”

About the Author

Sienna Moreau is a dark MM romance author who likes to let the darker side of life come out to play. If you’re looking for morally grey characters, snark, mayhem and steamy situations then you’re in the right place.

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