Book Spotlight: Midnight Run by Bailey Bradford





Midnight Run
Bailey Bradford
Release Date: February 10, 2015
Genre: Erotic Romance, M/M, shifter, BDSM
Publisher: ARe
Available from All Romance Ebooks

Book Description:

Always the lone wolf, never the mate…

Alpha Jack Herman used to have a pack, but he's been alone for a long time. When he catches a whiff of another shifter encroaching on his preferred hunting grounds, he's determined to put a stop to that immediately. There's only room for one wolf in Jack’s territory—Jack.

Captured as a pup, Malakai is a shifter, but he's neither wolf nor alpha. What he is, is scared, exhausted, starving, and close to giving up. Hunted by a predator, Malakai fears his newly found freedom is about to come to a violent and abrupt end.

Instead, he finds himself in the arms of a man strong enough to do whatever he must to take care of Malakai.

***

Excerpt:

There wasn’t even a hint of moonlight as Jack Herman ran along the hiking path at Government Canyon. The thud of his paws on the pavement soon changed to soft slaps when he finally hit dirt. He wanted to throw his head back and howl, but it wouldn’t be wise considering he was hunting.

And not just any prey. Jack had no intention of eating what he caught. He wasn’t on that kind of hunt.

The wind carried the scent of the intruder, spicy and earthy, like peppers rolled in fertile soil. Jack had detected it every night he’d come to revel in his wolf for the last week.

Tonight was a full moon, not that it could be seen behind the heavy cover of clouds. Besides the intruder, Jack could scent the impending rain. A storm was brewing courtesy of Mother Nature, and it matched the one building in him.

San Antonio didn’t have many places for a wolf to run. Government Canyon was Jack’s, and he’d be damned if he let some other shifter encroach on it. He was an alpha through and through, even if he no longer had a pack to lead.

An old, familiar pain streaked through his chest. He wouldn’t think about his past, not now. Possibly not ever again. The pain was too great.

And he had a task to complete—find the bastard trespassing on his packlands. Jack wouldn’t stand for someone to take it from him. He needed this space to run and rejoice in what he was.

Thunder cracked loud enough that Jack felt it shake the ground beneath his paws. A few seconds later, lightning brought the surrounding area into stark relief for one brief moment.

Then it was pitch dark again, and Jack’s usually acute wolf vision was a bit muddled from the quick reversion from light to dark. Just as when someone took a picture of him with the flash on, white spots danced before his eyes and he shook his head.

It was a good thing his nose worked just fine. He could run blind if he needed to, and let his sense of smell guide him. That, and his hearing, which was exceptional.

Although, in minutes he’d be hearing nothing but the storm itself, and the rain could very well fuck up his tracking ability.

It would figure he’d find someone trespassing on his lands in February. There were two things that could be counted on to occur in San Antonio in January—rain, and colder temperatures than the natives liked.

Jack was a native, but he was an exception to the cold rule. It invigorated him in a way the heat never would. In fact, for the whole month of August, he didn’t want to leave the comfort of his air-conditioned home or work.

Give him temperatures in the thirties or even a little lower, and he was thrilled to his webbed paws. Now he had that winter weather, finally. It wasn’t surprising that the rain had rolled in considering the overcast skies that had threatened to unleash on them.

Jack put his nose to the ground and inhaled the tantalizing aroma of the other shifter. Not a wolf, he could tell that much. There wasn’t the strong, piney scent that came with all of his kind. He ran over the other kinds of shifters he was aware of, but couldn’t decide what he was after. The paw prints were non-existent. Either the creature wiped them out or was of such light weight as to not leave prints behind.

That one sniff caused a sensation Jack was becoming used to when he got a good, strong whiff of his prey. His groin tingled, his cock tried to stiffen, and the heat of arousal rushed through him.

Jack tried his best to stomp that shit down. He wasn’t in the market for a lover or a fuck buddy. He was a lone wolf now, and always would be.

And that means no fucking? he asked himself.

It was best to ignore his scathing little inner voice. Especially since Jack had no good answer for it.

The loose dirt gave way to rocks, and despite his attempt to be silent, every now and then one gave way under his paw and went clattering against another. With the sky lighting up regularly every few seconds due to the lightning, Jack’s vision was a tad screwy. While it wasn’t rare to have a lot of rain during February, such a fierce thunderstorm was unusual.

Regardless, it was beautiful in its own way. The thunder clapped louder, making his ears ring on occasion. The storm excited his wolf, though there was some anxiety as well.

His beast knew the power of a storm, of lightning and the fire it could bring. The human side knew it as well, and reveled in being out in it. There was so much freedom to running full-tilt while the elements raged around him.

Rain began to come down, the drops fat and cold when they hit his nose. His thick black coat kept most of the moisture off of him for a while as he continued running, chasing after that scent.

If he didn’t find his prey soon, he might get away. Jack was certain the prey was male simply because the aroma of it aroused him. Jack was, and always had been, a gay wolf shifter. That wouldn’t have suddenly changed. Hence, he reasoned his was after another man, in whatever form that man might currently be taking.

The rain came down harder, pelting him like frigid wet pebbles. He tucked his head lower and ran faster, trying to hang onto the thread of the other shifter’s scent.

It was no use. Within minutes, he’d lost it. Frustrated, Jack threw his head back and howled.

The pleasure that brought him was undeniable, and he shook his coat before vocalizing again. He could have sat and sang to the moon all night if he didn’t have to fear being caught. Granted, there shouldn’t be anyone else out there, but it was Texas and people did have guns.

Jack trounced through the rocks and mud, no longer worrying about being silent. As heavy as the rainfall was, he doubted he’d be heard by anyone or anything in the nearby vicinity.

Mud squelched between his toes. He’d have a mess to clean off of his paws later. For now, he just let go of his disappointment at losing his prey and instead enjoyed the weather and the run. He was reminded of his childhood, and it was almost like he’d reverted back to the boy he used to be, when he’d run free and fast with his littermates through rain and mud, and occasionally even snow.

Veering off Black Hill Loop, Jack cut through on a path that was barely noticeable. Something else had been out there, some animal big enough to break some branches here and there but not too tall considering where the breakage occurred.

And he caught a whiff of that scent again. Thrilled to be back on the hunt, Jack could only assume whatever creature he was chasing, it’d only just passed through. Otherwise, the scent would have been washed away.

With the overhang of the tree limbs, the rain wasn’t doing quite as much erasure as it had been. The thunder and lightning raged on, the wind whipping at him in sporadic, chilly bursts.

Jack didn’t care. Excitement was pumping alongside adrenalin in his veins. He was so close he was almost salivating with anticipation.

Anticipation for what, he didn’t want to really think about, because his dick was harder than it’d ever been, and that wasn’t his normal reaction to hunting.

***

About the Author:

A few things about me…

I am a married mom of four who spends most of the day writing, either on stories or at the blog. I love to write as much as I love to read. I am generally quiet and laid back, choosing to let things slide off me rather than stick and irritate me.

And it’s really hard trying to think of descriptives for myself, so I’ll just let y’all e-mail me or comment at the blog if there’s something specific you’d like to know, and spare you from reading a boring bio.

Website: www.baileybradford.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bailey.bradford.9


Book Review: The Raider by Asta Idonea


The Raider
by Asta Idonea
M/M Historical/Viking
Short Story
Wayward Ink Publishing
Also part of the Stranded Anthology
4 Stars

Blurb:

The gods truly do work in mysterious ways as Thorstein found out when he was left for dead on the battle field of a foreign land.

Review:

Wounded during a raid on an English coastal village, Viking Thorstein watches in despair as his countrymen head back to their boats and sail away. Knocked unconscious during the battle, he comes around to find himself lying in long grasses and no one has seen him.

He has been denied the honour of being killed in battle and so will be denied Valhalla. Instead, it seems he will die slowly and painfully from the wound in his leg. Thorstein has accepted his fate and waits to die.

What he hasn't counted on was the young English shepherd, Godwin, who finds him, takes him home to his small hut and heals him with herbal poultices and gives Thorstein somewhere to stay. Every day, Thorstein warily falls asleep, wondering if when he wakes this will be the day Godwin will kill him and have his reckoning for the Viking raid on the village.

But Godwin doesn't seem to want to kill him and as the days, weeks and months pass, Thorstein finds himself becoming more and more enamoured of the young man who saved his life. But could Godwin ever feel the same? They learn each others' language gradually, by pointing out items and naming them and can soon communicate very well. But there is only one question Thorstein desperately wants answered: "Why did you save me?"

"I was captivated."

This was a short, sweet romance, and a very enjoyable read but there was just something missing. I think it was the lack of conflict. Most of the story takes place in Godwin's home and we see no other characters besides those two. Being skilled in herbalism, surely there would have been some visitors to Godwin's door? I would have liked to have seen the other townsfolk pop by occasionally and be up in arms about Godwin harbouring one of the men who'd attacked the village. It would have been interesting to see Godwin standing up for his guest.

As it is, they are sort of in a world of their own and the rest of the world doesn't seem to exist for them. There wasn't even any conflict between Godwin's religious beliefs and the fact that he wanted to bed a man. It was a good story, but it could have been so much more.


Book Spotlight: Seducing Rain by Amber Kell





Seducing Rain
Amber Kell 
Release Date: February 8, 2015
Genre: Erotic Romance, M/M , BDSM, Suspense
Publisher: ARe
Buy Link: All Romance

Book Description:

Two stubborn men try to find love, balance and the path to escape a killer's hold...

Rainier Lemmon had taken one picture too many. After accidentally capturing a shooting on film, he finds himself in danger and needing a place to hide out.

Greg Carter has wanted Rain back ever since their one and only weekend together. But when Rain returns, it’s meant to be only temporary.

Can Greg seduce Rain into staying longer? Possibly forever.

***

Excerpt:

Greg Carter walked through his club. Music vibrated the floorboards masking the groans and gasps from club members as they gave into passion. People seeking privacy slinked in and out of the rooms lining the back walls.

Bored. Greg could admit it if only to himself that his club had lost some of its appeal. His general manager took care of the day-to-day stuff and after years of hiring and firing until he had the right combination of employees, he now had a great staff he trusted to do their jobs. He’d recently expanded and added a nightclub for the non-BDSM crowd. Even the rush of money from that venture didn’t dent his boredom. The challenge had faded from his life as soon as the club had opened and proven to be a success.

Shoving his hands into his pockets he scanned the crowd for potential problems. Everything appeared peaceful. Damn it. A hollow ache twisted his heart but Greg refused to acknowledge the pain as anything other than restlessness. It had nothing to do with a stubborn, beautiful sub that refused to stick around or return Greg’s phone calls. He’d moved on to sending random texts, but received the same results.

Snarky, gorgeous Rain with his defensive gray eyes and high pain threshold had given Greg one of the best weekends of his life, then disappeared. Over the past few weeks Greg had called Rain several times but when his messages weren’t returned he’d stopped. If Rain wanted Greg he knew where to find him. Unfortunately when Rain left Greg’s townhouse without a backward glance he took Greg’s libido with him. Even standing in a sea of gorgeous and willing twinks Greg’s cock didn’t even twitch. Now, nothing. Fuck.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and sent another text to Rain with little hope. What had he done wrong? Rain had left smiling and relaxed even if no promises had crossed either of their lips.

He spotted his brother and headed toward his table. The boy Greg had watched over his entire life had transformed into a grown man with a thriving art career and a devoted lover of his own. Every struggle in Greg’s life had been worth seeing his brother happy.

“How’s it going, bro?” Stephen grinned up at Greg from Victor Jones’s lap. An ever-present sketchbook lay across his knees and he clutched a pencil in his right hand.

Victor nodded in greeting but Greg could tell every millimeter of his attention was focused on Stephen, as it should be. Greg had struggled with their relationship at first, not wanting his brother to get involved with the older and much more experienced Dom. Now, Greg couldn’t imagine his brother without Victor; they were two halves of a matched set.

“Everything’s great. How about you?” Stephen appeared happy but his brother tended to have an easygoing outlook on life. Luckily Victor protected Stephen with the zeal of a hungry guard dog watching over a plate of steak. Examining his brother’s face, Greg spotted nothing but joy. Good, one less person he wanted to kill.

“I’m taking care of him,” Victor said. The Dom met his gaze with an amused one of his own as if he could read Greg’s mind and knew even now he was still on trial.

Greg nodded. “Good.”

From conversations with Stephen the only complaint his brother had involved Victor’s reluctance to introduce Stephen to deeper forms of submission. Stephen longed to enjoy Victor’s expertise with a whip. Victor still refused. Greg tried to keep out of their business but he had encouraged Stephen to talk to his lover.

Relationships were too much fucking work. He subdued the little voice in his head whispering that Rain would be worth the effort. Scowling, he gagged the nagging voice and tied it up in a St. Andrew’s cross in the corner of his mind.

“Have you heard from Rain?” Stephen’s compassionate gaze prodded Greg, urging him to spill his secrets. Greg resisted the temptation. He’d been the one to perfect the look, after all.

“No. I think we’re over. He’s ignoring me right now.” He played it off as unimportant. For anyone else it would’ve worked but Stephen knew Greg better than anyone on the planet.

“He’ll come around. If he doesn’t I’ll talk to him.” Stephen stated, confidence filling his tone.

Greg laughed. He’d love to be a fly on the wall for that conversation. Skittish, cautious Rain chatting with Stephen who never met an obstacle he couldn’t overcome with sheer perseverance. Hell, he’d sell tickets. “I’ll keep that in mind, but I’m not going to chase someone who doesn’t want me.”

If Rain refused to be caught Greg would have to admit defeat.

“Just because he’s not calling you back doesn’t mean he’s not interested. Maybe he’s a complex guy. Don’t give up on him yet. He could still come around,” Stephen urged.

“Maybe.” Greg patted Stephen on the shoulder, refusing to grab that bit of false hope. “See you later. You two should come have dinner with me next week.”

He hadn’t missed the tightening of Victor’s grip. The Dom still worried Greg would try to separate them. Greg didn’t know what to do to allay Victor’s fears. He might have tried to keep them apart at the beginning but he could see how his brother thrived in Victor’s care. All he’d ever wanted was his brother to be happy.

Stephen grinned. “I’ll call you and we’ll find a time.”

Greg met Victor’s gaze. Victor nodded his agreement. He had no doubt Stephen had the Dom wrapped around his little submissive finger but he didn’t want to cause a fight between the pair. “Great, see you soon.”

Leaving the happy couple, Greg continued searching the crowd. It struck him that his gaze always stopped at slim brunets. He might have convinced his head that pursuing Rain was a big mistake but his heart still liked the idea.

***

About the Author:

Amber Kell has made a career out of daydreaming. It has been a lifelong habit she practices diligently as shown by her complete lack of focus on anything not related to her fantasy world building.

When she told her husband what she wanted to do with her life he told her to go have fun.

During those seconds she isn't writing she remembers she has children who humor her with games of 'what if' and let her drag them to foreign lands to gather inspiration. Her youngest confided in her that he wants to write because he longs for a website and an author name—two things apparently necessary to be a proper writer.

Despite her husband's insistence she doesn't drink enough to be a true literary genius she continues to spin stories of people falling happily in love and staying that way.

She is thwarted during the day by a traffic jam of cats on the stairway and a puppy who insists on walks, but she bravely perseveres.

Website: www.amberkell.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amber.kell.7

Twitter: https://twitter.com/amberkell

Book Review: Alpha, Delta by R.J. Scott





Alpha, Delta
RJ Scott
Release Date: February 2, 2015
Genre: Erotic Romance, M/M, Contemp, Action/Adventure, RomSuspense
Publisher: ARe
5 Stars

Book Description:

Officer Finn Hallan has never run from a fight. With Niall’s life and love at stake, he’s not about to start now…

Finn Hallan is a member of the elite Norwegian Emergency Response Unit, code name Delta. When the team is sent to respond to a hostage situation on an oil platform in the Norwegian Sea, he has to face demons he thought he had buried a long time ago.

Scottish engineer Niall Faulkner’s skills in oil platform decommissioning takes him to the Forseti platform at the worst possible time. When he’s captured by terrorists, his only thought is that he will never get to tell his lover how he really feels.

Can Finn keep Niall alive? Or will they both die at the hands of hijackers in the frigid waters of the Norwegian Sea?

***

Review:

Niall Faulkner is an engineer working with companies to decommission oil platforms safely and ecologically. He spends a lot of his time on oil-rigs with a few meetings each year to give safety talks to the oil company employees back on land. His life consists of routine and he never expected to fall instantly in lust at one of the meetings, which were normally quite dull affairs, even for him.

Finn Hallan is Niall's every dream come to life: he's drop-dead gorgeous, over six-foot tall and towers over Niall and he exudes sex-appeal from every pore. It doesn't help that Finn is part of Delta, the Norwegian special forces team that protects the seas around Norway, and the oil fields Niall works on. Niall always did have a soft spot for a man in uniform and Finn fits his uniform very well.

Finn too is enamoured straightaway with the nerdy scientist in his glasses, who stumbles more than walks and seems out of his depth. Finn thinks it's adorable and he sets his sights on Niall.

Now, normally I am not one for a book where two characters meet and fall into bed together straightaway, but boy did it work for these two characters! The sexual tension simmered between them from the beginning and the love scene itself was so hot I was surprised I didn't burn my fingers holding my Kindle. It was passionate, sensual, erotic and romantic too.

Their one night stand turns into Niall and Finn getting together a few times over the next few months, but Finn rarely stays the night and Niall wonders where it's all going.

He's in love with Finn, but Niall doesn't really do love, or he never has before. That all changes when Niall is taken hostage on board an oil-rig he was set to decommission by terrorists.

Although a short novella, the book is a complete story. It has eveything you need; romance, adventure, tension and the hottest love scenes I've read in a book for a long time. Finn and Niall were wonderful, I adored both of them and you'll be rooting for them to get their happy ever after. An excellent read.

***

About the Author:

RJ Scott has been writing since age six, when she was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies. She was told to write a story and two sides of paper about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born.

As an avid reader herself, she can be found reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror. However, her first real true love will always be the world of romance where she takes cowboys, bodyguards, firemen and billionaires (to name a few) and writes dramatic and romantic stories of love and passion between these men.

With over sixty titles to her name and counting, she is the author of the award winning book, The Christmas Throwaway.  She is also known for the Texas series charting the lives of Riley and Jack, and the Sanctuary series following the work of the Sanctuary Foundation and the people it protects.

Her 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.

Always thrilled to hear from her readership, please contact her via the following links below:

Website: http://www.rjscott.co.uk

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/author.rjscott

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Rjscott_author

Book Spotlight & Giveaway: Bare Threads by D.P. Denman





Title: Bare Threads
Author: DP Denman
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance

Liam is not a family man. He learned to avoid the entanglement and its mire of expectations; expectations he feels destined to crush. Unfortunately, Justin is pushing him into the arms of his new family and he’s fighting every step.

When a person he never expected to see again reappears, Liam finds a reason to make a few concessions for the sake of real love and the only man he is willing to call family.

Book four of the Saving Liam Series

***

Excerpt:

Optimism and anxiety sparred in his head, pulling his eyebrows into a knot while he transferred clothes from his suitcase to one of the drawers in the dresser.

“What?” Justin sat on the edge of the bed while Liam grabbed a pile of socks for the second trip.

“Nothing.”

“Baby.”

He looked at Justin. “This isn’t going to work.” He stuffed the socks in a drawer.

“What isn’t?”

“Avoiding the truth all weekend.”

“What truth?” Confusion wrinkled Justin’s brow.

“That I’ll be wearing more clothes in the next two days than I do in a week and a half at home.”

Justin took his hand when he was in reach, using it to pull Liam into his lap. “Nobody’s avoiding anything.” Justin wrapped arms around him. “It’s not that big a deal. So, you dance for people. I’ll admit, it’s an unusual career choice but, they’d treat you the same way if you were still waiting tables.”

He nodded at a speech he’d heard before and scowled at the carpet unconvinced. Fingers touched the side of his chin and turned Liam’s head leaving him no choice but to meet Justin’s eyes.

“If you plan to spend all weekend anticipating judgmental bullshit you’ll be disappointed.” Justin caressed his chin with a thumb. “They don’t blame you for something that wasn’t your fault.”

He stared into warm brown eyes and read the rest of the speech. This wasn’t his house or even his town. The hateful people he expected to confront lived one province over and they weren’t coming to dinner. Justin pulled him closer by the fingers on his chin and kissed him.

“Once they get to know you they’re going to love you just like I do. Okay, maybe not just like I do but you know what I mean.”

He smiled at the attempted humor and draped an arm around Justin’s shoulders.

“That’s probably for the best,” he said.

“Probably. Let’s finish unpacking before they wonder what we’re doing in here.”

“I could bounce on the bed a little to answer the question.”

“Always the tease.” Justin pushed him from his lap. “None of that this weekend, okay?”

“It’s not like we can’t be quiet about it.”

Their first apartment had taught them about muting the volume during sex.

“I doubt anything you do could inspire an erection with my parents in the next room.”

Liam cocked an eyebrow at the challenge.

“No.” Justin shook his head and opened his own suitcase. “If you want to get your rocks off you can do it when I’m not in the room.”

“Not even a little of this?” He raised his arms over his head and rolled his hips to an imaginary beat.

“Not even a lot of that.” Justin carried shirts to the closet and swatted his ass on the way by. “Behave yourself.”

***

Author bio

Award winning author DP Denman writes character-driven contemporary romance about gay men. Her stories are real and intense, but resolve in endings that make people want to read the book all over again. She is from the Pacific Northwest and bases all of her stories in Vancouver, British Columbia.

In her spare time, she is a dedicated LGBTQIA rights activist, fighting for those who have been marginalized and abused. To that end, 25% of the royalties from every book go to support LGBT charities.

Website: http://www.dpdenman.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/dpdenman
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dp.denman
Blog: http://dpdenmanauthor.blogspot.com
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/dpdenman

***

Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Book Spotlight: Two Howls by Sean Michael





Two Howls 
by Sean Michael
Release Date: February 4, 2015
Genre: Erotic Romance, M/M, Shifter
Publisher: ARe

Book Description:

Max is on the run, but is he running from his past, or toward his future? Only Ulf knows…

Werewolf Max knows desiring males is wrong, but he can't help himself. When his pack nearly kills him in an attempt to cleanse him, Max runs. Jumping on his motorcycle, he heads north.

Ulf has lived on his own in the wilds of Northern Ontario for a long time. When he catches the scent of a stranger in his territory, he’s angry at first, until he realizes that Max is more than just another werewolf. They’re mates.

Ulf must make Max believe that two males can be mates, but just as he’s about to succeed, Max's past catches up with him. Will the home they've been hoping to build together be lost for good?

***

About the Author:

Often referred to as "Space Cowboy" and "Gangsta of Love" while still striving for the moniker of "Maurice," Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and pursuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to "Chicago."

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He'll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Website: www.seanmichaelwrites.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites

Twitter: https://twitter.com/seanmichael09

Release Day Spotlight: Say Cheese by Michael P. Thomas

Title: Say Cheese
Author: Michael P. Thomas
Length: short story
Genre: gay romance, contemporary
Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing

Synopsis

Grover Shepherd is the only thing Felix Medrano loves more than being the current darling of Hollywood. He throws a star-studded surprise engagement party to declare that love to the world, and it’s a smash, save for one detail: Shep is a no-show. Felix knows Shep missed his flight home from New Orleans, but that was fifteen hours ago. What’s the hold up?

saycheese

Buy Links
Amazon US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00S9ZAGSY
Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00S9ZAGSY
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00S9ZAGSY
WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/say-cheese-by-michael-p-thomas/
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/say-cheese-michael-p-thomas/1121080912?ean=9781925222289
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-saycheese-1731865-237.html

Excerpt

And so they talked about acting. They talked about television. They talked about movie stars of old, and about how many of them you’d see if you watched The Love Boat on DVD. 
“I mean, it wasn’t just Ted Knight and Charo on every episode,” Felix said. “I’m talking about Oscar winners. Olivia DeHavilland and Joan Fontaine, for Heaven’s sake! One day you’re in Gone With the Wind, the next you’re playing Captain Stubing’s Great Aunt Fanny? I wish they’d reboot that show. I’d have someplace to go when I’m yesterday’s news. I could find love with the lounge act, surprise them all: Grampa’s still got it!”
Shep laughed. “Maybe you could spearhead a revival. It can’t be that hard. All you need is a stowaway, a jewel thief, and a case of mistaken identity for each episode.” 
“Sounds like you know your Love Boat,” Felix said admiringly. “Maybe that can be your Hollywood dream.” 
“Okay, you really want to know my Hollywood dream?” Shep asked. 
“I do.” 
“More champagne, that’s my Hollywood dream.” He signaled their waiter, and just like that, it came true. 
They cracked each other up brainstorming through ever-more elaborate Love Boat plots:
“Naturally, her father doesn’t approve because he’s not the right sort….” 
“What he doesn’t approve of is how short his shorts are….” 
“I see Raven-Symone as the former Broadway star whose agent books her on the cruise but forgets to tell her it’s unpaid.” 
“So she has to cocktail to pay her fare, and Isaac falls in love with her." 
“This shit writes itself.” 
Eventually they fell quiet, although they continued to gaze, tittering, into each other’s eyes. Felix reached across the table and took Shep’s hand. “I had a great time last night, Sheppy.” 
“Me too,” Shep said with a laugh. He’d lost the battle where the sobriquet ‘Sheppy’ was concerned, although it had eventually been made clear to the rest of The Boyz (and Frieda) at the Clarion that it would only be tolerated when it issued from Felix, and then only with an unwavering eye roll. 
“I think I might kinda like you.” 
“Forget The New Love Boat,” Shep said. “Your true calling is obviously epic love poetry. Or at least romantic greeting cards." 
“Don’t mock me when I’ve had mimosas.”

Michael-Thomas-Write-On-300x225About the author

Michael P. Thomas is a flight attendant whose writing is continually inspired by his work with the flying public, who flatly refuse to be boring. The author of three novel-length gay romances and a number of romantic and erotic shorts, he writes gay fiction because when he was coming out he sure was glad to have it to read. After misspending his youth in San Francisco, he now lives in his native Colorado with his husband.

Social Links
Website: http://misterstewardess.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GoReadMichaelPThomas
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MrStewardess

Book Review & Giveaway: A Taste of You by Irene Preston


A Taste of You
by Irene Preston
M/M Contemporary
Fated Desires Publishing
Expected Release Date: 15 March 2015
5 Stars

Blurb:

Hell’s Kitchen has nothing on the flames Giancarlo and Garrett ignite at Restaurant Ransom...

Garrett Ransom is America’s hot chef du jour. He has a Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City, a hit reality TV show, and a new man in his bed every week. Yes, he secretly thinks his business partner, Giancarlo “Carlo” Rotolo, is hotter than a ghost pepper, but he would never jeopardize their friendship with a fling. Then Garrett overhears some juicy gossip among the crew and realizes he’ll have to break Giancarlo’s cardinal rule, no banging the staff - for Carlo’s own good, of course. Just a taste of Carlo should be plenty. Long-term relationships aren’t on Garrett’s menu.

Giancarlo’s been in love with Garrett forever. He’s sure Garrett will eventually realize they are destined to be more than business partners. But when Garrett installs his latest boyfriend as their new chef d’cuisine and announces plans to leave Carlo in New York while he opens a second restaurant on the west coast, Carlo is forced to re-evaluate his life.

Can a high-strung British chef and a nice Italian boy from Brooklyn find the perfect fusion of fine-dining and family-style?

Review:

Garrett and Giancarlo have been best friends since college and for the past ten years have been business partners too in the upscale restaurant, Ransom. They each have the same golden rule: no romantic entanglements with anyone at work and for the most part that seems to work.

But Carlo has been in love with Garrett forever and his heart breaks a little bit more each time Garrett has the new lover of the week, or the night. He seems to have a different man on his arm each time Carlo sees him. With his successful television show, Ransom Me, doing well out in California, Garrett wants to open a new Ransom restaurant on the West Coast. It means they would hardly see each other and Carlo becomes increasingly morose as the day of Garrett's departure draws nearer.

He doesn't think he'll ever have a chance with Garrett, so he decides that he needs something just for himself, not anything to do with Garrett, so he decides to take up his cousin Joey's offer to open a family style restaurant with him.

Garrett is jealous of all the time Carlo is spending away from Ransom and he overhears some of the staff gossiping about a man Carlo would have no chance with. That annoys Garrett even more, any man would be lucky to have Carlo and he decides it's time to break their cardinal rule. He will go after Carlo and show this other man what he's missing, unaware that he is the man Carlo wants.

This book was wonderful from start to finish. We had a bit of everything, there was angst, there was humour, there was romance, there was passion, both in the kitchen and out of it. Food plays a major part and you could tell these two characters love their restaurant, despite the hard work involved.

The main story was between Carlo and Garrett, but the side characters were well drawn too, everyone had their part to play. The love scenes sizzled hotter than anything they ever cooked at Ransom, made all the more poignant I think, because Carlo had been waiting years to get his man. Everything Carlo did, he did for Garrett, but for a while Garrett was too dense to see it. Thankfully he woke up. I adored both of them and wanted so much for things to work out between them. They were perfect for each other.

A well-written, sensual romance that will leave you smiling at the end.

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