UK Gay Romance Book Signing event, London, September 6th - Book Ordering

UK Gay Romance Book Signing event, London, September 6th - Book Ordering

I’m going to be at the inaugural UK Gay Romance Book Signing event in London on September 6th.

It’s a free event and there will be much chatting and reading and cups of tea (and coffee!). Click here for more details.

I'll be bringing all kinds of paperbacks, but just like UK Meet and GRL it would be cool to know if anyone wants a specific book so I can pre-order. I'll be selling them at cost and this works out around £6 a book (with only The Heart Of Texas being a little more expensive)

If you want a specific book please indicate using the form below... You're not tied to anything, although there is the chance to pay in advance if you want to...

Hope to see lots of you there!

RJ XXX

Capture The Sun (Sapphire Cay #5) with Meredith Russell

Capture The Sun (Sapphire Cay #5) with Meredith Russell



The Book

Model, Isaac Bailey wants to break into the world of fashion design. Under his father’s company name, he is set to debut his new collection—summer wear.

He has the models, the clothes, what he needs is a location. Mitch Stone is a trouble shooter. His latest client needs an exotic location and he happens to know someone with the very thing—Sapphire Cay.

Having underestimated Isaac as nothing more than an airhead model, Mitch soon discovers there is much more to the young man than he first thought. 

As the fashion shoot gets underway, Mitch has to contend with his feelings for his old love, Dylan, and the very new and growing affections he has for Isaac. 

What starts as just another job, turns out to be more fruitful and exhilarating than winning any multi-million dollar contract.

The Sapphire Cay Series

Book 1 - Follow The Sun
Book 2 - Under The Sun
Book 3 - Chase The Sun
Book 4 - Christmas In The Sun
Book 5 - Capture The Sun
Book 6 - Forever In The Sun

Buy Links - eBook

Amazon (US)  |  Amazon (UK)  |  All Romance  | Smashwords  |  Barnes & Noble  |  iTunes  |  Kobo

Sapphire Cay Vol 2 (incorporating Christmas In The Sun, Capture The Sun & Forever In The Sun)


Buy Links - Print Book

Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)

Reviews

Prism Book Alliance - 5/5 - "....I’ve been reading the Sapphire Cay stories since the very first book; they are like coming home and meeting old friends. My oasis of calm all rolled into one. It doesn’t matter how bad my day has been a trip to Sapphire Cay has the power to lower my blood pressure and relax me like nothing else...."

"....I loved this one so much, it’s by far my favourite of the series (and long may they continue). I don’t want to say anything more about the story except to say Mitch is perfect as the uptight businessman who’s forgotten how to unwind, he wants what he finds on the Cay but he’s scared to reach out and take it, thinking that you can’t build a future on a holiday fling. I loved Isaac too; he was very sweet and quite nervous of the fashion shoot for his first collection. One touch that I loved was how the pictures of Peter and Alfie, found in Christmas on the Cay, were mentioned, that’s the type of thing that’s wonderful about these stories, each one feeds into the next, and I can’t wait to hear their story too...."

Click cover to enlarge
Multitaskingmommas Reviews - 4/5 - "....This was such a sweet romance, especially when Mitch kissed Isaac's worries away. The two men had their own issues to deal with and they did deal with them - together - and that just made me smile happily for them both. This does have a fairy tale feel to it though, so is kind of dreamy. Then again, I think dreamy is good, especially when I fall in love with two men I knew nothing about and made me curious enough to pick up the rest of the series...."

Because Two Men Are Better Than One - "....I really enjoy this series. It’s like receiving a lovely little gift each time a new book is released. What makes it appealing, at least for me, is the familiarity of the setting – who can resist a gorgeous tropical island? – and also the chance to get little glimpses of characters we’ve met before. Plus I always like the pairing of the men in the story.

....This story combines some hot sex with a sweet story as these men get in touch with their emotions. It’s a gentle, read-in-one-sitting kind of book, that leaves you smiling at the happy ending...."

The Blogger Girls - "....When I was asked to review this book, I was excited. I have read the first three in the series and loved them. Yes, some of our favorite past characters do make appearances.

When the story started, I sensed something wasn’t right about Mitch’s “date” for the night. When I found out the truth, I was honestly mortified for him and his behavior. I wanted to cuff the back of his head and ask “Didn’t your mother teach you better!” I have to admit, when Mitch realized his screw-up, I laughed and thought, “That should teach you not to be a loosey-goosey.”....

....I will most definitely be recommending it to all my readers.

Overall Impression: I loved it!...."

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Mitch Stone sipped at very weak whiskey and water and people-watched. He’d done the rounds twice already, flirted with the women, talked sports with the men, and every other cliché under the sun. Now he was hiding to give himself some time to think and staying as sober as he could while having a drink permanently in his hand.

It’s Christmas Eve, live a little.

“Why are you hiding over here?” his senior manager asked with a frown. She was looking a little glassy-eyed, and the champagne glass in her hand was nearly empty.

Mitch lifted his glass in a toast and smiled easily. He liked Doris, with all her power suits and her impossibly high heels. Tonight she appeared relaxed, and it was a good look on her. “I’m just taking a breather.” He wasn’t going to lie to her. She was uncannily quick to see through anyone’s bullshit.

“Don’t stay here,” she admonished. She grabbed a new champagne flute from one of the waiters and sipped at it. “I’m going out to find some fun. I’ll find you some while I’m at it.”

“Don’t—“ She’d gone before he could say what he wanted to say. Mitch watched her weave expertly through the groups forming around the small tables and toward a particularly gorgeous young man who had caught Mitch’s eye more than once tonight.

He must be a party favor, young guys and girls brought in to add glitter and romance, slim young girls with short dresses and scarlet lipstick who pandered to any man at a loose end in the crowd, escorts who were available if you needed them. That was how it worked at big seasonal parties like this one. Since there were women who might need that little something, this particular party also included a whole team of cute men who sashayed and mingled, with alcohol they didn’t drink and promise in their expressions. They were all included in with the party, no cost involved.

This young guy, all bright-eyed with soft spiky hair, was so slim it almost seemed unnatural, but he had a good ass, a nice handful, and he was just as happy casting glances back at Mitch. Doris chatted to him, placing a hand on the young guy’s shoulder and leaning in to say something into his ear. He laughed at whatever Doris was saying and looked over at Mitch.

Oh shit, no. Is Doris setting me up with one of the party favors? Like hell that’s happening.

The young man, who must be in his early twenties, nodded his head and spoke to Doris, all the while looking at Mitch, and Mitch ducked away before the man decided he needed an escort tonight. He was here on business, and the last thing he needed was sex.

This was Mitch Stone’s night. He was at the Haddison-Walker Christmas Eve party, and he was selling his brand to anyone who wanted him. Wearing charcoal Armani, with his loafers polished to a high sheen, his favorite Armani shirt, and a rich blue tie, he knew he looked good. He looked completely the part of the guy who deserved to be here.

“Hey, Mitch,” a CEO with his wife clinging to his arm called out.

Mitch nodded as he walked past like he had somewhere to be, when in fact all he wanted was another quiet corner to people-watch. He’d schmoozed with that particular CEO—he already had the man’s card in his pocket. He might be new to the company, but brokering the Haddison-Walker deal with Davis was the kind of news that left people slapping his back and asking how the hell he had done it. Everyone who had ever guided the two companies in any kind of joint project knew just how hard it was to get a positive outcome. The CEOs were brothers yet hated each other. Their passions were quick to ignite to temper, but somehow Mitch Stone had managed the near impossible. He’d worked out a joint marketing deal that was beneficial to both sides.

I am a confident, capable marketing executive, he’d told himself before he came down to the party from his room. He had to believe that, otherwise he would fail to capitalize on the big win and be just another low-level marketing assistant sliding into obscurity.

Mitch wanted to be the marketing fixer, using every skill he’d learned from ten years with Dylan Gray Senior about contracts and terms. He needed to be the first one Miami companies thought of when they wanted help. And he had to be the one who matched person to product or group to sponsor. His unique firefighting style of marketing expertise, from graffiti to flash mobs, was making waves in the business world here in Miami. He had his finger on the pulse and Dolphins tickets in his pocket along with cards and notes from prospective clients.

There was good money here tonight, people in all kinds of business wanting his particular skills. Companies wanted the edge; they wanted young and new and fresh. This party was that kind of party—networking, smiling, hugging, and air kisses with good food and excellent wine.

“Mitch Stone! Didn’t think I would see you here.” A voice from his left had him turning. “Thought you’d be too busy out spending your bonus.”

Mitch shook hands with someone he recognized, but for the life of him he couldn’t place the name of the man. He was probably one of the team who had been up in New York on long-term assignment and he wouldn’t be the first face Mitch couldn’t put a name to.

“Thought I’d take Haddison-Walker up on their invite,” Mitch said. He wasn’t going to share the real reason he was here. Just that he needed to mingle and get himself out there to avoid the thought of doing fuck-all over Christmas.

The guy took a step back and thrust a very pretty woman forward. She had a big baby-bump and looked serene in the pregnant-lady version of a little black dress.

“This is Melinda, my wife,” the guy said proudly.

Mitch air-kissed and said all the right things. “When are you due?”

“End of March,” Melinda said. “Jerry is so excited. He’s like a kid at Christmas.”

Jerry! That’s right, Jerry something-or-other.

Jerry pulled his wife in close and squeezed her. “Why wouldn’t I be? I’m here at the party of the year with the gorgeous woman who’s carrying our baby and whom I couldn’t love more. What could possibly beat this?” He was beaming and maybe just a little drunk. Hell, he was clearly so besotted with his life at the moment that Mitch felt a twinge of irrational jealousy. I’m happy with the deal and the bonus and the kudos, that’s enough…

Not that he wanted a woman by his side or, perish the thought, a baby on its way. But to have someone on Christmas Eve must be kind of nice. Maybe one of these sexy but drunken marketing execs making more noise than they needed to was gay and fancied a hookup that would smooth Mitch into Christmas Day.

“We have to go,” Melinda apologized. She placed a hand on her swollen belly. “We called a cab. I get so tired.”

“Nice to meet you. Good luck with the baby,” Mitch said with an accompanying smile. He even managed to push genuine emotion into his voice, despite the alcohol in his system and the headache that threatened at his temples.

Jerry took Melinda and the two vanished into the throng, leaving Mitch at loose ends. Fixers like him didn’t stand around waiting for people to come to them; they went into the crowd like sharks.

Do I really have to? On Christmas Eve? Haven’t I got enough business for a while?

Jerry appeared back at his side, a bright purple wrap over his arm. “I meant to tell you… I have a client in need of a photo shoot, large budget. I’m worried I’m going to drop the ball on this one, what with Melinda and everything. I’m trying to pull in Bruno Cash, but he needs some persuading.” He handed over a bright pink Post-It note with some scribbled details. “They’re looking for standard stuff, so maybe it isn’t your kind of thing, and I realize you’re busy with the Haddison-Walker/Davis thing. But the company is looking for something a bit special in the way of a survivalist tents, fires, island-type thing. I’ll finish all the groundwork, but I was hoping you’d be my backup if Melinda is early.”

Mitch nodded. How likely was it that Melinda would be early? Anyway, he could do with making a few friends at the company.

“Happy to help if I can,” Mitch said automatically. Actually, it sounded like nothing he would be interested in working on, but he wouldn’t pass on it just yet, not when he wasn’t sober. Never make a drunken decision, his mom admonished him in his thoughts, and he remembered he hadn’t called her yet to wish her Merry Christmas.

Mitch made a show of pocketing the Post-It. As soon as Jerry left, Mitch pushed the request to the back of his mind and turned determinedly toward the groups of men and woman who needed his special skills. He schmoozed with the best of them, and only when he’d done enough talking did he wander out to the balcony with the ocean view and turn his thoughts to the Post-It note and what Jerry had said.

The sea, beaches, camps, fires—all the thoughts in his head swirled around to one person, as they always did. His ex-lover, Dylan, of the come-to-bed blue eyes. He has an island. And if Mitch fixed something between Dylan and this client, then that meant he had a valid reason to see Dylan again and maybe check out just what this boyfriend of Dylan’s was like, Liam or Luke or something beginning with an L. He resolved to pass on details of the island to Jerry anyway, and maybe he would make himself available as a replacement if needed. Any excuse to visit Sapphire Cay. And Dylan.

“Hot in there, isn’t it?”

Mitch sighed inwardly. He was done with the networking. He just wanted to stay out here in the cool night air with his crystal tumbler of whiskey and imagine Dylan’s response if Mitch asked to use his island. He’ll probably charge me double.

He cast a look sideways and his irritation became even more pronounced when he recognized the slim guy Doris was talking to next to him, all sultry-eyed and wet-lipped.

“No. But thank you,” Mitch said firmly. He might not have had actual sex in nearly two months. But, shit, the last thing he needed was the sex on offer from one of the party favors.

The young man—dark brown eyes and beautiful in an angular way—simply blinked up at him. Or across to him. Actually, for a twink he was a good five ten, and on closer inspection he looked a little older than the young guys hired in. Still, he was dressed in tight pants that left nothing to the imagination and a white shirt that strained over a slim, muscled body.

“Sorry?” he said and looked confused.

“Thank you, but no,” Mitch repeated. The young man looked behind him, clearly checking to see if Mitch was looking at someone else. Mitch sighed. “I don’t want what you’re offering.”

“Sorry.” The guy frowned. “Doris said I should talk to you. I was just commenting on the heat inside.” He held out his hand. “I’m—”

Instinctively Mitch raised his hand and shook his head. He wasn’t interested in names. Not ones of escorts, anyway. If the escort finished his introduction, Mitch didn’t hear. I have had more to drink than I thought.

Instead, as the man spoke, all Mitch could focus on was the sound, deep and sexy. “Okay. So who offered you something you didn’t want?” the stranger asked curiously.

Mitch sighed tiredly. “Half the guys like you in the room.”

The man shifted so his back was against the rail and sipped what looked like cranberry and ice. “Like me?”

“Here for the party.”

“We’re all here for the party, or am I wrong?”

“You know what I mean.” God, was this guy being deliberately obtuse? A couple other people joined them on the balcony, and Mitch suddenly felt incredibly awkward. What if a potential client saw him talking to one of the escorts? Time to head out. “Nice to meet you,” he said without meaning it. Then he stalked back into the crowd and made straight for the exit of the large ballroom.

He went to the nearest elevators and pressed the up button. He wasn’t the only one at this party who was staying overnight, but he was probably the only one going back to his room this early with the express purpose of spending Christmas Eve on his own.

Chapter 2

As soon as Mitch was back in room 2512, he flung off his jacket and slumped into the chair at the window with three of the small bottles from the mini bar in his hand. Dylan and his island were front and center in his head, and he blamed Jerry for putting him there. He downed the alcohol and stared into the dark until finally he couldn’t see any reason why phoning Dylan this late on Christmas Eve wasn’t a brilliant idea. He pulled out his cell and searched for Sapphire Cay, finding the number quickly and looking at the website. The site was pretty, functional, but beyond that, it was kind of difficult to find the number on the tiny screen and there was no Facebook page. Finally, after much squinting at his iPhone, he found a number, and before he could second-guess himself, he connected a call. The island would be the perfect backdrop for what Jerry needed, Mitch was sure of it. He could leave a message—strike while the iron was hot, so to speak.

Evidently the main number wasn’t connected to an answering machine this late at night but direct through to a cell phone. Dylan’s cell. Fuck.

“What’s wrong? Is it Dad?” Dylan asked instead of identifying himself. He sounded panicked, and Mitch felt instant guilt.

“Dylan, that you?” He’d drunk enough to be on the cusp of slurring his words, and he focused hard on speaking. “I need to book your island,” he added.

Dylan made a sound of annoyance. “What the hell, Mitch?”

“Got a contract with models, lots of ’em, and Jerry said he needed an island. Then I thought, Dylan has a freaking island. And it’s Christmas Eve, and I was thinking about you. Not thinking about you really, just you were in my head. Right? Am I right? Or am I wrong?” He attempted to keep his thoughts rational, but what was in his head wasn’t exactly coming out of his mouth in any kind of coherent fashion.

Dylan’s tone softened. “It’s nearly midnight on Christmas Eve, Mitch, why are you phoning me?”

There was whispering, something about drunk dialing, although the words were muffled. Mitch should have known the L-man would be there. “Dylan! My man, you still there?”

Dylan came back. “Mitch, Merry Christmas and all, but you gotta phone me after January first, man.”

Oh yeah. After Christmas, and not on Christmas Eve. He felt a hysterical bubble of laughter in his throat. “Oh. My bad.” Then he pressed on with the question he wanted answered. “So can I have your island?”

“Lucas can check dates after New Year’s for you.”

Lucas! That was his name. Not Liam or Luke. Lucas. “Lucas. How is he? Still the love of your life?” Mitch was genuinely happy for Dylan being happy. Well, sometimes he was happy for him. Other times he regretted having had a stick up his ass and never talking to Dylan about how he felt way back when. Never mind, that was in the past now.

“Goodbye, Mitch,” Dylan said. The message was clear. I have things to do on Christmas Eve and they don’t include talking to you, Mitch.

“Oh, okay then. Merry Christmas.” The finality of the call ending, of losing a friendly voice on the phone, hit him, and suddenly he didn’t feel so much drunk as tired.

“Hang on. Mitch, what are you doing for Christmas?”

Mitch considered what he was doing. Staying here overnight, eating the overpriced breakfast, drinking champagne, going home. “Nothing special.”

“You seeing Dad?”

Regret slid through Mitch. There wasn’t a single day when he didn’t think about the final day working for Dylan’s dad and Dylan himself. Still, he wasn’t going to let Dylan know what he was feeling. Instead he cased the words in an icy disdain. “I don’t work for him anymore. Couldn’t. Not after he got all soft on a client and refused to seal the deal. We argued, I walked. Didn’t he tell you?”

“We don’t talk much,” Dylan said after a pause. Then he changed the subject. “What about spending Christmas with your brother?”

My brother? With his wife and his picture-perfect house and his medical degree? That isn’t happening this side of ever.

“He’s in England with his new wife.” Mitch began to feel defensive. Who was Dylan to think he could comment on Mitch’s life? “I don’t want to see anyone at Christmas.” He snorted a laugh. “Jeez, Dylan, you getting slow in your old age playing house with that man of yours? We’re not all settled down. Some of us like to play the field and enjoy ourselves.”

“Uh-huh.” Dylan didn’t call him on his bullshit response. It was a good thing, because if Dylan continued in that direction, Mitch might fold under the strain. “Phone me in the New Year. And have a good Christmas, Mitch.”

“You too,” Mitch offered lamely. He ended the call and placed the cell carefully on the small side table. Then he tilted his head back to stare at the ceiling. You too, Dylan.

The pity-party-for-one lasted a good half hour, enough for the whiskey edge to fade, and he cursed himself for his stupidity. What was he doing sitting in his goddamned hotel room this early on Christmas Eve when he could be downstairs finding one of the favors and celebrating Christmas the way he should? Maybe that brunet from the balcony, the one who looked barely legal with the dark eyes and the kiss-me lips.

He used the bathroom, brushed his teeth, checked his hair, and donning his jacket, he left the room. When the elevator doors opened, he slid in and checked himself in the three walls of mirrors. He looked good for thirty-one. The elevator stopped at the eighteenth floor, and as if the fates were smiling on him, the guy from the balcony walked in, adjusting his shirt as he did. Clearly on his way back from a meet-up. He looked at Mitch warily.

“Sorry about earlier,” Mitch said. Then, as the doors of the elevator slid shut, he pressed the escort against the glass and kissed him.

By the time the elevator reached the first floor, and hell, it must have only been a couple seconds, Mitch was hard and his hookup was wrapped around him like a monkey on a tree.

Mitch pressed the button to take them back up to his room. That decision was an easy one.

Mitch backed him out of the elevator and to his room, still kissing, still hard, and even when the door shut behind them, Mitch didn’t stop kissing. They separated as they stumbled over Mitch’s discarded shoes, and the young guy opened his mouth to speak.

“I’m—”

“No names needed,” Mitch said firmly.

The man’s eyes widened, but Mitch didn’t give him a chance to form a reply, pushing him back until he lay on the bed, a wide grin on the escort’s face.

“I can go with that,” the escort said. He arched up as he shimmied out of slim pants and his pristine white shirt. “Not calling you anything,” he added and curled up to pull at his socks. Finally, he lay in just leave-nothing-to-the-imagination briefs. He was already hard, but he didn’t touch himself. Instead he sprawled back, his legs spread and his hands over his head and clasped together. He looked like he was fucking posing, all perfect hair and toned form.

Mitch shoved at his own clothes, and finally naked, he crawled up the bed and decided the best way to enjoy this gorgeous Christmas gift was to mess that perfection right up. He spent time kissing, enjoying the taste of whiskey and the promise of that mouth on his cock later. At the same time, he tousled the guy’s hair with his fingers, finally pulling it free from the confines of gel and mousse and whatever the hell else was in it to keep it looking so damn designer. Finally he was happy and nuzzled his face into the man’s neck, inhaling the scent there, citrus and spice and all things edible.

From there Mitch nipped and kissed a path to two perfect nipples in a hairless chest, loving the sensation of his lips on acres of smooth skin. One thing about the escorts, they were certainly high-class.

Traveling south, he pulled back the cotton to expose his bedmate’s cock, hard and flushed with need, and only a sudden sense of self-preservation had him stopping.

“Where are your condoms?” Mitch asked and looked down at discarded pants.

“Shit. Don’t have any,” was the frustrated answer.

“What kind of a… never mind.” Mitch wasn’t thinking about why an escort would have run out of condoms already. Instead he was too needy, too tired of waiting around, and he rolled off the guy with haste. Rummaging in his wash bag, he grabbed condoms and his ever-present lube and was back on the bed before his lover decided to make a run for it. Given the wide-eyed expression on his face, it looked possible.

“I don’t get—”

“Shh,” Mitch said.

He slicked his fingers and slid them to the man’s ass, pressing inside him with a sharp movement.

“Fuck,” his one-night stand cursed.

Mitch stilled. For running out of condoms, this guy sure was tight. Jeez, was this guy a top? He’d never even thought to ask. When the escort screwed himself down onto Mitch’s fingers and inhaled sharply before doing it again, Mitch decided he must be versatile. Fucking thank God for that.

Mitch stretched him, kissing the guy’s inner thighs, before rolling on a condom and encouraging the escort onto all fours. Sinking into the tight heat was bliss; stilling his movement when the guy under him groaned was instinct.

“You okay?” he asked. Mitch might well be the third or fourth guy with this escort tonight, but he wasn’t going to hurt him. Even though it went against every instinct he had, he stopped and waited. Finally his lover pushed back, and from there, everything was a blur.

Mitch closed his eyes and fucked every ounce of his need into this willing body. Falling back to his heels, he pulled the escort with him, every muscle in his body screaming for release. They kissed, awkwardly, messily at that angle, and Mitch opened his eyes, caught in the unfathomable brown of the escort’s gaze. There was innocence there, lust, need. Mitch reached around as they kissed, and with a few twists the escort was coming, with Mitch not long after.

They fell to the bed in a tangle of limbs, the escort chuckling. “Fuck, that was hot.”

“Mmm,” Mitch hummed. He eased out and discarded the condom, wiping himself with tissues next to the bed. He passed the box to the other man and watched as he cleaned himself up.

Then with a contented smile, the escort closed his sexy, heavy-lidded dark eyes and in seconds was asleep.

Mitch reached over to shake him awake but stopped at the last moment. He looked so peaceful, all fucked out and sprawled on the bed. What the hell. It was a huge bed, and Mitch could stand to have a companion for a little while. He eased up from the bed, and just because he was a careful kind of guy, he locked his wallet in the small room safe.

After all, this guy might be a high-class escort, but he was still on the shady side. Finally, Mitch was back under the covers, and he closed his eyes, every muscle in his body relaxing.



* * * * *



When they woke and the escort used his talent to bring Mitch off with lips and hands only it was one hell of a way to be woken up. And when the man smiled up at him, his lips swollen and his expression heavy with lust, Mitch wished for a brief moment that this escort was just a normal guy. Because they were dynamite in bed.

They showered at some ungodly hour and that ended with Mitch fucking his hookup over the bathtub.

He woke at a little after six, only an hour before the shuttle was picking him up to take him home. He reached to nudge the escort awake. Then he stopped. The kid looked exhausted and sweet and vulnerable. Mitch shook the thoughts from his head, that insistent press that maybe he could do some kind of Richard Gere and get this guy into proper work. Not that being an escort was like hanging around on street corners, but there was something about his hookup that screamed connection.

What the hell am I looking for? Did he imagine he could sweep in and keep this one for real, like a Christmas story or something where he could give the young man a happy ending? Like an escort would give up the thousands he probably earned doing something he enjoyed for a chance with a bitter marketing exec.

Getting soft in my old age.

Instead of worrying any more, he left a tip on the small table and exited the room. The guy had been good, and that was a plus from an otherwise boring Christmas event.


The Merman and the Barbarian Pirate by Kay Berrisford 5/5

The Merman and the Barbarian Pirate by Kay Berrisford 5/5

Raef, a lonely merman, spends his days watching the dashing Lord Haverford from afar and dreaming of love.

When Haverford is robbed by a pirate, Raef vows to reclaim the stolen goods, hoping his victory will buy him the happiness he yearns for with Haverford.

But Jon Kemp does not match what Raef knows about pirates, and the simple quest Raef anticipated turns out to be an epic journey. 

For while Jon might be a nobler man than Raef believed, he’s still a pirate. Love and loyalty are not on Jon’s agenda, and he certainly has no plans to love someone not entirely human…

Review 5/5

I love Kay's writing so much I wanted her to write for Love Lane! 

This is a gorgeous story featuring good guys, bad guys, some delicious language, pirates, soldiers, and most of all merman (and mermaids!). 

The way Kay writes the details of the merman just had me smiling - the flip of the tail, the pain when they change from mermaid to human, the complicated timing of changing. She has created a stunning world that I loved. And the dreaded pirate Kemp is just so well written. A lovely romance with a naive merman and a worldly pirate is just fun and romantic and hot and very special.

Buy Links

The Last Thing He Needs by JH Knight, 5/5 Highly Recommended

The Last Thing He Needs by JH Knight, 5/5 Highly Recommended

Tommy O’Shea is raising his seven younger brothers and sisters without any help from his drug abusing father and stepmother. Since he was fifteen years old, he's managed to keep the children fed and out of foster care. It takes up every ounce of his energy and the last thing he needs is romance complicating his life further.

Rookie cop Bobby McAlister doesn't belong in Tommy’s harsh world, but Tommy can’t push him out. As their unlikely friendship turns into a tentative relationship, they weather the daily storm of Tommy’s life with a lot of laughs and more than a few arguments.

Tommy isn't used to trusting outsiders, and he's never asked for help in his life. But when a tragedy strikes the O'Shea family and threatens everything he's fought for, he'll have to learn to do both to recover from the brutal hit.

Review 5/5 Highly Recommended

This was a wonderful book. A proper family book, with well drawn characters and two fantastic heroes. Bobby is the rock, Tommy is the support for his entire family. When I first started reading there was a simple feel to the book and I was drawn in so quickly, then it was just layers on layers of awesome. This could have been full of cliche's but every time I thought something was going to happen it didn't. This isn't all about easy endings and then, the epilogue just made me well up.

Awesome.

Buy Links

UK MM Writer's retreat

UK MM Writer's retreat

We're firming up details for the 2015 writer's retreat which will be May 2015. An overnight stay in a beautiful hotel to talk all things writing...

If you are interested in being part of the discussion in setting dates, venues and so on, sign up below.

The website can be found here... http://ukwritersretreat.weebly.com/

Compromise and Success

Compromise and Success

Shared because it is
my favourite poster
I read an awesome article today from Josh Lanyon about artistic compromise. I wont summarise it here because I think to any writer it's an important post and you should go read it in full.

You can read it here

I have compromised in my writing career, I doubt there is an astute writer out there who hasn't changed a story in their head a little for the resulting book to be commercially viable. 

All I can say is that in every story I have written I have always attempted to stay true to my characters. Sometimes that means a lucky commercial success (Texas, Sanctuary, Throwaway, Heroes) and sometimes it leads to a book touching the Amazon 100 and disappearing with a fizzle and a pop. 

I know a lot of my readers want more Texas, more Sanctuary, and hell, the good thing about that is that I WANT to write more of these. I have so many stories in my head you would not believe. I know a lot of my readers want a sequel to Throwaway - I can't do it. I don't have the story in my head and I wont compromise on that book at all. I thought I could. I can't.

Josh talks about three kinds of writers - that lucky writer who appears to be able to write and sell, and the writer who writes what they want to but doesn't sell, and the writer who compromises their artistic vision in order to sell.

I've said it before and I will say it again - The Fireman And The Cop was a compromise. At the time I desperately wanted to write another Texas book, but I couldn't because it was tied up in the Silver mess. Also I was hit so hard by that financially, that I needed a commercial success. But, as soon as I sat down to write a formula that would sell - my characters yanked me away from the edge. So yes, I have the fireman, yes I have the cop, but they have complicated back stories, and their romance whilst quick, is fraught with danger.

Reading Josh's post makes me feel very bloody lucky. I think I am the writer who writes what she loves (with an eye to what sells) and does manage to sell.

I guess that is compromise... :)


My diary for the coming year...

My diary for the coming year...

... is starting to fill up

UK Gay Romance writers signing - September 6th 2014

Lots of UK gay romance writers all in one place *be afraid*, talks, and cream teas, and coffee, and readings, and book signings... a book fair with a difference!

To find out more information check out details here on the Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/events/478879022255681/

Gay Rom Lit - October 16-19th 2014

Chicago hotel, wine, talks, events, parties... and I'll be taking my own teabags and milk... more information here: http://www.gayromlit.com/

UK MM Writer's Retreat - May 2015

Read more here: http://ukwritersretreat.weebly.com/

An overnight stay in a baueatiful country hotel to talk writing, drink coffee, talk plotlines, cliffhangers, marketing strategies... you name it we talk about it!

Euro Con (Munich) 10-12th July 2015

I am pleased to announce I will be one of two keynote speakers at the first ever Euro Con. This is to be held in the beautiful city of Munich right on top of Pride... I'm so excited, and yes, nervous at the same time!

* * * * *

Still thinking about other options... not sure what else I can get childcare for! ROFL... x


RJ Scott's Author Tour - Winners and final draw!

RJ Scott's Author Tour - Winners and final draw!

I travelled around my favourite blog and review sites talking with a book comparison 'smackdown' and also talking about some of my favourite bits of being an author... It's been so lovely to hear from all the commenters, and was a lovely way to introduce everyone to books by me that you may not have seen!

Every draw is now closed and the winners are below...

If your name is in blue then you have had your prize. If your name is in red then please contact me...!

Grand Prize!

The winner of the $50 voucher in the overall draw, from 600 people is:

TRIX!

Trix, come on over to rj@rjscott.co.uk to claim your prize!

Thank you to every single person who commented, and to the blog and review sites that hosted me...

Hugs you all

RJ XXXXX

DateAppearing at Featured Books / Article
1stPrism Book Alliance Series overview Sanctuary vs Texas
jenf27 (1st prize) musicfortheheartandsoul (2nd)
2ndRainbow Gold ReviewsWhen a standalone becomes a series
Marla (1st prize) Chantal Donnely (2nd)
3rdTwo Men Are Better Than OneDeefur Dog vs Shattered Secrets (Shadow of the Wolf #1)
Idamus (1st prize) Danny (2nd)
4thJess BuffetThe Fitzwarren Inheritance with Chris Quinton and Sue Brown (Michelle Rae 1st, BN100 2nd)
5thMultitasking MommasMoments vs Back Home  (Ardent E-Reader 1st Todd 2nd)
6thJase's AthenaeumThe power of the reader and Texas Winter (Allison H 1st JBST 2nd)
7thThe Novel ApproachGuarding Morgan (Sanctuary 1) vs The Gallows Tree (Sarah Botting 1st, Solaria Saturn 2nd)
8thMM Good Book ReviewsOverview of different genres (Brooklynstorms 1st, Karen 2nd)
9thScattered Thoughts and Rogue WordsChristmas Throwaway vs Kian's Hunter (Cornelia 1st, Bronwin Heeley 2nd)
10thAmber Kell's blogAs part of her Summer tour - a romantic scene from Bodyguard To A Sex God (Niki D 1st, Victoria M 2nd)
11thPrism Book AllianceGRL Blog post - dealing with failure (Dawn D 1st, Alaina 2nd) (Prism winner felinewyvern)
12thNDulgent BloggersStrong men with vulnerable hearts (Miranda P 1st, Laurel Looney 2nd)
13thMy Fiction NookThe Bodyguard series and the 18 month delay (ShortyChelle 1st, ArdentEReader 2nd)
15thBoy Meet Boy ReviewsQuestions from BMBR unicorns (Jen CW 1st Lisa G 2nd)
17thBoy Meet Boy ReviewsQuestions from Facebook friends (Tracy G 1st Suzi W 2nd)
18thJoyfully JayFocus on the Texas series (Marcine 1st, Kim W 2nd)
20thBoy Meet Boy ReviewsQuiz on RJ Scott (Suzi Webster 1st, Lupa P 2nd)
21stLove Bytes ReviewsA Reason To Stay (Heroes 1) vs One Night (Rod B 1st, Serena 2nd)
22ndThe Blogger GirlsThe Decisions We Make vs The Case Of the Cupid Curse (End Street #1 with Amber Kell) (JCZ 1st, Shirley Ann 2nd)
23rdTOUR ENDS


Sale on Sapphire Cay... all previous series books $2.99 to celebrate arrival of book 5!

Sale on Sapphire Cay... all previous series books $2.99 to celebrate arrival of book 5!

To celebrate the release of Capture The Sun, book 5 in the Sapphire Cay series, Love Lane is discounting the rest of the series... each book is now $2.99 up until 31 August 2014.

Discounted on All Romance, Amazon (wait for it to update!) and all other third parties within the next few days... also at www.lovelanebooks.co.uk .

So if you haven't read the series set on a stunning Cay in the Bahamas with sun, sea and romance then now is the time to try!


Follow The Sun
Buy links, reviews and excerpts here

Dylan is a free spirit running from a life he doesn't want, Lucas is a businessman killing himself slowly with long days and seven day weeks at work. When the workaholic meets the beach bum how can they see eye to eye, let alone fall in love? 

Sapphire Cay - such a romantic setting
Under The Sun
Buy links, reviews and excerpts here

When the over the top wedding planner Edward shows up and practically has an aneurysm, Jamie will either kill him or fall for him. How could anyone not love a slightly OCD, flamboyant wedding planner, who carries his diary near and dear to his heart and a hot stud of an ex-Marine?

Who can resist a hot marine and a sexy wedding planner finding love in a romantic settings?
Chase The Sun

Six years ago, Adam broke Scott's heart, but now he's back in Scott's life and Scott is rightly suspicious. Is it a case of second chances? Or will history repeat itself?

The first step to loving Adam is to forgive him.
Christmas In The Sun

Lucas and Dylan invite their friends to share in their Christmas celebrations on the island along with Lucas’s sister, Tasha, and her husband. Christmas is a time for family, forgiveness, and to look to the future, and this year Dylan has to face up to all three
Return to Sapphire Cay for Christmas.

Coming 30 July

Capture The Sun

Model, Isaac Bailey wants to break into the world of fashion design. Under his father’s company name, he is set to debut his new collection—summer wear.

He has the models, the clothes, what he needs is a location. Mitch Stone is a trouble shooter. His latest client needs an exotic location and he happens to know someone with the very thing—Sapphire Cay.

Having underestimated Isaac as nothing more than an airhead model, Mitch soon discovers there is much more to the young man than he first thought.

As the fashion shoot gets underway, Mitch has to contend with his feelings for his old love, Dylan, and the very new and growing affections he has for Isaac.

What starts as just another job, turns out to be more fruitful and exhilarating than winning any multi-million dollar contract.


Kindle Unlimited

Kindle Unlimited


Kindle Unlimited is only available in the US at the moment.

As an established author I have my opinions on the matter.

My understanding of KU is that a reader can pay a monthly fee and then can *borrow* as many books as you like.

An author gets paid if the reader gets past a percentage (10%, 20% ?) of the book.

So I have three choices:

1. Do nothing, and see what happens to my sales.

2. Leave Amazon altogether and make my books only available at say, ARe, or B&N

3. Sign up to have Amazon sell my books exclusively (no more Sony, B&N, direct sales etc)

Can I afford to not use Amazon? Would people buy my books if I ONLY used ARe? Or Only had them on my own Love Lane site? Would people even find them on my own site?

So many questions. I am likely to go with option 1. I hope that the KU books don't swamp all the other MM books to the point no one actually finds my books and those of other non-KU authors.

However, some questions come to mind about how this could affect independent authors in general:

What would my readers do if I restricted selling my book JUST to Amazon? Would that be fair? (Answer: I don't think it's fair!). I have established myself as an author who sells across all outlets. I know some authors only sell on Amazon, but I can't, and won't go back on the precedent I have set.

Will the Kindle Unlimited books dominate the top 100 best sellers, thus hitting those of us who don't use the service? (Answer: Probably, yes, which means non KU books may just sink).

Should I put an older book, say for example, Gallows Tree, to KU only and see how it affects the sales? If I did this would it make readers signed up to KU want to go out and buy my books elsewhere? Or should I try it with a new book?

As a fairly established author I hope to hell I can ride the wave. But what about new authors? Does this mean that they really only have the one option? Kindle or bust?

Or should I bother at all?

I spend £600 a year on books (so hubby reliably tells me)... as a reader I would benefit from this. As a reader of MM I probably wont. A lot of independent publishers will avoid this. Also I can't see the likes of DSP and TB going this way, as they sell the books on their own sites which immediately makes them ineligible for the KU programme... I think.

*So confused*

This is a good quote from an article by David Byrnes on why he has his music taken down from that famous music sharing place, Spotify (which incidentally I pay for each month and listen to all kinds of music! The irony...)

"But the arts “streaming” phenomenon, which now appears inevitable, does come at a price that no one seems willing to pay. And when it rolls all the way down, it inevitably hits the creators, especially those who don’t have the time and space to write your next favorite books, songs, and scripts. It is not a world without entertainment, but it’s one nearing all-or-nothing status. And that’s a problem." (http://www.forbes.com/sites/michaelhumphrey/2014/07/18/david-byrnes-warning-about-kindleunlimited-from-last-october/)

What do you think? Are you an author who is worried about KU? Or are you happy to use KU? As a reader will you be interested in signing up to KU?

And last of all... a useful analysis of RJ Scott sales by outlet...

Click to enlarge

Self Publishing using Calibre

Self Publishing using Calibre

Recently there has been a lot of news about authors self publishing or *independently publishing*. Including me. The vast majority of my work is now independently published, and more recently Love Lane has become an independent publisher in it's own right.

I deal with all the file creation. I could farm it out, but I am really nervous about someone else in fiddling... rofl... so, yeah, my normally non-existent OCD kicks in.

Following a chat yesterday with a couple authors, and a few emails I have received I thought today's post could be about Calibre.

Calibre is this awesome piece of FREE software that I use to create my Mobi, epub and pdf files. You can find it here: http://calibre-ebook.com/

Calibre is a powerful tool which you can use to sort out your ebooks and I know there are a few of my readers who use it to tag and group books on their Kindles. I don't, I just use it for file creation and management.

There are a few steps to getting the word file you need to use in Calibre.

Note - this is the way I use it, that doesn't mean it is the most effective way, or even the correct way, it's just the way it works for me.

Important things about the word file:
  • Use H1 code for chapter headings, and other headings such as *about RJ* or *Copyright* (This feeds the table of contents that Calibre creates for you)
  • Be as simple as possible with fonts and sizes (I use Book Antiqua 12 for my main text)
  • Save it as a filtered HTML file - Web Page, Filtered (htm, html)
Using Calibre is trial and error and you need to spend some time playing, and also checking your resulting files in a kindle app, and an epub app, and making sure the PDF looks ok... There are plenty of places to get support in how to use the software including the help screens inside Calibre.


Enlightened (Enlightenment #3) by Joanna Chambers - 5/5

Enlightened (Enlightenment #3) by Joanna Chambers - 5/5

The cruelest duel may not spill a drop of blood…but it could break their hearts.

Enlightenment, Book 3

Five months ago, David Lauriston was badly hurt helping his friend Elizabeth escape her violent husband. Since then, David has been living with his lover, Lord Murdo Balfour, while he recuperates.

Despite the pain of his injuries, David’s time with Murdo has been the happiest of his life. The only things that trouble him are Murdo’s occasional bouts of preoccupation, and the fact that one day soon, David will have to return to his legal practice in Edinburgh.

That day comes too soon when David’s friend and mentor takes to his deathbed, and David finds himself agreeing to take on a private mission in London. Murdo is at his side in the journey, but a shocking revelation by Murdo’s ruthless father leaves David questioning everything they’ve shared.

As tensions mount and the stakes grow higher, David and Murdo are forced to ask themselves how far they’re prepared to go—and how much they’re prepared to give up—to stay together. And whether there’s any chance of lasting happiness for men like them.

Warning: Men in love, men with secrets, and men armed with dueling pistols.

Review 5/5

I was so lucky to be able to read this book straight after book 2... I am still team Murdo... and things happen in this book that peels back more Murdo layers... *love*... and the decisions... my favourite so far...

Buy Links

Beguiled (Enlightenment #2) by Joanna Chambers 5/5

Beguiled (Enlightenment #2) by Joanna Chambers 5/5

"A fleeting pleasure is the sweetest seduction..."

"Enlightenment, Book 2"

David Lauriston couldn't be less interested in King George IV's first visit to Edinburgh. But with Faculty of Advocates members required to put on a minimal show of patriotism, David makes an appointment with his tailor for a new set of clothes-only to run into a man he hasn't seen for two long years.

Lord Murdo Balfour.

Much has changed since their bitter parting, except their stormy attraction. And when Murdo suggests they enjoy each other's company during his stay, David finds himself agreeing. After all, it's only a temporary tryst.

Amidst the pomp and ceremony of the King's visit, Murdo's seduction is more powerful than David ever imagined possible. But when other figures from David's past show up, he is drawn into a chain of events beyond his control. Where his determination to help a friend will break his body, threaten his career, and put at risk the fragile tenderness he's found in Murdo's arms.

Warning: Contains a lowborn Scottish lawyer with no love for the aristocracy, but more than enough passion for this highborn lord. Political intrigue, kilts, explicit m/m trysts, and men who epitomize "knight in shining armor."

Review 5/5

I love Murdo... I mean I alsio love David, but Murdo has that little spot in my heart... book 2 in this series is not letting up on the history and the descriptions and the love... *melts*

Buy Links

Provoked (Enlightenment #1) by Joanna Chambers 4.5/5

Provoked (Enlightenment #1) by Joanna Chambers 4.5/5

When a man loses his heart, he has no choice but to follow…

Enlightenment, Book 1

Lowborn David Lauriston lacks the family connections needed to rise in Edinburgh’s privileged legal world. Worse, his latest case—defending weavers accused of treason—has brought him under suspicion of harbouring radical sympathies.

Troubled by his sexuality, tormented by memories of a man he once platonically loved, David lives a largely celibate life—until a rare sexual encounter with a compelling stranger turns his world on its head.

Cynical and worldly, Lord Murdo Balfour is more at home in hedonistic London than dingy, repressed Edinburgh. Unlike David, he intends to eventually marry while continuing to enjoy the company of men whenever he pleases. Yet sex with David is different. It’s personal, intimate, and instead of extinguishing his desire, it only leaves him hungry for more.

As David’s search for the man who betrayed the weavers deepens, he begins to suspect that his mysterious lover has more sinister reasons for his presence in Edinburgh. The truth could leave his heart broken…and more necks stretching on the gallows.

Warning: Contains mystery and danger set in 1822 Scotland, and a forbidden love between two men that will leave you on the edge of your seat—until the next book.

Review - 4.5/5

I had this recommended to me by KJ Charles and I loved this book. Two strong characters, secrets, lies, and gorgeously written locations. I quickly bought book 2 and that is the best review

Buy Links



Texas Fall (Texas #6) - cover reveal. Art by Meredith Russell.

Texas Fall (Texas #6) - cover reveal. Art by Meredith Russell.








Harry Jones and the Zombie Apocolypse - Idea that just had to be written down...

Harry Jones and the Zombie Apocolypse - Idea that just had to be written down...


Harry Jones is a mild mannered salesman, redundant from his job selling white goods because his firm is closing. He applies for a sales job to sell *safe houses* and is promised five hundred thousand dollars for every one sold. He only needs to sell one every two years...

Easy money.

Except for when he meets Doctor Amery Pike who is utterly convinced the Zombie Apocolypse isn't very far away.

When the doctor insists on seeing the prototype and turns up with a van of food, water and toilet rolls, Harry knows this isn't going to be a good day at the office.

* * * * *

From the article I found:

"... Every once in a while I stumble over some crazy article in the newspaper that reports about someone rich building a doomsday shelter or bunker to keep safe from whatever might strike earth in the near future. Those articles have always been quite mesmerizing to me because it sounds like a huge endeavor to go through spending all that time and money on something that might never be needed.

Besides, if the earth got struck by a meteor in close enough range, the bunker would most likely be taken out with the rest of the man-made structures, even if it’s underground. This is not even to mention all the food we're harboring in case of a huge global disaster. But then again, with all the things that have happened in the last few years, it wouldn’t come as a surprise if a global disaster really did happen.

Of course, we all hope that something like a large natural disaster never happens, but if it does, then we might want to stay in one of these “bunkers,” and hopefully we’ll survive.

The architects over at KWK Promes decided to make a reality out of a bunker idea and make the ultimate above ground fortress in case there is a huge disaster in the near future. Or maybe the people that designed this house really think that the world will soon be inhabited by a gigantic army of zombies.

The house, which looks perfectly normal but with a somewhat futuristic look, shouldn’t raise any eyebrows during the daytime. However, when night falls, the house takes on a completely different shape and form. The huge concrete blocks sitting beside the windows start to swing shut, and a huge iron shield is rolled down at the back of the house. The only way to get in or out of this zombie fortress is really through the drawbridge that swings down over the pool area outside...." 

Useful if you want to make sure there are no zombies munching on your brains during the night...



Nashville - 4.5/5 pure entertainment value and really good hair... and a *closet storyline*

Nashville - 4.5/5 pure entertainment value and really good hair... and a *closet storyline*


I'm not a great fan of country music. My dad was and I grew up with it being played in the house. But the kind of country my dad listened to was probably the *hits* in *collections* back in the seventies and eighties. I have my favourite country songs (Tallahassee Bridge comes to mind) but in the main it isn't *my kind of thing*.

BUT...

Well, I never did. I mainlined two seasons of Nashville and loved it.. and hell, I enjoyed the songs and the stories and the glamour of it all... and I am hooked.

All I can say is... roll on October for season 3... :)


I want to be Juliette... I want her voice and her figure and her hair... just saying...


And the lyrics to this song just make me :(


Love Lane News

Love Lane News

As you may or may not know Love Lane was originally created for my own self published work but is slowly expanding to include some new and very talented authors. Meredith Russell, Sue Brown, Kay Berrisford, Liam Livings, and more...

Coming soon to Love Lane

Alter Ego - Meredith Russell

Jay James is the confident, outgoing, flirtatious, lead guitarist of a 70s tribute band. But appearances can be deceiving. Jay James isn’t real. ‘Jay’ was born out of necessity and a way for James Hall to deal with life at home after coming out. James is shy and awkward, and can’t escape the shadow of his strained relationship with his mother. As ‘Jay’, James feels indestructible, like nothing can touch him, and he can have any man he wants. But is that really enough?

When ‘Jay’ meets Danny, he views him as just another potential conquest. Danny, however, has other ideas. The barman has no intention of being just another one night stand and leaves James surprised when he rebuffs his advances.

Danny Ashton is stuck, or at least that’s how he feels sometimes. Five years ago, he dropped out of university to look after his sick mother. He was never prepared for the hand he was dealt—a house to run, bills to pay, and a teenage brother to support. Wanting more than part time bar work, Danny applies for a job at the family run hotel in the village. When he’s called for an interview, he isn’t expecting to see James there but the chance encounter gives him the unexpected opportunity to get to know the real James.

Together, Danny and James realise ignoring their problems will solve nothing, and if they are to stand any chance of happiness and living as the men they want to be, then they need to move forward. Can the two men face their demons? Or will they end up pushing one another away?


More books coming soon...

Capture The Sun - RJ Scott & Meredith Russell
The Last Wolf - Sue Brown
Catching Kit - Kay Berrisford
And Then That Happened - Liam Livings


Round up of places to win prizes so far on the mini blog tour!

Round up of places to win prizes so far on the mini blog tour!

Last few hours to enter:

Prism Book Alliance - Series overview Sanctuary vs Texas - closing 13:00 GMT today

Ending soon

Rainbow Gold Reviews - When a standalone becomes a series
Two Men Are Better Than One - Deefur Dog vs Shattered Secrets (Shadow of the Wolf #1)
Jess Buffet - The Fitzwarren Inheritance with Chris Quinton and Sue Brown

Newer competitions - have you entered yet?

Multitasking Mommas - Moments vs Back Home
Jase's Athenaeum - The power of the reader and Texas Winter
The Novel Approach - Guarding Morgan (Sanctuary 1) vs The Gallows Tree


Reviews Round Up - May and June 2014

Reviews Round Up - May and June 2014

Bodyguard to a Sex God

Prism Book Alliance - 4.25/5 - "....This seemed a really fast read and I couldn’t put it down until I had finished. It’s a real page turner that will keep your attention up to the end as working out who is the stalker is not easy as it appears, everyone is stalking him! The attraction between the two men is red hot and as much as Adam tries to remain professional he is drawn to Logan who has never had a proper relationship before. Logan is sensitive and compassionate with a small group of trusted friends who just needs a keeper and he wants desperately for that person to be Adam.

This author always gives us hot MC’s that it is very easy to fall in love for and this one was no different. Despite closets, knives, hospital trips, stalkers and living on different continents these two men fall fast and hard and seem determined to prove that insta-love exists. Now I will wait patiently to see if Ross will finally have his eyes opened!!  Roll on Book 2...."










A Reason to Stay

Guilty Indulgence - 5/5 - "....I have a confession to make...I have not read the Sanctuary books yet, but you can bet your sweet bippy that I am going to now! Having said that, it in no way took away from this fabulous first book in the spin off series....

....These two were so hot together I am surprised my Nook didn't melt. They could go from pissed to naked in no time flat and it was amazing to read. The author is great at building a family around her characters so her stories are so much more then just two people coming together. A great start to this new series and I for one am looking forward to the next...."

Because Two Men are better than One - 4/5 - "....I thoroughly enjoyed a A Reason To Stay which has set the standard for another great series by RJ Scott.

There are a couple of elements to this story.

Firstly, it is a mystery. Something strange is happening up the mountain and Viktor, Navy SEAL, is going to find out exactly what it is and why his nephew ended up in a coma in hospital. His family is at risk and he will do everything and anything to protect them.

It is a romance, a story of second and third chances. Viktor and Aiden (who is now working in law enforcement) knew each other in high school, where Aiden had long term expectations. Years later when they reconnect, he still loves Viktor. But Viktor is a man haunted by his belief that as a SEAL he can't offer anything to anyone. He runs. It takes the threat to his family to bring Viktor and Aiden together again as they put their lives at risk to solve the mystery.

This is a story with lots of drama and action– murder, villains and true hero moments– but also soul searching as Aiden and Viktor fight their attraction to each other. The sex is super hot and the ending fabulous– i just love big moments that make people face the truth!

I enjoyed the blend of mystery and romance and the pacing of the book. Sure, at moments Viktor annoyed the hell out of me but the happy ending for these heroes was definitely worth it...."




The Third Kingdom

Prism Book Alliance - 5/5 - "....In The Third Kingdom RJ Scott gave herself quite a job. Somehow she had to pull all the threads together; she had to explain the story that leads from Reuben and Methulan a thousand years before, all the way to the vampire twins Joseph and Micah. She had to bring about Ludvik’s downfall and the emergence of The Third Kingdom in a way that readers could follow. She also had to find a way to give all the characters, all the different pairings we’ve grown to love, some new and some old, a happy ending, and this she did magnificently. All finished off nicely with an epilogue...."

Literary Nymphs Reviews - 4/5 - "....RJ Scott has created a stimulating climax to this enjoyable series. The villain has been vanquished, lovers have been reunited for all eternity and the healing of a kingdom has begun. Also included is a list of all the titles and characters in the entire series...."








The Carpenter and the Actor

Sensual Reads - 4/5 - "....The Ellery Mountain series is amazing in so many ways with great supportive characters who care about others and do come back to visit. Each story is like coming home. Pick up The Carpenter and the Actor and enjoy the story. You will not be able to help yourself...."