Tuesday, July 31, 2018

The Case of the Sexy Shakespearean by Tara Lain (Release day blitz and review) VEB




A cozy mystery with a tongue-tied nerd of a history professor tempted by a gorgeous graduate student and millions of dollars if he can solve one of history's greatest mysteries -- who was Shakespeare really?



 




by
 Tara Lain

Blurb:

Dr. Llewellyn Lewis leads a double life, as both an awkward but distinguished history professor and the more flamboyant Ramon Rondell, infamous writer of sensational historical theories. It's Ramon who first sets eyes on a gorgeous young man dancing in a club, but Llewellyn who meets teaching assistant Blaise Arthur formally at an event held for wealthy socialite Anne de Vere, descendant of Edward de Vere, seventeenth Earl of Oxford-who some believe was the real Shakespeare. Anne wants Llewellyn to prove that claim, even though many have tried and failed. And she's willing to offer a hefty donation to the university if he succeeds.

It also means a chance for Llewellyn to get to know Blaise much better.

Not everyone thinks Llewellyn should take the case-or the money. Between feuding siblings, rival patrons, jealous colleagues, and greedy administrators, almost anyone could be trying to thwart his work... and one of them is willing to kill to do it.

When Anne de Vere turns up dead, the police believe Blaise is the murderer. Only the shy, stuttering professor who has won his heart can prove otherwise...


Available for purchase at



Excerpt

  
Goose bumps on top of goose bumps.
Tingles traveled out along his nerves from the soothing touch of Blaise’s hand until the hairs on his arm weren’t the only things standing up. Why did Blaise just turn his whole existence upside down? When Blaise was around, Llewellyn wanted things it was stupid for him to want. Things that only happened to the special, lucky guys. Forever things.
In spite of himself, he sighed and slowly lowered his head to Blaise’s shoulder.
Blaise dropped his cheek against Llewellyn’s hair. For minutes they just sat like that, their beer bottles dripping on the coffee table. Weirdly, it was the most peaceful moment Llewellyn had experienced in… at least days. Since that fateful night when he’d first seen Blaise dancing.
Gently, Blaise slipped a hand under Llewellyn’s chin and turned his head toward him. Almost like he was stealing his breath, he moved his lips ever so slowly toward Llewellyn’s, pausing a half inch away. Llewellyn’s lips quivered, the scent of the beer they’d both drunk filling his head. Dear God, could he climax just from the anticipation of kissing Blaise?
Finally, finally their lips touched. Softer than Marie’s fur.
And bam! Blaise grabbed Llewellyn’s head and devoured his mouth like a five-course banquet menu.
The silly analogy used in novels, that people went up in flames—not silly anymore. Llewellyn’s nervous system overloaded before Blaise’s tongue had even explored the deeper recesses in his mouth. He heard himself moaning and whimpering. Embarrassing, but he couldn’t stop.
His brain knew there was something off about Blaise. Some truth that needed exploring. He didn’t care. He wanted to delude himself all the way to the bedroom. He’d trade his greed to know the answers for a night in Blaise’s arms.






About the Author

Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Erotic Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance,  Best Gay Characters, and more. Readers often call her books “sweet,” even with all that hawt sex, because Tara believes in love and her books deliver on happily-ever-after. In addition to writing dozens and dozens of romance novels,  Tara also owns an advertising and public relations firm. Her love of creating book titles comes from years of manifesting ad headlines for everything from analytical instruments to semiconductors. She does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. Together with her soulmate husband and her soulmate Dog, she recently realized a vision to live where there were a lot more trees and a lot fewer cars by moving to Ashland, Oregon. She hasn’t stopped smiling since. 

You can find Tara at Lain


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My review:




4 out of 5 stars


The Case of the Sexy Shakespearean by Tara Lain is an adult m/m cozy mystery that features Dr. Llewellyn Lewis, who gets caught up in a very lucrative research proposition. His alter-ego only gets a brief cameo but definitely is enchanted by the man who turns out to be a new teaching assistant at Llewellyn’s university. The prospect of proving someone else wrote the works attributed to Shakespeare is sweetened with a significant financial incentive, but the search may prove deadly.


I always look forward to devouring a new story by this talented author because I like her characters and their ability to overcome their obstacles and find someone who embraces them for who they are. I enjoyed watching the personable professor work his way through the minefield of his job and personal preferences. I would have liked a little more of Rondell’s personality to be displayed and I’m not quite sure I like or forgive Blaise yet but hopefully he will continue to redeem himself. There were great twists to the mystery and I enjoyed Llewellyn’s self-deprecation and humility that mask his incisive mind and skill. I look forward to meeting more of this author’s “beautiful boys” and watching them solve more mysteries.

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

 

3 comments:

  1. Thank you so much for welcoming my beautiful boys!! Hugs! So glad you liked it. : )

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  2. I think the excerpt was amazing.

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    Replies
    1. Thank you, Sara. This was a fun one to write. : )

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