Audio Review Tour - Changing Lines by RJ Scott & VL Locey

Buy Links: Audible US | Audible UK

Length: 5hrs 10mins

Narrated By: Sean Crisden

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Blurb

Can Tennant show Jared that age is just a number and that love is all that matters?


The Rowe brothers are famous hockey hotshots, but as the youngest of the trio, Tennant has always had to play against his brothers’ reputations. To get out of their shadows, and against their advice, he accepts a trade to the Harrisburg Railers, where he runs into Jared Madsen. Mads is an old family friend and his brother’s one-time teammate. Mads is Tennant’s new coach. And Mads is the sexiest thing on which he’s ever laid eyes.


Jared Madsen’s hockey career was cut short by a fault in his heart, but coaching keeps him close to the game. When Ten is traded to the team, his carefully organized world is thrown into chaos. Nine years his junior and his best friend’s brother, he knows Ten is strictly off-limits, but as soon as he sees Ten’s moves, on and off the ice, he knows his heart could get him into trouble again.

My Two Pennies Worth

This is the first book in RJ Scott and VL Locey’s hockey series about a NHL team, the Harrisburg Railers.

Tennant Rowe is the youngest of a trio of hockey playing brothers. He’s starting at a newly formed team, much to his brothers’ disgust. He’s also deep in the closet.

Jared ‘Mads’ Maddison is a friend of Tennant’s older brother. He’s an ex-hockey player and coach at Tennant’s new team. And he’s bi-sexual.

When the two meet the attraction is instantaneous. However the age gap, coach/player relationship, Tennant’s closet, and Mad’s teenage son stop them from acting on their attraction.

Mads is the level head in this relationship, taking things slow and being considerate of Tennant’s situation. Despite being in the closet there isn’t much denial or reluctance about Tennant. Once he realises he’s in it for the long haul, he embraces the relationship and, slowly comes out to various people.

I normally say that I prefer one character to another but in this case I liked both characters equally. They really complemented each other.

The hockey content wasn’t overwhelming (as a non-hockey watcher) and there were some great secondary characters (I adored Stan).

The ending is a solid HFN but it does end at a point just before a situation that could put pressure on a new relationship. I hope we see how the couple cope with the fallout in one of the future books.

The audio is narrated by Sean Crisden. If you follow my reviews you’ll know that I love Sean’s work. I never worry when picking up one of Sean’s audios. And here is no exception. It’s not always easy when you have lots of family in one scene, especially with same sex siblings.

All in all, this is a well written and fun book with an excellent narrator.

August 22 - My Timeout Book Blog, Mainely Stories, Gay Media Reviews, OMG Reads, Xtreme Delusions, BJ's Book Blog, Urban Smoothie Read, We Three Queens, The Blogger Girls, Katie's Book Corner, Bookaholic & Kindle, Making It Happen, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, August 24 - MM Good Book Reviews, August 27 - Min & Her Books, August 29 - Drops Of Ink, Padme's Library, August 31 - Dog-Eared Daydreams, Valerie Ullmer, Bayou Book Junkie, Pants Off Reviews, Wicked Reads, Lillian Francis

RJ’s goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.

RJ is the author of the over one hundred novels and discovered romance in books at a very young age. She realized that if there wasn’t romance on the page, she could create it in her head, and is a lifelong writer.

She lives and works out of her home in the beautiful English countryside, spends her spare time reading, watching films, and enjoying time with her family.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit and 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 following links below:

Email RJ (rj@rjscott.co.uk)

Goodreads Page | RJ’s Blog | RJ on Twitter | Facebook | Library Thing Page | Tumblr |Pinterest

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, Dr. Who, Torchwood, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, 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, two Jersey steers and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.

When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog

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Review Tour - Goal Line by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey



Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 54,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Harrisburg Railers Series

Book #1 - Changing Lines - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #2 - First Season - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #3 - Deep Edge - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #4 - Poke Check - Amazon UK | Amazon UK

Book #5 - Last Defense - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

Fear and sadness mark Bryan’s life, can Gatlin show him that you have to trust before you can love?


Gatlin Pearce is creeping up on thirty-eight and is still single. It’s not that he wants to be alone, it’s just that he’s too damn old to be in clubs filled with glittery gay boys who can’t even tell him who the Rolling Stones are.


Better to just spend his evenings at Hard Score Ink - his tattoo and artwork shop - creating masterpieces on human flesh, listening to the Railers games, and nursing a cold beer.


His solitary life is about to end when Bryan Delaney, the new Railers backup goalie, shows up at his shop looking for new artwork for his helmet. There’s some sort of sad story in those beautiful eyes of Bryan’s, and Gatlin finds himself more than a little infatuated with the tender new goalie.


Bryan Delaney leaves home at fifteen to live with a billet family. He just wishes that he could have escaped his alcoholic father and strictly devout mother earlier. Drafted to the Arizona Raptors he finds a new family, and his first love affair even if that relationship is marked with violence.


Being traded to the Railers is a shock to the system but the team isn’t like any other he’s ever played on and they truly seem to care about him. It’s only when he meets artist Gatlin, with their shared love of music and hockey, that he realizes how hard it is to escape the past.

My Two Pennies Worth

I've really been enjoying this series even though I'm not a hockey fan. Each paring have had their merits but Stan and Erik have (and probably forever will be) my favourites. 

In this instalment the series takes a darker turn. There is some quite nasty, bordering on dub con, abuse in Bryan's (the recently traded reserve goalie) past, including a toxic relationship he's still in when he arrives at the Railers. Bryan is emotionally damaged and I did worry about the speed at which his  relationship with Gatlin progressed. Gatlin is much older than Bryan (about 18 years) which puts this firmly as a May to December romance, and has his own family issues and baggage in his past. He does have ideas for the very best tattoos though.

The writing is great as usual but I wish more time had been spent developing the relationship rather than focusing on the 'major plot twist' that didn't involve this particular pairing. As for that, I still don't really know how I feel about it. I'll certainly be reading the next one to see how it is dealt with.

August 8 - Jessie G, OMG Reads, Gay Media Reviews, We Three Queens, Urban Smoothie Read, Xtreme Delusions, Reading In Sarah's Corner, August 10 - Love My Reads, Mainely Stories, The Geekery Book Review, August 15 - Love Unchained Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, MM Good Book Reviews, August 17 - Making It Happen, Nerdy Dirty & Flirty, Bookaholic & Kindle, August 20 - Open Mind For A Different View, My Fiction Nook, Wicked Faerie's Tales & Reviews, August 22 - Drops Of Ink, Padme's Library, Sarandipity, August 27 - MM Midnight Cafe, Wicked Reads, August 29 - Book Lovers 4Ever, August 31 - Mirrigold, Bayou Book Junkie, Lillian Francis


Excerpt


Keep your eye on Ten, he’s trouble.


That was all the text said, and I re-read it a few times as if more words would suddenly appear.


I don’t know why I looked for affection in any text that Aarni sent me because, in my kind-of-boyfriend’s own words, he wasn’t the demonstrative type. And he would always point out that someone could get hold of my phone. Then they would know that Aarni Lankinen, the villain of the Arizona Raptors, wasn’t everything he made himself out to be, that he wasn’t the playboy who fucked every woman within his reach. That he had a boyfriend on the side, and that it was me.


The phone rang, and I answered as soon as I saw his name. Aarni wasn't the most patient guy on earth, and he liked it when I was fast to respond.


“Did you get my text?” Aarni asked without preamble.


“I did.”


“Don’t let me down now.”


I got the feeling, as he laughed, that he expected me to do that very thing. I still wasn’t sure what would count as letting him down. But given the kind of person I was—clumsy, quiet and only really focused when I was dressed for hockey—I kind of expected to fuck up.


The Arizona Raptors had chosen me in the 2014 draft, not long after my eighteenth birthday. I was the second highest ranking goaltender drafted that year, something to be proud of, I guess. But I’d not managed to stay up at NHL level, spending the rest of the time in the Raptors’ development team in Tucson. Until last year, when I’d actually been a starting goalie after both main goalies had been injured.


I hadn’t been stellar, and Arizona put me on waivers, leaving me vulnerable to being picked up by who the hell ever. My confidence had been rocked. I was a solid goalie for the development team, but the minute I got up to the primary team, NHL level, I choked. Why the hell did the Railers even want someone who hadn’t lived up to their early promise? I assumed I’d attend this training camp, and that would be it. They’d push me down to the Railers’ development team, and there I would stay.


Which wasn’t a bad thing, except they’d taken me from Arizona and from Aarni and it was the first time I’d been really on my own.


“Hello? Are you even listening to me?” Aarni snapped.


“Of course, I won’t let you down,” I lied.


I’m a good goalie, I stop pucks, I can be strong and focused and stay in my own head to track the plays in front of me.

Still, Aarni knew about me what I knew about myself; I’d choke at NHL level just as I had for the majority of my time with the Raptors.


I’m not ready. I should go back down to the minors.


“Also, don’t get comfortable there. They’re not going to keep you for long.”


“I know.”


“And don’t forget what assholes the Railers are. Don’t trust them, particularly wonder-boy Rowe. Arrogant fucker.”


I didn’t see Ten as arrogant at all, but then I was basing my assessment on TV interviews, including the one he’d given with Jared when they’d announced their relationship. I’d been proud of Ten and Jared for doing that, and part of me, the dark, hidden, ruined part, was green with envy that they were able to be open with the world.


I’d said that to Aarni, but he’d reacted badly and hadn’t talked to me for three days. His disappointment was a knife in my gut, and I hated every second of it. That was not happening again. He was right. Ten was a Stanley Cup Champion, a superstar, and if there had been NHL players at the Olympics, then he would undoubtedly have been on Team USA. No team would ask him to leave just because he had a boyfriend. It didn’t seem to be hurting the Railers, and they had a growing reputation as being LGBT-friendly.


“Jesus Christ, Bryan, are you even on this phone call?”


I pulled myself back from the edge. Aarni had said something about Ten being arrogant.


“I won’t forget,” I spoke with confidence so he’d realize I was listening.


“And remember I’m not there to watch your back.” He sighed deeply. “I worry there’s no one to look after you when you attract trouble. Especially from defenders like Max van Hellren. Asshole should have been thrown out of that game against us for what he did to me. Fucker lost us the chance at a championship. So fucking pleased he ended up collapsing. He deserved it.”


My chest tightened. Max wasn’t part of the Railers anymore. He’d retired after the cup win, but Aarni was right. There would be other guys there to step up in his place. Aarni had been furious, with a side order of mean, over what Max had done to him, checking him into the boards. But he’d finally calmed down, said he’d show Max what was what the next time the two teams met. He’d been so disappointed when Max had retired.


But Aarni was a good guy. He was the one who’d gotten involved when the bullying on the Raptors had gotten to be too much for me to handle. When the guys in the toxic locker room got on my case. I’d only played a few games at that level with the Raptors and had fucked every single one of them up. They’d hated it, but Aarni had been there for me.


He seemed to know the point when the rest of the team pushed it too far, always stepping in just before I was going to run from the room. He’d helped me so much, but he was back in Arizona, so far away.


“I’ll be okay,” I murmured, fear gripping me again about the kind of things I needed to face with this new team.


“I doubt that.” He sighed. “But you weren’t enough of all that for the Raptors to keep you, so you have no choice, and there’s nothing we can do about it, can we?”


“No.”


He must have heard the desperation in my voice. I hadn’t wanted the Raptors to give up on me, but that was hockey. One day I had woken up in Arizona as the backup to the backup, fucking things up, and the next day, the team had put me on waivers, and I was suddenly in snowy Pennsylvania.


“Good boy,” was all he said, but it was enough.


He hung up, but those two words gave me a shot of steel to my spine, and I settled my breathing before opening the car door. Security had let me right through to the player parking lot, and my Toyota sat right next to a sexy red Porsche. My salary had taken a hike, up to three million for the two-year contract I had here, so I probably needed a new car.


Even if the Railers saw through me and sent me packing, I’d still have enough money to buy a car.


“Hey,” someone called from behind me, and I immediately assumed that I was standing somewhere I shouldn’t have been. The man was in a guard’s uniform, tall, built and smiling at me benignly.


“I’m sorry. They told me to park there.”


“Of course. Bryan Delaney, right?” he asked and extended his hand for me to shake, which I did immediately after wiping the sweaty palm on my jeans.


“Yeah, Bryan,” I said when I realized I hadn’t answered his question.


“Welcome.” He thumbed at himself. “Name’s Pete. They said I needed to keep an eye out for the new guy.”


He dropped my hand, and I forced a smile onto my face, even though my stomach was churning. “Thank you.”


“This way.” He chatted on about the weather, life, hockey and something about his sister who lived in Arizona. By the time he dropped me outside an office, I knew enough about Pete to write a book. Thing is, his chatter stilled my nerves, and I wasn't going into this room blind. I knew the name on the door, Alain Gagnon, former goalie for Vancouver, and one of the best goalie coaches in the business. I’d skyped with him once in his capacity as Goalie Coach for the Railers after they’d claimed me off waivers. He’d seen me coming to the Railers as a positive thing, a great thing. All I’d seen is my failure at NHL level hockey with the Raptors, and I remembered going back to Aarni and needing to be held.


Of course, Aarni had said he didn’t need to hug me, but he’d reassured me that, however I played, he would always have my back. I’d needed the comfort. His words of advice stayed with me even now.


I just want you to realize what you are and what your place on the team will be. Ten acts friendly, but he won't care about you like I do. Stan? He’s had some lucky saves, and as for that fucker Van Hellren? You saw what he did to me in our last matchup. I wish you weren’t so naïve, Bryan. It’s unlikely you’ll get many starts, so don’t be disappointed when you get sent down to the minors.


I won’t be disappointed. I’d promised Aarni, and I’d made a vow to myself not to get too excited and involved.

RJ’s goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.


RJ is the author of the over one hundred novels and discovered romance in books at a very young age. She realized that if there wasn’t romance on the page, she could create it in her head, and is a lifelong writer.


She lives and works out of her home in the beautiful English countryside, spends her spare time reading, watching films, and enjoying time with her family.


The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit and 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 following links below:


Email RJ (rj@rjscott.co.uk)

Goodreads Page | RJ’s Blog | RJ on Twitter | Facebook | Library Thing Page | Tumblr | Pinterest

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, Dr. Who, Torchwood, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, 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, two Jersey steers and a flock of assorted domestic fowl.


When not writing lusty tales, she can be found enjoying her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand.

Website | Goodreads | Amazon | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Blog

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Release Blitz - Top & Tails by Clare London

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 46,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Lou Harper

With A Kick Series

Book #1 - A Twist and Two Balls - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #2 - Hissed as a Newt (Sue Brown) - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #3 - Slap and Tickle - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #4 - Bells and Balls (Sue Brown) - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #5 - Pluck and Play - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #6 - Nice and Snow - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #7 - Smack Happy - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #8 - Double Scoop - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

Three
men, one love—and a passion he only ever dreamed of.

Karel
Novak is content with his busy job in hotel refurbishment, enjoying the social
scene in Soho, London and the company of new friends he met through working at
With A Kick. All he’s missing is a special man in his life. Or maybe two.

His first
meeting with the mercurial pole dancer Leroy and his socially anxious partner
Griff isn’t impressive, but none of them can ignore the sexual spark that
flares between the three men.

Their
relationship builds in steps of passion, frustration, and finally love. Both
Leroy and Griff have complex issues in their lives to work through, and at
first Karel brings a new dynamic that both settles and supports them.

But
although he loves his men, Karel gradually realises the issues are still
present. His partners struggle with living individually as well as together.
His heartfelt wish is for them to create a lasting bond as a trio—but that
means putting others first, all too often.

And will
that mean sacrificing his own joy and dreams?

Excerpt

Karel needed to stop this conversation. Not that the guys weren’t perfectly entitled to talk about whatever they chose, in their own home. But he didn’t want to get drawn into—


“There are several sculpture exhibitions in the arts festival, one at the local school.” Griff opened the booklet, as if ready to search the index.


“Karel?” Leroy was looking at him curiously. His hand squeezed Karel’s, his thumb distracting, massaging Karel’s wrist. He threw a comment to Griff, over his shoulder. “Let’s talk about something else.”


“Huh?”


Leroy rolled his eyes. “Man, it’s too late tonight for chatting about art and stuff. Isn’t it?” The question was aimed at Karel.


“I… don’t mind,” he said.


But Leroy laughed. He swept the brochure from Griff’s hand, dropped it on the far end of the counter, then turned fully to face Karel. “Yeah. Talk about something else, Griff. Something just for fun. Like the time you made chilli frozen yoghurt and burned my mouth at the same time my tongue froze to my teeth—”


“—or the time you bought kids’ dance tights by mistake, fell over trying to put them on, and nearly strangled your balls?” Griff countered.


Everyone laughed. The awkward moment had passed. Karel was relieved he hadn’t been led astray by his own worries. The kitchen was suddenly full again of amused banter, with Griff leaning over the counter to gossip, and Leroy’s soothing yet stimulating touch on Karel’s skin.


And underlying all of it, a thread of fizzing, humming desire growing between them. Karel wondered how he would have coped if the conversation had gone a more cultural route, when all he could think about at the moment was energetic, obscene sex with these men.


He didn’t think he was presuming anything, either.


Finally, Leroy collected their empty plates, placed them in the dishwasher, then sauntered back to where Karel sat. He didn’t sit back down again, but stood there, his hip nudging Karel’s. Griff wiped the counter briskly but thoroughly with a wet cloth, placed it neatly on the side of the sink, took off his glasses, then came to stand beside him.


The dance was moving into its second set.


Karel stood, as steadily as he could. His skin prickled as if electricity sparkled over it, and his limbs felt almost too weak to respond. But when Leroy leaned in to kiss him, he was more than ready. He cupped Leroy’s cheek, thumbing the gentle bed of stubble, enjoying the brush of Leroy’s hair on the back of his hand. Karel pushed his tongue gently at Leroy’s mouth and the lips parted quickly, eagerly, for him. They kissed in near silence, the only sound their panting, the soft slick of their mouths.


And Griff’s soft breath in Karel’s other ear.


“We’ve taken this evening in the wrong order,” he said. When Karel turned reluctantly from Leroy’s kiss, he found Griff staring at him with a slow, seductive smile that Karel hadn’t seen before. “Dessert before the main course.”


“No,” Leroy said from behind Karel. “That was only ice cream. The proper dessert hasn’t even been served yet.”


“Whatever,” Griff murmured, rolling his eyes like Leroy had earlier, still smiling at Karel. He lifted his face for a kiss. His lips were plumper, his mouth wider. Karel didn’t know why he should be shocked that Griff’s taste was so different, but he was delighted by it. Griff was surprisingly assertive, thrusting his tongue into Karel’s mouth, his beard softly tickling Karel’s chin.


Leroy hadn’t moved away. His breath was warm on Karel’s neck, but Karel appreciated the way Leroy took his time: no one was hurrying. He relaxed into Griff’s kiss as he had Leroy’s, and behind him, Leroy’s lips touched the nape of his neck, kissing around to Karel’s throat and down towards his collarbone. Griff nipped briefly at Karel’s lower lip, just shy of breaking the skin and Karel gasped. Leroy slid his fingers briefly, tantalisingly, under the neck of Karel’s T-shirt, running along the seam, tugging it away from his body.


“I worked on the site today,” Karel said, not surprised to find his voice was hoarse. “I’m sweaty. My clothes are dusty.”


“You can shower here,” Griff said quickly. “If you want. Or…”


“…No. Do it after,” Leroy said, just as quick. His tone roughened. “I want you like this.”


Jesus. A wave of desire swamped Karel from head to foot. He leaned away from Griff as Leroy peeled the T-shirt over his head.


Griff’s gaze dropped to Karel’s chest and he licked his lips.


Leroy sighed happily. Then he took Karel’s hand and led him out of the kitchen.

Clare took the pen name London from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with the weekly wash, waiting for the far distant day when she can afford to give up her day job as an accountant. She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic and sexy characters.


Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.


All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!

Website | Blog | Facebook  | Facebook chat | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon  | Google+  | Quids&Quills

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Audio Review Tour - Robbie Riverton Mail Order Bride by Eli Easton

Buy Links: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK


Length: 7hrs 34 mins


Narrated by: Matthew Shaw


Cover Design: Dar Albert @ Wicked Smart Design


Blurb


Being a fugitive in the Old West shouldn’t be this much fun. The year is 1860. Robby Riverton is a rising star on the New York stage. But he witnesses a murder by a famous crime boss and is forced to go on the run - all the way to Santa Fe.

When he still can't seem to ditch his pursuers, he disguises himself as a mail-order bride he meets on the wagon train. Caught between gangsters who want to kill him and the crazy, uncouth family of his "intended", Robby's only ally is a lazy sheriff who sees exactly who Robby is - and can't resist him.

Trace Crabtree took the job as sheriff of Flat Bottom because there was never a thing going on. And then Robby Riverton showed up disguised as a woman and betrothed to Trace’s brother. If that wasn’t complicated enough, Trace finds the man as appealing as blueberry pie. He urges Robby to stay undercover until the danger has passed.

But a few weeks of having Robby-Rowena at the ranch and the Crabtree family will never be the same again.

My Two Pennies Worth

This was so much fun. Western adventure meets romantic comedy, with a Some Like it Hot vibe. I laughed, I gasped, I cried (goddamit), I fell in love with all the characters.

The narrator was new to me but he did an excellent job and I'll certainly be looking for more of his work.

This is a  brilliant and funny romp through the Old West. I've already added it to my 'comfort listens' list. I can guarantee I'll be back on the old homestead before the year is out.

About Eli


Having been, at various times and under different names, a minister’s daughter, a computer programmer, a game designer, the author of paranormal mysteries, a fan fiction writer, and organic farmer, Eli has been a m/m romance author since 2013. She has over 30 books published.

Eli has loved romance since her teens and she particular admires writers who can combine literary merit, genuine humor, melting hotness, and eye-dabbing sweetness into one story. She promises to strive to achieve most of that most of the time. She currently lives on a farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, bulldogs, cows, a cat, and lots of groundhogs.

In romance, Eli is best known for her Christmas stories because she’s a total Christmas sap. These include “Blame it on the Mistletoe”, “Unwrapping Hank” and “Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles”. Her “Howl at the Moon” series of paranormal romances featuring the town of Mad Creek and its dog shifters has been popular with readers. And her series of Amish-themed romances, Men of Lancaster County, has won genre awards.

In 2018 Eli hopes to do more of the same, assuming they reschedule the apocalypse.

Her website is www.elieaston.com
You can email her at eli@elieaston.com

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Review Tour - A Position In Paris by Megan Reddaway

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 65,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Blurb

Paris, 1919. World War One is over, and wounded hero James Clarynton is struggling to face life without one leg, one eye, and the devilish good looks he had before the conflict. Now he must pay for affection, and it leaves him bitter. He’s filling the time by writing a book—but it’s the young man who comes to type it who really intrigues him.


Edmund Vaughan can’t turn down the chance to be secretary to the wealthy James Clarynton. He’s been out of work since the armistice, and his mother and brother depend on him. But he has secrets to hide, and the last thing he wants is an employer who keeps asking questions.


As they work together, their respect for each other grows, along with something deeper. But tragedy threatens, and shadows from the past confront them at every turn. They must open their hearts and trust each other if they are to break down the barriers that separate them.


A heartwarming romance with some dark moments along the way.

My Two Pennies Worth

This book is told in journal style, both MCs telling the tale in their respective journals. At first I wondered if this would remove the immediacy from the story and make it too dry and ‘telling’. But I needn’t have worried. The story carried me along and I devoured every word eagerly.

It’s an exceptionally well-written story set in post WWI Paris, and whilst I don’t claim to be an expert on the era, the details ‘felt’ right to me. The love story is sweet and tender and fraught with issues of self-esteem and social standing. Both MCs are damaged by the war but in very different ways; James lost an eye and a leg in a shell attack but he has the money to live comfortably and to pay for the best doctors, Edmund is the sole earner for his family who have suffered hardship due to a family secret.

The secondary characters are delightful, especially James’ valet and Edmund’s little brother.

Despite the Parisian setting, this is a very British book, in language, tone, and humour.


A lovely slow burn tale that made my heart soar.

August 20 - Megan's Media Melange, August 22 - Joyfully Jay, Amy's MM Romance Reviews, Urban Smoothie Read, August 24 - Love Bytes, August 25 - Gay Book Reviews, August 27 - Padme's Library, August 28 - The Novel Approach, August 29 - Sexy Erotic Xciting, Mirrigold, Lillian Francis, Bayou Book Junkie, BooksLaidBareBoys, Virginia Lee, August 30 - Diverse Reader

About The Author


MEGAN REDDAWAY lives in England and has been entertained by fictional characters acting out their stories in her head for as long as she can remember. She began writing them down as soon as she could.


Since she grew up, she has worked as a secretary, driver, barperson, and article writer, among other things. Whatever she is doing, she always has a story bubbling away at the same time.


For news of Megan’s gay romance releases and two free stories, visit her website:http://meganreddaway.com

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Release Blitz - Flare by Posy Roberts

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Cover Design: Olive Us Designs

North Star Trilogy

Book #1 - Spark - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book #2 - Fusion - Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

After tremendous loss, Hugo and Kevin seek stability for themselves and the kids. They never expected family and friends to toss obstacles in the way of their happily ever after.


Love and family to fight for.


Hugo and Kevin strive to put their lives back together after tragedy, doing everything in their power to create a stable life. Hugo’s acting career is back on track, and Kevin hires a nanny to help with the kids as they discover their new normal. But when Erin’s parents seek full custody of Brooke and Finn, that stability is shattered.


With Hugo working in LA or New York, the distance from his new family gets to him. At home, the nanny’s hands-on approach leaves Hugo feeling pushed out, so he leaves his beloved apartment and eclectic neighborhood behind to move in with Kevin.


Hugo has a hard time fitting in with the suburbanites with Kevin’s passive-aggressive “friends” making Hugo feel anything but welcome. As the custody case heads to mediation, Brooke is bullied about having two dads, and Hugo realizes his mere presence might be doing more harm than good.


Hugo must decide to stay and fight for his family or leave and let them live in peace.


Excerpt



Earthquake

To say Kevin was pissed was an understatement. He was well into the realm of seething. Enraged. Hell, foaming at the mouth might’ve been a better description.

Hugo did everything in his power to ooze calm, to appear unruffled, and to concentrate as he read through the legal documents.

Kevin barely scanned the papers before handing them over with shaking hands, saying, “Please tell me these aren’t saying what I think they are.”

Unfortunately, the papers lacked details they both wanted, so Hugo was unsure how to respond.

Why would they do this?

Kevin’s in-laws wanted custody of the kids. And not temporarily, but until Brooke and Finn turned eighteen. So, Kyle and Tasha Clarke, Kevin’s late wife’s parents, wanted to take his kids away from him.

With every passing second, Hugo’s silence and forced calm brought Kevin closer to apoplectic.

“It says here the kids are experiencing harm.” Hugo pointed to a paragraph. “Well, Finn in particular. I don’t get why they say that. Finn’s doing great now.” As great as a six-year-old could months after losing his mom to a horrific battle with brain cancer.

He’d had the hardest time of anyone, at least when looking from the outside in. Finn wore his emotions on his sleeve, especially compared to his eleven-year-old sister. Brooke kept all sorts of feelings bottled up, but that didn’t mean she wasn’t grieving. That was just her way.

What did the Clarkes expect after the kids lost their mom? Sunshine and unicorns? Did they expect that loss wouldn’t have long-lasting effects? They were in the depths of mourning, and that didn’t wash off the day after the funeral or the week after, and certainly not just three months after. But the kids had made great strides in therapy and were now open about their feelings.

“Oh, Christ.” Kevin gripped his hair in ferocious panic, eyes flashing. “I know exactly what this is.”

Witnessing Kevin so out of sorts frightened Hugo. He always handled problems with reserved calm.

Kevin untangled his fingers from blond hair that had grown back thicker and shinier after their solidarity shave when Erin lost her hair. Kevin’s new emotion looked a lot like guilt.

“When I took them up to Fargo last month, Finn had one of his awful meltdowns.” Kevin paced between the living room and the kitchen. Hugo saw him thinking.

Finn’s meltdowns started not long after Erin died, along with nightmares and bed-wetting. Brooke had nightmares too. For a very long time, Kevin’s bed was filled with not only Hugo, but also Brooke and Finn trying to fall back asleep. The dog too. It was a good thing Kevin had a California King; they were still squished, but they made do. The kids needed them.

The entire house was in mourning. Erin died at the end of February, and it wasn’t until now, as the school year finished and summer started, that everyone got on the right track again. Sort of. At least they were no longer reeling in pain they couldn’t comprehend.

The knock on Kevin’s front door that morning was like a bucket of ice-cold water dragging them back into the gloom they’d worked tirelessly to crawl away from. They’d done everything in their power for the past nine months to be honest with Kevin’s kids while still protecting them.

It was hard.

It was fucking hard.

In the kitchen, Hugo poured kibble into Lulu’s bowl as Kevin hit Start on the coffeemaker, grabbed the cream, and pulled down two mugs. Kevin leaned against the counter.

“I don’t even know what set him off,” Kevin said, “but Finn was in the family room with Kyle and Tasha. I was playing a game with Brooke in the kitchen. He screamed. When I ran in, Kyle was about to hit him. Instinct took over, and I did what we always do when he loses it; I held him in a bear hug and talked until he calmed down.”

“That’s it? You think that’s why they’re trying to take your kids away, cuz you helped Finn come back to center?” Hugo asked in disbelief.

“I can’t think what else it would be.” Kevin finally took a deep breath.

If the bear hug was it, no judge in their right mind would take the kids away based on a therapist-approved calming technique.

“Tasha said I was upsetting him more, but I told her the bear hug settled him.”

“But Kyle was about to hit him? Like, slap him or what?” Hugo asked.

“Probably. I’m not sure. I was focused on Finn, but it didn’t look good.”

“Did you ever find out what set him off?”

“Nothing specific, but after that, Finn wanted to go home. He was nervous. What did they say to him? He only has those meltdowns when he feels helpless. Maybe he’d be willing to talk more about it now. He sure as heck wasn’t then. I haven’t asked for at least a week.”

It was Saturday, so they’d have to wait until Monday to talk to Kevin’s lawyer about the papers, which was frustrating as hell. They discussed calling the Clarkes, but considering there were legal papers in hand, that wasn’t prudent. Let the lawyer handle it because he understood the law, they both agreed.

“Are you sure you can’t just call your lawyer at home?” Hugo tried. “Or do you have lawyer friends? There’s got to be something you can do.”

“Mark would probably be fine if I called him at home if it were an emergency, but this isn’t.”

Hugo rested his palm in the center of Kevin’s chest. His heart thundered, and when Hugo looked up into his gray eyes, there were tears. Kevin so rarely cried, only if he felt out of control. Sliding a hand to his neck, Hugo teased the downy skin behind his ear where it met up with blond hair.

“Just call him, love,” Hugo whispered. “Let him triple bill you. Who cares if it’s an emergency in his eyes? It’s an emergency in yours, and I can feel it right here. Your heart’s going a million miles an hour.”

“Do they know?” Kevin’s voice tightened. “Do they have any clue how hard these last months have been on the kids? What we’ve done to make life better for them?” He answered his own questions with a shake of his head. “They left after the funeral and barely talked to my kids since. Their own grandkids. They’re mourning the loss too. I get that. But I thought our visit up there went well, except that one thing. Gah! I didn’t go there soon enough.”

“Don’t second-guess yourself. Call Mark. He knows custody law. He can answer questions you don’t even know to ask.”

Kevin grabbed his phone and picked up his pacing again as he waited for his lawyer to answer.

Author Bio


Posy Roberts started reading romance when she was young, sneaking peeks at adult books long before she should’ve. Textbooks eventually replaced the novels, and for years she existed without reading for fun. When she finally picked up a romance two decades later, it was like slipping on a soft hoodie . . . that didn’t quite fit like it used to. She wanted something more.


She wanted to read about men falling in love with each other. She wanted to explore beyond the happily ever after and see characters navigate the unpredictability of life. So Posy sat down at her keyboard to write the books she wanted to read.


Her stories have been USA Today’s Happily Ever After Must-Reads and Rainbow Award finalists. When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her family and friends and doing anything possible to get out of grocery shopping and cooking.

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