AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1)

Cut & Run (Cut & Run #1), by Abigail Roux and Madeline Urban
Publish Date: September 30, 2008
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Format: audiobook, purchased
Genre: adult m/m crime suspense
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) A series of murders in New York City has stymied the police and FBI alike, and they suspect the culprit is a single killer sending an indecipherable message. But when the two federal agents assigned to the investigation are taken out, the FBI takes a more personal interest in the case.

Special Agent Ty Grady is pulled out of undercover work after his case blows up in his face. He's cocky, abrasive, and indisputably the best at what he does. But when he's paired with Special Agent Zane Garrett, it's hate at first sight. Garrett is the perfect image of an agent: serious, sober, and focused, which makes their partnership a classic cliche: total opposites, good cop-bad cop, the odd couple. They both know immediately that their partnership will pose more of an obstacle than the lack of evidence left by the murderer.

Practically before their special assignment starts, the murderer strikes again this time at them. Now on the run, trying to track down a man who has focused on killing his pursuers, Grady and Garrett will have to figure out how to work together before they become two more notches in the murderer's knife.

I've had my eye on this book for a very long time, but just never found the time to get to it until now. I love a good crime suspense novel, and the m/m romance angle was an even bigger plus for me. I finally pulled the trigger on the audio version of Cut & Run so that I could finally experience this book that I've heard so many talk about while taking my springtime walks around my neighborhood. 

On the whole, I really enjoyed Cut & Run. It centers around an unlikely partnership of two salty FBI agents as they team up to try and figure out who a nasty serial killer is in New York City. Both men come to the partnership with their own respective demons and rather large chips on their shoulders. In the beginning, they're combative, angry, insulting and all that results in them being mostly unproductive as they try to solve the case. 

I knew from talking to friends that, eventually, these two men got together, and honestly for the first 30% or so of the book, I couldn't imagine how it would happen. Ty and Zane didn't even remotely like one another. I wouldn't say there was a slow burn, because there really was no flame at all that I could tell. The beginning was spent laying the groundwork for the case and listening to Zane and Ty trade insults. 

But, as I always say, passion takes many forms. In Zane and Ty's case, it manifests in open hostility for awhile before it absolutely erupts into some toe-curling sex. After that, things take off - the murders pick up, the sexual tension increases and the danger to both men reaches critical levels. 

The pace of Cut & Run ebbs and flows along with Zane and Ty's relationship. There are times when the story speeds along, and other times when it sort of stalls a bit - almost like the book is taking a breather before gearing up for something big. There's no doubt that the ending was crazy exciting as the serial killer is revealed and Zane and Ty fight for their lives for the hundredth time. 

The audio version of Cut & Run wasn't my favorite that I've listened to. I thought that the narrator, Sawyer Allerde, sounded a bit like a newscaster. He read mostly in a monotone voice and there wasn't much inflection in his voicing of different characters. Although his performance wasn't what I would've liked, Cut & Run was a long book, so I had plenty of time to get used to it. And I did. Although, I think that when I get into the next book in this series, I may just read it instead of listen to it. And I do intend to continue with the series - something tells me that although Zane and Ty aren't even close to romantically inclined, I have a feeling there's a lot more coming for them, and I want to see where it goes. 

EARLY REVIEW: Daring Fate (Silver Tip Pack #1)

Daring Fate (Silver Tip Pack #1), by Megan Erickson
Publish Date: November 14, 2016
Publisher: self-published
Format: ARC, provided by the author
Genre: adult m/m paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4 STARS

(Synopsis) I wake up chained to the wall of a dark cell aware of two things: I failed my sister, and I smell my enemy.

When I’m taken to meet Dare, the alpha of the Silver Tip pack, I’m sure I’m about to lose my throat. The last thing I expect is for the Alpha to recognize me as his fated mate. No way is he going to let me go now, and I still have to find a way to rescue my sister.

As I plot my escape to save her, I find that if I leave, Dare could be killed by power-hungry members of his pack. And now he’s more to me than my fated mate—my heart is involved. With time ticking by on my sister’s life, I have to make a choice I never thought I’d face—my sister’s life or my mate’s? That’s if I can survive the undead shifters intent on killing me first...

In honor of Halloween, I wanted to post a review of a paranormal book. Only fitting, right? When I think of the paranormal books that I've read lately, one sticks out in my mind more than others. 

Daring Fate is Megan Erickson's first trip into the world of the paranormal, and what's awesome is that you can tell she fully embraced this new series and made these shifters her own. I promise this is nothing like any other shifter book you've read before. The mythology is unique and it's set in a dystopian world, so it's like the best of both genres. 

Set in a version of future Earth where all humans were wiped out by a deadly virus, and shifters are all that are left, Daring Fate asks us to consider that there are actually two types of shifters - werewolves and Weres. Werewolves wander the Earth in either human or wolf form. Weres, however, have three forms - human, wolf and a huge, scary half-wolf/half-human. Think Lupin from Harry Potter. 

The two species have a common enemy - nasty, undead Weres called Noweres (such an awesome name for the bad guys, right?). The Weres and werewolves usually keep to themselves in walled cities, safe from the Noweres, never interacting since they kind of hate each other. So, imagine Reese's surprise and horror when he discovers his True Mate is the alpha of the Silver Tip Were pack. 

I'd never expected to find my True Mate. The odds of finding one were incredibly slim in this day and age where we locked ourselves away behind fortified walls. True Mates were mostly an urban myth nowadays, but the deep recesses of my shifter brain knew the scent on instinct. And now that I smelled him - a minty, sweet smell - I understood why the True Mate bond was so coveted. I craved him, and my blood rushed through my veins like fucking fire.

Dare is powerful and commanding and confident. He bears the weight of his entire pack on his shoulders and he does it willingly and proudly. He didn't earn his position easily, but he is the best suited for the position. It's a big burden, and he's never been able to share that with anyone. Until Reese comes along. 

Reese and Dare are forced to navigate the choppy waters of a new relationship amid distrust from some members of Dare's pack, as well as some secrets that both men are keeping from the other.  Reese's secrets, especially, have the power to cause real problems for Dare, and the closer they get to each other, the harder it is for Reese to come clean. 

I love shifters. I love how protective they are of the people they care for. I love the sense of community you always get with the pack. And, I love what fierce warriors they are. Despite the uniqueness of Megan Erickson's shifter world, these hallmarks - the things that draw me to this genre the most - are still there in spades. 

There's plenty of action and danger in Daring Fate. The Noweres are no joke. And a nearby werewolf pack, as well as some members of Dare's own pack give Dare and his closest allies reasons to fight. There's lots of action in Dare's bedroom too (and the garden, and the cave, and...). The hotness starts very quickly and doesn't let up. 

Reese and Dare have a special kind of chemistry. At first, you know that part of it is biology - the things about them that make them mates and draw them to each other. But, as time goes on, I loved watching them learn about each other, make sacrifices for each other, and fall in love with each other. 

Even if you've never given shifter books a go before, you should really try this one. This is not a cookie-cutter book - the world is unique, the romance is hot, and the action is plentiful. The guys just happen to turn into wolves from time to time. Which, really, is pretty freaking cool.

REVIEW & EXCERPT: STRUNG UP (Blacktop Cowboys #7.5)

Welcome to my stop on the STRUNG UP blog tour! Check out my review and an excerpt from this awesome Blacktop Cowboys novella!

Strung Up (Blacktop Cowboys #7.5), by Lorelei James
Publish Date: September 13, 2016
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts
Format: ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: adult m/m contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Rancher Creston Grant retreats from the world after he loses the love of his life... Can his former flame, rodeo cowboy Breck Christianson prove he's a changed man who can give Cres a second chance at love?

There’s few things that get my blood pumping more than a hot cowboy in love. But two hot cowboys in love? Explosive.

Cres and Breck had one hot weekend together years before, but Cres knew the score going into the affair and bailed before Breck could ask him to. The rodeo world is violently homophobic, and if Breck wanted to keep on chasing his titles, he’d have to continue playing the straight stud.

Cres, on the other hand, was not interested in hiding, so when he found Mick and fell in love, he thought that was it. He’d found his happily ever after. Even if Mick was just like Breck and wanted to hide who Cres was to him, telling his family that they were simply roommates. But, when Mick was killed in a car accident, Cres’ world was rocked nonetheless.

Two years later, Cres is still having trouble getting over Mick’s death. Meanwhile, Breck’s secret has come out, and he was shunned out of the rodeo circuit. They meet again by chance at an event sponsored by Cres’ sister-in-law’s rodeo school. And now there’s nothing holding them back except themselves.

Breck was always a loudmouthed jerk. We’ve met him in previous books, and he’s never seemed like a good guy. Funny how perspective can change things. Once his behavior was explained, I could understand his actions better. Doesn’t mean he wasn’t still a jerk, but I now got that that wasn’t who he was deep down.

I can’t imagine having to or wanting to hide a part of who you are. That must take a toll on a person. It seemed to suck the life from Breck, and from what Cres says, Mick as well. For the first time in their lives, when Breck and Cres are together, they finally feel passion. Like real, out-of-control, overflowing PASSION. And it scares the heck out of both of them.

Of course, that means some really good reading for us. Cres and Breck are nothing short of combustible together. But, Breck’s fear of commitment to a man and Cres’ fear of loving another only to lose him too get in the way of the real feelings.

I loved these two guys so much. I wish they had their own full-length novel. I would’ve loved more from them. I wanted to know more about how Mick’s closeted life affected Cres. I wanted to see more of Cres’ interaction with his family. I wanted more of Breck’s job at the rodeo school. And of course I wanted more Cres and Breck sexy times.

But, this novella was still fantastic. Lorelei James packs a lot of story on not a lot of pages. It was a quick and satisfying read, and it set the stage nicely for the next novel in the Blacktop Cowboys series. I’m looking forward to catching up with Cres and Breck in that one.

Staring into the flames, I brooded about my uncertain future. I didn’t trust my ambivalence toward teaching because I was a master at self-sabotage. Maybe I considered this teaching experiment a failure so I had an excuse not to sign on for the next session. Then I could stick with the “I’m a ramblin’ man” warning I’d given Cres and return to the blacktop.

But I didn’t want to go back on the road. Facing miles of empty highway day after day…I knew firsthand it was as lonely as it sounded.

Loneliness hadn’t been an issue since I’d rolled into the Grade A complex. I spent my days surrounded by students and staff and my nights wrapped up in Cres.

Sexy, funny, sweet Cres.

I’d been such a fool to think I could work him out of my system. The more time we spent together the more I wanted. Yet Cres hadn’t mentioned extending our time.

Maybe because you’ve done a bang-up job convincing him of your “itchy feet.”

Only because he’d been so insistent about never getting into another serious relationship, and I didn’t want to be the pathetic hanger-on, trying to convince him that I was worth the risk to his heart, because I wasn’t sure I was.

There was some confidence. I’d gotten my mo-jo back in the arena, but I didn’t have the same certainty with Cres unless I was fucking him.
Why did this have to be so f*cked up? Why couldn’t I just tell him my feelings had changed and I needed more than “just sex?”

Lorelei James is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of contemporary erotic western romances set in the modern day Wild West and also contemporary erotic romances. Lorelei’s books have been nominated for and won the Romantic Times Reviewer’s choice Award, as well as the CAPA Award. Lorelei lives in western South Dakota with her family…and a whole closet full of cow girl boots.

From Lorelei: “Why do I have a particular fondness for all things western? Well, I’m a fourth generation South Dakotan, living in the Black Hills, which is chock-full of interesting characters, including cowboys, Indians, ranchers, and bikers. The geographical diversity of the surrounding area showcases mountains, plains, and badlands. Living in and writing about rural settings gives me a unique perspective, especially since I’m not writing historical westerns. Through my fictional world, I can show the ideals and the cowboy way of life are still very much alive.”

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RELEASE DAY REVIEW & EXCERPT: Overexposed (In Focus #4)

Overexposed (In Focus #4), by Megan Erickson
Publish Date: September 20, 2016
Publisher: InterMix
Format: ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: new adult m/m contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Levi Grainger needs a break. As a reality show star, he’s had enough of the spotlight and being edited into a walking stereotype. When he returns home after the last season of Trip League, he expects to spend time with his family, only to learn his sister is coming back from her deployment in a flag-draped casket. Devastated, Levi decides the best way to grieve will be to go off grid and hike the Appalachian Trail—a trip he'd planned to do with his sister.

His solitary existence on the trail is interrupted when he meets Thad, a quiet man with a hard body and intense eyes. Their connection is stronger than anything Levi has ever experienced. But when Levi discovers the truth about what Thad is hiking to escape, their future together looks uncertain, and uncertainty is the last thing Levi needs...

I love road trip books, and Megan Erickson's In Focus series has taken us on more than one of those. But, in Overexposed We actually go on an OFF-road trip. And I think I might now love those even more.

Levi's determined to hike the Appalachian Trail in memory of his sister, who was supposed to do it with him, but died before they had a chance. And, after spending so long on a reality TV show, in front of millions of people, a few months of solitude sounds like a good idea to him. At least, initially it does. But, hiking and eating and sleeping alone gets... lonely. So, when he sees a hot, equally lonely guy on a rock in the middle of the night, all of a sudden, he has a traveling companion.

Thad was looking forward to the solitude of the trail after what he had been through. And yet, when Levi comes into his circle of awareness, everything changes. And, the more time he spends with Levi, the more he wants from him. But, where he's been and where he's going are details that Thad needs to keep to himself if he wants any chance with this guy who lights up his life.

We met Levi in the third In Focus book. He was J.R.'s openly gay cast mate on the reality show that made him a household name. He was sweet and kind and it was easy to want a happy ending for him. Despite his sister's untimely death and the toll that has obviously taken on him, Levi still has this air about him that says he's someone you want to be around. He doesn't take things too seriously. He wants to make people happy.

Maybe that's what Thad was drawn to. Goodness knows he needs some happy in his life. And it takes no time at all for Levi to get under his skin. Even though, after hanging out with Levi for a little while, he knows that his days with him are numbered.

I think Levi and Thad may be my favorite couple in this series. These two - man, both of them squeezed my heart. They were the perfect yin and yang, and they each needed the other for different reasons. Overexposed was deliciously angsty and oh-so satisfying. It was the perfect way to spend a day.   

For a moment, we locked eyes, and the air between us crackled with the promise of what could come next if we let it. I didn’t breathe—didn’t move—because this rubber band tugging at us could snap any minute, and I had no idea which way it would go.

Thad’s jaw clenched, then his hand shot out and gripped the side of my head. I sucked in a breath as

he pulled me toward him. The heat of his palm seared my scalp as he closed the distance until our mouths were inches away. The tent was filled with panted breaths, pounding hearts, and every cell in my body was screaming want want want.

I licked my lips, the very tip of my tongue brushing his, and that was the last encouragement he needed, because then Thad slammed his mouth onto mine. His body crashed along with it, so my back slammed onto the ground and Thad landed on top.

But I didn’t care about any of that, because Thad was devouring me. His mouth moved against mine, opening me up, demanding to be let in, and I obliged. Thad swept his tongue inside, kissing me like he couldn’t get enough, would never get enough, like kissing me was better than breathing.

Kissing Thad was better than breathing.

I held on as best as I could, clutching his broad shoulders, the muscles shifting beneath his skin. With his knees, he spread my legs and slotted himself between them, grinding his hard cock against mine.

It was a frenzy of tongues and lips and saliva and good, hard, need-you-now kind of sex. Thad broke the kiss to suck hard on the skin along my jaw, and I arched beneath him as he hit the spot below my ear that always got me going.

My cock was achingly hard, my balls already drawn up tight, but I needed something more. Thad’s hands fumbled between us until my boxers were shoved down. A fist wrapped around both of our cocks and began stroking them together.

My brain short-circuited, my lungs screamed for air as I gasped at the firm grip. Thad wasn’t fucking around. This was down and dirty and about getting off on each other.

My hips churned with each stroke of Thad’s hand; his hip bones dug into my inner thighs as each stroke shoved my legs further apart. I had no time to imagine what we looked like, what we sounded like, because Thad bit down on my shoulder, hard, and I came like a fucking rocket. I couldn’t even cry out, as I pulsed soundlessly in his hand. His hips froze on one more powerful thrust, sending my head smashing into the side of the tent, and then he let out one small groan against my skin.

I squeezed my eyes shut, relinquishing my grip on Thad’s shoulders, belatedly noticing my nails had etched crescent-shaped marks in his flesh.

He rose off of me slowly, his eyes skittering away, not meeting mine. He grabbed my pack of wipes, and cleaned himself, then me, wordlessly. I bit my lip, unsure what to say. What did one say when they were dry-humped in the middle of the night by a man who spoke in sentence fragments?

Nothing apparently. Because Thad rose, pulled on a pair of pants and a shirt, and with one last look at me, left the tent.

Without a word.

Megan Erickson is a USA Today bestselling author of romance that sizzles. Her books have a touch of nerd, a dash of humor, and always have a happily ever after. A former journalist, she switched to fiction when she decided she likes writing her own endings better.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own nerdy husband and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she's been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn't writing, she's either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or... thinking about writing.

REVIEW: His Royal Secret (His Royal Secret #1)

His Royal Secret (His Royal Secret #1), by Lilah Pace
Publish Date: July 19, 2016
Publisher: Intermix
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: adult m/m contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) James, the handsome, cosmopolitan Prince of Wales, is used to being in the public eye. But he's keeping a king-sized secret...James, next in line for the throne, is gay.

He’s been able to hide his sexual orientation with the help of his best friend and beard, Lady Cassandra. Sometimes he feels like a coward for not coming out, but he daren’t risk losing the crown. If he did, the succession would fall on his deeply troubled younger sister, Princess Amelia. To protect her, James is willing to live a lie.

While on holiday, he meets Benjamin Dahan—a rugged international reporter with a globe-trotting, unattached life—who catches far more than James's eye. And when Ben is transferred to London, it seems fate may finally be smiling on James.

But what began as a torrid fling grows into something far more intimate and powerful. Soon James will have decide who he is, what he wants from life and love, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for the truth...

I love a sexy, impossible relationship. And this book featured the sexiest, most impossible relationship ever. Between a reporter and a prince. Actual freaking royalty.

James is the Prince of Wales and is in direct line to become King of England sooner rather than later. He's been groomed for this position since birth... and no one, save his sister and his BFF Cass, knows that he's gay. This is a huge problem since the king is the head of the Church, which is not a huge fan of homosexuality. So, James has remained in the closet his whole life, and it's made him miserable. 

Then, he meets Ben Dahan - a business reporter. They agree to a relationship in secret, which suits commitment-phobe Ben just fine. It was a relationship with severe limitations and no possibility of more. James gets to indulge his true self with someone he not only likes, but thinks is crazy hot too. It's okay for both of them for awhile. Until it's not. 

His Royal Secret had all the feels. It had hot and sexy feels - the chemistry and sexy times between Ben and James were everything this romance lover needed. It had desperate and emotional feels - James and Ben have to reconcile their growing feelings for one another and decide whether they're willing to risk absolutely everything to try and be together. 

One of the most amazing parts of His Royal Secret is Lilah Pace's attention to detail. Her intricate knowledge of the royal family and the ins and outs of royal protocol, royal properties, and royal household workings was incredible. She must've done so much research to prepare for this book. All the specifics just made it so much more perfect. 

His Royal Secret ends on a pretty big cliffhanger. I couldn't wait to get my hands on His Royal Favorite, which concludes Ben and James' story. I guarantee you won't be able to wait either. The good news is, it comes out next month, so you won't have to wait long. My review will post then, along with an interview with Lilah Pace in which she tells us about her research tactics. In the meantime, read His Royal Secret - you won't be sorry! 

BLOG TOUR REVIEW, EXCERPT & GIVEAWAY: The Spiral Down (The Fall Up #2)

Henry's story is here, and what a story! Check out my review and an excerpt from THE SPIRAL DOWN. And, don't forget to enter to win a $50 Amazon gift card!

The Spiral Down (The Fall Up #2), by Aly Martinez
Publish Date: May 17, 2016
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by TRSOR Promotions
Genre: adult m/m contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) I was afraid to fly. He made me soar.

After years of climbing the ladder of success in the music industry, I finally had everything I could want. 

Yet I still found myself wandering through life alone.

Captain Evan Roth was the one man I never saw coming. 

Tall, dark, mysterious… Straight.
We were both damaged beyond repair and searching for something so elusive we weren’t sure it even existed.

But, when two broken souls collide in midair, falling is a given.

I just never expected to crave the spiral down.

Henry Alexander is a force larger than life. Charismatic, wildly talented, gorgeous, and a total rock star - literally - he is loved by many. Except for his musical partner and best friend Levee, though, Henry doesn't really see it. He doesn't feel loved by anyone, which is so sad for such a vibrant personality. 

Like attracts like, so of course Henry is immediately attracted to pilot Evan Roth. Evan also is having trouble in the love department - although in his case, he has trouble loving others back. A bad relationship 10 years earlier has affected his ability to open himself up to love from anyone - man or woman. 

Geez, these two are a mess. 

Despite that, Evan and Henry together were better than they were individually

I loved the fact that The Spiral Down was in dual POV. As their relationship progressed, Evan and Henry had a lot of stuff to work out on their own, and they did a lot of that inside their own heads. Henry had to work through his feelings of abandonment that are left over from his crap childhood. And Evan had to work out his resistance to commitment, caused by the epic failure of his one relationship with someone he truly loved.

I've got to tell you - the sexual tension in The Spiral Down was ridiculously awesome. Evan and Henry have this palpable connection that was evident from their very first meeting. They couldn't not be around each other, and yet there was all this emotional baggage holding them back from fully giving in to their attraction. So, what you're left with is weeks of them being apart and questioning EVERYTHING, followed by them coming together in explosive, volatile fashion for a very short while. Wash, rinse, repeat.

I really did love The Spiral Down. I loved the glimpses of Sam and Levee's life now. I loved Henry's goofy banter, especially with Sam and Carter. I loved Evan's and Henry's connection, even when they didn't love it so much. This is definitely a book for your TBR. 

Henry

“How about you and one of your girls come out to my show in L.A. next week? My treat. Dinner, drinks, the whole deal. Evan and I would love to take you two beautiful ladies out for an evening.”

“Excuse me?” he exclaimed, cocking his head to catch my gaze.

I leaned back into my seat and lifted a hand to massage his shoulder. I was barely able to suppress a moan when the angle of his firm trap muscle met my palm.

Fuck, this guy was built like a brick wall. And I was going to love every second of watching him crumble for me.

“Oh, come on, Evan. It’s the least we can do. Double date.” I winked at Jessica. “You can fly them out! My plane should be ready by then.”

Jessica’s eyes jumped to Evan’s. “You’re a pilot?” Her smile spread irritatingly wide.

Back off, Ginger Spice.

Snapping my fingers in her direction, I corrected, “He’s my pilot.”

Subtlety was not a virtue I possessed. Was subtlety a virtue at all?

“Your temporary pilot,” he amended before shaking his head and then tipping his beer to his lips for a long pull.

“Anyway. Do we have a date?” And, by date, I meant feeding her dinner while I attempted to work my way into Evan’s pants.

She pressed one finger to her lips and then nervously flashed her eyes around the cabin.

“Oops. Sorry.” I shrugged sheepishly. Lifting my drink to my mouth, I discreetly passed her my cocktail napkin and then not-so-discreetly brushed my forearm against Evan’s chest as I pulled away.

He offered her a tight smile just before she disappeared.

I grinned proudly.

“What the fucking hell was that?” he whisper-yelled at me.

“That was me getting a woman’s number.”

He arched an eyebrow. “A woman. Really?”

“What? Is that not allowed?” I feigned innocence.

He clenched his fist in his lap, and it made me suddenly aware that my own hands had stopped trembling—and in record time, I should note. Evan seemed to be quite useful in the art of distraction.

He leaned closer. “Don’t bullshit me. I looked you up. You’re…” He stopped, unwilling to say the big, bad “G” word.

“I’m what?” I taunted.

He rolled his eyes and chugged the rest of his beer.

We went back to silence until Jessica came back by with another drink, complete with her phone number written on the napkin.

“I’m not going on a double date,” Evan said as I tucked the napkin into my pocket. “You want me to fly them out? Not a problem. Schedule it with Jackson. But that’s the extent of my professional responsibilities. And, since I’m off the clock right now, I’d also like to mention that I think whatever play you’re planning to run on that woman is fucked up.”

My head snapped to his. “I’m sorry. Play?” I asked with more attitude than I had originally planned.

“Yes. Play,” he sneered.

I stirred my drink. “Let me get this straight. I’m offering to fly her out in a private jet, feed her dinner at one of the best restaurants in the city, and put her front row at a concert that has been sold out for over a year. That doesn’t seem like a play to me. It sounds like I’m trying to do something nice for a woman I was rude to earlier.” I casually leaned back in my seat. “My conscience doesn’t ‘play’ when it comes to apologies.”

“Right. Well, maybe you should have a chat with your conscience, because she looks like she just won the date of a lifetime. Meanwhile, you don’t even like women.” He stalled, no doubt looking for just the right word to express his disgust without sounding like a bigot. Judging by his gentleness when we’d taken off, he wasn’t the type of guy to go for the fag bomb.

I watched him intently, excited to see how he was going to handle this.

“You’re gay.”

I frowned at his lack of creativity. “Not that it’s any of your damn business. But I’ll have you know I love women.”

It wasn’t a lie. I adored women. Especially Levee and Robin.

I just didn’t like pussy. Meh. Semantics.

He gaped. “You’re bi?”

“And I’ll repeat: None of your damn business. But yeah. Do you have a problem with that?”

Again, it wasn’t necessarily a lie.

Was I bisexual? Fuck no. My cock was in no way an equal opportunity employer.

I was somewhat bilingual though. I knew how to ask for a blow job in English and Spanish. I pretended that was what he meant.

Chupame la verga.

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five, including a set of twins. Currently living in South Carolina, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.

After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. Five books later, she shows no signs of slowing. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.

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REVIEW: Out of Frame (In Focus #3)

Out of Frame (In Focus #3), by Megan Erickson
Publish Date: March 15, 2016
Publisher: Intermix
Format: e-ARC, provided by the publisher
Genre: new adult contemporary m/m romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Perpetually shy, Quinn Mathers is content to remain in the shadow of his brash best friend Jess Hartman. But before their college graduation, he and Jess have planned one last hurrah: a spring break Caribbean cruise. 

And it won’t be just any cruise. On board are members of the reality show Trip League, which follows young twenty-somethings on adventures around the world. Since the show’s beginning, Quinn has been fascinated by J. R. Butler, with his amazing body, warm eyes, and killer grin. Unfortunately, he’s straight—or so the world thinks.

At nineteen, J. R. signed a contract to play straight for the show, and there’s no way to get out of it now. Yet with each passing day, Quinn and J. R. find it harder to keep their hands off each other and to keep out of the camera’s frame. But when the lens finally focuses on them, J. R. must decide if he’s willing to risk his career by admitting his bisexuality, and Quinn must determine if he's bold enough to stand in the spotlight with the man of his dreams...

If there's one thing I've come to expect from Megan Erickson is that she will put her epic genius to work to bring you the full spectrum of feels in her books. While reading Out of Frame, I laughed, I was angry and frustrated, and I totally swooned. 

Out of Frame is her third book in the angsty m/m In Focus series, and I have to say, this one was a bit of a departure from the first two in the series. The first two dealt with some pretty serious problems and as a result, the tone was pretty heavy and deep. Out of Frame is markedly lighter. It seems like I laughed a lot more while reading it, and I didn't feel despair at all for what either guy was going through. 

Despite the lack of intense drama, that doesn't mean that there weren't hurdles for Quinn and J.R. to overcome. They meet on a reality show cruise. Quinn is desperate to cut the apron strings with his stifling parents. J.R. is sick of his role as the "straight bad boy" on his reality show, and wants nothing more than to just be who he is for once - a nice gay man who loves acting and has an intense desire to take care of his parents and his sick brother. But, his agent thinks that coming out publicly will harm his ability to get roles beyond the reality show. 

"My skin is tight, and I want to scream. I want to scream until I'm hoarse that this isn't who I am. That I'm so much more than the J.R. Butler they edit me to be on TV."

Quinn came along at the wrong time, and I get why J.R. was feeling so backed into a corner. He finally found someone he wanted to be with, but if he wanted to keep on making the kind of money his family needs, he had to keep pretending to be straight. It really was an impossible situation. I loved how J.R. tried to steal moments with Quinn where and when he could. Those moments were sweet and poignant and so, SO hot. 

I also like how J.R. is up front with Quinn about why they have to sneak around. They were very honest with each other about their situations and their feelings, and that's so refreshing. I hate when couples play games and hide things from one another. Quinn and J.R. had enough to deal with - at least they were up front about it all.

Since we first met Quinn in book two, as he's BFFs with Colin's sister, AND since Riley is good friends with Landry, there is a point in the book where we do catch up with both previous couples - Colin and Riley and Justin and Landry. I LOVE that Megan Erickson gives us those moments in her books. 

In Out of Frame, we're introduced to Levi, who will be the subject of the next In Focus book, and I can't wait to see what's in store for him and what awesome feels Megan Erickson will subject us to next. 

REVIEW: The Darkest Flame (Roadmap to Your Heart #1)

The Darkest Flame (Roadmap to Your Heart #1), by Christina Lee
Publish Date: August 17, 2015
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-book, purchased
Genre: adult m/m romance/suspense
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 4 STARS

(From Goodreads) Vaughn O’Keefe has been part owner of the Hog’s Den for years. Privy to plenty of Disciples of the Road business, he’s never been more ruffled as when a new recruit named “Smoke” walks through the door. Something about the man gets his blood pumping, but he knows to keep his preferences under wraps around the club.

“Smoke” Callahan has done a couple of rehab stints and is finally clean, thanks to help from the Disciples. He’s on the right path and isn’t about to get sidetracked, no matter how much the guy who manages the bar gets beneath his skin. Besides, his last relationship with a man left him scared, alone, and with a nightmare of an addiction.

When the Hog’s Den becomes shorthanded, and Smoke is ordered to help out the one man he can’t have, his longing for the bartender reaches blistering proportions. Vaughn figures a night together should be enough to satisfy their mutual attraction. But neither banks on just how scorching hot it might be.

As Smoke’s past unravels and the one person he hopes never to lay eyes on again messes with all he holds sacred, it’s time to involve the Disciples. Problem is, he’ll have to risk his membership, his heart, and his own hide to keep everyone he cares about safe.

When Christina Lee wrote There You Stand, which was the fifth book in her Between Breaths series, I was so excited that she took the plunge into the m/m new adult romance pool. And, it was a really good book. The Darkest Flame is a spin-off from There You Stand, and it's also m/m, but everything in it is... MORE. More hot bikers. More drama. More heat. 

We met both Vaughn and Smoke in There You Stand, and The Darkest Flame tells their story. I knew there was something between them, but it was obvious that they were not free to be out, given their current situations. Smoke is a recruit for the Disciples of the Road and finally on the right path in his life. He is wildly attracted to Vaughn, the part owner of the Hog's Den, which is where the Disciples always hang out. 

The attraction is definitely not one-sided. Vaughn has had his eye on Smoke for a long time. The best part about The Darkest Flame is the crazy amount of sexual tension. It is RIDICULOUS. Bikers and motorcycle clubs are very hetero. They are full of testosterone-laden man-whores who love to bang the biker babes that hang out at their club houses. It's not exactly accepted to be gay and in an MC.

Both Vaughn and Smoke are bi-sexual, so they've been able to hide their proclivities thus far. But, when Smoke is forced to work behind the bar with Vaughn, both men fear their days of hiding are numbered. Subtle nudges behind the bar, storeroom meet-ups, late-night closings - it was just a matter of time before they gave in to their attraction. 

Smoke and Vaughn were desperate to get back to business as usual. They weren't used to having their attentions so divided. Smoke has been wholly devoted to the club since they helped him kick his habit, and Vaughn's life is his bar. All of a sudden, both men are thrown off kilter by each other, and in their desperation to put their universes back to rights, they decided to just "get it out of their system." Now, how many times have we read about this plan? It's adorable that they thought that would actually work. 

After a few hot and heavy interactions, they finally get down to business. Holy. Crap. When Smoke and Vaughn decide to quit dancing around each other, they absolutely set my Kindle on fire. FIRE, I tell you. And, of course, once was not enough (DUH). They kept testing those invisible alleged boundaries set by the club, all while getting closer and closer to one another. 

The Darkest Flame was not all about the forbidden love between Vaughn and Smoke. The club is trying to bring down a rival gang that is in to some really bad things - Smoke's former club, in fact. And, since Smoke has the inside knowledge, he's asked to help by ratting on them. Despite the fact that Smoke knows his old club is into bad things and was a really bad thing for him, personally, he's a good, loyal guy, and he struggles with the morality of this. Since his loyalty has shifted, he does what is asked of him, but it never sits right with him, and eventually, Smoke has to answer for his actions. 

Luckily he has Vaughn's support the whole time. Although Vaughn is not part of the club, he is as close to it as he can be without being in it. That affords him protection and friendship from them. And, since the club meets at the bar all the time, Vaughn also has a bit of knowledge about how things go for them sometimes, so he knows Smoke is right smack in the middle of this operation, and he knows it can be dangerous. Suddenly, Vaughn is very worried about the man he's come to love, but there isn't anything he can do about it, since he's only on the periphery. 

It was fun seeing Cory and Jude a few times during The Darkest Flame. They've settled into life and are happy, which made my heart happy. I can't wait to see what the rest of this series will bring - and I can't wait for the recap we might see from Vaughn and Smoke.

NEW ADULT MONDAYS: Trust the Focus (In Focus #1)

The New Adult genre - their bad boys and big problems and epic loves make them engrossing tales that are so easy to lose yourself in. What's not to love about that? And, now, thanks to the cool chicks at Bewitched Bookworms, we can show these books the love they deserve in a weekly feature - New Adult Mondays.

Trust the Focus (In Focus #1), by Megan Erickson
Publish Date: March 17, 2015
Publisher: Intermix
Format: e-ARC, obtained from NetGalley
Genre: new adult m/m contemporary romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) With his college graduation gown expertly pitched into the trash, Justin Akron is ready for the road trip he planned with his best friend Landry— and ready for one last summer of escape from his mother’s controlling grip. Climbing into the Winnebago his father left him, they set out across America in search of the sites his father had captured through the lens of his Nikon.

As an aspiring photographer, Justin can think of no better way to honor his father’s memory than to scatter his ashes at the sites he held sacred. And there’s no one Justin would rather share the experience with more than Landry.

But Justin knows he can’t escape forever. Eventually he’ll have to return home and join his mother’s Senate campaign. Nor can he escape the truth of who he is, and the fact that he’s in love with his out-and-proud travel companion.

Admitting what he wants could hurt his mother’s conservative political career. But with every click of his shutter and every sprinkle of ash, Justin can’t resist Landry’s pull. And when the truth comes into focus, neither is prepared for the secrets the other is hiding.

Trust the Focus was really the perfect book for me. It's about best friends who realize they are more than that during an epic road trip filled with some of my most favorite things - traveling to cool places, blogging and photography. Even on the surface, it sounded like something I would love. I had no idea what I was getting into. Woven effortlessly throughout the book is this theme of being true to yourself and how much that might cost you. 

This book... it was so compelling. Justin is the all-American boy. Baseball player. Politician's son. In love with his best friend, Landry. Landry is creative. Conspicuous. Gay. And in love with his best friend. Hmmm. What a tangled web we weave. 

Justin isn't only struggling with his feelings for Landry. His mother is all but forcing him through guilt and manipulation to come and work for her after he graduates from college. His father, who was the parent who supported him in all things, passed away very suddenly. Justin is so lost. He feels the noose his mother has so expertly put around his neck tightening with every single day that passes, and because of his loyalty to his family, he feels that there isn't anything he can do about it. He doesn't want to become his mother's press secretary and marry a blue blood and make babies. He wants to follow in his father's footsteps and become a photographer, come out of the closet and find a way to be with the only person he's ever loved, albeit, secretly. These are all things way to heavy to place on such a young man's shoulders. 

Landry has also always supported Justin in everything he has done. So, when Justin wants to take his father's Winnebago on a cross-country road trip in order to take photos of his dad's favorite places and scatter his ashes at all the sites, Landry agrees to accompany him immediately. He knows that this trip is about so much more than honoring Justin's father in his poignant way. It's Justin's way of living his life the way HE wants to live it, if only for a few weeks. And, maybe Landry hopes that a few weeks would give Justin the courage to extend it into so much longer than that. 

Trust the Focus is told entirely from Justin's POV. This really is his story to tell. It's his journey. As he comes to terms with the life he wants and who he wants it with, he also has to come to terms with what that may cost him. He knows that if he stays on his present course, he may lose Landry as both a friend and as more than a friend. If he chooses to embrace his desire for more - of everything - he could lose the only family he has left in the world. Can you imagine that choice? 

Justin most definitely struggles with it. He goes back and forth - one minute giving in to the moment with Landry (and those moments - OMG), and the next giving in to the crushing guilt and siding with his mother. In the end, after a heartbreaking confrontation (tears, people - MANY tears), it takes Landry making a bold decision in order for Justin to make one too. 

Landry's and Justin's relationship is amazing. They are funny together and wild and sweet. They know all each others' secrets (all except for the biggest and most important one!) and histories. They would do anything for the other. And in the end, they both do. I'm a huge fan of grand gestures of love. So, one of the best parts of Trust the Focus for me is the fact that, in the end, both Justin and Landry make a grand gesture, and both made me grin from ear to ear. 

There was so much to love in this book. The writing was incredible. The story amazing. The characters were all painted perfectly. Well done, Megan Erickson.