Lacey Goes to Tokyo by C.H. Lyn (Spotlight, excerpt, review, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

Lacey Goes to Tokyo

by C.H. Lyn

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GENRE:   Suspense/Thriller

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BLURB:

International travel means international danger.

Lacey Devaine is a four-year veteran of a spy ring which fronts as an exclusive escort service, Miss Belle's Travel Guides. Maintaining her cover is Lacey's number one priority to protect the integrity of the operation she works for.

While on assignment in Tokyo, a nosy newspaper reporter threatens to blow the lid off a scandal that will put dozens of innocent lives at risk. To protect her cover, Miss Belle is called in to act on intelligence Lacey has uncovered.

Can these beautiful, intelligent, and deadly women complete this assignment in time and emerge unscathed? Or will this mission be their last?

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EXCERPT

The blade I planted in his shoulder now dangles from his left hand. Fresh blood—my blood—coats the metal. His right arm hangs, useless, at his side.

He snarls at me with yellow teeth. He lunges forward again. The blade swings toward me, and I parry with my machete. The effort sends a burst of pain down my arm and into the left side of my back.

He swings again, and I step to the side, leaning my upper body to the right. We dance now. Circling each other. My left arm will not land a functional blow. Not with blood still dripping down from my shoulder. His right arm continues to swing. More blood pours from him than me.

I reach up my right hand and tug down my handkerchief. I breathe deep, easing the pain in my shoulder and preparing myself for the next attack. I switch my machete back to the right hand.

He shouts something. My grasp of the language is bad—at best—but I know what a cry for help sounds like.

“No one can hear you.” I spit blood at him, laughing.

Laughing during a fight knocks people off their guard, especially if blood is leaking from between your teeth at the same time.

His eyes widen. He says a few words and his gaze darts around in frantic movements. It lands on me. I catch his eyes with mine and don’t blink.

“The rest of your friends? They’re dead.”

Amazon

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

I was born and raised in a small town in Northern California. Growing up in a college town meant I experienced a wide variety of people and opinions. I like to think my stories reflect the vast differences in the people I've met.  I love to travel. I want to explore the world around me while writing about the worlds in my mind.

I grew up with a steady diet of wonderful stories set in amazing worlds. I've read almost every series Tamora Pierce has written, and I am a crazy fan of the Hunger Games series. My nerdiness also encompasses the Harry Potter series, LOTR, and (to an extent) the worlds of superheros. Though, my husband is really head of DC knowledge in the household. He is also the most amazing source of support I could hope for.

I'm 26 now. My daughter just turned one. She is already so smart, curious, and beautiful. I want the female characters in my writing to be inspiring, not just for her, but for all the little girls who grow up reading.  

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My review:

4.25 stars

Lacey Goes to Tokyo by C.H. Lyn features a unique escort service that is run by two determined women, Miss Belle and Marissa, who use their staff to pull off unexpected and lifechanging tasks. Assigning their seasoned operative, Lacey, to an assignment that forces her to confront painful aspects of her past may prove fatal to not only her, but to the whole organization.

This suspense thriller is part of the ‘Miss Belle’s Travel Guides” series and has surprising twists and turns even as it provides a roller-coaster ride of tension and excitement. Told in alternating points of view, the action shifts from country to country as the stakes get higher and higher. Those who are squeamish or have triggers should be advised that there is a fair amount of violence as well as allusions to sexual abuse and exploitation.

Although I frequently winced at the horrific situations some of these folks endured, I was enthralled by the kick-ass heroines and their ability to accomplish seemingly impossible feats. There are a lot of dangling threads that make me think there must be other stories in this series (to come?). I love the little tips that comprise the “travel guide” (e.g. having your house sitter find your ammo cache probably won’t end well) and the elements that evoke James Bond and his gadgets and I look forward to reading more stories about these frighteningly capable women.

A copy of this title was provided for review

 

Amber Eyes by Gabbi Black (Spotlight, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title

Note from ELF: I am so thrilled to be able to share this post, as I have had the pleasure of working with this author, and I'm so pleased that her first print book has been released to the world! Congrats, Gabbi!

Amber Eyes

by 

Gabbi Black

ADULT title

School principal Gage Clayton is still grieving the death of his wife and submissive, yet he can't ignore his Dominant needs. As he enters Club Kink, he's inexplicably drawn to a newly released sub with an intriguing proposition and the most captivating amber eyes. But she has disturbing baggage and her expectations prove quite a challenge, one that would necessitate a commitment he's not ready for.

Rielle Reid needs a Dom while she waits for her former Master to return. When she invites a handsome stranger to her home dungeon for a night of play, she's surprised at his gentle dominance—and her response to it. But in the light of day, his demand for equal footing confounds her. After living four years as a twenty-four/seven slave, she has no concept of how to be anything other than property.

Gage must find a way to master Rielle to free them both from the shackles of the past.

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Excerpt

“I want to be available to dedicate myself to my Master.”

“Your Master released you. Or…” Was she…? “Are you looking for a new Master?”

Her mouth opened, but no sound escaped. She made a second attempt with the same result. Finally she simply said, “I want my Master back.”

Like I want my Cara back.

“Rielle, you realize that’s probably not going to happen. If he’s gone vanilla by choice…”

“In his heart, though, he’s a Master. It was his destiny, as it was mine to be a slave.”

The word gave him shivers. He’d never met someone involved in a complete and total power exchange, and he was intimidated. What would it be like to be totally responsible for someone else? “Why did you go to Club Kink last night?”

Her eyes misted. “He used to take me there. He always wore a mask, but he liked the thrill of going out in public with the possibility of discovery. When we scened there, it was intense, and when we came home, it was explosive. Those are the times I remember most vividly.”

“What about those private moments when it was the two of you? Those moments of shared intimacy?”

Her gaze sharpened. “The intimacy came from me serving him, not shared memories.” She scowled. “You don’t know what it’s like.”

“To be so involved with someone you lose who you are? No, I don’t know what that’s like. I know what love is, but it doesn’t sound like that’s what you had, and I’m sorry for you.”

“Love leads to losing control. I might’ve been the slave, but at least I chose to be that way.”

He didn’t understand, and maybe he never would. “I should be going.”

She looked neither surprised nor disappointed.



Amazon link
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About the Author:

Even though Gabbi Black is a firm believer in happy endings, she makes her characters work for it in every romance she writes, no matter what the genre. From contemporary to BDSM, they are penned late at night in her home on a beautiful British Columbia mountain surrounded by magnificent trees and every conceivable woodland creature—including bears. She also writes gay romances as Gabbi Grey.











Personal links:

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Wild Wales by Patricia Evans Cox (VBT, guest post, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT ADULT title

I have the pleasure of sharing a thought-provoking guest post by author Patricia Evans Cox...

Who says?

 by

Patricia Evans Cox

Recently, I was reading a current book from one of my favorite authors, and she described one of the characters as …. “overly butch.”

This author is very successful and well known, and a fan of my work as well, it turns out. Here is my question: how can someone be “overly butch?”
Why is being appearing butch, or very femme for that matter, somehow a negative within our community? And why would we, as lesbian authors, reinforce that negative stereotype?

I love butch-identified women. Let’s face it, however you identify, they’re just plain hot, and they’ve melted me since I bought my first pair of Docs. But even if they didn’t, it’s none of my business what any woman feels comfortable wearing, or how she chooses to present herself to the world, and it’s always inappropriate to comment negatively about it.

I feel it’s also appropriate here to mention that the way someone appears may not actually correlate with how they identify. For example, I look like I probably own an extensive collection of vintage aprons and kitten heels, but let me assure you, I do not. I’m as tomboy as they come; don’t let the perfect smoky eye and bedroom hair fool you.
Do my looks make me “too femme?” No, there’s no such thing, only me, Tomboyinkslinger, and I don’t identify as femme.
‘Get what I’m sayin’ here?

What I do know is it’s a LOT harder to move through this world as a masculine woman, and butches will always have my respect and support for the rampant ignorance they put up with, sometimes on a daily basis.
They are part of our family, and it’s our responsibility to use our platform as authors and writers to support and normalize all identities within our lesbian family.

Let’s all be more careful not to label the women in our community negatively. Don’t we get enough of that from the outside world? No one is “overly butch.”
Brave, hot, admirable and strong as fuck, but never too butch.

Just sayin’.

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Wild Wales

by Patricia Evans Cox

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GENRE:   Lesbian romance

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BLURB:

Aisling Moss is balanced on the crystal edge of success as one of the most sought-after wedding planners in London…until one ill-advised move brings her career crashing down around her feet like a toppled tower of champagne flutes. The next day, a letter from a family solicitor arrives at her flat, and she has to choose between picking up the pieces of her career in London or taking the next flight to Wales to honor the wishes of someone she loves.

Finn Morgan was forced to end her fighting career after an injury sidelined her dreams of being a star in the cutthroat world of professional women’s boxing. Her job as a short-order cook in a Brooklyn diner certainly doesn’t compare, but it also doesn’t require her to think about what she wants to do with her life. Sleeping with her boss’s wife and spending quality time with a punching bag is all she needs, until the day she comes home to find a letter from across the pond, surrounded by a pool of warm sunlight, on her entry table.

Once in Wales, long-kept secrets and unexpected demands surface for both Finn and Aisling, and they are forced to make hard decisions about their futures: Do they return to rebuild the lives they had, or take a chance on love in wild, windswept Wales?

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EXCERPT

Caroline looked up at her. “Do you think it’s just jitters?”

Aisling paused, wishing Caroline had asked her any question but that one. She took a breath and smiled, choosing her words carefully.

“Every bride has nerves the night before the big day. All you need to do is put this nonsense to the back of your mind and get a good night’s rest.” Aisling realized suddenly that she was still holding Caroline’s hand and subtly let go as she continued. “This will all seem like a dream tomorrow morning when you wake up and realize it’s your wedding day, the happiest day of your life.”

Caroline bit her lip, searching Aisling’s eyes. “Do you really mean that?”

Do I mean it? What if she really is gay and the poor girl is reaching out for advice?

Aisling squared her shoulders and reminded herself that this wasn’t her decision to make. Only Caroline could decide what was right for her, just like only Aisling could create the life she wanted for herself. And she knew what she wanted: the corner office in the corporate headquarters with the floor-to-ceiling windows and the ridiculously inflated salary.

“Yes,” Aisling said. “I do think it’s just nerves.”

Caroline ran her hands through her hair looked up at the sky. It was a long moment before she looked back at Aisling and held her eyes.

“If that’s true.” Caroline’s words were slow and deliberate. “Then kiss me.”

Amazon link

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Patricia has been slinging ink and falling in love with characters since her boarding school days, and continues to write in her hometown of Eureka Springs, AR.

Her handmade tiny home in the forest, strewn with leather journals and forgotten cups of tea, serves as her writing studio. Her dogs Dublin and Snoo do their best to help by snoring loudly at her feet.

Patricia has lived in Ireland and England and returns there frequently to write, as well as to a much loved tiny island off the coast of Glasgow, where the owner of the local pub saves her the red velvet chair by the fire.

More of her writing can be seen at her website

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The Rose by P.D. Alleva (Spotlight, excerpt, and GIVEAWAY) GFT

The Rose

by P.D. Alleva

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GENRE: Sci-fi, Science Fiction

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BLURB:

A masterful, dystopian science fiction thriller of underground genetic experiments, telepathic evil greys, mysterious rebellion, conspiracy, martial arts, and Alien Vampires.

Sandy Cox believed WW3 was over. But for those Alien Vampires, War Has Just Begun.

Forty-eight hours after a World War III treaty is signed Sandy Cox awakens in an underground compound unable to move. Tied to machines she screams for help but no one answers. At least NO ONE HUMAN.

And they’ve taken her unborn child.

Enter Phil, a rebel freedom fighter who has had more than his share of Alien Vampires. Armed with THE BLADES, a sacred alien martial art, he enters the compound on a mission to find Sandy. But as he battles his way through the compound, Phil discovers Sandy has her own agenda. Finding her stolen child is all that matters.

But the vampires have their own plan and Sandy’s baby is at the heart of their diabolical plot. Joined by a crew of rogue soldiers, they must navigate the underground compound, battling genetically mutated humans, aliens and monsters.

When battling Alien Vampires, one thing is certain…Get Ready To Bleed!

Fans of The Hunger Games, George RR Martin, VE Schwab, Star Wars and Ancient Aliens will be fascinated by this high-powered, intelligent, edge of your seat dystopian sci-fi action thriller.

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EXCERPT

Dr. Blum escorted an alien vampire, a Drac, down the pristine hallway. This Drac was tall, standing well above six feet. He wore thick black armor that shined under the light, covering his torso, neck to navel, all the way down his arms, locked at the wrists. Standard armor for Drac soldiers.  His skin was pale, at least as pale as a scaly brownish auburn flesh could allow. His skull was smooth and large, and his neck bones stood on his shoulders protruding from the skin and skull like two thick stints up to the top of his head. The bones swelled then retracted, in unison with his breathing. The skin beneath his eyes was a pale red circling dry yellowish eyeballs with emerald pupils. His fingers were long and thick with sharp nails. Part of the Drac species, he wore his people's badge of honor proud on his sleeve.

“He’s the first to receive the new pills,” Dr. Blum explained. “He’s still coherent though, seems his strength and adrenaline are fighting off the effects, but at least he’s calm. Shock to the system if you know what I mean, Sanos?”

“Indeed,” replied Sanos, his voice a thick and heavy baritone. “He’s had all the necessary tests completed?”

“Of course,” Dr. Blum replied.

“Good…I’m starved.”

Dr. Blum bowed. “Of course.”

They stopped in front of the door leading to Ben’s chamber.

“This is it,” said Dr. Blum, sliding a panel from the small window. He looked inside seeing Ben sitting on the floor, his back against the wall. Ben’s pupils circled beneath half closed eyelids. His body jerked. The back of his head smacked against the wall. “Hmm, see, much more calm.”

“Delightful,” breathed Sanos. “May I?”

“Naturally.”

Sanos commanded perfection in his food. His eyes widened, delighted in observing Ben.

Buy link:

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(please check price before purchasing)

Amazon link

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

P.D. Alleva is an author, psychotherapist and hypnotherapist specializing in trauma, addiction and mental health. He is the author of several books, including fiction novels, Indifference and ABillion Tiny Moments In Time…, Seriously Twisted; These Gods of Darkness (Poetry), Let Your Soul Evolve (1st and 2nd ed), and Spiritual Growth Therapy: Philosophy, Practices and Mindfulness Workbook (non-fiction). He has developed behavioral protocols for addiction and mental health and teaches mindfulness, Buddhist meditations and manifestation techniques to his patients as a means and alternative to using pharmaceuticals. He is currently in private practice with his wife, Lisa. He lives with his wife and children in Boca Raton, Florida.

Social Media Info:

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Facebook Page: @pdallevaauthor

Twitter: @PdallevaAuthor

Instagram: pdalleva_author

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Second Breath by Danika Bloom (Spotlight, excerpt, and review)

Second Breath

ADULT title
by

Danika Bloom

Dylan Rhodes. Media darling. Up-and-coming lawyer.

And an unapologetic player who treats women like teabags—gets them wet, then tosses them out.

Everything about this man warns me not to trust him. Tells me to kick his breath-taking body to the curb. Get him out of my study.

But I need the data for my college thesis. And he’s the perfect man to prove that the dating mind-tricks I’m testing, work.

At least we’re on the same page about one thing: neither of us is looking for a relationship.

By the time I figure out why he keeps showing up—even though I’ve told him I won’t give him what he wants—he’s mind-tricked me.

Falling in love with the enemy? That's not a research result I can defend.




Second Breath is a steamy, stand-alone, full-length, opposites attract romance featuring a BBW and a HEA.


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Excerpt:

My breathing was ragged, and my voice didn’t sound like my own. “Same deal as your back. I’ll start at your feet and move up.”

I exposed her right leg up to the hip bone, making sure to keep her pubic area fully covered. I’d let my hands slide there, but I couldn’t let myself see. Not yet. I reached for the massage oil and dripped a line from her ankle up to the blanket, poured more in my palm, then rubbed my hands together to warm them. I started by rubbing the line of oil into her skin in long, slow strokes, never allowing skin contact to break. While I raised one hand to start the slow draw up her leg again, the other gently caressed the spot where it had stopped moving. 

I looked up at her face. Her eyes were closed. The duvet was rising and falling over her chest, showing me that her breaths were slow and deep. This was trust. This was vulnerability. This was a connection I’d never expected. I had to close my eyes to settle my breath, which had become shallow.

It took several minutes before I could let myself relax into a space where time had no meaning, where I was no longer Dylan Rhodes, the lawyer who lived in his brain, but simply energy moving from one body to another and back. Thoughts came and went. Images appeared and disappeared. Feelings rose and fell. 

When I finished massaging Kama’s left leg, I had to fully come back to the room to adjust the duvet so I could massage her abdomen, ribs, shoulders. That’s when I registered the music in the background, and Kama quietly humming the love song duet by Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper. I lingered at her hip bone longer than I’d planned, listening. And when she reached the part where Bradley’s character sings, I hummed the part with her. I didn’t plan or expect to. In fact, before this moment, I’d have said I hated the song. 

Her eyes opened slowly, and she smiled, humming a little louder. She lifted her arm from under the duvet and motioned with two fingers for me to come closer to her face. I was wholly, unconditionally under her spell. She kissed her own fingers, then placed them lightly on my throat.

“Keep humming,” she whispered. “Put your fingers here.” She showed me the spot on her own throat. 

This was next-level sensual massage. My cock, which had settled down once I was in the zone, remained soft. The strange thing was, at that moment I wanted to be on Kama, inside her, and wrapped around her, with every inch of my body touching hers. But not in a horny way. 

My free hand touched her shoulder, and I looked at the empty side of the bed. She understood. Without letting our fingers move from each other’s throats, she wiggled to the side, and I slid in beside her. Two naked bodies. Such a familiar thing, and yet like nothing I’d ever experienced. 

Amazon link



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Author info and links:



Danika Bloom believes in love at first sight, happily ever after, and that the hottest sex is make-up sex, which she and her volunteer, firefighter husband of fifteen years engage in a healthy amount of.


When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, Danika shares creative non-fiction stories about her real life loves, relationships and family on https://medium.com/love-and-stuff.



Links:


Website

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Blog/Medium

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My review:

4.25 stars

Second Breath by Danika Bloom centers around Kama Ray (no, her name does NOT rhyme with gamma ray) , who is studying male expectations connected with dating a woman, and Dylan Rhodes, whose professional advancement depends on destroying her research. Neither one is looking for a life-changing relationship, but that may be just what they’ve found—for better or for worse?

This contemporary romance story is part of ‘The Mixed Six-Pack’ series and provides lots of intriguing twists and turns. I love the elements of multiculturalism that enrich the tale, and I thought the story did a great job of unfolding various elements gradually. The premise of Kama’s research is very relevant to any person who has been subjected to the pressure of expectations in exchange for having entertainment and/or a meal being paid for, while Dylan’s dilemmas are familiar to anyone who has to juggle personal preferences and job requirements. Both main characters were personable and easy to relate to, and the story was engaging and easy to read. I look forward to discovering more fun stories in this series.

A copy of this title was provided for review.

The first book in the series:

Off-Balance by Brigham Vaughn (Spotlight, excerpt, and review) GBP ADULT title

Off-Balance

by
Brigham Vaughn

Publisher: Two Peninsulas Press (Indie/Self-Published)

Cover Artist: Brigham Vaughn

Release Date: August 3, 2020

Genre/s: Contemporary M/M Romance

Trope/s: May/December, age gap, hurt comfort, rich man poor man, workplace romance

Themes: Grief, family acceptance/homophobia, exploring light kink, friends and chosen family, emotional baggage.

Heat Rating: 4 flames 

Length: 104 535 words/ 260 pages

It is the first book in a new series

Goodreads 

Love doesn’t always add up.

Blurb

Russell Bishop is a rising star at Vantage Marketing.

Stephen Parker is the company’s CFO.

A spilled cup of coffee gives them an opportunity to act on the mutual attraction they’ve both been trying to ignore. But attraction isn’t enough with an almost twenty-year age gap and clashing expectations about their relationship.

Fiercely independent, Russ isn't sure he's ready for long-term commitment and Stephen is afraid history is repeating itself.

Their relationship reaches a crossroads when the death of Stephen’s father forces them to visit his hometown in southern Georgia. Estranged from his family, Stephen must come to terms with his past and say goodbye to the father whose expectations he could never live up to. The small, conservative town provides its own challenges as Russ must find the strength to be the man Stephen desperately needs. 

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Excerpt

“Hopefully, I’m not keeping you from a hot date tonight or something.”

Stephen let out a small snort of amusement. “Russ, I can’t remember the last time I had a hot date. Frankly, it’s been months since I’ve had a date of any sort. And they were lukewarm at best. If you’re asking if I’m single, the answer is yes.”

Embarrassed, Russ cleared his throat. “I was curious.”

“Nothing wrong with curiosity.”

“I’m single too,” Russ said. He cringed internally. Jesus. He’d had game once. Okay, maybe not game because he’d never had time to really develop it, but he used to be at least slightly smooth. This … whatever this was, was truly pathetic.

But Stephen didn’t seem too put out by his awkwardness. “Haven’t met the right person or no time to date?”

“Maybe a little of both,” Russ admitted. “It can be hard to meet men when you’re working fifty, sixty hours a week.” There. He’d at least managed to work the fact that he was gay into the conversation without doing it in the most cringey way possible.

“Absolutely,” Stephen said. “Though, from what I hear, you’re doing very well at Vantage.”

Russ blinked. He had no idea Stephen had even known who he was, much less that he’d been paying attention to how he was doing. “I had no idea you’d noticed me at work.”

“Oh, I noticed.” Stephen gave him a slow smile. “You needn’t worry about proving your worth, if that’s why you’re working those kind of hours.”

“I like to be thorough,” Russ said.

“Thoroughness is good.”

Was it Russ’s imagination or was there a hint of heat in Stephen’s eyes now and a faint rasp to his voice? “I like to make sure I take my time and fully grasp a topic,” Russ countered. “Get a real grip on it.”

“Traits like that will certainly allow you to get far at whatever you choose to do.”

Including with you? Russ wondered. “I’m trying to get ahead.”

The corner of Stephen’s mouth curved up even further. “That much is clear.”

“Think I’ll succeed?”

“I suppose it depends on what you’re trying to succeed at.”

“You don’t know?”

“I try not to make any assumptions about anything until I’m sure.”

Goddamn it. They were talking in circles and getting nowhere. Maybe Russ needed to try a different approach.

“I appreciate all of your help today,” Russ said. “I seriously can’t thank you enough.”

Stephen looked away from the TV again and shook his head, glancing at Russ with a small smile. “It’s the least I could do. I feel responsible for what happened.”

Russ smiled back, Stephen’s earnestness relaxing him. “Let’s call it even then, I guess. Or we could be up all night with this.”

Stephen quirked an eyebrow up at him, eyes crinkling at the corners with amusement. Fuck, what a turn on. Why older men were such an attraction for him, Russ would never be sure, but he’d realized it in college. He’d had a brief fling with a professor named Jack Burns after the semester was over. It wasn’t the forbidden aspect of it—they’d both waited until after Russ was no longer his student—but he liked the age difference.

A man with a fit body, handsome face, graying hair, and a killer smile always got Russ going. Hell, his head and ankle ached and he was still thinking about what Stephen would be like in bed. And was he flirting? God, Russ hoped so. “Well, being up all night isn’t always a bad thing.”

Stephen’s lips turned up at the corners in amusement. “You don’t think so?”

Russ shrugged. “It depends on the reason, doesn’t it?”

“Yes, I suppose it does,” Stephen murmured. He shifted to face Russ. “I’m afraid all of the best reasons are off the table at the moment though, aren’t they?”

“Too bad.”

Buy Links – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Amazon US | Amazon UK

 

About the Author

Brigham Vaughn is on the adventure of a lifetime as a full-time author. She devours books at an alarming rate and hasn’t let her short arms and long torso stop her from doing yoga. She makes a killer key lime pie, hates green peppers, and loves wine tasting tours. A collector of vintage Nancy Drew books and green glassware, she enjoys poking around in antique shops and refinishing thrift store furniture. An avid photographer, she dreams of traveling the world and she can’t wait to discover everything else life has to offer her.

Her books range from short stories to novellas to novels. They explore gay, bisexual, lesbian, and polyamorous romance in contemporary settings.

Author Links

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Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

 

Follow the tour and check out the other blog posts and reviews here

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My review:

3.75 out of 5 stars

Off-Balance by Brigham Vaughn features Russell Bishop and CFO Stephen Parker from the same marketing firm. Their unexpected attraction requires adjustment, both at work and in their personal lives, especially since there is an age gap, and each man must learn to keep past experiences from ruining a potential future together.

This contemporary gay romance is the first story in ‘The Peachtree’ series and features a couple of men who have quite a few potential obstacles to overcome. I love stories that reaffirm that there is someone for everyone, and these guys have quite a few disparities in their lives to deal with. The gap in their ages plays into the difference in their positions in the company, their residences, and their financial status. Although I like that they took their time getting to know each other, I found it frustrating that they didn’t communicate as well as they could have about their respective triggers and past histories and that caused a lot of unnecessary angst, as far as I was concerned. There is a very slow burn, although they do work through that eventually, but I was more impatient for them to actually sit down and express themselves and deepen the relationship.

There is an emotional evolution that takes place in the second half of the story, and I was touched by the interactions with Ms. Esther while aching at her backstory as well. Given the mutual love and respect, I was a little surprised that better contact wasn’t maintained. There are several very thorny issues touched upon that play out in today’s headlines, and I was saddened to be reminded that progress comes slowly, even in modern society. This is a gently unfolding and thought-provoking story that is aptly titled, as both main characters are often a little off-kilter.

A copy of this title was provided for review