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Shadow Fire by Christine Feehan-Dual Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

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Shadow Fire (Shadow Riders 7) by Christine Feehan-Dual Review, Excerpt & Giveaway

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo / Google Play /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 26, 2022

Shadow Rider Elie Archambault has been called many things: domineering, brash, loyal, but most of all fast. And there’s nothing faster than choosing to marry a woman you’ve never met. All he has is a signed contract and a list of his new bride’s expectations for their arranged marriage. He’s not expecting love or some happy ever after, just a partner that knows exactly what she signed up for. He’ll be faithful because he’s a man of honor, but she’ll never have his heart….

Elie knows who he is. A privileged member of the Archambault family. A skilled rider and fighter. A man who’s always had things easy for all the wrong reasons. He’s made his mistakes and lost his chance at real, true passion with his other half thanks to his own careless arrogance. Now he just wants to do his duty as a Shadow Rider and leave the past behind.

But Elie has no idea that his choice is about to spark a blaze that will burn all his carefully laid plans to the ground.

•••••••

Sandy’s Review:

SHADOW FIRE is the seventh instalment in Christine Feehan’s contemporary, adult SHADOW RIDERS erotic, paranormal, series focusing on the Ferraro Crime Family. This is Shadow Rider Elie Archambault, and Brielle Couture’s story line. SHADOW FIRE can be read as a stand alone without any difficulty. Any important information from the previous story lines is revealed where necessary.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise including bondage, discipline, D/s scenarios, there may be triggers for more sensitive readers.

SOME BACKGROUND: The Shadow Rider male must find his mate –a woman who is capable of riding the shadows-or at the very least with the ability to bear children with the shadow-riding gene. Within the family, the Ferraro siblings are tasked with finding a mate, fated by DNA, who is capable of continuing the family line. People with the ability to ride the shadows are few and far between, and future generations are at risk if no mates are found with the shadow-riding gene. The Ferraro’s are also part of the Chicago Underworld-a crime family linked to both legal and criminal activity.

Told from third person perspectives SHADOW FIRE focuses on the arrange marriage between Shadow Rider Elie Archambault, and Brielle Couture. As a child, Elie Archambault had been passed from family to family while training to ride the shadows in Europe, finally finding peace in America, befriended by the Ferraro family, becoming one of their own but an arranged marriage with a European shadow rider meant potentially spending his life with someone he could never love until his fantasies came true with the arrival of Brielle Couture, the woman that has starred in all of his dreams. Brielle Couture wanted nothing to do with our story line hero, having fallen victim to his verbal assaults, and emotional attacks years before, leaving her a shell of her former self. Battling between head and heart, Brielle was desperate to nullify their unwanted betrothal but when the truth is revealed, Brielle finds herself with the man meant especially for her. As every shadow rider manifested their own particular talent and skill, our heroine knows she is more than adept at computer research and discovery, and her research is about to reveal a possible connection between the take down of a human trafficking ring, and another ring succeeding back home. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Brielle and Elie, and the potential fall out as Brielle’s discovery place her in the direct line of fire as more than one assassin is sent to take her down, along with the people she now calls family and friends.

The relationship between Brielle and Elie is an enemies to lovers; a fated but tempestuous and embattled love affair destroyed by words said in anger that leave our heroine humiliated and broken, attacking her already fragile self-esteem. Brielle’s appearance has changed in the years since Elie last saw the woman with whom he will fall in love, a change caused by the caustic and vitriol spewed by our story line hero. As Elie sets into motion a plan to seduce the woman he married, Brielle must consider if Elie is the man with whom she wants to spend the rest of her life. The $ex scenes are passionate, erotic, and intense with scenes of bondage, discipline and D/scenarios.

There is a large ensemble cast of secondary and supporting characters including most if not all of the previous story line couples, and their expanding families, as well as Valentino’s cousin and right hand man Dario. The requisite evil has many faces.

SHADOW FIRE is a story of family and relationships, betrayal and vengeance, power and control, obsession and love. The premise is gritty, emotional and captivating; the romance is fated and seductive; the characters are energetic, dynamic, powerful and captivating.

 

Barb’s Review:
Shadow Fire by Christine Feehan is the 7th book in her fantastic Shadow Riders series.  Elie Archambault is the hero in this story, as we met him in a few previous books, being best friends with Emme, as well as part of the Ferraro Shadow Rider family.  Elie is set to marry a woman he never met, being an arranged marriage, and he is shocked to see the woman he loved from the past is his new bride.

Brielle Couture, our heroine, is equally as shocked, when she discovers that Elie is the man she is marrying.  We learn that a number of years ago, Elie was being pushed to marry Brielle by his Archambault family, and when he refused, he said some terrible things about her; unfortunately, Brielle overheard what he said, and has never forgotten.  Elie did try to explain that he did not mean what he said to his uncle at that time, but Brielle wanted nothing to do with him. Brielle left her family and learned how to make herself a shadow rider, not to mention she was an amazing computer hacker.

When Brielle tries to back away from marrying Elie, she learns some truths about her family, who lied to her, and with help from Stefano, she agrees to through with the marriage.  Privately, Brielle always had feelings for Elie, as he did her; but Elie will need to convince Brielle that she has always been the one for him.  Over a short period of time, their Elie and Brielle relationship will heat up, and their sizzling chemistry was off the wall.  Brielle’s life is in danger, as someone is targeting her; with Elie and the Ferraro/Saldi family trying to protect her, as well as find out why.  We learn how good Brielle is in her computer hacking skills, which is part of the reason someone is trying to eliminate her; she becomes a very big asset to the family, with her ability to go beyond discovering hidden secrets.

Shadow Fire was an exciting, tense, heart pounding, nonstop edge of your seat action, from start to finish.  Their romance was very steamy and I did love Elie and Brielle together. I loved seeing all the Ferraro family again, as they all played a big part in this story line.  I did get a kick out of Dario, who has become a fantastic addition; it should be fun to see if he finds a woman that could handle him.   

Christine Feehan once again gives us a fabulous story, which was a great read, and very well written. I will note there were a lots of sex scenes.  If you have not read this series, you need to start with the first book.  If you have read them all, you will love this one.

Copies provided by the publisher

 

NOTE: The excerpt is intended for mature readers due to the strong language and content

 

 

“You sure you want to go through with this marriage of yours?” Dario asked Elie. “You haven’t even seen this woman.”
“Yes.” Elie’s reply was clipped, indicating he didn’t want to continue the discussion.
Dario sighed. “Since I can’t talk you out of it, at least come to the club tonight. It’s your last night of freedom before you’re stuck with some woman who might have a fucking headache every night.”
“Dario.” Emmanuelle sat up straight, glaring at him in protest.
“Some men have certain needs, Emme,” Dario said, shrugging. “I’m not going to pretend I don’t, and I won’t apologize for who I am. Arranged marriages for business or otherwise rarely work for someone like me because the woman isn’t going to like who they get. I’m just being honest.”
“You’re suggesting that Elie go out to a kink club the night before he marries. Is that very honorable?” Emmanuelle demanded.
“It’s a moot point,” Elie interrupted the argument.
Emmanuelle was the tie that bound the two men together. Elie regarded her as a sister. He had grown up an only child, moving from one household to another in his native France. Elie and Emme had clicked some years earlier and everyone expected them to marry when he’d come to the United States. Emmanuelle’s heart was already taken by Valentino Saldi, Dario’s cousin. Elie loved Emme but there had only ever been a sibling relationship between them.
Dario had come to love her through his relationship with Valentino. Who couldn’t love Emmanuelle? Dario wasn’t an easy man to be around. He had served as Valentino’s bodyguard for years. He rarely talked to anyone outside the circle of people he accepted as family. Elie felt lucky to be included. The Ferraros had a way of taking over those they chose to bring into their inner circle and Dario, like Elie, had found his way in when Emmanuelle had married Val.
“A moot point?” Emme repeated, raising an eyebrow suspiciously.
Elie held up his left hand, where a ring circled his finger. “Technically, I’m already married. The lawyers took care of the paperwork and we were married by proxie yesterday. I signed here. She signed in France. So, no kink club, but thank you for the offer, Dario. It was considerate. I don’t cheat on my wife.”
“What does she look like?” Dario asked.
Elie shrugged. “I have no idea. The lawyers took care of it. I didn’t even look at the papers. I signed on the dotted line and walked away. I presume she did the same. She’ll be here tomorrow and we’ll have a very brief private ceremony just for the sake of photos and formality, but the paperwork is already done.”
Emmanuelle brushed her hand down his arm. “Congratulations, Elie. I hope she makes you very happy. I know you believe you can make this work.”
Dario’s dark brows drew together. “Won’t understand you in a million years, Elie. This complete stranger comes into your life. You don’t know a thing about her and you expect your marriage to work. Emme is one in a million. Maybe one in a billion. Odds could be even higher than that. Val is so fuckin’ lucky, he doesn’t even know how lucky he is.”
He stated his opinion without looking at Emmanuelle and he spoke in a flat, matter-of-fact tone. “I’m aware a man like me is never going to find a woman who can put up with my . . . proclivities.” He shrugged. “But then I don’t trust anyone enough to have more than an hour encounter with them and only on my terms, especially now that Valentino forced me to take over this idiotic role in the family. He’s only made my suspicious nature worse.”
“Your point being?” Elie said.
“You’re like me.”
Elie couldn’t deny it. Maybe he wasn’t exactly like Dario. He wasn’t nearly as dark. He didn’t know too many people who were. Dario had demons. Elie liked his way and he knew how to get it. He already knew he intended for his bride to learn that lesson about him very quickly. He’d been honest in every answer he’d given to the questions asked of him when filling out the pages and pages of very explicit material needed for his arranged marriage. He had her answers and she had his. She should know that about him and what he expected of her.Excerpted from Shadow Fire by Christine Feehan Copyright © 2022 by Christine Feehan. Excerpted by permission of Berkley. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.


 

Christine Feehan is a #1 New York Times bestselling author multiple times over with her portfolio including over 70 published novels, including five series; Dark Series, Ghostwalker Series, Leopard Series, Drake Sisters Series, the Sisters of the Heart Series and Torpedo Ink. All of her series have hit the #1 spot on the New York Times bestselling list as well. Her debut novel Dark Prince received 3 of the 9 Paranormal Excellence Awards in Romantic Literature (PEARL) in 1999. Since then she has been published by various publishing houses including Leisure Books, Pocket Books, and currently is writing for Berkley/Jove. She also has earned 7 more PEARL awards since Dark Prince.

Follow: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Christine’s Feehan’s publisher Berkley Romance is graciously offering a paper copy of SHADOW FIRE to ONE (1) lucky commenter at The Reading Cafe.

1. If you have not previously registered at The Reading Cafe, please register by using the log-in at the top of the page (side bar) or by using one of the social log-ins.

NOTE: If you are having difficulty commenting after logging onto the site, please refresh the page (at the top of your computer).

2. If you are using a social log-in, please post your email address with your comment.

3. Please LIKE Christine Feehan on Facebook

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9. Giveaway open to USA only

10. Giveaway runs from April 26-May1,2022

 

 

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The Hit (Team Zulu 1) by Julie Weaver-a review

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The Hit (Team Zulu 1) by Julie Weaver-a review

 

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date December 3, 2021

He’s her one chance for survival.
She’s his last hope for salvation.

Former member of Team Zulu, a clandestine black operations unit, Elias “Shep” Shepherd believes the only use he has nowadays is taking out human scum on home soil. After years of harrowing military deployments, the one place he finds peace is at his remote Appalachian Mountain cabin, far from civilians and the world he doesn’t fit in anymore.

When Shep accepts a Mafia contract, he doesn’t expect his mark to be a woman, or the sexiest thing in grease-stained overalls he’s ever laid eyes on. She stirs something inside Shep’s battle-hardened heart. Despite the risks, he’ll do whatever it takes to protect her, even if it means breaking his no visitors rule at the cabin.

Muscle car mechanic Cameron McKenzie only needs one look at the towering wall of muscle who’s abducted her to know he’s a killing machine. Too bad for him, she’s not going down without a fight. Hidden away in his isolated mountain home, Cameron is reluctant to admit Shep might not be the heartless beast she thought he was. And as their mutual trust builds, so too does an intense attraction for her unlikely savior.

If the Mafia discovers Cameron is still alive, Shep will need every one of his elite skills to keep them both safe. Although he’s no longer sure which is more dangerous—The Mob’s demand for merciless retribution, or the woman who makes him wish he was worthy of her love.

•••••••

REVIEW:THE HIT is the first full-length instalment in Julie Weaver’s contemporary, adult TEAM ZULU romantic suspense series focusing on the former members of an undrcover Black Ops Unit known as Team Zulu. This is thirty-six year old, former US Special Forces soldier Elias ‘Shep’ Shepherd, and twenty-seven year old, auto mechanic Cameron McKenzie’s story line.

WARNING: Due to the nature of the story line premise, there may be trigger for more sensitive readers.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Shep and Cam) THE HIT follows in the wake of a contract kill against our story line heroine. Cameron McKenzie’s brother stole from the mob, and Cameron is about to pay for her brother’s sins. Hitman Elias ‘Shep’ Shepherd, doesn’t kill woman and children, having lived through fifteen years of service in the Middle East. His latest target is Cameron McKenzie, the woman with whom Shep would fall in love. On the run together, trying to stay one step ahead of the Mafia, Shep and Cam find themselves playing house but someone ratted out our couple, and Cam finds herself facing the possibility of losing everyone she loves. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Shep and Cam, and the potential fall-out as their time together comes to a close.

Cameron McKenzie is a feisty, sassy, no nonsense heroine who tries everything to free herself from her sexy captor. Cam has always known her brother was trouble but his latest act of defiance finds our heroine with a target on her back but when hitman for hire Elias ‘Shep’ Shepherd takes Cameron hostage, she has no idea that time spent together meant losing her heart to a killing machine. Hoping to get the woman with whom he is falling in love to safety, Shep calls in a favor, a favor that is about to expose our couple to their possible demise.

The relationship between Cameron and Shep is an enemies to lovers; a contracted hit against our story line heroine, one in which our assassin grows a conscience in the face of killing a woman who has done nothing wrong. On the run in the Appalachian mountains, Cameron and Shep’s relationship ups to the next level, but Shep knows their time together will eventually come to a close. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate, without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

We are introduced to Cameron’s embattled brother Justin, and her boss Tom; Team Zulu members -former US Navy Seal Kane Daniels, and Brandon aka Ben. The requisite evil has many faces including Mafia boss Franky Russo. Brandon and Sage’s story line is next.

THE HIT is a story of betrayal and revenge, family and friendships, acceptance and love. The fast paced, action packed premise is edgy and intense; the romance is provocative and intimate; the characters are energetic, and impassioned.

Copy supplied by Netgalley

Reviewed by Sandy

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Crucible of Fear by D. W. Whitlock-Review & Guest Post

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Crucible of Fear by D. W.  Whitlock-Review & Guest Post

 

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date April 6, 2021

A man’s life in chaos. His young daughter at risk. What is a pound of flesh worth?

Dante Ellis is a successful advertising executive on the rise. His world is plunged into a harrowing nightmare after he’s targeted by ruthless hackers known only as Dark Messiah.

Dante soon discovers no part of his life too sacred to be used against him, no secret buried too deep. What began as a veiled threat soon descends into a desperate conflict against the will of an unseen enemy.

•••••••

REVIEW:CRUCIBLE OF FEAR by D. W. Whitlock is a near-future, sci-if, techno thriller focusing on thirty-something advertising executive Dante Ellis, and the carnage that is about to become his life.

Told from third person perspective following several intersecting paths CRUCIBLE OF FEAR focuses on artificial intelligence, and organized groups of cyber hackers out to prove they have the ability to control whatever and whomever they want. A futuristic world of camera drones that record and spy, using the recorded booty for blackmail and more, advertising executive Dante Ellis finds himself the ultimate target of betrayal and revenge, never knowing the who, what or why, until the very end. With not only his life, but the life of his daughter now the focus of a group or entity calling itself the Dark Messiah, Dante is on his own when he discovers that the people meant to help have been compromised by the very entity targeting our story line hero.

CRUCIBLE OF FEAR has many similarities to the television show Mr. Robot™. In Whitlock’s world the cyber hackers take aim at several people in an effort to produce enough fear to obey their commands but the ultimate target is Dante Ellis, a man whose past and present is about to implode.

D. W. Whitlock pulls the reader into a complex scenario of cyber crimes, hackers, AI, and computers; a world that resonates with what is, and what could be, but a world where our entire existence can be destroyed by the stroke of a key. A thrilling, suspenseful and intriguing story, CRUCIBLE OF FEAR begins with a bang, then builds slowly revealing the interconnected pathways and characters, ending with the possibility of so much more.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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The Idea

Some writers say it’s not what you write about, but how you write it. This approach tends to be more popular in literary fiction where the stories center around a character or characters reacting and dealing with a trauma. But for commercial fiction, writers such as Preston & Child, James Rollins and Michael Crichton have built their stories around a core idea that the believability of the entire story hinges on. Would Jurassic Park exist without its key conceit? I find the tried-and-true what if question is a good place to start for both analyzing existing stories, and the fun part, creating new ones.

What if…dinosaurs were alive today? Interesting question, but one that had already been asked and answered by Arthur Conan Doyle in his seminal work, The Lost World, all the way back in 1912! That story put dinosaurs on a raised plateau in South America, cut off from the rest of the world, safe from extinction. Plausible in 1912, a world still traveling by ship and rail on the cusp of flight, laughable in the technologically advanced and interconnected world of the 90s. Let’s start again with the what if, and expand upon it with the follow up, but how?

What if dinosaurs were alive today? What if we had access to their DNA? But how?

I remember reading Jurassic Park for the first time. That moment in the book when Crichton reveals how it was done was electric for me. As a life-long dinosaur nut and Crichton fan, I was already in. But how did this technological miracle happen? The planting of the ideas was there, the Chekov’s gun cleverly disguised as a series of questions: Why was Ingen, a genetic research corporation, stockpiling amber? Why were small dinosaurs, at first misidentified by experts as mere lizards, suddenly attacking children along coastal towns in Costa Rica? How had Ingen’s scientists achieved the impossible, the resurrection of extinct animals from Earth’s distant past?

DNA extracted from the blood of mosquitoes trapped in amber after feeding on dinosaurs over sixty-five million years ago.

It was an impossible, yet plausible idea, one that answered the what if in such a profound and clever way, that for this reader, the story shot home. At that point, I was bought in, disbelief suspended, prepared for the ride of my life.

I was not disappointed. Along with many, many other readers. From what I understand, the movie did pretty okay too.

So, what is the answer then? Is the idea itself important? According to John Truby, author of Anatomy of Story, he would say it’s at the very core of the process itself. He cautions writers to take their time with what they choose to write about, tap into their passions, aligned with what readers want to actually read. So, choose wisely. Take your time. Write something that will change the world, Truby says. Lofty ambitions, but why not shoot for the stars? The reality is, as an author, you’re going to spend years of your life with what you choose to write about. Planning, writing, editing, pitching, selling, interviews, sequels or series. Making sure your story is worthy of a commitment longer than most marriages is sound advice.

And what about me? What do I think? I believe that a story premise starts with the what if, and ends with the how. I believe the core idea of how something is, or has come to be, can be just as compelling and interesting as the what if itself.

It’s a personal decision, what to write about. For some, how you write it, the prose, the voice, is enough. But for me, the how can elevate the what if from the mere genesis of a story to an idea that can resonate across decades and thrill readers for years to come. And quite possibly, bring dinosaurs back into the world, if only in our collective imaginations.

D.W. Whitlock

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‘TIS THE SEASON FOR ROMANCE Anthology -Reviews

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‘TIS THE SEASON FOR ROMANCE Anthology -reviews

‘Tis The Season for Romance anthology features NINE NEVER BEFORE RELEASED novellas from New York Times and USA Today Bestselling authors, and was only available for a limited time in December 2020.

I have posted my  reviews for six of the novellas, and the links for the individual books now available for purchase.

•••••••

THE DETOUR by K. Bromberg

Release Date: January 1, 2021

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Bestselling author, Harley Humbug, needs an escape.
From the current state of her own love life.
From her deadline she blew past weeks ago.
From Christmas that’s just around the corner and the bad luck it usually brings with it.

When a snowstorm causes a road closure, she chalks it up to one more thing to go wrong.
Little does she know the detour will take her to a town she never knew existed, and right into the path—and possible arms—of a man who might just be her real-life muse.

______

REVIEW: THE DETOUR by K. Bromberg is a contemporary, adult Christmas short focusing on romance writer Harley Humbug, Mayor / bar owner Saint Nick and a snowstorm that strands our heroine in Saint Nick’s Hollow.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Saint and Harley) THE DETOUR follows the quick building relationship and one-night stand between romance writer Harley Humbug, and Mayor / bar owner Saint Nick. Harley Humbug has lost her muse; she is struggling to write, and the holidays are something of which she is not looking forward. Stranded in St. Nick’s Hollow, a virtual Christmas village Harley will get the inspiration she needs from the man that stirs something she hasn’t felt in a very long time-magic.

THE DETOUR is a character driven, short story with a sexy hero and a lost heroine who will find her muse in the unlikeliest of places. The story ends abruptly, I am hoping for more.

•••••••••••

 

SHIELDING JAYME by Susan Stoker

Available : January 5, 2021

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

ABOUT THE BOOK: After a decade of hard work and dedication, Jayme Caldwell’s dreams of a Seattle bakery are whisked out from under her. She’s licking her wounds in Killeen, Texas, living with her memaw, Winnie, while contemplating her future. Of course, Memaw knows exactly the kind of future her granddaughter needs…and it starts with a handsome young man she tricks into having dinner with Jayme. She’d be upset…if the man wasn’t something straight out of any red-blooded woman’s fantasies.

Rocket Long never suspected the sweet little old lady he’d befriended at the grocery store would turn out to be a conniving matchmaker, cleverly setting him up with her beloved granddaughter. But once he lays eyes on Jayme, Rocket can’t be too upset. Especially when, at forty, he’d already given up on finding “the one.” Suddenly, the love and family he’d all but given up on could be his for the taking.

But life is precious. And short. And happiness can be snatched away in the space of a breath. All things Rocket may discover the hard way…before he even gets his ring on Jayme’s finger.

________

REVIEW: SHIELDING JAYME is the fourth instalment in Susan Stoker’s contemporary, adult DELTA TEAM TWO, romantic suspense series. This is baker Jayme Caldwell, and helicopter mechanic Rocket Long’s story line.

Told from dual third person perspectives (Jayme and Rocket) SHIELDING JAYME follows the building romance and relationship between baker Jayme Caldwell, and helicopter mechanic Rocket Long. Having moved from Seattle to Killeen Texas after her dreams of owning her own bakery died, Jayme moved in with her Grandmother in an effort to reconsider her future plans but Jayme never expected her Memaw to play matchmaker. Enter helicopter mechanic Rocket Long. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Rocket and Jayme, and the potential fall-out as danger comes to Killeen on Christmas Eve.

SHIELDING JAYME is a story of family, friendships, goals and ideals. The premise is impassioned; the characters are flirty and passionate; the romance is tender, provocative and intense.

••••••••••••••

CHRISTMAS IN QUINCY by Devney Perry

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO /

Release Date: January 1, 2021

ABOUT THE BOOK: From USA Today Bestselling Author Devney Perry comes an Eden series prequel.

Cleo Hillcrest would rather cancel Christmas than endure another one of her father’s pretentious holiday parties, making small talk with his rich colleagues and her stepmother’s shallow friends. She’s leaving home to spend three peaceful and quiet days in Quincy, Montana, trading gifts and grandeur for room service and slippers.

But she should have expected her family to thwart her plans. The minute she finishes unpacking her suitcase at the quaint Eloise Inn, Austin Myles knocks on her room door.

As the head of her father’s security team, Austin’s been ordered to drag Cleo back to California. Only when she refuses to leave, he has no choice but to stay. After a Christmas in Quincy, everything between them is about to change.

__________

REVIEW: CHRISTMAS IN QUINCY is the introductory novella in Devney Perry’s contemporary, adult THE EDENS romance series focusing on the town and people of Quincy, Montana. This is twenty-eight year old, bakery owner Cleo Hillcrest, and thirty-three year old, security specialist Austin Myles.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Cleo and Austin) CHRISTMAS IN QUINCY follows tech heiress and bakery shop owner Cleo Hillcrest n the few days before Christmas. Wanting to spend some time alone, our heroine heads to Quincy Montana, only to find herself facing a member of her father’s security team, sent to bring our heroine back into the fold. Enter Austin Myles, Cleo’s long time crush, and the man with whom Cleo would fall in love. As Austin struggles to bring Cleo back home, our heroine finally comes to terms with the who and what of what she wants.

CHRISTMAS IN QUINCY is a story of family, relationships, honesty and love. The premise is spirited ; the characters are sassy and energetic; the romance is edgy and intimate.

••••••••••

CODE NAME: GRACE (Jamieson Force Security 6.5) by Sawyer Bennett

ONLY 99 ¢ Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO

ABOUT THE BOOK:
As the resident psychiatrist at Jameson Force Security, I make it my business to know all about our team—the good, the bad, and everything in between. But for every secret of theirs I hold close, I have secrets of my own I hold closer. I’m not trying to hide my history, but…it’s complicated. And that’s putting it mildly. It’s easier to keep my past firmly in the past, until the day a familiar face walks through my office door.

Clay Brandeis is the only one who knows my whole story. Through the darkest period of my life, he was by my side. A friend and confidant. I once thought he was something more, but he walked away and left me wondering how I got it so wrong.

After all these years, one look at him and I know I wasn’t wrong at all. His handsome face, his strong and steady demeanor, despite the icy glare he’s throwing my way. My heart wasn’t wrong about Clay Brandeis, and this Christmas, I’m determined to make sure he knows it too.

______

REVIEW: CODE NAME GRACE is the latest novella in Sawyer Bennett’s contemporary, adult JAMIESON FORCE SECURITY erotic, romantic suspense series focusing on the men and women who work for Jameson Force Security. This is twenty-nine year old, psychiatrist Dr. Corinne Ellery, and thirty-seven year old, FBI Agent Clay Brandeis’s story line.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Clay and Corinne) CODE NAME: GRACE follows the rebuilding romance and relationship between our leading couple. Nine years earlier, Agent Clay Brandeis was the leading investigator on the Salt Slasher serial killer case, and Corinne’s parents were the killer’s final victims. Believing his inaction caused the death of Corinne’s parents, Clay ran from the woman who had stolen his heart. Fast forward to present day wherein a Christmas Eve snowstorm has ‘trapped’ our hero with the woman he failed. What ensues is the rebuilding relationship between Clay and Corinne as Clay continues to struggle with the guilt of Corinne’s parent’s death.

CODE NAME: GRACE is a wonderfully sexy and decadent second chance Christmas romance. The premise is heart warming; the romance is provocative; the characters are energetic, a little bit broken and lost.

••••••

BOYFRIEND (True North) by Sarina Bowen

REVIEW: BOYFRIEND is a contemporary, new adult, hockey romance short found in Sarina Bowen’s world of the TRUE NORTH series,and the upcoming multi-authored Moo U anthology. This is waitress Abbi, and Vermont college hockey player Weston Griggs.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Abbi and Weston) BOYFRIEND focuses on the fake relationship between college junior/ waitress Abbi, and Vermont college hockey player Weston Griggs.With the approach of the Thanksgiving holiday, Canadian Weston Griggs, choosing t remain in Vermont, hires himself out as a temporary boyfriend, something our heroine needs in the face of returning home for the holidays, a home where she no longer feels comfortable or welcome. What ensues is the building romance and relationship between Abbi and Weston, as Weston must run inference on more than one occasion.

BOYFRIEND is a story of family, friendship, betrayal and lust. The premise is engaging; the romance is sweet; the characters are colorful and fun but the story line ends rather abruptly. I am going to presume the author has plans for their continuing story.

•••••••••••

BLIND DATE by Monica Murphy

REVIEW: BLIND DATE by Monica Murphy is the most recent instalment in the author’s contemporary, adult DATING romance series. This is twenty-six year old. jewellery clerk Amelia Lee, and twenty-one year old Isaac Jones’ story line. Several characters from the previous DATING instalments appear as secondary and supporting characters.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Amelia ad Isaac) BLIND DATE follows Amelia as she is tasked to select a Christmas tree for the family owned jewellery store, and runs into twenty-one year old, tree farm worker Isaac Jones (first introduced in HOLIDATE #3), a young man who would unknowingly become her blind date aka plus one for her friend’s wedding To Isaac and Amelia’s shock, neither one was aware of their impending matchup, a matchup that would become a happily ever after.

BLIND DATE is a story of family, friendships and love. The premise is inviting; the romance is sweet but mostly implied; the characters are feisty and flirty.

•••••••••••

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Madame President by Tara Sue Me-a review

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Madame President by Tara Sue Me-a review

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 6, 2020

This is Washington DC and there’s only one she here.

For Independent Anna Fitzpatrick, being President of the United States means she’s finally in a place to make a difference. Known for her intellect and charm, she never appears anything other than calm. After getting dumped by the man she’d been living with once he learned of her presidential bid, Anna vows to remain single throughout her term. It’s an easy task, after all, no man has ever made her feel the way her law school classmate did years ago. Or at least the way he made her feel until he walked away without so much as a goodbye.

Navin Hazar is content being one of the nation’s top news anchors. It may not be the plan he had for his life, but plans don’t always go as anticipated. Like his plan for no one to find out he knows Anna personally or did know her, once upon a time.

For fifteen years, they’ve been able to ignore each other, but her election to the highest office changes everything. And when Navin inadvertently lands on Anna’s Press Pool, they realize the only thing more aggravating than politics is love.

•••••••

REVIEW:MADAME PRESIDENT by Tara Sue Me is a stand alone, contemporary, adult, erotic romance story line focusing on the first woman President of the United States, thirty-six year old, Anna Fitzpatrick, and her former lover news anchor and journalist Navin Hazar.

Told from dual first person perspectives (Anna and Navin) MADAME PRESIDENT follows thirty-six year old, Anna Fitzpatrick, the first woman President of the United States in the weeks and months after her historic election. Watching the returns on the evening news Anna will recognize a face she hasn’t seen in close to fifteen years, a face that stirs something deep within our story line heroine. Without an escort for the inaugural balls, Anna pulls up her ‘big girl panties’ only to be rejected by the man that broke her heart years before. Enter news anchor and journalist Navin Hazar. What ensues is the tempestuous but rebuilding relationship between Anna and Navin, and the fall-out as Navin’s time at the White House comes to a close.

Navin Hazar and Anna Fitzpatrick were college classmates and eventual lovers but Navin disappeared, two days after their one night of passion, without an explanation or a good bye. Fast forward to present day wherein Navin, now a respected, nightly news anchor finds himself facing termination in the face of his previous relationship and friendship with our story line heroine, a relationship he never revealed to his peers or station management. Anna Fitzpatrick is a strong-willed and feisty woman who ran as an Independent in the recent election but Anna has issues of trust as it pertains to Navin Hazar. With his recent demotion to the White House press pool, Navin finds himself in the President’s orbit more often than not but rebuilding their friendship is a struggle when Anna Fitzpatrick struggles with what was, and a potential mole in the WH staff.

The relationship between Anna and Navin is a second chance romance; a rekindling relationship destroyed by the disappearance of Navin Hazar, and our heroine’s issues of trust and disdain directed at our story line hero. As their relationship continues to develop, threats from another source push Navin out of Anna’s life. The $ex scenes are intimate and passionate without the use of over the top, sexually graphic language and text.

The secondary and supporting characters are colorful and energetic. We are introduced to Navin’s co-anchor Gabe Day, and their boss George, as well as Navy Captain Jackson Phillips, and Anna’s WH staff including Chief of Staff David Herdsman, Jaya and her personal secretary Nicole.

MADAME PRESIDENT is a story of second chances and redemption. The premise is inviting and imaginative; the romance and chemistry is intimate and tender; the characters are spirited, strong and realistic.

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

FOLLOW: Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Even though she graduated with a degree in science, Tara knew she’d never be happy doing anything other than writing. Specifically, writing love stories.

She started with a racy BDSM story and found she was not quite prepared for the unforeseen impact it would have. Nonetheless, she continued and The Submissive Series novels would go on to be both New York Times and USA Today Bestsellers. One of those, THE MASTER, was a 2017 RITA finalist for Best Erotic Romance.

Now she is focusing on new contemporary romances that allow her the freedom to write and publish on her own schedule.

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A Chequered Romance / Murder Oblivion by Lawson Brook-reviews

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A Chequered Romance / Murder Oblivion by Lawson Brook-reviews

A Chequered Romance
Chequered Romance #1
by Lawson Brook
Genre: adult, contemporary, MM, LGBTQ, romance

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 1, 2020

What happens when the Prime Minister of Great Britain falls in love with an African Revolutionary Leader?

After having a brief relationship during their University days at Oxford, George and Masimba go their separate ways. A decade passes. George works his way up the slippery political ladder, becoming Prime Minister at the spectacularly young age of 29. Masimba, on the other hand, returns to his homeland of Zimbabwe to forge his own political career, eventually becoming opposition leader and fighting for the freedom of his people.

Civil war ensues in Zimbabwe, and George watches from Britain as his ex-boyfriend’s life hangs in the balance. Concerned for Masimba’s safety, and harbouring a pent-up desire to meet him again, George arranges for Masimba to be granted exile in the Ethiopian Embassy in Britain. Masimba reluctantly agrees, but as he arrives in London, he realises that his feelings for George are still strong.

George’s decision to help Masimba is not popular. He has to contend with disapproval from the tabloid press, the King of England and from the President of the United States, no less. And he also faces a threat to his Premiership from political rivals who smell blood. Both the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Foreign Secretary manoeuvre themselves into position to oust George as PM. To make matters worse, George’s secret love affair with the Chancellor has recently ended acrimoniously.

What George wants more than anything else is to meet up with Masimba again, and rekindle their romance. And when an opportunity arises for them to spend a weekend together at the Prime Minister’s private residence, Chequers, George seizes the moment and Masimba gladly accepts his invitation.

Against all odds, will romance succeed at Chequers?

•••••••

REVIEW:A CHEQUERED ROMANCE is the first instalment in Lawson Brook’s contemporary, adult Chequered Romance LGBTQ romance series focusing on thirty-two year old, British Prime Minister George Morgan, and Zimbabwean opposition leader and freedom fighter Masimba Dewele.

NOTE: A CHEQUERED ROMANCE is a M/M romance with scenes of same sex relationship that may not be suitable for all readers.

Told form several third person perspectives including George and Masimba A CHEQUERED ROMANCE follows the rekindling romance and relationship between childhood friends and Oxford University buddies British Prime Minister George Morgan, and Zimbabwean opposition leader and freedom fighter Masimba Dewele. Masimba Dewele is the opposition leader in Zimbabwe but a civil war found Masimba trapped in the cross-fire, along with his fighters, only to be rescued by the British Special Forces courtesy of his former lover George Morgan, the Prime Minister of Great Britain. Upon his rescue and subsequent ‘in-house’ lock down at the Ethiopian Embassy in Britain, Masimba would start to ruminate about his past affair with George Morgan but all was not well for George as the British Press was about to reveal the truth about their current PM, including his unethical and potentially illegal use of the British Special Forces used to extricate Masimba Dewele. What ensues is the rebuilding romance and relationship between Masimba and George, and the fall-out as betrayal from all sides reveal the secrets and lies, and the true extent of George and Masimba’s relationship.

A CHEQUERED ROMANCE is an LGBTQ (MM) story of secrets and lies; betrayal and vengeance; political in-fighting, scandal, and a fight for the top. I struggled to accept everything that happened including the PM’s disappearance (run from his responsibilities). The premise is interesting and entertaining but the style of writing was adolescent and simple-the conversations between Masimba and George reading like ‘randy’ teenaged boys; the romance is passionate but the sexual attraction felt stilted and forced; the characters are colorful and energetic but saying that, there is limited back story pertaining to our story line couple- I had hoped there was more history revealed about our story line couple. The secondary and supporting characters are colorful and charismatic with more intensity than our leading couple.

_________

Murder Oblivion
by Lawson Brook
Genre:adult, contemporary, suspense
Release Date:April 30, 2020

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

When Richard Neville finds a dead body in his hotel room and has no recollection of how it got there, he knows there is only one thing he can do: – cover his tracks.

He has no intention of giving up what he has: – a successful career in business, a beautiful wife and two children, and an amazing sex life with his gay best friend.

But when misfortune befalls him again and his memory fails him, he begins to question…. Is he guilty of the crimes? Or is someone trying to frame him?

Murder Oblivion is a darkly comic and erotically thrilling crime novel about a life spiralling out of control where nothing seems to make sense, and where the story twists and turns towards a shocking conclusion.

••••••••••

REVIEW: MURDER OBLIVION by Lawson Brook is a contemporary, adult , LGBTQ suspense thriller focusing on salesman Richard Neville.

WARNING: MURDER OBLIVION is a LGBTQ story line with scenes of questionable consent, murder, same sex (MM) scenarios and multiple partners.

Told from first person perspective (Richard) MURDER OBLIVION focuses on travelling salesman Richard Neville. Richard Neville is a married, father of two; a bisexual man in a relationship with fellow salesman Tyrone Parker but a man who struggles with unexplained blackouts. After a wild foursome with three other men, Richard Neville finds a dead body in the hotel bathroom, and the ensuing aftermath discovers this particular body is only the tip of the proverbial ice-berg. With his wife threatening divorce, Richard begins to spend more time with his wife but inevitably goes back on the road with Tyrone in tow. As the bodies begin to pile up at every sales stop and working venue, Richard begins to suspect his lover, a man who knows more than Richard could ever imagine.

MURDER OBLIVION is a story of murder and suspense; of mystery and betrayal; of secrets and lies. Lawson Brook pulls the reader into a twisted tale of death, a twist I suspected from the very start. The premise is intriguing and captivating: the characters are colorful, energetic and fractured.

Copies supplied for review

Reviewed by Sandy

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Hunter (Twilight Falls #3) by AM Salinger-Review & Giveaway tour

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Hunter (Twilight Falls #3) by AM Salinger-Review, Excerpt & Giveaway tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / Amazon.uk / Amazon.au /

Don’t own a Kindle? Download the FREE Amazon Kindle App for your mobile device or pc

ABOUT THE BOOK: June 22, 2020

Can a business rival bring one of Twilight Falls’ most notorious bad boys to his knees?

Twilight Falls’ resident bad boy Hunter Thomson knows he hasn’t quite lived up to his reputation of late and is determined to have some fun while on a rare night out in L.A. But after a torrid encounter with a captivating stranger results in one of the best sexual experiences of his life, Hunter flees to his hometown, scared by his intense feelings and convinced he is about to commit the same mistake he once made in the past.

Theo Miller can’t get the gorgeous man he hooked up with one night in L.A. out of his mind. When he moves to Twilight Falls for the opening of his new store, he is shocked to discover than his business rival is none other than the stranger who ran away from him and their fiery connection.

Sparks fly as the two men engage in a game of cat and mouse. But when an accident makes Theo dependent on Hunter, the game becomes something neither men could have anticipated.

Will Hunter finally overcome his deep-seated fears and succumb to Theo’s passionate attention? And can Theo win the heart of the one man he wants to belong to?

••••••••

REVIEW: Book three in the Twilight Falls; Hunter brings us right back to the sleepy small town and characters that we know and love.

Known as a bad boy, Hunter Thomson hits a club on a trip into L.A hoping to loose a few hours in pleasure. What he was not expecting was to meet a man that filled dreams he didn’t even know he had. After the most meaningful, but puzzling sexual experiences of his life, Hunter makes a run for it. Or rather, the hazel eyed man that invoked those feelings.

Theo Miller is new to Twilight Falls, opening a new location for one of his many other shops, he thought of nothing else but the shop and the mysterious man he meet for a one night stand in L.A. Little does he know that the little town of Twilight Falls holds the key to his heart. As luck has it, the shop owner across from his new store is none other than the mystery man he can’t get out of his head.

While Theo pursues Hunter, the unthinkable happens; Theo is injured in a climbing accident while saving not only Hunter, but Hunter’s friend as well. Feeling guilty, and the pull of all things Theo, Hunter decides to help Theo while he is recovering. Things heat up in more than one way and the past comes to light as we learn new things about Hunter and his “shy” ways. Enter back into Twilight Falls, and into the loving story of Hunter and Theo.

First things first, while you can read Hunter as a standalone, I personally recommend reading the first and second books in the series to get the most out of the series. This is a man on man romance, if that isn’t your cuppa tea, then just be aware. If you haven’t explored this genre much, then come on in, this a good one dip your toes into for beginners.

Hunter and Theo’s story is so sexy and sweet, you can’t help but like it. When I first started, I was unsure how I felt about Hunter, he was stand offish and kind of cold, but after reading more, you learn why and what makes him that way. The vulnerability of his past gives Hunter a tough outer shell that hides a shy, loving inside. Theo, now he’a upfront, bold and sexy. He knows what he wants and isn’t shy about going after it. Their relationship is somewhat bumpy at first, but throughout the book the story line flows and the chemistry is so real. 5 out of 5 stars, and very much hoping for more in this series. I think Tristan would make a great book!

Reading Order and previous reviews
Alex
Carter

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Sarah

NOTE: The excerpt is intended for mature readers due to language and content

 

Theo Miller watched the man freeze as he started to reach for the door handle. He lowered his hand and twisted on his heels.
Stormy gray eyes cut to Theo. The guy frowned.
“What do you mean?”
Theo suppressed the chuckle working its way up his throat and did his best to look solemn. He didn’t think the man would appreciate his amusement.
“You know?” Theo waved a hand vaguely south of the stranger’s belt buckle. “Like that.”
A flush of color bloomed on the man’s cheekbones when he realized Theo was talking about his erection.
Mighty fine cheekbones they are too.
Theo would be lying if he said he hadn’t noticed the stranger when they were at the bar earlier. Though the man was dressed pretty casually for the club, his striking face and confident bearing made him stand out from the crowd.
It was clear he was utterly comfortable in his own skin and his sexuality.
Admiration darted through Theo as they eyed each other across the washing area.
The stranger was facing him boldly despite his arousal.
Theo could tell the guy wasn’t used to backing down from anything, which intrigued him even more. It wasn’t just the man’s face that was to his liking.
Though not overtly brawny, it was clear from the stranger’s physique that he took great care of his body. The smoothly defined muscles Theo could spy through his jeans and T-shirt made him want to peel the guy’s clothes off and find out if they were as nice as they looked.
And that ass is something else.
Theo’s fingers twitched slightly as he imagined wrapping his hands over the nicely rounded, tight globes he’d spied strutting on the dance floor a short while ago. The guy sure knew how to move to the music, his sultry expression matching the wicked way he’d rocked the songs pounding through the club.
The stranger seemed to come to some kind of decision. He closed the distance between them, leaned a hip against the sink, and raised an eyebrow. He raked Theo slowly from his head to his toes and back again, his silver gaze daring as he met Theo’s stare.
“Why, are you proposing to do something about it?”
Theo blinked, surprised. He swallowed a grin.
His body isn’t the only sassy thing about him.
Theo moved until he stood toe-to-toe with the stranger, forcing him to look up. He could tell the guy wasn’t pleased by their height difference.
“Would you like me to?” Theo murmured.
The man’s pupils flared in surprise. He licked his lips nervously.
The sight of the pink, moist flesh darting in and out of the stranger’s mouth and the flash of white teeth he glimpsed almost drew a groan from Theo.
Shit. That’s sexy.
Theo didn’t know what possessed him in the next instant. He raised a hand and traced the man’s plump lower lip with his thumb, wiping away the trace of dampness he found there.
“So, what’s it gonna be, Gray?” he said huskily.
The man’s eyelashes fluttered as he blinked, clearly flustered despite his brave expression.
“Hunter,” he blurted, his breath washing hotly across Theo’s finger.
Theo’s dick thickened at the sensation. He angled his head closer, a little stunned by how brazen he was being. Something about this guy just flipped all his buttons, in a hot and dirty kind of way.
“What?”
The man shivered at the question, dark pupils dilating in a sea of smoky gray. There were only a scant few inches separating their mouths.
“My name is Hunter.” His gaze grew heavy-lidded as it dropped to Theo’s lips.
Damn.
***
Hunter didn’t know who moved first.
One minute, Hazel Eyes was edging him on, the next their mouths were glued together in a torrid kiss. Desire stormed through Hunter as the man shamelessly probed his lips open. A wave of dizziness swept over him when their tongues clashed hungrily a heartbeat later. Hunter’s hands found the stranger’s broad shoulders, his fingers sinking into firm, warm flesh as he clung on for dear life.
Holy crap, he’s a good kisser!
He was dimly aware of the guy guiding him to the back of the restrooms and around the corner to a cubicle at the far end. The sound of the metal door clattering open and closing behind them reached him hazily above the sound of blood pounding in his ears.
A small part of Hunter’s brain told him he needed to stop. The last time he’d had sex in a public toilet, he’d barely been past the legal age of drinking.
His lower half, however, had other thoughts on the matter.
Though he’d very much wanted to find his release in the comfort of his hotel room tonight, his dick was doing press-ups inside his jeans and he was dying to deliver it from its tight confines.
A throaty groan rumbled out of him when Hazel Eyes did just that, his long fingers unbuckling Hunter’s belt swiftly before he slid his zipper down and dipped his hand inside his boxers. A hiss of pleasure left him as the stranger palmed his cock and gently pulled it free before backing him against the wall.
Hunter stiffened slightly. He was used to being in charge under these kinds of circumstances. It unnerved him how easily he was letting this guy take control of the situation.
Hazel Eyes let go of his mouth and leaned away slightly, his heated gaze dropping to where he was touching Hunter intimately. The tender expression on his gorgeous face scattered Hunter’s anxious thoughts to the four winds.
“Theo.” The man caressed Hunter’s erection lightly, as if it was the most precious thing in the world.
Hunter sucked in air, too focused on the sinful feeling of the guy’s hand on his sensitive member to pay much heed to anything else.
“My name.” Intense hazel eyes met Hunter’s own dazed ones. “It’s Theo.”
Hunter’s belly contracted with a spasm of pleasure and something else.
Oh. His eyes get greener when he’s excited.
A clink sounded. Hunter looked down and saw Theo unzip his own pants. He swallowed when he saw the enormous erection Theo unleashed seconds later.
“You’re big,” Hunter blurted.
Theo stared. A sexy chuckle escaped him in the next instant. “I’m going to choose to take that as a compliment.”
Hunter shuddered when Theo wrapped one large hand around both their dicks and started rubbing, his movements skillful.
“Fuck, that’s good!” Hunter mumbled.
Theo took his mouth in a passionate kiss as he gave them both an expert hand job, his breaths leaving his nose in sharp pants, color staining his cheeks a dull pink under the light illuminating the cubicle.
Hunter curled his fingers in Theo’s thick, dark hair and returned the kiss greedily, his body straining toward the man who was pleasuring him, seeking closer contact.
Theo parted Hunter’s legs with his right thigh, clasped Hunter’s left knee with a powerful hand, and hooked it around his own leg, pressing their bodies together. Hunter moaned, stunned that Theo had done exactly what he’d been hungering for.
Theo let go of his mouth, nipped his jawline with strong white teeth, and lowered his head to nudge Hunter’s chin up. Hunter gasped when Theo’s hot lips found his throat. Theo rained scorching kisses across his feverish skin before finding the pulse at the base of his neck. He started a seductive bump and grind with his hips while he sucked on Hunter’s flesh and kneaded their swollen cocks with a firm hand.
The metal partition they were up against rattled loudly.
Theo stopped, his grip tightening on their erections in a way that sent sparks exploding across Hunter’s vision.
Hunter’s head reeled when Theo wrapped an arm around his waist, twisted around, and backed him against the tiled wall of the cubicle, his thigh still firmly wedged between Hunter’s.
“That’s better,” Theo said huskily. “Wouldn’t want the whole world to know what we’re doing in here.”
Hunter’s rationality dissolved into nothingness as Theo resumed his sexy thrusts, his movements indicating exactly what he wanted to do to Hunter while he stroked their stiff dicks briskly.
Pleasure sent bolts of whiteness shooting across Hunter’s mind. He could feel his orgasm building in throbbing waves in his belly and thighs. His balls tightened and his ass spasmed when Theo flicked a lazy thumb across the head of his leaking cock.
“Oh, Jesus!” Hunter panted. He fisted his hands in Theo’s hair and bucked his hips hard against Theo’s. “I’m so close!”
Theo grabbed a handful of tissue from the toilet roll dispenser. His mouth found Hunter’s as he worked them both toward their climax, his movements unrelenting.
He swallowed Hunter’s grunts of pleasure when they both came violently a moment later, his fingers closing on the heads of their pulsing shafts, capturing their shooting cum in the thick wad of tissue.
Hunter’s heart raced as he continued rolling his hips helplessly against Theo’s, his orgasm causing sweat to bead across his upper lip.
Theo licked at the salty drops, his hazel gaze torrid with lust as his dick throbbed and jumped against Hunter’s.
Their bodies finally shuddered and stilled. Blood thundered in Hunter’s head as he blinked dazedly at Theo, dumbfounded by how much pleasure he’d found in the man’s arms.
Theo leaned his hot forehead against Hunter’s, his breaths coming hard and fast in the aftermath of his own powerful orgasm.
“I want to fuck you so bad right now.”
Hunter froze at his words.
“I—we can’t,” he stammered after a shocked pause.
Theo’s expression grew serious. “I know. I heard what you said to those guys.”
Awkward silence fell between them as they stared at one another.
“I’m sorry.” Hunter pushed Theo away, zipped himself up hastily, and barged out of the cubicle.
He heard Theo call his name and practically ran out of the restrooms, scared by the feelings twisting through him. Because, for one disconcerting moment, he’d actually entertained the idea of letting Theo do exactly as he’d wanted.


 

Ava Marie Salinger is the pen name of an Amazon bestselling author who has always wanted to write scorching hot contemporary romance. In 2018, she finally decided to venture to the steamy side. NIGHTS is the first of several sizzling series featuring sweet, sexy men with dark pasts and a whole lot of love to give to the ones brave enough to fight for their hearts. When she’s not dreaming up hotties to write about, you’ll find Ava creating kickass music playlists to write to, spying on the wildlife in her garden, drooling over gadgets, and eating Chinese.
Want to be the first to know about Ava’s new releases and get access to exclusive content, sneak previews, sales, and giveaways? Then sign up to her Reader Group here and join her VIP Facebook Fan Group here.

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Take the Shot (Philadelphia Bulldogs) by Danica Flynn-Review Tour

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Take the Shot (Philadelphia Bulldogs #1) by Danica Flynn-Review & Giveaway Tour

Amazon.com / Amazon.ca / B&N / KOBO / Chapters Indigo paper / Google Play / Apple /

ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date February 2020

DINAH

When my husband died, I never thought I would find love again.

I definitely didn’t think I would find it in the arms of my younger best friend. Why would the hunky hockey player want anything to do with me? I’m a stressed out writer with a lot of baggage. Any other man would say, “HARD PASS!”

But Noah was the best man I’ve ever known, and if it wasn’t for him, I might not be alive.

But am I ready to put my heart on the line again?

NOAH

I’ve pined for my best friend for so long, that my teammates issued an ultimatum.

“Make your move now or one of us will ask her out.”

They are just trying to push me, besides none of those jerks would ever be good enough for her. Makes me wonder if I even stand a chance.

Besides, what would a smart woman like her want with a dumb jock like me?

••••••••

REVIEW:Take the Shot begins with Dinah in her apartment on a Friday night attempting to finish a draft of her second romance novel. From the sounds next door, her best friends, Noah and T.J., are having another party, which is confirmed when Noah texts her and invites her over. Knowing she’s at a dead end for the night with her writing, she agrees and heads to the party.

Once Dinah walks next door, she finds the party in full swing. She knows most in attendance as they have become her circle of friends too. Noah and T.J. are hockey players and a lot of their fellow teammates are there as well. Dinah considers herself lucky to have these people as her friends, especially Noah. She lost her husband a couple of years before to a terrible car accident. Immediately after, she discovered she was pregnant, only to have a miscarriage that almost killed her. Had Noah not found her passed out in the stairwell of their building, she would not have survived. He took her to the E.R. and stayed with her the whole time. Neither had ever breathed a word to anyone else about what had happened. Dinah had never even told her family.

Noah was always glad to see Dinah. Unknown to anyone else, or, so he thought, he had been in love with Dinah for a long time but has always done it from afar. Things were changing though……his friends knew he was in love with her and they told him to make his move, or get out of their way. Needless to say, that didn’t go over well.

As Noah starts to make his move, Dinah finds herself surprised. After all, why would a younger man want to be with her? The two of them begin to navigate a relationship once he convinces her that he is serious. However, through a series of events, Dinah finds herself scared and does the only thing she can think of to protect herself….run. Both are miserable without the other and have to decide if, indeed, they will take the shot.

Take the Shot is a nicely written story by Flynn. Both of the main characters were pretty well written. Dinah is strong, smart and independent. Noah is an old soul, a gentleman and very protective. The chemistry between the two of them, however, was almost tentative. I liked them together, but something was just a little disjointed for me. The secondary characters leave you wanting more of their story, which is always a plus. All, in all, this was a good start for the Philadelphia Bulldogs series and I can’t wait to read the next one in the series. Well done, Danica Flynn!

Copy supplied for review

Reviewed by Vickie K

Danica Flynn is a marketer by day, and a writer by nights and weekends. AKA she doesn’t sleep! She is a rabid hockey fan of both The Philadelphia Flyers and the Metropolitan Riveters. When not writing, she can be found hanging with her partner, playing video games, and reading a ton of books.

➜ WEBSITE www.Danicaflynn.com
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NOTE: The Reading Cafe is NOT responsible for the rafflecopter giveaway. If you have any questions, please contact the tour operator.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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