Safe Harbour by Thom Collins (Release blitz, excerpt, and review) GBP ADULT title

Safe Harbour

  (Jagged Shores Book 2) 

ADULT title

by

Thom Collins

 

Publisher: Pride Publishing

Release Date: November 9, 2021

Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance, Thriller and suspense

Tropes. Small town, holiday/coastal romance

Themes: Divorce, fresh starts, jealousy

Heat Rating: 4 flames    

Length: 58 382 words/ 229 pages

It is the second book in a linked series (Jagged Shores) but can be read alone. 

It does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

Two lovers seek shelter in a storm of jealousy and passion

Blurb

Matt arrives in the seaside town of Nyemouth for a much-needed vacation. As a successful lawyer, Matt has a hectic career, and with an ex-husband still pestering him for money, he is long overdue a break. A holiday home perched above the town and its breath-taking harbour seems like the perfect place to unwind. Matt can’t wait to explore the beautiful, jagged shorelines and lose himself for a couple of weeks.

Jake has made a home in Nyemouth. After growing up in the city, living on the coast is everything to him. Running a business with his sister and volunteering on the crew of the local lifeboat, he is exactly where he wants to be. But Jake’s life is far from peaceful. Though he left his domineering husband Vince a year ago, Vince refuses to consent to a divorce or loosen his controlling hold on Jake.

On Matt’s first night in town, he encounters the couple having a blazing row. When Vince turns violent, Matt intervenes and takes Jake inside to escape his angry ex. Despite what happened, Matt feels a powerful attraction to the younger man. Jake is bright, endearing and unbelievably attractive, but the young man’s life is complicated. Matt already has enough problems of his own. He came away looking for an escape, not a starry-eyed distraction. As Matt and Jake get to know each other better, the gamble on a holiday romance becomes hard for either of them to resist. They have both been unlucky in love before. Maybe this time will be different.

Vince will not be shaken off so easily. He has no intention of letting Jake go…ever. As Matt’s and Jake’s emotions deepen, they do not understand how far Vince will take things to keep his husband. As far as Vince is concerned, they made a vow to each other… “till death do us part.”

 

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Excerpt

Matt opened the gate and approached Jake, who stood watching as Vince walked away.

“Are you all right?” he asked.

Jake’s skin was rosy, and his chest rose and fell dramatically. His hands trembled. Shock, Matt surmised. Jake turned to look at him. His eyes were wide, the pupils huge. “Yes,” he said, out of breath, “I’m… I’m fine.”

“You’re bleeding.”

“What?”

Matt pointed at his cheek. “Where he clocked you.”

“Oh.” He put his fingers to his face and looked at the blood on the tips. 

“Why don’t you come inside for a few minutes? I’ll get you an Elastoplast for that.”

“No, I couldn’t. Sorry… We’ve caused you enough trouble already.”

“Hey,” he said softly, “don’t apologise. I couldn’t ignore what was happening. Come on in. You’re shaking, too. Take a seat until you get your breath back. Give your buddy time to get away. I wouldn’t want you bumping into him at the bottom of the road.”

Jake exhaled, and the tension left his neck and shoulders. “If it’s no trouble, I could come in for a few minutes—just until things calm down.”

“Are you hurting anywhere else?” he asked, leading Jake to the front door and inside. “From when you fell.”

“Only my pride,” he said. “If that counts.”

Matt smiled. “Nothing wrong with your sense of humour.” He led Jake to the kitchen at the rear of the ground floor and sat him at the table. Matt folded a piece of kitchen roll into a small square and gave it to Jake. “Press this tight against the cut. There’s a first-aid kit in my suitcase. I won’t be a minute.”

“No need,” Jake said, pressing the paper towel against his cheek. “This should be enough to stop the bleeding. It’s just a scratch. You’ve done more than enough already. Thanks a lot.”

Being so close to him, Matt realised what a great-looking guy Jake was, with those beautiful eyes and unblemished skin. His T-shirt was well-fitted, showing the fine shape of his chest and shoulders beneath. His bare arms were muscular, gently suntanned and covered in light-brown hair. Despite his serious expression, there were very few lines on his face. Matt guessed his age to be around twenty-five.

“Do you want me to call the police?” he asked. “I got most of what happened on camera—certainly, the assault part. With me as a witness and the video evidence, they’ll have enough to charge him. It’ll get him out of your hair for the weekend, at least.”

Jake shook his head. “I don’t want to involve the police. It will only make things worse.”

“That guy assaulted you.”

“I’ll live. It’s just a scratch. If we phone the police, it will only make Vince worse.”

Matt didn’t push it. He’d seen this so many times before when victims of violence didn’t want to pursue a case for fear of inflaming the situation. “So, who is that guy? Your boyfriend?”

Jake exhaled dramatically. “If only. That would make things so much easier. No, Vince is my husband—soon-to-be ex-husband. At least I hope so. That’s what tonight was all about. My solicitor wrote to him about the divorce and he got the letter this morning.”

 

Buy Links

Universal Sales Link  |  Publisher  |  First For Romance 

Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon AUS

Kobo |  Barnes and Noble

 

 

 

 

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About the Author 

Thom Collins is the author of Closer by Morning, North Point and the Anthem Trilogy. His love of page turning thrillers began at an early age when his mother caught him reading the latest Jackie Collins book and confiscated it, sparking a life-long love of raunchy novels.

Thom has lived in the North East of England his whole life. He grew up in Northumberland and now lives in County Durham with his husband and two cats. He loves all kinds of genre fiction, especially bonk-busters, thrillers, romance and horror. He is also a cookery book addict with far too many titles cluttering his shelves. When not writing he can be found in the kitchen trying out new recipes. He’s a keen traveler but with a fear of flying that gets worse with age, but in 2013 he realized cruising is the best way to see the world.

Check out his website for news updates and a free ebook The Night.

Other links

Twitter: @thomwolf  |  Instagram: thomcollinsauthor  |   Newsletter Sign-up   

 

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GIVEAWAY

 

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win 

one of five ebooks from Thom's backlist.

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Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

 

 

 

 

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My review:

Safe Harbour by Thom Collins is the second book in the 'Jagged Shores' series and centers around newcomer Matt Ramsey as he becomes integrated into the society in the town of Nyemouth and invested in the complicated life of Jake, who can't get his abusive husband to accept that their marriage is over.

 

 

This contemporary gay romance follows two men who can't find a future together until their past issues have been resolved. I love the small-town connections and the dedication shown by the volunteers who risk their lives to save those who run into trouble out on the tricky waters. The mystery and the danger ramps up even as the men explore what they can be with each other, if only they can free themselves from the burdens dragging them down from the past.

 

I was invested in the story immediately, and although I could see some of the disasters just waiting to happen, I was anxious to keep turning the page to find out what would happen next, not to mention hungry for seafood after some of those scenes, lol. I think this is a great addition to the series, and although there are cameos by some of the characters from the first book, there is no problem reading this story as a stand-alone tale. I look forward to reading more about the inhabitants of this fascinating town.

 

 

A copy of this title was provided for review

Rough Trade (Woodbury Boys #3) by Sidney Bell (Spotlight, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) ANT ADULT title

Rough Trade 

(Woodbury Boys #3) 

by

Sidney Bell 

ADULT title 

Publisher: Carina Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook):

Ebook: Monday December 3

Print (mmp): Tuesday December 25

Length (Print & Ebook):

Ebook: 496

Print (mmp): 496

Subgenre:

Contemporary Romance, Romantic Suspense, Male/Male Romance

Reader warnings: Childhood sexual abuse, angst

Blurb:

Quick-witted hustler Ghost is no stranger to living dangerously; survival has always been the name of the game.

He’s just always gone it alone.

Now he’s got the wrong people breathing down his neck, and the only way out demands placing his trust in the unlikeliest of heroes: Duncan Rook, a gruff cop whose ethics are as solid as his body.

Cozying up to a criminal is hardly what Duncan’s reputation on the force needs—especially when that criminal is temptation personified. Ghost is Duncan’s polar opposite, and the last person he expected to fall for.

So then why does every imaginable scenario for taking down their common enemy end with Ghost in his arms?

This book is approximately 122,000 words



One-click with confidence. This title is part of the Carina Press Romance Promise: all the romance you’re looking for with an HEA/HFN. It’s a promise!

Excerpt:

He turned around with his jaw set and put both hands on Duncan’s chest. He pushed gently, so gently that Duncan couldn’t interpret it as anything but a question, and a nonthreatening one at that, so he found himself playing along until his back hit the concave wall of the tunnel. The cement seeped cold through his own thin, sweat-dampened T-shirt, making him shiver.

Or maybe it was Ghost nudging at Duncan’s feet with his toes until Duncan widened his stance, making room for Ghost to step closer still, until their thighs brushed, until Ghost’s tilted-up face was only inches away, his breath on Duncan’s lips. Ghost’s hands trembled against him. That small vulnerability made Duncan hurt deep in his belly, hot and sweet and aching.

“What are you doing?” Duncan whispered.

“You asked why.” Ghost cupped the back of his skull, trying to coax him to lower his head, and Duncan stupidly, stupidly, went along with it. Ghost’s mouth, when it pressed against Duncan’s, was dry and tentative and awkward.

He should move. He should push Ghost away. It was an act. It was bullshit. At the very least, it was manipulation. It had to be. He should run for his life and sanity and soul, but he couldn’t. He was stuck in place by nothing more than two hands resting on his sternum and the slow realization that this was Ghost kissing him, not the sly seducer, not the innocent victim, not the wry pal up for a convenient good time. This wasn’t the empty distance of disconnection that Ghost had given him before when he’d gone doll-still and creepy. It wasn’t the confident, knowing, arousing seduction of the kisses that had preceded Ghost’s fugue that last time, either.

This was new and uncertain and heavy. It reminded Duncan somehow of climbing down the outside of the parking garage, the terror of looking at a long drop and a messy landing if he couldn’t figure out what he was doing.

It was the waiting, maybe, that made it so overwhelming. He’d been waiting for this all along, wanting this all along. He’d tried not to think about it, but it’d been there, and now that Ghost was here and it was happening, he felt strung tight as a rubber band, on the verge of snapping, because this tiny, tentative, closemouthed kiss, was a cup of cool water after a day in a desert, enough to tempt, but not nearly enough to sate.

 

 Buy links:

●      Harlequin

●      Amazon

●      Barnes & Noble

●      Google Play

●      iTunes

 

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About Sidney Bell:

Sidney Bell lives in Colorado with her amazingly supportive husband. She received her MFA degree in Creative Writing in 2010, considered aiming for the Great American Novel, and then promptly started writing fanfiction instead. More realistic grown-ups eventually convinced her to try writing something more fiscally responsible, though, which is how we ended up here. When she’s not writing, she’s playing violent video games, yelling at the television during hockey games, or supporting her local library by turning books in late.

Connect with Sidney:

●      Instagram: @sidneybellbooks

●      Facebook

●      Twitter: @sidneybellbooks 

●      Goodreads

●      Amazon author page

●      Website

●      Blog

●      Email

 

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GIVEAWAY

a Rafflecopter giveaway

He is Mine by Mel Gough (Cover reveal) ADULT title GBP

He is Mine

by

Mel Gough

ADULT title

Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh, Black Jazz Design

Genre/s: M/M psychological romance (with M/F elements)

Release Date: September 7, 2018

Blurb

For you, it was just a fling. For me, so much more…

NYPD detective Brad Moretti’s life is in tatters. A relationship destroyed by his boyfriend’s bipolar disorder has left him feeling guilty, inadequate and emotionally scarred.

Vivienne Aubert seems to have it all – a Hollywood career, supermodel looks, and a director husband about to make it big. And yet, a one-night-stand with rising superstar Damien Thomas makes Viv wonder if she hasn’t settled for second-best. Used to getting her way, she embarks on a ruthless quest to make Damien hers.

Unaware of Viv’s fatal attraction, Damien returns to New York, where a chance encounter with Brad sparks a prompt and rapidly growing affinity between the two men – which Viv is determined to terminate.

Can Brad head off her delusional desires before she destroys his newfound happiness, or will he fail to protect yet another lover?

Excerpt

(also available on Mel Gough's website)



Chapter 1

Brad stretches and rubs his eyes. He squints up at the ceiling; the first rays of morning light just start to creep along the plaster above his head. He sighs. This is his weekend off; his next shift isn’t until Monday. But he’s an early riser by design more than by desire. As if the day can’t start without you, Aiden used to mock him.

Aiden. Like every morning these last two weeks, Brad stretches his arm across the mattress, finding the sheets cold and undisturbed. He can see the empty pillow from the corner of his eye without moving his head. An equally empty spot in his heart aches in response.

Nothing has changed in the last eight hours. It still hurts. That fact established, Brad rolls out of bed. As he pads into the bathroom, he thinks about his very short To Do list for the day. A couple of phone calls to return, gym, then lunch. He promised to meet Maria, his friend since his high school days in Baltimore, at their favorite sushi place. While he pees, Brad contemplates whether to cancel that date. But he’s made excuses to Maria for two weeks; unless he meets her soon of his own free will she’ll send a search party. Going to Hibino will be less painful than another week of ignoring her texts and calls.

Brad steps over to the sink to brush his teeth. He hates to drink coffee before his mouth is clean, so he always makes time for two rounds with the electric toothbrush. Aiden used to roll his eyes at what he considers a waste of toothpaste.

As he moves the oscillating bristles from one side to the other, Brad studies his face in the mirror. His spirits plummet. Even after a good night’s sleep there are dark circles under his chronic fatigue-dulled brown eyes, and his skin is sallow. Ever since Aiden walked out on him, each good night’s sleep is followed by two or three with hardly any. And it’s no use kidding himself. The last few weeks, he feels much older than thirty-seven, and the lack of sleep shows.

Not that his face would ever have won a beauty contest. His jaw is too square, and his brows are too full. Combined with the crooked nose, broken in a bar brawl during his first year on the beat in Baltimore and never properly set, he looks like the worst cliché of an Italian gangster. On better days, he tries to cultivate the image of sophisticated athlete, but lately that doesn’t even convince him.

Grimacing at his reflection, Brad spits out the toothpaste and rinses his mouth. With wet hands, he brushes over his short dark hair to flatten it into a semblance of order. On his way back into the bedroom he grimaces again.

What he sees hanging over the bed is another reminder of Aiden, the biggest and most obnoxious of them all. The huge canvas was a sore spot between them from the moment Aiden bought it from his friend three years ago. “Kyle’s the next Jackson Pollock,” he’d enthused, his eyes bright with what Brad hadn’t yet clocked as maniacal exuberance. “In five years, this will be worth a fortune!”

All Brad has ever seen there on his wall is ten feet by five feet of blotches and untidy scrawls. He just doesn’t get it. As he leaves the bedroom and descends the stairs, he makes up his mind. That wannabe Picasso needs to go.

Over coffee, Brad’s mood improves. Out of the kitchen window it looks to be a brilliant, warm day, much nicer than they have any right to expect in mid-March. Sipping his strong, black coffee, Brad decides he will meet Maria. She’s his closest friend, and she deserves to hear his sorry tale, as much as he can bring himself to share. She’s a good listener, even if she has a way of twisting his arm into revealing much more than he intends.

He also decides not to skip breakfast, which has become another bad habit. If he doesn’t eat something now he’ll be ravenous and irritable long before lunchtime. His mood swings are bad enough.

After a bowl of fruit, cereal, and yogurt, Brad gets dressed in his workout clothes. The gym is a five-minute walk from his brownstone on Garfield Place he’d never be able to afford on his salary. When his batty Aunt Hedda died six years ago, Brad inherited her house and a small life insurance settlement, enough to foot the renovations and ensure he’ll get a more comfortable retirement than a career with the NYPD can provide.

After a strenuous workout at the gym, he would usually exchange a few words with the other regulars in the locker room while getting dressed, but ever since Aiden left, words don’t come so easily. And Brad needs to conserve the ones he does have for Maria, who won’t let him off the hook until she has as much detail about the breakup as possible.

Back home, Brad sends a few texts to friends who have left frantic and worried messages these last two weeks, apologizing and promising to call soon. He returns a call to his dentist, who wants to reschedule an appointment, puts in a load of laundry, and straightens up a bit before acknowledging that he’s all out of excuses for putting off one more call. Standing in the kitchen, he dials Aiden’s number from memory.

Brad expects the call to go to voicemail, but to his surprise Aiden picks up on the fourth ring.

“Brad.” Even on the one word, Brad can hear the coldness.

A flustered silence follows. Brad hasn’t prepared for anything other than leaving a brief voicemail message. He casts around for some niceties. “Hey, uh… hi, Aiden. You okay?”

“Since when do you care?”

“’Course I do…” Brad’s legs feel shaky. He hadn’t expected Aiden to be so hostile. He pushes himself away from the kitchen counter and goes into the living room, where he drops onto the sofa.

“What do you want?” Aiden asks. The man Brad met five years ago, who could easily fill their whole day with chitchat, is gone. Brad should’ve realized it, but it still hurts. And he deserves Aiden’s hatred.

“I, err…” Brad clears his throat. “That painting in the bedroom… I was wondering…”

“You want to be rid of it.” Aiden knows him well. Brad can hear his breathing get heavy and fast, and his heart aches. He’s hurt Aiden yet again.

Maybe he can take it back. But before Brad can backpedal, Aiden speaks again. “No problem. You home tonight?”

“Yeah.” The thought of seeing Aiden gives Brad a knot of dread in the pit of his stomach.

“I’ll have someone pick it up then. Six okay?”

Aiden’s voice is emotionless. Brad’s stomach drops. Aiden won’t come himself. He can’t decide if that’s worse than seeing him.

Being excluded from Aiden’s hurt is new, and it stings. They know each other’s emotional life intimately, and Aiden’s refusal to show his anger and pain shakes Brad. It hits home: There’s really no way back.

“Sure…”

“Was there something else?” Aiden sounds impatient. He wants this conversation to end. Brad rubs his face.

“No, I… no, there wasn’t.”

“Good.” Aiden’s relief is palpable.

“Bye,” Brad says, but the line is dead before he gets the word out. He drops the phone into his lap. What did he expect? Aiden never wants to see him again, and Brad can’t blame him. But it hurts. Unbidden, the last words he said to Aiden’s face return for him to dwell on once again. You destroyed us, and I don’t have the energy to put us back together again. Not anymore.

He rubs his face and gives himself a shake. Then he looks around the room. It’s not just the painting; Aiden is still everywhere in the house. The green wall paint, the strange, antique-shop floor lamps, the sofa cushions — all were chosen by Aiden and paid for by Brad. He’ll have to at least get rid of the lamps and the cushions.

With a sigh, Brad gets up to change for his lunch date. Maybe Maria will agree to help him redecorate the house.


Amazon link

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About the Author

 

Mel was born in Germany, where she spent the first twenty-six years of her life (with a one-year stint in Los Angeles). She has always been fascinated by cultures and human interaction, and got a Masters in Social Anthropology. After finishing university she moved to London, where she has now lived for ten years.

If you were to ask her parents what Mel enjoyed the most since the age of six, they would undoubtedly say “Reading!” She would take fifteen books on a three-week beach holiday, and then read all her mom’s books once she’d devoured her own midway through week two.

Back home in her mom’s attic there’s a box full of journals with stories Mel wrote when she was in her early teens. None of the stories are finished, or any good. She has told herself bedtime stories as far back as she can remember.

In her day job, Mel works as PA and office manager. No other city is quite like London, and Mel loves her city. The hustle and bustle still amaze and thrill her even after all these years. When not reading, writing or going to the theater, Mel spends her time with her long-time boyfriend, discussing science or poking fun at each other.

To stay up-to-date with giveaways, and for a free novella, sign up to Mel's newsletter here

Social Media Links:

Blog/Website

Facebook

Twitter

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Hosted by Gay Book Reviews

Hush by Tal Bauer (review) ADULT title

Hush
ADULT title

by

Tal Bauer

Blurb:

A federal judge running from the truth.
A U.S. marshal running from his past.
A trial that can plunge the world into war.

Federal Judge Tom Brewer is finally putting the pieces of his life back together. In the closet for twenty-five long years, he's climbing out slowly, and, with the hope of finding a special relationship with the stunning Mike Lucciano, U.S. Marshal assigned to his D.C. courthouse. He wants to be out and proud, but he can't erase his own past, and the lessons he learned long ago.

But a devastating terrorist attack in the heart of DC, and the subsequent capture and arrest of the terrorist, leads to a trial that threatens to expose the dark underbelly of America's national security.

As Russia beats the drums of war, intent on seeking revenge, and the United States struggles to contain the storm before it races out of control, secrets and lies, past and present, collide in Judge Tom Brewer's courtroom. With the world's attention fixed on Tom and this case, he suddenly discovers he may be the only person who can put everything together in time to stop the spark of a new world war.


Amazon

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My review:

4.5 stars

Hush by Tal Bauer is a m/m adult contemporary romantic suspense story that features DC Federal Judge Tom Brewer, whose love life has been non-existent for years. He is inspired by the openly gay Deputy U.S. Marshal Mike Lucciano to take a chance, but his careful progress out of the closet he has been firmly entrenched in is aborted when a once-in-a-lifetime case lands on his bench. The danger to his life is only surpassed by the danger to his emotional well-being and he and the man he has fallen for must fight for both their lives and the life they can forge together.

Initially, I was a little disconcerted by the slow methodical introduction of the characters and their backgrounds, but as I have come to learn about this author’s stories, that is just the calm before the excitement! I love the revelation of the events that have brought each man to a point where they are open to new possibilities, and who can resist the charming Etta Mae, let alone sexy Kris and his surprising undercurrents. The fascinating glimpses of the action behind the scenes with respect to the federal court and the vivid descriptions of activities in DC keep one enthralled as the action intensifies and the threats escalate. I was a little skeptical of some of the events at the climax, but they definitely added to the tension, even if they seem a little farfetched. I love the deep emotion that this author adds to his stories and weaves in adeptly with a rollercoaster of a ride and I can’t wait to find out what will emerge from his fertile imagination next!

A copy of this title was provided to me for review

Enemies of the State by Tal Bauer (Review) SALE! ADULT title

Enemies of the State

by Tal Bauer

is an ADULT title

Blurb:

A rogue Black Ops unit with the president in their crosshairs.
A Secret Service agent who will break every rule.
A president falling for the one person he shouldn't--a man.

Newly elected President Jack Spiers's presidency is rocked from the very beginning, and he's working furiously to keep the world from falling apart. Between terrorism attacks ripping apart Europe, Russia's constant posturing and aggression, and the quagmire of the Middle East, Jack is struggling to keep his campaign promise--to work toward a better, safer world.

For Special Agent Ethan Reichenbach, Jack is just another president, the third in twelve years. With Jack's election, he's been promoted, and now he's running the presidential detail, which puts him side by side with Jack daily. He's expecting another stuffed suit and an arrogant DC politician, but Jack shocks him with his humor and humanity.

There are rules against a Secret Service agent and one of their protectees developing a friendship--big rules. Besides, Jack is a widower, and Ethan has always avoided falling for straight men. Ethan keeps his distance, but Jack draws him in, like gas to a naked flame, and it's a lure he isn't strong enough to turn away from.

As the two men collide, rules are shattered and the world teeters on the verge of war, and a rogue Black Ops unit bent on destruction sets Jack in their deadly crosshairs. Ethan must put everything on the line in order to save the man he's come to love, Jack's presidency, and the world.

*** Expanded second special edition, with 15,000+ additional words, expanded scenes, and character artwork.


Amazon link  (and it's on SALE for only $.99!)

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My review

4.5 out of 5 stars

Enemies of the State by Tal Bauer is the first book in the ‘Executive Office’ series and follows Ethan Reichenbach, the head of the presidential Secret Service detail, as he becomes accustomed to the incoming president, widower Jack Spiers. The transformation from viewing Jack as another high-profile protectee to friend and perhaps more, challenges Ethan’s strong sense of ethics and may compromise his hard-won position. Dangers mount as betrayal and political maneuverings threaten to destabilize world peace even as Jack and Ethan begin to explore their feelings for each other, and they may find it impossible to survive long enough to defeat both internal and external foes—especially those who wear the guise of friendship.

This exciting m/m romantic suspense thriller was a wonderful surprise and lived up to the blurb that captured my attention. I was enthralled by the progression of the relationship between Ethan and Jack. The conflict between duties of the office and the human need for companionship begins to erode the lines that separate duty and desire, and the heat that rises between the two is delicious to watch even as one aches for the confusion and hurt that have to be worked through. The struggles are realistic and the glimpse of the challenges faced by both men in their respective roles made the story start a little slowly for me but I was drawn into the action as it became more intense and then took off on a meteoric ride. The interludes provided by the glimpses of global events gradually build to the exciting events that threaten the new relationship, and the twists and turns that threaten to change the world were mesmerizing and dramatic. I am delighted to have found a new author to follow, and impressed that this story is nicely self-contained yet provides a delicious beginning to an exciting series. I can’t wait to read about more of Jack’s and Ethan’s adventures. 

This title was provided to me for review 

A guest post by KC Burn, author of Cop Out and Cover Up (plus my reviews) ADULT titles

I have the pleasure to have a guest post by an author who I have recently discovered.  I read a blurb for one of her titles and thought it sounded interesting and thus far have had the pleasure of reading the first two titles in her m/m 'Toronto' series and I hope to read many more! (I am not a big movie watcher so please be advised that the following is Ms. Burn's evaluation of various movies, lol)

Terrible Taste in Movies

by KC Burn

I have terrible taste in movies. I watch the Oscars every year, but most times, I haven’t seen any of the movies nominated. Oscar nominated films don’t usually have cyborgs or blood baths or explosions or a lot of laughs. Because of my lack discernment, I’ve seen some really great B movies and I’ve seen some execrable pieces of shit.

I’m also quite forgiving of bad movies, but over the years, I’ve seen 4 movies that make up my own personal list of the worst movies EVER. Now, I’ve seen movies that I’ve turned off because they were so bad, but these 4 were movies I paid money for at the theatre, and I would have walked out of if I hadn’t been with a group so that I was more or less trapped into seeing the entire movie.

1.    Species 2 – the first one was a great alien movie. The second one was… horrific. That’s about all I can say.
2.    Mortal Kombat: Annihilation – Basing movies off videos games is probably not a great idea to begin with, but the first Mortal Kombat was fun and fluffy. Annihilation made me want to rip my hair out.
3.    The Thin Red Line – I know Terrence Malick is this highly respected director and all that, but he applied his symbolism with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer and the main characters were both young, dark-haired and dirty. I couldn’t tell the difference between them for the ENTIRE movie, except that I think one of them was a pedophile. Also… IMDB claims the movie was only three hours long, but that’s a big fat lie. It had to have been at least twelve hours long. Or an eternity.
4.    Tarzan and the Lost City – Casper Van Dien might be pretty as all hell, but he’s got to be one of the worst actors ever. And Tarzan really ought to know which animal calls match which animals.

Even if I’d been lobotomized, I’d still be pissed that I wasted time & money to see these movies at the theater. I riff on this a little bit in my first and third Toronto Tales books. The O’Donnells are a large family who weren’t able to coordinate movies for seven kids, so the rule had always been that they’d go to the theater and they’d watch the next available show. As adults, the O’Donnells make a habit of doing the same thing, and often end up seeing bad movies through the luck of the draw.  I like to think that maybe the O’Donnells saw some of the absolute stinkers that I did.

So, tell me… what are the worst movies you’ve ever seen?

To find out more about my Toronto Tales books or my other books, check out my site at this link.



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My reviews:

These are ADULT titles

                                          

4 1/2 out of 5 stars

Cop Out by KC Burn is an intense m/m tale that examines the life-changing effects of events after Detective Kurt O’Donnell loses his partner of three years and discovers that he didn’t really know anything about the man’s personal life.  Kurt must face some difficult decisions when he discovers that his former partner’s bereaved lover, Davy, is coming to be more important than Kurt has ever imagined a non-family male could be.  Learning to cope with a new partner, a potential change in sexual orientation and the quest to capture and convict his partner’s murderer unfortunately may be more than his tentative connection with Davy can bear.


This searingly emotional m/m novella is an excellent introduction to the ‘Toronto’ series and provides an enjoyable combination of action, spice and angst as a man faces a significant identity crisis unexpectedly.  The danger of the hero’s job is contrasted nicely with depictions of his boisterous and loving family and his struggle to come to terms with a totally unexpected attraction for an emotionally fragile man is a compelling tale.  The sensual scenes are balanced with the mine-filled evolution of the relationship between the two main characters and I kept reading faster and faster as I wanted to know how things were going to play out.  I was mesmerized by the story and anxious to read the sequel.  This is the first story I have read by this author and I am definitely going to be on the lookout for more.

(a copy of this delicious title was provided for me in return for an honest review)

Cop Out (Toronto Tales) (Amazon link)










                                            
 4 out of 5 stars

Cover Up by KC Burn is the second story in the m/m ‘Toronto’ series and details the travails of Detective Ivan Bekker who is reeling from the complications ensuing after a raid when he is abruptly sent on a covert undercover mission by his boss, Inspector Sergio Martelli. Parker Wakefield is suspected of being a rising star with the local Russian mafia head and Ivan is tasked with getting proof therefore he applies to be a roommate while pretending to be a divorced heterosexual man. Unfortunately, there are plenty of conflicts for Ivan to deal with, not least of which is his attraction to his suspect, and there may be no way to avoid choosing between his duty and his heart.

This story combines a bit of romantic suspense with a m/m erotic romance and provides an entertaining light read. I was a little disappointed in the meek personality of Parker, who has been treated poorly and has had a poor self-image due to his past and I thought it was a little hard to believe that he was so naive about quite a few things. The awkward position that Ivan finds himself in and the conflicts that he must grapple with while coping with the traumatic experience that he has undergone seem a little difficult to believe, especially when he goes under the radar without explaining his assignment to his partner at the very least. I enjoyed the cameos by some of those characters from the first novella in the series and look forward to reading more adventures of these dedicated police officers and the men who capture their hearts.

© Night Owl Reviews
I received a copy of this title in return for an honest review.

Cover Up (Toronto Tales)  (Amazon link)





and...there's a new title in the series out, Cast Off!

                                    


Excerpt:

RICK slapped a roller, soaked with paint, against the wall, causing a little back spray. God, he was such an idiot. He stroked the roller up and down until he’d used up the paint on the roller, then set it back in the tray before trying to wipe at the lemon-yellow spatters on his arms. He only succeeded in streaking the yellow along his forearms.

He wasn’t sure why he’d been so damned flippant about Ian’s coming-out statement. He, better than anyone, knew how hard it could be. Of course, the guy had to have some idea about how his revelation would be received, given that the revelation was to an already gay brother who had moved in with his boyfriend. Davy had told him that Kurt and his brother had been estranged for a couple of months, thinking it had something to do with Kurt coming out, but Kurt was a very private person and Rick hadn’t heard anything more. For all he knew, the estrangement had been over something entirely different. Family stuff wasn’t any of Rick’s business, although he might make an exception in Ian’s case.

Assuming Ian didn’t hate him for acting like a shallow idiot. Rick had played up the oversexed club boy as soon as he’d seen Ian, and reacted before he’d had a chance to realize what import Ian’s words held for anyone besides his own cock.

Rick had always had a little crush on Kurt, with that stern cop exterior and those puffed-up muscles. But Ian was like a refined, polished, better-looking version of Kurt, with dark hair instead of auburn and pale-blue eyes instead of dark blue, and in great shape.

“Hey, Rick.” Kurt’s deep voice had him spinning around, and like his thoughts had conjured him up, there was Ian.

“Uh, hey.” No, he wasn’t digging himself out of his hole with that stellar oration.

“Rick, this is my brother, Ian. Ian, this is my friend, Rick.”

Ian’s red-rimmed eyes and the shy vulnerability in his expression tugged at something deep inside Rick. Even if Ian was a keeper like Kurt, Rick couldn’t bring himself to brush Ian off. Not after his thoughtlessness earlier.

He extended his hand. “Nice to meet you, Ian.”

Ian gripped his hand. “Nice to meet you too.” The heat was back, the heat he’d sworn he’d seen earlier when Ian had raked his gaze from Rick’s head to his toes, and especially one particular bit in between. Ian held his hand for longer than customary and rubbed at the inside of Rick’s wrist before he let go. Goose bumps flared along Rick’s arm at the telling, yet subtle, touch.

Ian turned to his brother. “I think I’ll stay in here, help Rick.”

Kurt rolled his eyes and left. Rick’s heart picked up its pace at the realization they were alone.

“So, I’m pretty sure the paint’s supposed to go on the wall.” Ian grinned, and the shyness disappeared in a flash as he reached out and swiped a finger along Rick’s cheek, down his neck, and to his collarbone.


Links:
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And...KC Burn has a new title out...

Pen Name - Doctor Chicken

Blurb:

Sometimes Stratford Dale feels like Doctor Chicken consumes his life. It’s his pen name for a series of wildly popular children’s books. They were his brainchild; he meant for them to be a way to pay his many bills while he pursued his dream of publishing graphic novels. But the Doctor Chicken contract was a raw deal. Instead, he churns out book after book for a pittance, leaving him broke and no closer to his dreams.

Stratford’s dreams of love have fared no better, but he’s still trying. After yet another disastrous date, he’s intrigued by a man going into a cooking class—so he takes the class too. Vinnie Giani is a successful, self-made man who is charmed by Stratford’s bow ties, sharp humor, and clumsiness—which leads to an opportunity to take Stratford in for stitches. Vinnie is, above all, responsible, having taken on the care of his mother and sisters from a young age. Perhaps it’s natural when he begins to treat Stratford more as a child who needs a parent than as an equal partner. But when Vinnie tries to “fix” Stratford’s career woes—including the Doctor Chicken problem—and ends up making the situation worse, their fledgling relationship may not withstand the the strain created by blame and lies.

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