Showing posts with label Star Shadow series. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Star Shadow series. Show all posts

Thursday, July 9, 2020

Extraordinary Things (Star Shadow, #4) by Beth Bolden (Release blitz, excerpt, and review) GBP ADULT title

RELEASE BLITZ


 Extraordinary Things
  (Star Shadow #4)
ADULT title
by
 Beth Bolden



Publisher: Beth Bolden Books

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood Designs

Genre/s: MM Rock Star Romance, Existing Couple

Heat Rating: 3 flames 

Length: 50 000 words

NOT a standalone story.

Release Date: June 26, 2020





 


Extraordinary Things is a continuation of Leo and Caleb's love story from Terrible Things.

It should not be read as a standalone.


Blurb

Leo and Caleb have been through hell—addiction, destruction, and even a five year separation—but they’ve come through on the other side with their love stronger than ever.

Caleb knows he’s earned Leo’s forgiveness. He wants to believe he deserves it, but just when Leo needs him more than ever, a voice in his head insists that maybe he doesn't. It’s so loud, he can't block it out. So loud, he’d do anything to silence it.

Including risking everything he and Leo, and the rest of Star Shadow, have built together.




Excerpt

“If you don't want to buy another house, you just need to tell me,” Leo said, and then wiggled out of Caleb's grasp, walking over to their big oversized walk-in closet. “Then I'll tell the realtor,” he said, his voice muffled. “But I feel stupid going to look at all these great places, when you end up hating all of them.”

“I don't hate them,” Caleb said quietly. That was true. He didn't hate them. There wasn't even anything really wrong with them, but there was this voice that kept telling him it was a mistake to move. A mistake to buy a new house, even though they had enough cash they could buy ten houses. “I just like this one.”

“I do too.” Leo walked out of the closet, wearing only a pair of skintight briefs, leaving nothing to the imagination and sending Caleb's pulse through the stratosphere. His voice and expression had softened, and Caleb thought if he kissed Leo, he wouldn't push him away. Not now. “I just wouldn't mind having some additional space.”

“Maybe,” Caleb said, clearing his throat as he began to unbutton his own shirt, “maybe we could look into an addition.”

Leo gave him a soft, chiding look, like he could see right through Caleb, straight into him, into all those ugly places that he tried to hide, and tried to hide from. “Maybe,” he said. Even though they both knew perfectly well that there was no extra room on their small, beachfront lot for an addition. If they wanted a bigger house, they would need to buy one. But for right now, Leo seemed to have let the problem go, and so Caleb decided that now when they had so much to celebrate, what was the point of continuing to argue about it? They'd figure it out—someday, anyway, Caleb reasoned.

“Hey,” Caleb said, shucking his shirt and reaching for Leo again, his hands sliding up his soft curves, reveling in the way his skin felt against his hands. “Hey, let's go to bed.”

Leo gave him a sly, lopsided smile, reaching up and intertwining his fingers through his curls, pulling Caleb down so their lips were nearly touching. “And what do you think I was trying to do, this whole damn time?”

“Torture me?”

“Maybe just a little,” Leo acknowledged, raising himself up so their eyes were nearly level. That deep, endless blue was something that Caleb had gotten lost in for the first time at the age of sixteen, and he'd never ever gotten over it—and the truth was, he never ever wanted to. Leo was as much a part of him as his red hair or his too-big hands or his mediocre ability to play the bass. Even when they'd been separated, and it had been years since he'd seen Leo, there'd always been a part of him yearning to be with him again, to feel that hot wild blue gaze wash over him, calming and exciting him, somehow all at the same time.

“I love you,” Caleb said, even though the words didn't feel like enough to possibly explain the feelings surging through him. Love and lust and tenderness and winding through all of that, a golden thread of abject gratitude.

Leo was the toughest person Caleb knew—the most relentless, and possibly the least forgiving person on the planet. So if he'd forgiven Caleb, and they'd moved on, that must mean Caleb deserved that forgiveness.

“You look,” Leo said thoughtfully, tapping a finger on Caleb's bottom lip, “you look like you're not thinking of what you should be thinking about.”




Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited


 


About the Author 

A lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published eighteen novels and six novellas.



Social Media Links


 

 



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GIVEAWAY


   





 



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My review:

 

4 out of 5 stars


Extraordinary Things by Beth Bolden is the fourth novel in the ‘Star Shadow’ series that features a group of guys as they finally find happiness and satisfaction in their lives. Caleb and Leo have had a difficult journey that was detailed in Terrible Things, the first novel in the quartet. They have gotten back together and are determined to make things work, but they’re not quite as confident in their relationship as they try to project…and the road ahead may be rocky.


This adult contemporary gay romance does a great job of tying up the series as all of the guys in the band settle into their relationships. Caleb and Leo have gone through the crucible of Caleb’s abandonment, and although their love is burning strong, they are still a little tentative about being honest about their wants and needs. There are a couple of relatively minor conflicts that have to be resolved, but this story is more about tying up all of the loose ends for each of the couples.

Given that there is such strong notice that this book should not be read as a stand-alone story, I was a little surprised that there were several flashbacks, which probably would help orient a reader new to the series but felt a little repetitive. I didn’t have the intense connection that I formed with these guys in the first story, but I still enjoyed the warm fuzzies from the romantic interludes and the resolutions for various happy couples. These stories were the first I’ve read by this author and I’ll definitely be looking for more of her works.


A copy of this title was provided for review



Monday, June 8, 2020

Hazardous Things (Star Shadow, #3) by Beth Bolden (Release blitz, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GBP ADULT title



 Hazardous Things 
(Star Shadow, #3)
ADULT title
by
Beth Bolden

Publisher: Beth Bolden Books

Cover Artist: Cate Ashwood Designs

Release Date: May 29, 2020

Genre/s: MM Rock Star Romance, Friends to Lovers, 

Bisexual Awakening, Forced Proximity

Heat Rating: 4 flames 

Length: 80 000 words

It is NOT a standalone story. 

Reviewers/readers need to have read either 




 



Blurb

Felix Humphries can’t even remember the first time he crushed on Star Shadow’s drummer, Max McCloud.

It’s been an embarrassingly long time, but he’s still never acted on his feelings. One, because Max is his older brother’s best friend. Two, because Max is also his friend. Three, Max is technically his boss. And four, worst of all, Max is straight.

But when Max unexpectedly needs a caretaker for a few weeks, Felix can’t leave his friend in the lurch. He’s all ready to suffer through being so close but not close enough, when the unexpected happens.

Max isn’t straight after all, and what Max wants is Felix—but only in his bed, not in his heart.

Hazardous Things is the third book in the Star Shadow series and should not be read as a standalone.




Excerpt


When Felix came back into Max’s room, the nurse in tow, Max was still awake. He was staring out the window, a harmless drugged smile on his face.
“He’s gonna sleep for a while,” the nurse said, “at least when you get him back home.”
“I’m assuming he’s better off sleeping than being coherent and in pain,” Felix said quietly.
“Oh yeah,” the nurse said. “There’s prescriptions for the pain. And it’ll be significant. Make sure he takes them. If he doesn’t, it’s going to be real uncomfortable for both of you.”
“That won’t be a problem. I’m staying with him,” Felix said. After all, once he committed to something, he committed to it.
“I see you’re awake again,” the nurse said, going over to Max’s side. “How you feel about taking off?”
“Home,” Max repeated firmly.
“That’s right,” the nurse said, and after donning a pair of gloves, began to work on getting the IV out of Max’s arm.
Felix wasn’t exactly squeamish—he’d better not be, anyway, considering that the nurse had already gone over Max’s care instructions and he would definitely be the one changing the surgical dressing and making sure it stayed clean—but it was hard to watch when it was Max. When it was someone he cared about as much as he did Max.
Especially when Felix saw Max flinch.
“Hey,” Felix said, reaching for Max’s other hand and tangling those long, calloused fingers with his own. There’d been a point when he’d have cut off his other hand just to hold hands with the man in front of him, but he couldn’t think about that now. Now, he needed to distract Max from the IV being removed.
“Heeeeey,” Max said, and that was definitely not what Felix had expected. Was that . . .a leer?
“Hi yourself,” Felix said, squeezing Max’s hand.
Max raised their joined hands and brushed them against Felix’s forehead. “Pretty,” he said. “So pretty.”
Felix ordered himself not to blush, but it was useless. He glanced up, and the nurse was looking at them. “Your brother, huh?” she asked, amusement in her voice.
He squirmed. “My brother’s best friend,” he finally confessed. He’d been worried that they wouldn’t let him stay in the waiting room during the surgery or wouldn’t let him in to see Max in recovery if he wasn’t a family member, so he’d fudged the truth a little.
“Ah, that kind of brother,” the nurse said, her voice knowing.
Even though Felix wanted to explain it couldn’t ever be like that, because Max wouldn’t ever be interested in him that way, he didn’t, because it was already humiliating enough that his crush was visible from space.
When this ordeal was over, the only person on earth who didn’t know was going to be Max himself—and Felix would do just about anything to keep it that way.
“I’m just about done here,” she continued. “Just keep him distracted for a moment longer.”
Max’s hazel eyes were speckled with green in this light, unfocused and utterly focused on Felix all at the same time.
“Hey, it’s gonna be alright,” Felix said, his voice so much more tender than he’d intended. If he looked up, he might see quiet amusement on the nurse’s face, but he didn’t look, because he was finding it tough to look away from Max.
“Alright?” Max repeated, but he didn’t sound certain. At least not certain enough for Felix’s peace of mind. Even if this was hard—even if it felt impossible—to be there for Max over the next few weeks, he knew deep down in his bones that it was the right thing to do. Max was alone and understandably, justifiably scared—and even if there was never anything more than friendship between them, Felix wanted to be the one who reassured him.
“It’s going to be more than alright,” Felix promised. Promised himself that he would do whatever it took to make this vow come true.




Buy Links - Available on Kindle Unlimited


Amazon US | Amazon UK


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About the Author 

A lifelong Oregonian, Beth Bolden has just recently moved to North Carolina with her supportive husband and their sweet kitten, Earl Grey. Beth still believes in Keeping Portland Weird, and intends to be just as weird in Raleigh.

Beth has been writing practically since she learned the alphabet. Unfortunately, her first foray into novel writing, titled Big Bear with Sparkly Earrings, wasn’t a bestseller, but hope springs eternal. She’s published seventeen novels and six novellas.

 


Social Media Links

Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter | BookBub





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GIVEAWAY


a $25 Amazon gift card



 



 




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My review:




4 out of stars


Hazardous Things by Beth Bolden is the third book in the ‘Star Shadow’ series and centers around Felix Humphries and the drummer for his brother’s band, Max McCloud. Felix decides to support Max during the band’s hiatus, and maybe he’ll find a way to cope with the hopeless situation he’s struggled against for years.


This adult contemporary gay romance follows another of the complicated relationship that plagues the band. The painful history that ties all of these men together makes it even more difficult for Felix to pursue what he sees as a fruitless quest to step out from his standard role and follow his heart, especially with a guy who has always pursued straight relationships. I love that, even conflicted as they are, they still are there for each other when it’s needed.

All of the guys in this series are charismatic, and their bonds to each other are strong and inspiring…even when their communication skills aren’t the best. As with the other books in this series, there are plenty of angsty conflicts and hurt feelings from misinterpretations and intense scenes. I enjoyed this addition to the collection of stories about the guys in Star Shadow, and I look forward to reading the sequel.



A copy of this title was provided for review