SERIES TOUR for Alvin Alonso’s Secret Files by Alex Woolfson

 

SERIES TOUR

Book Details

Series Title: Alvin Alonso’s Secret Files 

Book 1: The Reluctant Incubus

Book 2: Incubus Vampire Slayer

Author: Alex Woolfson

Publisher: Cinnamon Roll Press

Cover Artist: https://trifbookdesign.com

Release Date: November 10, 2025

Pairing: MM

Tense/POV: first person, present tense, single POV

Genres: New Adult MM Urban Fantasy

Tropes: Reluctant Monster in Hiding, Touch-Starved Hero, High Action, Slow Burn, Medium Spice

Themes: Coming of Age, Self-Acceptance, Choosing Good over Evil, Finding One’s Power

Length: Book 1: 80,000 words, 263 pages/Book 2: 80,000 words, 267 pages

It is a two-part duet. Book 1 ends on a cliffhanger. Book 2 resolves the story.

Goodreads:  Book 1  |  Book 2

Buy Links - Available in Kindle Unlimited

Alvin Alonso’s Secret Files series

The Reluctant Incubus  |  Incubus Vampire Slayer

BOOK 1 -  The Reluctant Incubus

I’ve always been afraid of the monster inside me. Now I might have to finally unleash it.

Blurb

A hilarious, high-action M/M Buffy the Vampire Slayer—but all grown up, made spicier, and with a scrappy and lovable monster as the hero.

Perfect for fans of TJ Klune, David R. Slayton, and K.D. Edwards.

I was born an incubus, a literal soul-sucking sex demon. But I’ve deliberately never fed, so I don't have any powers.

Still, that doesn't stop an arrogant fae prince from blackmailing me into stealing a magical watch from a creepy San Francisco mansion.

Turns out, the artifact contains Collin, an all-knowing spirit with serious golden retriever vibes who looks like a cute twentysomething guy my age. If I can keep him from the fae, he swears we can be together—even physically—without anyone getting hurt.

The wrinkle? He’s also being hunted by bloodthirsty vampires who need the watch to end the world.

And my only ally? A smoking-hot monster slayer who's all "touch him and die" whenever I'm in danger but who would most certainly kill me if he ever discovered what I was.

I’ve spent my whole life trying to be good—and okay, maybe dreaming of someone who could make me feel less alone. But to save Collin and stop the apocalypse, I'll have to feed.

And once I taste a soul, there might be no coming back.

The Reluctant Incubus kicks off the New Adult M/M urban fantasy duet Alvin Alonso's Secret Files. There is a cliffhanger in Book 1—but don't worry: Book 2, Incubus Vampire Slayer, will be released on the same day. You will be able to binge the whole story, all the way to Alvin's deeply satisfying HFN.

Content warnings can be found here: https://alexwoolfson.com/reluctant-incubus-content-warnings/

Book 2 - Incubus Vampire Slayer

So... I just made out with a Monster Hunter.

Blurb

A totally insane choice since, you know, I'm an actual monster.

And I did this right after finding out that the Hunter, Rafa, has a deep, personal connection with the vampires who are after me—vampires who've kidnapped the teen girl I'm supposed to rescue, and who need the magical watch I'm carrying to end the world.

As for that watch? It imprisons Collin—a handsome spirit who can answer any question and who gets me in a way no one else ever has. Over the last 24 hours, Collin and I have done a whole lot more than just making out.

The truth is, I actually think I'm falling in love with him. Which might be the craziest thing of all, since he still hasn't told me what he really is.

Look, I know I've made some bad decisions lately. But now I have people I need to protect, people I care about. And since I'm feeding, for the first time in my life, I have real power.

So yeah, maybe I'll never be good. But trust me—I am done running.

Because it's time to show those vampires what a real monster can do.

Incubus Vampire Slayer concludes the thrilling, laugh-out-loud adventure that began in The Reluctant Incubus, Book 1 of the MM urban fantasy duet Alvin Alonso's Secret Files. I recommend starting with The Reluctant Incubus so you can binge the whole story from the beginning through to Alvin's deeply satisfying HFN.

Excerpt from The Reluctant Incubus

BLAM! The final vampire bites the dust. I don’t even bother to look back to see if the undead creature was able to get anywhere near the badass Monster Hunter before it was cut down. Instead, I jump to my feet and run for the stairs in a blind panic.

“Wait!” Mr. Terminator yells, voice deep and gruff, clearly expecting complete compliance.

I am not waiting. I book it down the hallway, still gripping the shard of wood.

Collin jogs alongside, having no trouble keeping up. “Alvin? What are you doing?”

I ignore him and almost get to the first stair, but the Monster Hunter is so fast, he swings himself in front of me before I can even put a single foot on that OSHA disaster and grabs my shoulders, fully stopping me. He’s well over six feet. I am child-sized compared to him.

“Slow down, buddy. You don’t need to run. I got ’em.”

He’s less than a foot away from me, his shotgun shoved into some kind of back holster peeking out from under his duster. Without even thinking, I shove back hard against his chest with both of my palms, dropping the stake and using all my strength to try to get out of whatever his “paranormal-creature-smelling” range might be. But at this point I’m a sweaty mess, I’ve got the weak-ass muscles of a committed couch potato, and his grip is so strong, I don’t go anywhere.

In response, he pulls me in tight, into a full-on hug. (Oh, my God! What’s with all the hugs, scary strangers?!)

“Breathe. Breathe! You’re safe. I promise.”

He squeezes me tighter. I can’t breathe. I am so going to die.

About the Author 

Alex Woolfson writes action-packed adventures with lovable gay heroes.

An East-Coaster who now calls the Bay Area home, Alex spent twenty years editing films and video before turning to comics, where he created the Lambda Literary Award finalist graphic novel Artifice and the long-running LGBTQ-superhero webcomic The Young Protectors.

His debut MM urban-fantasy novel, The Reluctant Incubus, kicks off the Alvin Alonso's Secret Files duet, delivering high stakes action, slow-burn romance, and queer heroes who save the world and each other.

When Alex isn't at his treadmill desk writing, you'll find him traveling the globe with his husband, on the hunt for the perfect taco.

Social Media Links

Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter/X  |   Instagram

Newsletter Sign-up  |   TikTok  |  Threads 

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RELEASE BLITZ - The Best Parts of Him by Amy Aislin

 

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: The Best Parts of Him

Series: Vermont Trailblazers 1

Author and Publisher: Amy Aislin

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Release Date: October 28, 2025

Tense/POV: third person, past tense

Genres: M/M Contemporary Romance

Tropes: Hockey, forced proximity, opposites attract, long-distance romance

Heat Rating:  3 flames  

Length: 57 000 words / 210 pages

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

Goodreads

Buy Links

Universal Link 

Sometimes the sweetest victories happen off the ice.

Blurb

Ryland Zervudachi lives for the game of hockey—and for the chance to build the kind of team unity that will carry the Columbus Pilots all the way back to the playoffs after last season’s crushing defeat. Off the ice, though, there’s one goal he hasn’t managed to score—the heart of Kyle Dabbs, the Vermont Trailblazers’ team captain and his long-time crush.

Kyle Dabbs has built a life centered on quiet strength. After a childhood scarred by his father’s verbal abuse, Dabbs pours his energy into his career on the ice and the book series he’s written to help kids like the boy he once was. He doesn’t need someone flashy, loud, and spotlight-loving like Ryland turning his world upside down.

But when an untimely appendectomy leaves Dabbs stuck at home, Ryland—recovering from an injury—shows up to help. Between late-night Scrabble competitions, pumpkin-carving mishaps, and long talks that peel back layers they’ve both kept hidden, Dabbs begins to see past Ryland’s bold exterior.

With chemistry sparking and walls crumbling, both men must decide if they’re ready to risk their hearts for something even better than a championship: love.

Excerpt 

“Hey,” Ryland said, his mouth going dry when Dabbs’ gaze met his. “How’s your summer been so far?”

Dabbs leaned his forearms on the top of the high-backed kitchen chair on his left. It sent his biceps straining against his blue T-shirt. Ryland forced his gaze off them.

“Well, let’s see,” Dabbs said, his voice a deep timber that stroked along Ryland’s skin. “Bellamy and I just moved into a new place, so there are still boxes of crap taking up floor space in the kitchen. One of the kids at hockey camp this week decided the ice was too slippery, so he sat out almost every activity. And one of my dogs swallowed a bee.”

Ryland gasped. “Oh my god. Is he okay?”

“He’s fine.” Dabbs regarded him for a long moment, his expression softening. “Nice of you to be concerned though. How has your summer been?”

“Oh, its . . . ” Ryland stumbled over his words for a moment, still stuck on Nice of you to be concerned. “Fine. Good. I can’t top any of that, but my niece did puke candy all over my feet when I picked her up from daycare last week.”

Dabbs made a face. “Gross.”

“I was wearing flip-flops.”

Dabbs made gagging sounds.

“Imagine trying to get vomit out from under your toenails.”

“Oh god, stop talking.” Dabbs straightened and covered his mouth with the back of his hand, as though his gag reflex had engaged.

“On a lighter note, I built a canoe.”

“You . . . what?”

“Built a canoe. Well, me and six other people. We took part in a canoe-building workshop in Glen Hill over the past two months, and we built a communal wood strip canoe. We even took it out onto the water last week.”

“Did it float?”

Putting on his most scandalized Southern belle impression, Ryland brought his hand up to his chest. “Excuse you. Yes, it floated. Rude.”

Dabbs chuckled. “Sorry. You just don’t seem like the woodworking type.”

“Oh, I know how to work wood.” Ryland gave Dabbs an up and down glance. “Very, very well.”

He wasn’t sure what to expect from Dabbs. For him to be so turned on that his cheeks pinked and he stuttered over his words?

Dabbs, coolly confident in a way Ryland had never managed, did neither of those things. Instead, he drawled a lazy, “Me too,” and added three tiles to the Scrabble board, adding w, o, and d to an existing o.

Wood.

Ryland had to laugh, surprised by this aspect of Dabbs’ sense of humor. “Not exactly what I meant.”

Dabbs grinned. “Wood for eight points, plus a double letter score on the w for a total of twelve points. Your turn.”

Swearing under his breath—word games weren’t Ryland’s strong suit—he added a g and a t to an existing e, netting himself four points for get.

“It’s okay,” Dabbs said. “We can’t all be good at everything.”

Ryland laughed. “Oh, you did not just go there.”

“Hey, are we heading out to dinner, or what?” Jason called from the front door. “I’ll drive.”

“Do you play darts, Dabbs?” Ryland asked, grabbing his wallet from the table in the foyer.

“I’ve played a game or two,” Dabbs said hesitatingly. “Why do I get the feeling I’m going to regret admitting that?”

Ryland grinned. “You’ll see.” And followed the group out the door.

About the Author 

Amy’s lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

Newsletter Sign-up  |  Facebook Group 

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Audiobook Tour - A Furever Home by Kaje Harper & Gabbi Grey

 

AUDIOBOOK TOUR

Book Title:  A Furever Home

Author Publisher: Kaje Harper & Gabbi Grey

Narrator: Michael Ferraiuolo

Release Date: September 9, 2025

Tense/POV: 1st person, past tense, alternating POV

Genres:  Contemporary MM Romance

Tropes: Small town romance, hurt/comfort 

Themes: Fur-babies/animal rescue 

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length: 9 hours and 5 minutes 

Goodreads

Buy Links - Audiobook  and eBook

Audible US   |  Audible UK

Amazon US    |    Amazon UK 

Desperately wanted found-family sometimes comes with wagging tails and a whole lot of fur.

Blurb 

Arthur

When I was squeezing seven rescue dogs and a horde of cats in my small house, all I wanted was to not turn away a pet in need. Opening the Safe Haven Pet Rescue was a dream come true. But when I get hurt, standing between a man with a gun and a stray dog, I realize I still can't do it all.

My injured leg, a concussion, having to lean on my friends, and realizing how helpless I feel, throws me back to my childhood when nothing I did ever seemed to be enough. But there's one silver lining. Brooklyn West. He's the kind of guy who holds a stranger’s hand in a crisis. He's great with my dogs, even cranky little Chili, and really seems to want to help the shelter. I like watching him be a protective big brother when his sister turns up on his doorstep, even though I think there's pain underneath his sunny smiles. But as we move toward friendship, I keep looking for the strings, for the catch, and wondering how I'll pay him back, because nothing in my life can be that sweet, or that simple.

Brooklyn

I went through a slice of medical hell, and came out the other side with enough money to move to the opposite side of the country and start the doggie daycare business of my dreams. The cherry on top of that good luck is meeting Arthur Bjornsson. Big, wild-bearded, soft-voiced Arthur is the kind of guy my family would've ridiculed. He's warm-hearted and willing to throw himself into harm's way right in front of my eyes to save one pathetic stray dog.

He's the kind of guy who gives me back some faith in humanity. But when my underage sister Cheyenne shows up on my doorstep, on the run from the family I thought I'd escaped, my old life and new collide. I want to help Arthur, get to know him, and, as he heals, I want more than just friendship. But Cheyenne brings legal risks, a teen on the other side of my bedroom wall, and the threat of retribution from our family. The simple relationship I thought Arthur and I were building is suddenly messy as hell. I don't know how we'll get through this to reach the furever home I so desperately want.


A Furever Home is a fur-baby-filled, hurt-comfort, small town romance between two men whose only chance at a family is to build one themselves.

Excerpt

I sat behind the counter at Safe Haven animal rescue, listening to my shelter manager calling me from across the ocean. “Did you see the video?” The happiness in Shane’s voice made me smile. “Was that cool or what?”

“Hang on.” I swiped my phone over to where I had a waiting text from Shane’s boyfriend, Theo. Sure enough, there was a video attached. When I hit play, I saw Shane with his little white cat Mimsy doing their routine of Mimsy-tricks with the iconic architecture of Paris behind them. In this short clip, Mimsy jumped from the ground up to Shane’s shoulder, then balanced on his head and raised one paw in a salute.

I said, “Did you just busk in front of Notre Dame?”

Shane had lived off his wits and Mimsy’s skills for a long time, but Theo was rich enough he no longer needed to.

“Not busking,” Shane told me. “I didn’t put the hat out. Wouldn’t risk breaking the law here. But Mimsy was riding on my shoulder and these two kids asked if she was a real cat, speaking English with the cutest French accents, and I couldn’t resist letting her show off a bit.”

Of course he couldn’t. Shane would deny it till he was blue in the face, but he was a sucker for kids, and for that little cat. Letting her shine while making kids laugh was his favorite thing. Aside from being with Theo, of course.
The newfound brightness of Shane’s voice warmed me, even as I pushed aside an unworthy pang of jealousy. Shane had lived a much harder life than I had—forced to leave his family as a teenager, going homeless, sometimes going hungry, so independent it’d taken Theo months to persuade him love didn’t have to come with strings.

My own family might’ve lost interest in me long ago, but I’d never gone without a meal. Now Shane and Theo had a relationship so solid even Shane was willing to trust it. I should be happy for my friend and stop thinking about how I was ten years older and far more alone. “Sounds like fun.”

About the Authors  

Kaje: I get asked about my name a lot. It's not something exotic, though. “Kaje” is pronounced just like “cage” – it’s an old nickname, and my pronouns are she/her/hers. I’ve been writing far longer than I care to admit (*whispers – forty years*), although mostly for my own entertainment. I write M/M romance, often with added mystery, fantasy, historical, SciFi, paranormal… I also have Young Adult short stories (some released under the pen name Kira Harp.) 

It was my husband who finally convinced me that after all the years of writing just for fun, I really should submit something, somewhere. My first professionally published book, Life Lessons, came out in May 2011. I now have a good-sized backlist in ebooks and print, both free and professionally published, including Amazon bestseller The Rebuilding Year and Rainbow Award Best Mystery-Thriller Tracefinder: Contact. 

Gabbi: USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

Social Media Links

Website    Kaje  |  Gabbi

Facebook   Kaje  |  Gabbi

Newsletter Sign-up    Kaje  |   Gabbi

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Release Blitz - Walking on Broken Paths by Amy Aislin

 

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: Walking on Broken Paths

Author and Publisher: Amy Aislin

Cover Artist: Morningstar Ashley

Release Date: July 22, 2025

Tense/POV: third person, past tense

Genres: Contemporary M/M Romance

Tropes: Childhood friends to lovers, hurt/comfort, damaged hero, opposites attract, grumpy/sunshine

Heat Rating:  3 flames      

Length: 53 000 words / 210 pages

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

Goodreads

Buy Links - Audiobook also available

Amazon  |  Apple  |  B&N  |  Kobo  

Direct store 

ebook  |   audiobook  |   bundle 

Blurb

Desperate to escape the pain of his brother’s death, Jesse Melnik ran—but he couldn’t outrun the grief, no matter how much distance he put between himself and his past. Now, after fifteen years of trying, he’s finally ready to face his hometown of Charlottetown again.

He expects the memories of his brother to hover in every corner of his family’s sailboat and whisper in every sea-tinged breeze.

What he doesn’t expect is Parker Willis, the best friend he left behind without a word the day he fled.

And he certainly doesn’t expect old feelings to resurface.

Parker’s been stuck in a rut since his father died three months ago. Every day is the same: try to keep his father’s dinner cruise business afloat so he can chip away at Dad’s debts, all while working a job that leaves him more frustrated than satisfied.

Then Parker’s routine shatters in the best way possible: Jesse Melnik returns to Prince Edward Island for the summer, all six feet three inches of gorgeous hockey player.

Now, that’s different.

Jesse kickstarts Parker’s heart.

 Parker makes Jesse feel again.

And although both men are a little bit damaged from struggling down the broken path of loss, maybe—just maybe—if they can lean on each other, they’ll learn to move forward at last.

Content warnings: themes of grief, discussions of a parent's death from cancer, discussions/descriptions of a sibling's death from suicide 

Excerpt

Jesse glanced over and nearly swallowed his tongue.

How dare running shorts be so goddamn tiny and cling so goddamn nicely to long, shapely legs dusted with hair the same shade as the finest dark chocolate? Jesse was still reeling at being in the same place at the same time as Parker for the first time in years—had, in fact, tossed and turned all night thinking about Parker—and now he showed up out of nowhere again and sent Jesse’s libido into a jumble of desire and yearning?

There were things that Jesse had left in his past, and his attraction to his best friend was supposed to be one of them.

Former best friend? Best friend he’d recently gotten reacquainted with? Former best friend who could be his new best friend?

Fuck. Relationships were hard.

Along with the shorts, Parker also wore a long-sleeved running shirt in teal and a baseball hat with Montreal hockey’s logo on the front. His dark hair curled out from underneath the sides of the hat, and the two-day stubble on his jaw was way sexier than Jesse wanted to admit. He was a couple of inches shorter than Jesse’s six foot three, but whereas Jesse was—admittedly—very big, even for a defenceman, Parker was lanky and toned, the muscle definition obvious in his running gear in a way it hadn’t been in the jeans and Willis Dinner Cruises-branded long-sleeved T-shirt he’d been wearing last night when he’d appeared like a figment of Jesse’s childhood wishes and sat next to him on the bench at the marina.

Whatever he wore, Parker looked like he’d fit into all of Jesse’s empty spaces.

Shaking his head to rid himself of that thought, he shoved his phone back in his pocket and scowled. “I’ll get you a new hat.”

Parker’s lips quirked. “I like this hat.”

“Since when are you a Montreal fan?”

“Hey, don’t knock them. They made it to the playoffs.”

The unlike you was left unsaid, but Jesse heard it loud and clear and refused to be amused.

“So.” Parker’s shoulder bumped up against his. “What are you doing?”

“What are you doing?”

“This is my jogging route.”

“That so?” Jesse would have to remember to be by his window in the mornings so he could watch Parker run by in his short shorts.

“Mm-hmm. Is it your jogging route?”

“No.”

“What are you doing here then?”

Glancing back at the house, Jesse let out a long breath. “Deciding what to tackle first. What colour would you paint that door?”

Parker blinked once and frowned. “Why would you paint it any colour?”

“Because that rusty red makes me think of dead bodies on a crime show?”

“No, I mean . . .” That unique greyish-greenish gaze of Parker’s swung from Jesse to the house and back. “Do you know the people who live here? Are you doing work for them this summer or something?”

“I live here,” Jesse said. “And I don’t want to live with that gross colour for the next two months.”

“You . . . bought a house?”

Jesse grunted.

“But you live in Vancouver,” Parker said slowly, as though reminding Jesse of this fact.

“No, I know, but . . .”

But what? He’d wanted a project for the summer? Something that would keep him occupied so he didn’t have to think about where he was and why he was back for the first time in fifteen years? A fixer-upper was as good a distraction as anything.

His therapist wouldn’t love that he was keeping busy instead of sitting with and analyzing his feelings. But she didn’t have to know. Right?

When Jesse didn’t continue, Parker said, “Are you retiring from hockey and moving back here?”

“Fuck no,” Jesse blurted.

About the Author 

Amy’s lived with her head in the clouds since she first picked up a book as a child, and being fluent in two languages means she’s read a lot of books! She first picked up a pen on a rainy day in fourth grade when her class had to stay inside for recess. Tales of treasure hunts with her classmates eventually morphed into love stories between men, and she’s been writing ever since. She writes evenings and weekends—or whenever she isn’t at her full-time day job saving the planet at Canada’s largest environmental non-profit.

An unapologetic introvert, Amy reads too much and socializes too little, with no regrets. She loves connecting with readers. Join her Facebook Group to stay up-to-date on upcoming releases and for access to early teasers, find her on Instagram, or sign up for her infrequent newsletter.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website  |  Facebook  |  Instagram

Newsletter Sign-up  |  Facebook Group 

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Release Blitz with Review - The Unquiet House by Ellie Thomas

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: The Unquiet House (Regency Paranormal, Book 2)

Author: Ellie Thomas

Publisher: JMS Books

Cover Artist: in-house with publisher

Release Date: October 26, 2024

Tense/POV: Third person, past tense, single POV

Genres: MM Historical Paranormal

Tropes: Hurt/Comfort, Opposites Attract, Friends to Lovers

Themes: Haunting, ghosts, romantic suspense, peril

Heat Rating: 3 flames

Length: 17 520 words

It is not a standalone story.

It is book 2 in my Regency Paranormal series. It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

In Regency England, Sam and Christian come across a ghostly disturbance at a country house.

Can their combined skills resolve the problem before someone, including themselves, gets seriously hurt?

  Blurb After barely surviving their terrifying encounter with the spectre of the hooded monk during the previous autumn, Christian Maxwell and Sam Gillespie have consolidated their romantic relationship and are starting to gain a reputation for dealing with the unknown. For this reason, they receive an invitation to Haverford House in Wiltshire during the spring of 1817. The owners of the historic haunted manor house, Mr. and Mrs. Huxley, are being afflicted by a series of inexplicable incidents. With his sensitivity to atmosphere, Christian is immediately alerted to danger. Yet, despite their best efforts, neither he nor Sam can discern the cause, although their search brings them closer as a couple and as a team. As sinister events develop, can our devoted duo unmask the culprit without putting themselves in danger?  

 

My Two Pennies' Worth 

This is a review for both books in the series so far. I say so far because I'm really hoping for more.

It's a perfect pair of novellas for those long dark nights. Creepy and menacing in all the right places but balanced by a sweet romance between our two amateur paranormal investigators.                   

In the first book, The Monk's Lair, they stumble upon the paranormal mystery. However by the time of the second book their reputation has grown and they are actively invited to investigate. The author manages to pack a punch despite the story length, with a rollicking good mystery and some lovely character/relationship development. I loved how Sam supported Christian when his low self-esteem got the better of him.

Highly Recommended

Excerpt

Christian regarded the stolid group of middle-aged people surrounding Sam, the second vicar, with a darker shade to his complexion from the Caribbean sun. Sam had already struck up an animated conversation with the colonel’s lady. His face, shaded by candlelight into fascinating planes and hollows, was alight with interest. Christian was so distracted that he lost the thread of Mrs. Huxley’s discourse.

“You’ve met my husband, of course.” Christian dragged his attention away from Sam to regard his host. “And near to him is Ernest Bell, a distant relative of mine. It’s very good of him to support us in our endeavours since our son Gordon returned to university after the Christmas vacation. Of course, Ernest’s very fond of the place. He was a regular visitor in my Cousin Grenville’s day.”

Christian placed Mr. Bell in his early thirties, somewhat younger than the Huxleys. There was little or no family resemblance to the fair and even-featured Mrs. Huxley. The man was dark haired and had a strong craggy face. He seemed completely at ease, conversing easily as though taking his cue from his hosts.

As the meal commenced, Mrs. Huxley was monopolised by the gentleman on her other side, allowing Christian to absorb the surrounding ambience. The candlelight flattered the diners and the ready supply of wine increased the merry flow of conversation.

The food is excellent, Christian thought, nibbling on a chicken leg. The dishes were removed by a small number of well-trained staff. The Huxleys clearly hadn’t stinted on the domestic sphere of their enterprise.

“Have you come far?”

A gruff male voice broke into Christian’s preoccupations.

“Not at all. Only the other side of the county,” he replied.

“We hail from Suffolk.”

Unprompted, the gentleman leaned over the lady sitting between them and launched into a treatise on the historic sights of that region. Thankfully, he required little in the way of a response. Without having to pay much attention, Christian simply interjected the occasional, “Oh really? How interesting.”

In such congenial surroundings, Christian almost forgot that he and Sam weren’t invited to enjoy the convivial atmosphere.

When the hair rose on the back of Christian’s neck, at first, he assumed it was due to a stray draught, understandable in such an ancient and large space. Rather than easing, the sensation intensified and Christian felt his shoulders tense, as if braced for attack.

He felt a sudden burst of malice like a silent cackle of mocking laughter.

Again, he couldn’t place the source of ill-intent until a footman leaned between Christian and Mrs. Huxley to place a covered salver on the table.

As the servant reached across to lift the lid, Christian hissed, “Don’t!”

His voice was low, but his urgency transmitted to his hostess and the footman, who hesitated in mid-action.

Mrs. Huxley threw a startled glance towards Christian. However, her voice was calm as she said, “Take it away, please, Simon.”

The young server obeyed without question. Mrs. Huxley murmured, “Excuse me.” She accompanied the footman from the room without attracting any attention.

Christian’s collar felt constricting and the candlelight too bright for his strained nerves. He took a sip of wine to steady himself before he glanced around the table.

There was no discernible change in the level of chatter and general merriment. Christian attempted to focus in vain. He could no longer sense the slightest whiff of the ill-feeling that had vanished like a puff of smoke in a strong breeze.

He jumped at the light touch on his shoulder.

“May I borrow you for a moment?” Mrs. Huxley asked.

Christian turned to see that his hostess was pale, her eyes wide with alarm.

“Yes, of course.”

He rose to follow her, unnoticed except by Mr. Huxley, briefly hesitating in mid-comment, and Sam, who quickly looked up before resuming his discourse.

Christian followed the lady into the service region of the house. In a pantry, the silver salver sat alone on a shelf, guarded by the footman.

“I thought you ought to see this for yourself.”

Mrs. Huxley nodded to the footman, who lifted the lid without ceremony. Instead of the expected delicacy, on the gleaming silver platter lay a dead rat with a candied cherry in its mouth.

 

About the Author

Ellie Thomas lives by the sea. She comes from a teaching background and goes for long seaside walks where she daydreams about history. She is a voracious reader, especially about anything historical. She mainly writes historical gay romance.

Ellie also writes historical erotic romance as L. E. Thomas.

 

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Audiobook Tour - Waylaid by J.M. Snyder

 

AUDIOBOOK TOUR

Book Title: Waylaid

Author: J.M. Snyder

Publisher: JMS Books LLC

Narrator: Nick Johnson

Release Date: August 16, 2024

Tense/POV: First person, present tense, single POV.

Genres: MM Fantasy/Romance

Tropes: Forced proximity, only one bed

Themes: Falling in love

Heat Rating: 5 flames       

Length: 5 hours and 20 minutes

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

Goodreads

Buy Links

Audible US  |  Audible UK 

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK 

It's only supposed to be one night. Until it isn't.

Blurb 

When the Queen's guardsman enters my inn, the last thing I expect is to be propositioned. But this far north, it can get lonely at times, and my bed fits two easily enough. The guardsman is lithe and fae, and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't interested. Besides, what's one night between grown men?

I don't expect to see him again. But rumors of war bring him back to me, and what starts as a one-off soon blossoms into so much more ...

About the Author  

J.M. Snyder is a multi-published author of gay erotic romance who started writing fanfic (specifically, boyband slash). She has worked with several different e-publishers, including Amber Allure Press and Torquere Press, and had short stories published in anthologies by Alyson Books, Cleis Press, eXcessica, and Lethe Press.

In 2010, she started JMS Books LLC to promote and publish her own work as well as that of other authors she enjoys.

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Release Blitz with ARC Reviews - An Unrivaled Off-Season by Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James

 

NEW RELEASE

Book Title: An Unrivaled Off-Season (Hockey Ever After, #3.5)

Author: Ashlyn Kane & Morgan James

Publisher:  Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Release Date: April 2, 2024

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance, M/M sports romance

Tropes: Rivals to lovers, established relationship 

Themes: Meeting the family, starting a life together, 

Heat Rating:  3.5 flames

Length: 27 808 words/ 96 pages

It is not a standalone story. It follows directly after Unrivaled (Book 3 - same couple) and won’t make much sense without it. 

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Available in Kindle Unlimited

Universal Buy Link

Sometimes the best win comes in the off-season.

Blurb

Any other year, hockey player Grady Armstrong would be licking his wounds after a disappointing playoffs exit. Somehow, this year, he’s in the stands as his rival-turned-boyfriend Max Lockhart competes for the Stanley Cup… and there’s nowhere he’d rather be. Well, except maybe lifting the Cup himself. So along with preparing his body for next season, Grady prepares to ask Max to stay in his life permanently.

Max figures it can’t be easy for Grady to watch Max cash in on his dreams, but if he’s struggling, he hides it well—which is great, because they don’t get much time together during the season, and it would suck if Grady spent the summer sulking. 

But while Grady may still be a competitive bastard, he doesn’t sulk. He nurses Max through hangovers. He comes home with him for the summer. He loses fishing bets. He earns so many boyfriend points Max should really level him up. The question is, how?

My Two Pennies' Worth 

This is a lovely look at life after the HEA. It's a novella length story following Max and Grady and their attempts to propose. It's funny, cute and witty. Max and Grady are such an adorable couple (I do love me some GrumpyxSunshine) and they do most of the heavy lifting in what is ultimately a simple plot. And that's all good because that's what this story is all about, Max and Grady and them moving forward as a couple.

Lovely.

Excerpt 

The day after the parade, Grady and Max took Max’s parents to the train station. “Thank you so much for the hospitality,” Max’s mom gushed as she hugged Grady goodbye. “You’ve been a wonderful host.”

Grady, who didn’t know how to talk to parents because his had died before he became an adult, looked embarrassed. “It’s Max’s house too.”

This was an abject lie; Max’s name was nowhere near the paperwork. He just lived there.

But Max’s parents didn’t know that—at least Max didn’t think they did. Max’s dad just said, “I hope you’ll come out and visit us all this summer. It would be good to see you.”

They shook hands and Grady said, “I’ll be there.”

Max almost fell over. How many boyfriend points was that? Was Grady doing some kind of speed run?

“I’m flying, though,” Grady continued, gesturing at the train platform.

Max’s mom laughed and hugged him again. “I don’t blame you. We’ll see you in a few weeks, boys.”

When she wrapped Max up in her arms, she squeezed so tightly Max’s eyeballs almost popped. “I’m so happy for you, sweetheart. You deserve this.”

Max was less than 50 percent sure she was talking about hockey, but he squeezed back. “Love you, Mom. Couldn’t have done it without you.”

“You’re darn right.”

Then they got on the train, and Max and Grady got back in the car to go home.

“I’m supposed to do altitude training with Jess in Colorado this summer.” Grady flicked on the blinker to merge onto the highway. “Ten days in early August. You want to come?”

Max swallowed. Grady took sibling time with Jess very seriously, since they were each other’s only family. “I won’t be crashing?”

Grady glanced at him sideways, then returned his attention to the road and changed lanes. “I’m inviting you, so no.”

“Okay.” Max felt warm all the way through. He would’ve needed to do some altitude training anyway, but it meant something to have an official invite. “Thanks.”

“I mean….” Grady paused and hit the brakes as LA traffic LA trafficked. “That’s assuming you’re not sick of me by then, I guess. Or were you planning on having me stay with your parents?”

What? Max tilted his head and stared at him. “Why would you stay with my parents?”

Grady’s ears had gone pink. “’Cause you still haven’t officially invited me to your Cup party. Or, you know, your house in New Brunswick.”

Oh.

“Okay, well, now that I’m not drunk, hungover, or jinxing it, hey, Grady, do you want to come spend the summer with me in New Brunswick?”

The car jolted a little as Grady braked hard to avoid an accident. When he’d navigated around it, he said, “The whole summer?”

“I mean, other than going to Colorado and maybe if you want to take a vacation somewhere.” Preferably with Max, but would that be too much? “I mean, we don’t see a lot of each other during the season, so—”

“Yes.”

So many boyfriend points. “Are you sure? I’m related to, like, half of New Brunswick. It’s going to be a lot.”

“I can handle it,” Grady said.

Max heard, You’re worth it.

They were worth it.

Truthfully, it would be a lot for Max too. His family would give him endless shit over falling in love with a rival player—and Grady, who had a reputation as kind of a stick in the mud, would provide plenty of opportunities for his aunts and uncles and cousins to mock him. But Max had never minded that, and he didn’t think Grady would either.

At Christmas last year, Grady’d held his own with Max’s siblings and niblings, and Max’s heart had grown three sizes because he got to give Grady a full family holiday experience. And that was before they were technically even together. It was Max’s pleasure to provide Grady with family-level chirping—and to be chirped about him—forever.

Well. Now he knew what happened if someone got too many boyfriend points.

Max cleared his throat. “Okay, then. I’ll book us tickets.”

About the Authors

Ashlyn Kane likes to think she can do it all, but her follow-through often proves her undoing. Her house is as full of half-finished projects as her writing folder. With the help of her ADHD meds, she gets by. 

An early reader and talker, Ashlyn has always had a flair for language and storytelling. As an eight-year-old, she attended her first writers’ workshop. As a teenager, she won an amateur poetry competition. As an adult, she received a starred review in Publishers Weekly for her novel Fake Dating the Prince. There were quite a few years in the middle there, but who’s counting? 

Her hobbies include DIY home decor, container gardening (no pulling weeds), music, and spending time with her enormous chocolate lapdog. She is the fortunate wife of a wonderful man, the daughter of two sets of great parents, and the proud older sister/sister-in-law of the world’s biggest nerds.

Morgan James is a clueless (older) millennial who’s still trying to figure out what they’ll be when they grow up and enjoying the journey to get there. Now, with a couple of degrees, a few stints in Europe, and more than one false start to a career, they eagerly wait to see what’s next. James started writing fiction before they could spell and wrote their first (unpublished) novel in middle school. They haven’t stopped writing since. Geek, artist, archer, and fanatic, Morgan tends to pass their free hours with in imaginary worlds and people on pages and screens—it’s an addiction. As is their love of coffee and tea. They live in Canada with their massive collection of unread books, where they are the personal servant of too many four-legged creatures.

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