Friday, November 22, 2019

New Release-Excerpt: ROXY'S RECOVERY by Kim Breyon

ROXY RECOV FB PAGE

Roxy’s Recovery is Out Now!

This healing and heartwarming story will make you believe in the power of kindness and love again.



Blurb

As the newest veterinarian in the small town of Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, Vaughn Winters doesn't have time for relationships. He is too busy healing injuries and establishing his reputation as a trustworthy vet. But when a strange man waves him down on a stormy night seeking help for his injured dog, Vaughn simply can't refuse.

Obviously homeless and with no means to pay for Roxy's medical care, Vaughn throws caution to the wind and strikes a deal with the hesitant stranger that would allow Roxy the time to heal and provide some much needed TLC to his property as well. As the days pass, Vaughn's curiosity grows. Alex's dedication to the job is as surprising as the sexy tats hidden beneath his rugged clothes. What could have pushed this kind, hardworking man to the streets, or cast such dark shadows in his otherwise bright blue eyes?

Will six weeks be enough time to earn Alex's trust? Or will asking questions cause him to tuck tail and run as soon as Roxy is able?

Roxy's Recovery is a 61k standalone contemporary romance involving two men, a meddling sister, and a seriously sassy pug.

Book Links: 



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Excerpt

I was quickly distracted by how the evening light coming in through the window cast a warm glow on Alex’s face. He had a light speckle of freckles across his nose and under his eyes that I hadn’t noticed before, and I couldn’t help but wonder if anyone had ever kissed them before. I certainly would if ever I had the chance.

When I didn’t look away, he gave a soft laugh. “You know, that’s twice in one hour I’ve caught you staring. I’d say it’s a new record.”

I huffed. “Like you even notice how much I check you out.”

 The corner of his mouth turned up. “Oh, I notice, Vaughn. Like every time you peek out the window or slow your steps when you go outside for something? Believe me, I notice.”

 I turned a little crimson. “Whatever. I think you’re hot, so sue me.”

 “Oh, that’s not what I’m afraid of,” he said innocently.

 I blinked, trying to make sense of what he was saying. “What are you so afraid of, then?” I asked, suddenly dying to know. “Because frankly, I’ve been trying to figure you out for a while now. If you’re interested or not, I mean.”

 “I am,” he admitted without thinking before setting his sandwich down and looking out the window. “I just can’t, though.”

The finality in his voice caught me off guard; it sounded less like he was rejecting me and more like he was refusing himself something.

 “Why?” I asked again.

It was a long moment before he replied, his voice low and almost inaudible. “I’m here for Roxy, Vaughn. I don’t want to do anything that would ruin this for her.”

I furrowed my brows. “Ruin what? At making a full recovery? She’s going to be fine. I’ve told you that.”

He still didn’t look at me, idly playing with a piece of bread while he continued to stare out the window.

And then, like a punch to the gut, it hit me what he was truly afraid of.

“You think I’ll kick you out?” I asked, stunned. When he didn’t respond, I tried again. “I would never do that to you, whether or not something happened between us.”

He still didn’t look at me or even acknowledge that he’d heard me, so I reached for his hand. 

“Okay?” I insisted.

After a long pause, Alex shifted in his seat, causing his legs to accidentally squeeze mine under the table. He immediately jerked away, but to my relief, he didn’t pull his hand away. Instead, he turned his over so he could link our fingers together and gave me a nervous smile.

 “I was starting to believe that,” he said, his attention on where our skin touched. “But… it helps to hear it.”


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More from Kim Breyon:

Check out Kim's Against All Odds Series. 


Back To You (Against All Odds, Book 1) By Kim Breyon

One of you, one of me…

 As a private investigator, I have a perfect record when it comes to closing cases…as long as you don’t count the only one that ever really mattered to me.

 Even after a decade, the memory of the foster boy I once shared a room with continues to haunt my dreams. For five years, Riley helped me laugh when there was so little in our lives to laugh about. His gentle touch and stormy gray eyes were the only thing that could calm the swirling and turbulent thoughts and emotions within me.

 But in the blink of an eye, the safe harbor my best friend provided was ripped from my life without warning or reason. His unexplained disappearance set sail to a lonely and hopeless journey. Now, I am no more willing to let the memory of my best friend go than I am ready to give up the search for him, as hopeless as it may seem to those around me.

 And then a client asks me to locate a stolen treasure box. Clues have me heading from the city of Atlanta to a small, picturesque town in South Carolina called Reedsport. There, I hope to find the missing box; what I never expected was to find something else that I’d been missing for far too long. Could I have finally found a beacon of hope that would lead Riley Tanager back to me?

Book Links: 



And Then You (Against All Odds, Book 2) By Kim Breyon

Love is a risk... but a risk worth taking.

JAKE

I knew my life would change when I followed my best friend across state lines and transferred to the Reedsport Police Department. I just wasn’t prepared for how much.

 From the moment I meet him, CJ Reyes isn’t what I expect, and neither is our chemistry. The fire with him is like nothing I’ve felt before, both in and out of the bedroom. His sexy sapphire eyes are cracking the walls around my heart, and for the first time in my life, I’m not rushing to repair them. But can I trust him with the heaviest burden of all: the dangers of my career?

REYES

After being cut from the national team in Mexico, I’d hoped to get away from it all when I accepted a temporary coaching position in a small town in South Carolina. The reprieve doesn't come, though, thanks to my family constantly breathing down my neck and the uncertainty of my future looming over me.

 Then I meet Jake, whose humor and understanding feel like my only way out of the darkness. Our fiery nights and growing friendship make my loss feel a little less devastating and my future less bleak. But when I'm forced to make a decision that could change my life forever, will Jake see reason? Or will I end up losing something far more valuable than the world championship?

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Wednesday, November 20, 2019

Review & Giveaway: ACROSS THE POND by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey (Arizona Raptors #2)



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Length: 57,600 words approx.
Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Arizona Raptors Series

Book #1 - Coast to Coast - Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link


Blurb

The greatest journey isn’t from England to the States, it’s the one that two men take on the way to find each other.

Sebastian Brown is on a mission to rescue the Arizona Raptors and a vow he made to a friend in college. Either that or he’s on vacation. He’s not entirely sure that he’s made up his mind yet. Either way, traveling from England, to the arid desert of Arizona isn’t exactly a picnic, particularly with the doubts and worries he takes with him. He’s turned even the worst of companies around, but faced with the challenge of improving the reputation of a hockey team that everyone seems to hate, he knows his work is cut out for him.

Focus is key, but that is easier said than done when Seb is sent into a tailspin by the intriguing Alejandro. Seb’s entire marketing plan hinges on making Alex a poster boy for equality and fair play. But with Alex’s utter dedication to the game, and his dark secretive eyes, the gorgeous Alex is stubborn, opinionated, doesn’t want any part of being the team focus, and worst of all, doesn't appear to like Seb at all. It takes everything that Seb has to keep his hands off of Alex, but things get out of hand and Seb’s life might never be the same again.

Alejandro Garcia has had to work hard to get where he’s at. Born to Mexican immigrants, his siblings and himself have never had it easy in this new country their parents dreamed of calling home. A native son of Arizona, Alex has always been the odd man out on the ice but he’s not going to let a stupid thing like his heritage get in the way of his dreams. He’s now a Raptor and he plans to put all that training and collegiate hockey experience to good use. Working hard comes naturally to him. It’s something his parents have instilled in him from the time he was a toddler. Being one of a handful of Latino hockey players makes him strive for success with even more determination. His first pro season has had some ups but a lot more downs, but Alex is one stubborn young man and failure is not an option.

As the Raptors struggle to rebuild not only their team but their core values, Alex finds himself drawn to one of the owner’s friends, a tall, lanky Brit with the face of an angel and an accent and attitude that bewitches and befuddles him. Sebastian is everything he thought he would never be attracted to but he can’t push the sexy, older, fun-loving man out of his thoughts. If ever there were a man he would not be able to take home to his parents - not that he can bring a man home since he is deeply closeted - it’s Sebastian, but desire knows no socioeconomic, age, or international borders. The heart wants what the heart wants and Alejandro’s wants Sebastian.

Carra's Review

This author duo continues to deliver solid stories of M/M hockey romance with their latest book, Across the Pond.  This time the pairing features a well-off Brit, Sebastian, who has come to the US to help the Raptors turn their image around and young player Alex, whose Mexican heritage and Catholic upbringing pose a lot of hurdles that keep him well in the closet.

Much of the story is focused on Alex’s issues—his internal conflict about being gay, his worry about his family’s reaction if they find out, and how all of it will affect his fledgling professional hockey career if his secret gets out.

Sebastian is great with Alex.  He’s incredibly patient and supportive, and never tries to rush things with him.  Alex has a lot to work through, and when he finally decides to open up with his family, that’s when the majority of the angst starts to kick in.  Up until that point, he and Sebastian are pretty comfortable together, not rocking the boat in other areas of Alex’s life.

There are a few areas of the story that don’t see any resolution, one regarding a side character who really gives Alex a lot of grief (not because he’s gay, but because of his ethnicity) and the other just his overall family situation which is still on shaky ground at the end of the book.  I’m hoping the authors will come back around to these points either in another book in the series, or maybe in a follow up story for Alex and Sebastian for some closure.


Across the Pond is hovering somewhere between 3.5 and 4 stars for my rating, and is still a good entry in the series.  This story is for readers 18+ for adult language and some sexual content.


About the Authors

USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott writes stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, a happily ever after.

RJ Scott is the author of over one hundred romance books, writing emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

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

She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the links below:




USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.



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Tuesday, November 19, 2019

Audiobook Release & Giveaway: WHAT LIES BENEATH by RJ Scott, narrated by Sean Crisden (Lancaster Falls #1)



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Length: 5hrs 44 mins
Narrated By: Sean Crisden
Publisher: Tantor Media


Blurb

In the hottest summer on record, Iron Lake reservoir is emptying, revealing secrets that were intended to stay hidden beneath the water.

Best-selling horror writer Chris Lassiter struggles for inspiration and he's close to never writing again. His life has become an endless loop of nothing but empty pages, personal appearances, and a marketing machine that is systematically destroying his muse. In a desperate attempt to force Chris to complete unfinished manuscripts his agent buys a remote cabin. All Chris has to do is hide away and write, but he's lost his muse, and not even he can make stories appear from thin air.

Sawyer Wiseman left town for Chicago, chasing the excitement and potential of being a big city cop, rising the ranks, and making his mark. A case gone horribly wrong draws him back to Lancaster Falls. Working for the tiny police department in the town he'd been running from, digging into cold cases and police corruption, he spends his day's healing, and his nights hoping the nightmares of his last case leave him alone.


About the Author

USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott writes stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, a happily ever after.

RJ Scott is the author of over one hundred romance books, writing emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

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

She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the links below:




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Monday, November 18, 2019

Book Review: MR. NAUGHTY LIST by Leta Blake (Home for the Holidays #2)


MR. NAUGHTY LIST
by Leta Blake

A cute teacher gets a spanking this Christmas. How hot can it get being on his former student’s Naughty List?

Is Aaron allowed to want a hot holiday fling with his young former student? Even more forbidden, is he allowed to want this student to spank him?

It’s another Christmas, and Aaron is still in the closet as a gay man and a natural submissive. With one youthful indiscretion blacking his ethics record, he can’t afford to indulge his desires no matter how pent up and needy that leaves him.

Until his former student comes home for the holidays.

Dominant and charming, RJ knows what Aaron needs—intense, steamy encounters and a firm hand. As Christmas nears, RJ helps Aaron unlock his true self. But family and fallout await, and all good things must end. 

Or can their hot holiday affair turn them into lasting lovers?

Mr. Naughty List is a steamy Christmas MM romance set in the Home for the Holidays series that began with Mr. Frosty Pants, but can be read as a standalone. Featuring light D/s, spanking, an older sub with a younger Dom, former student/teacher dynamics, and, of course, warm, sweet holiday feels complete with a strong happy ending.



Carra's Review

One good way to judge how much I enjoyed a book is by how quickly I get around to re-reading it.  Mr. Naughty List?  I’ve read twice already in less than a month.  It has a dynamic between the main characters that I love—a younger dominant personality with an older submissive one—and that it’s a former student and his teacher makes the matchup even more enticing.  

The story has a just-right balance of naughty and nice (oh come on, it’s a holiday romance…I just had to say it), with not too much kink but still enough steam to keep you fanning yourself.  Now toss in some really solid relationship development, and I was fully invested in Aaron and RJ getting their HEA.

There were two main areas of drama, first concerning Aaron’s mother—don’t EVEN get me started on her or you might never hear the end of it about that unsupportive, appearances-are-everything b*tch…thank heavens for his dad though, he at least does parenting right.  The other is with RJ’s stepbrother, which is not as angsty as what’s going on with Aaron’s mother, but unfortunately does connect to her at a certain point.

You’ll find plenty of intensity between Aaron and RJ, and it’s pretty darn satisfying to watch their holiday fling evolve into so much more than either of them expect.  I easily became engrossed in this story, and it’s definitely one of my favorite holiday romances this year.  It will absolutely become a yearly holiday read…if I can wait that long to read it again!

Mr. Naughty List gets a 5-star rating from me, and I do highly recommend it to any M/M romance fan (and not just for the holidays).  While this is the second book in the series and the main characters from the first story, Mr. Frosty Pants, do show up here, it does stand on its own.  I did like this one more than the first book, mainly because I felt more invested in the characters…and the naughty bits might have caught my attention more…okay, a whole lot more.  This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.


Author Links




Saturday, November 16, 2019

Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: RULES FOR SANTA by Susan Hawke (Davey's Rules Series #3)


RULES FOR SANTA
Davey’s Rules Series Book 3
by Susan Hawke
M/M Romance, Daddy/boy
Release Date: 11.01.19

Blurb

Rule #18: Daddy’s boy will always believe in his Santa Daddy.

Homeless, alone, and now jobless, Cameron Evans is lost… until he’s found after a prominent local attorney literally trips over him when the boy is passed out from dehydration.

Scott Hendrickson has two things in life: his job as an assistant district attorney, and his son Davey. Other than that, he lives alone in a house that’s too big, too empty, too… lonely.

It’s not just Cameron’s life that might change for the better when Scott takes him in. Scott can provide material things and security, but Cameron returns the favor by breathing fresh air into Scott’s stale life.

Two men who need each other… one magical holiday season. Could a little Christmas magic be all that’s needed to bring the biggest gift of all? Maybe Cameron doesn’t need a Sugar Daddy… because he already has a Santa Daddy.

This is the third book in a series about not-so-perfect Daddies, adorable “boys,” and one sassy brat with an insane list of rules. Get ready for all the squishy holiday feels you’d want from a Susan Hawke book.

Purchase on Amazon

Excerpt
After a sleepless night spent tossing and turning, I was up with the sun. Cameron came down right as I was pouring the fruit compote over a Belgian waffle. I noticed the backpack on his shoulder right off the bat. 

His stomach growled—loudly—but he ignored it as he met my eyes. "I'm going to get out of your hair now. I just wanted to thank you for taking me in last night. I looked out the window and it's not raining right now, so I should be okay." 

Shaking my head, I pointed to the island. "Drop your bag and come have breakfast. I didn't cook all this just for me, did I?" My chest fluttered when he instantly obeyed. 

His cheeks were pink as he climbed onto the stool. "Sorry, I just didn't want to assume or impose. I thought you might be sick of me by now. But I suppose it won't hurt to stick around long enough to have breakfast, especially since you went to so much work." 

"You’re not imposing at all. It's nice to have a little company in the house." I figured we would discuss his leaving later. First… food. 

"Wow, that's a beautiful compote. You reduced it perfectly, I won't even need syrup." Cameron smiled brightly as he looked at the plate I set in front of him. There were already platters of scrambled eggs and bacon on the counter, along with a container of freshly squeezed orange juice. I might have been a little too busy. 

"I just hope you like waffles." I spoke casually, setting a carafe of coffee on the counter along with a container of cream and cups for each of us. "I wasn't sure if you drink coffee or not. If not, that just means there'll be more for me." 

His eyes were closed as he moaned around his first bite of waffle. I wasn't sure whether to be pleased or turned on. Maybe a bit of both? After he swallowed, his eyes popped open and he reached for the coffee. "I'm not a huge coffee drinker, but I don't hate it. Especially with a rich breakfast like this, I’ll definitely want coffee today."

Carra's Review

Looking for a tooth-achingly sweet Daddy/boy holiday romance?  Well, you’ve definitely found it.  Rules for Santa fits that perfectly, if at times a bit much so…even bordering on cheesy.  But even given that, it’s hard not to like Scott and Cameron.

Scott is very much a Daddy, particularly from the care aspect (which is the part for me that felt almost a bit much).  He can’t help but step in once he realizes Cameron’s situation.  Cameron though seems to be ready to keep trying to make it on his own out on the streets, not wanting to keep taking from Scott.  But the way the story heads—which is absolutely clear to the reader every step of the way—is straight on to these two developing a relationship.

That development is slow and natural, with the requisite flirting moments that are part of those signals to readers that Scott and Cameron will wind up together.  For the most part the story is super-low on the angst scale with only one part where a touch of drama is introduced, then resolved quickly.  I found Scott’s son Davey to be kind of cheeky, but he’s a pretty good guy overall and does a good job in his supporting character role.


If you’re wanting light and sweet, slow burn holiday romance with an eventual Daddy/boy relationship, Rules for Santa is it.  For me, this was a 3.5-star read, and while there’s not a large amount of steamy scenes you’ll find this book is still meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sexual content.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

As an avid reader and big romance fan myself, I love sharing the stories of the different people who live in my imagination. My stories are filled with humor, a few tears, and the underlying message to not give up hope, even in the darkest of times, because life can change on a dime when you least expect it. This theme comes from a lifetime of lessons learned on my own hard journey through the pains of poverty, the loss of more loved ones than I'd care to count, and the struggles of living through chronic illnesses. Life can be hard, but it can also be good! Through it all I've found that love, laughter, and family can make all the difference, and that's what I try to bring to every tale I tell.

I'm a happily married mom with one snarky teenage boy, and three grown "kids of my heart." I'm more widely known for my mpreg writings as Susi Hawke; this new name is a departure from that. Whether written by Susan or Susi, the books are filled with that all-important love, laughter, and family I mentioned; the only difference is that this name has no male pregnancy. I look forward to sharing my stories with you, and to bringing more romance and laughter into this world that needs it so very badly.


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