Sticks & Stones - Ty and Zane #2 - Review

Sticks & Stones
Cut & Run Series Book Two - Sequel to Cut & Run

Six months after nearly losing their lives to a serial killer in New York City, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett are suffering through something almost as frightening: the monotony of desk duty. When they're ordered to take a vacation for the good of everyone's sanity, Ty bites the bullet and takes Zane home with him to West Virginia, hoping the peace and quiet of the mountains will give them the chance to explore the explosive attraction they’ve so far been unable to reconcile with their professional partnership.

Ty and Zane, along with Ty’s father and brother, head up into the Appalachian mountains for a nice, relaxing hike deep into the woods... where no one will hear them scream. They find themselves facing danger from all directions: unpredictable weather, the unrelenting mountains, wild animals, fellow hikers with nothing to lose, and the most terrifying challenge of all. Each other.

Review

Oh i think I have cracked it, I read this book in one sitting really, and I really enjoyed it. I am a little hesitant about the way the guys get hurt SO badly and yet seem to function but the story, the family dynamics and the relationship is so good... and there were revelations in this book that made me smile... Ty's character is even more fractured but you get a look at the reasons why he is how he is... Zane, remains my favourite. Ty's dad was a dick... rofl... even when he redeemed himself... Loved Ty's brother.

4.5/5 - head hopping POV still but if you sit and read it in one go it is less obvious once you lose yourself in the story.

p.s. peeps on the MM rec group suggested the style of writing is excellent for highlighting Ty's all over the place almost ADHD personality. I hadn't looked at it that way before...

Already three chaps into book 3 *love the texting*

Buy Links

Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)


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Cut and Run - Ty and Zane - Review

Cut and Run

Cut & Run Series: Book One

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 cliché: 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.

My Review

So,quite a while back I bought Cut and Run. I can't remember how I found it, maybe because a newer book in the series had come out, but I don't know. I don't really have a TBR pile that goes back a long way, I generally read everything I buy either immediately or within a month or so. But, for some reason this got left. When i was recommended to read it by the MM Rec group I thought enough was enough, and I settled down to read.

Then I remembered why I gave up reading it the first time. Head hopping - Point of View swaps without purpose, very random, and with extra POVs added in here and there. This was how I used to write in Fan fiction days and because I am now SO ingrained into writing one POV for a chapter, and most certainly for long scenes, I found the book terribly difficult to get into. My editors are so hot on POV and switches that I find authors who switch POVs really confusing to follow sometimes.

But, so many people love Cut and Run, and it is an 2008 book now, probably one of the biggest books and a forerunner for the rest of us writing the new style MM, (for which pioneering ways I am incredibly grateful).

So. I kept reading. Each time I had to stop reading for one reason or another, it took me a little while to get back into the reading of it... but... wow... what a good tale. The story is good, Ty is mad, Zane is fractured, together they are hot. They don't have a romance as such, more of a progression from lust to a strong affection and a meaningful connection. The book would have been rated higher if I didn't have the POV problems so for the first time ever I am giving two review ratings.

Characterisation, story, smexin' if you are not worried about POV hops - 4.5/5

If you are an author who is rigidly in the world of watching for POV hops OR a reader who isn't keen on POV hops for characterisation, story, & smexin' - 3/5

p.s. I bought book 2 because the characters are calling to me!

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK


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Valentine Trail - Flying Colours by Clare London

It's no secret I love Clare London's writing, she's on my favourite authors list for a reason!

This book is the fifth in a series and the stories are recommended!

Which is why I can not believe I didn't post this last week! I lost the b****y email... *blames Gmail*

So, Clare, I apologise and here is your post...

Competition

Comment on this post by 13:00 GMT on Thursday 20 February to win a $10 All Romance Voucher, or a $10 Amazon Voucher from me!

Excerpt

“Come and look around the center,” Carter said. It was empowering to say what he wanted for a change, rather than what he thought he should. He wondered sometimes who set those restrictions on him, if not himself. “See if it really is something you’d want to be involved with.”

“You mean that?”

“Like you, De Vere, I don’t make a habit of lying.”

“That’s great, I’ll do that. And soon.” Red chuckled, his first expression of genuine happiness all evening. It was enchanting.

Carter felt a sudden leap of excitement. Without stopping to investigate the feeling, he leaned forward a couple of inches and caught Red’s chuckle in his mouth, pressing his lips on Red’s. He tasted garlic, red wine, and stray raindrops. He thought he’d kissed Red before—maybe just a social kiss, on the cheek, or in the air in that ridiculous way Zeke kissed his sponsors?—but it was nothing like this. Nowhere near as rich, and sudden, and poignant as this.

Red tensed up, just for a second, then relaxed into the kiss. He didn’t grab at Carter, or tug him nearer. He just put his hand on Carter’s arm and held him. Carter felt the warmth from Red’s body through his coat, through his clothes, and through his own veins. It was heady. He’d often wondered what it’d be like to kiss Red De Vere: he was honest about that with himself. It was different from anything he’d imagined, and yet a hundred times better. Red’s mouth was tender, his hand firm but not possessive. Had Carter thought Red would throw him to the pavement and fuck him there and then? Red had never made any secret of wanting him. And there were all those mad stories in the glossy papers that played Red out to be a wild child, a sexual predator. But when Red slid his other hand behind Carter’s neck, it was a gentle touch, a guidance rather than a grab. He kissed Carter slowly, savoring him. Carter let his tongue dart into Red’s mouth, tasting him more. Craving him more.

“Maybe not such a bad evenin’ after all,” Red murmured against Carter’s cheek. His lips kissed the edge of Carter’s mouth. Carter could feel Red’s smile against the skin.

Carter gave a soft laugh. He felt extraordinarily light—relieved, even. He let his head rest against Red’s, their foreheads touching. A few stray raindrops pattered lightly on his neck. For a few moments, their breathing matched, the soft panting slowing to a steady warmth.

Buy Link:

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4250

Available in print and ebook

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

News

Clare’s currently working on a novella where Felix meets a ghostly friend Bryn – after Bryn pinches his bum on the late night bus! Then there’s a series of romances set around an ice cream shop in the centre of London, and a futuristic detective novel bringing two alpha characters together from either side of a city controlled by the state. 2014 is a busy year as always – and hopefully very prolific LOL.

Bio/Links

Website: http://www.clarelondon.com
Blog: http://clarelondon.livejournal.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clarelondon
Twitter: http://twitter.com/clare_london
Goodreads: http://wwwgoodreads.com/clarelondon
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/clarelondon

Clare took the pen name London from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with the weekly wash, waiting for the far distant day when she can afford to give up her day job as an accountant. She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic and sexy characters.

Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.

Find details of her publications and plenty of free fiction at her website, including an invitation to her mailing list. Visit her today and say hello!


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Valentines trail... And the winner is...

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The Valentine Trail

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The Nightmares Series by Sage Marlowe


The Nightmares Series

Welcome to Sage today! Here to talk about the wonderful Nightmare series... over to you Sage...

What if the old, folkloristic tales are true and nightmares exist? What if a nightmare isn’t just the vivid and frightening scenario our tormented subconscious presents to us as we sleep, but a paranormal being that is as substantial and real as you and I—an incubus, a demon that feeds on human emotions? Could a man fall in love with such a demon, and could the demon love him in return?

Colin Meighan, co-owner of the small but successful gay porn production company Centre Studs is also the company’s biggest star. He sports a pretty exterior, but there’s more to him than meets the eye. Too young to know the full extent of what he is, he has to learn that the world he lives in isn’t what it seems. There are powers at work that exceed everything he’s ever believed in and the lines between nightmare and reality become blurred as he discovers the truth about himself and his gruesome heritage.

This, in short, is what the Nightmares – Series is about, but there’s more to it. A lot more. A cast of intriguing, likeable and mysterious characters takes you on a ride with more twists and turns than the average rollercoaster. Hot sex is more than just fun for these guys—it’s vital. And yet, while one man alone can never be enough for demon Colin, romance and love are far from dead.

Try the Nightmares but be warned: they’re addictive and will possibly—probably—leave you sweating, tossing and turning in your bed…or wherever you choose to read them.

Here’s the beginning of A Nightmare Come True, Book One in the Nightmares Series, to whet your appetite (Copyright Sage Marlowe, 2013):
When the day I was supposed to meet Colin Meighan finally arrived, I still couldn’t believe my luck. I was dying to meet the man in person, so, unsurprisingly, I arrived early at the address Uncle Tony had given me. It was a somewhat run-down former warehouse and far from the sexy and glamorous location I’d been expecting to find.

My uncle Tony, who always knew someone who knew someone, had set me up for a job. "It’s cash in hand," he’d told me, shielding me from my mother’s suspicious glances. "A fairly good rate, too, as long as you’re willing to keep your eyes shut for some of the time."

It had been our monthly family gathering and I, true to form, had arrived with the news of having been sacked once again. Just what did it say about me that my mother hadn’t even seemed surprised and my father, who once upon a time would have considered this a perfect reason to warm my hide, had just shrugged and continued to pick at his food?

"What exactly does this job involve?" I’d asked under my breath, watching my parents’ wordless argument.

"A bit of everything," Tony had replied. "It’s a low-budget film production and they just need a capable pair of hands to help move around equipment, put up lights and screens and stuff like that. I’ve done it a few times myself, but I’m busy that day."

Young and naïve as I was, the words 'film production' had blocked out the adjective 'low-budget' by far, but it hadn’t been until I’d cornered Tony on the doorstep, when he’d been about to leave, that I had managed to extract further information on the film production in question.

"Gay porn," he’d said, smirking. "But don’t worry, the guys keep their hands to themselves—or each other, anyway. You won’t need to watch the action either. Just turn around when you’re done with your part of the job."

I hadn’t pointed out the double-entendre in his last sentence. He certainly hadn’t suggested I turn around and show my butt to some of the hottest guys in Britain. Pursuing the topic of gay porn or even gay sex any further wouldn’t have been wise at the best of times, but on the doorstep of my father’s house, jobless and on the wrong page of my father’s books, it could have rendered me homeless within minutes.

Of course, my sexual orientation had always been a well kept secret at our home. My parents knew but the rest of the family remained in the dark, so dear Uncle Tony probably thought nothing of sending me to the set of a porn film. Little did he know that it was like asking an eight-year old to help guard a candy store. When he’d mentioned the name of the production company, Centre Studs, I’d barely been able to stop myself punching the air in victory. Centre Studs was a small company and a lightweight compared to the big overseas porn industry, but they made high quality films using the nation’s finest gay porn stars. And for me, when it came to gay porn stars, there was no one better or hotter than Colin Meighan.

The inside of the building kept the promise its outside had given. Bare stone walls, naked, chipped and paint-stained concrete floors and cheap, too bright overhead lights. I was a guy and it didn’t take much to get me in the mood, but somehow I’d imagined the location for a porn film shoot to have just a tad more of a sexy atmosphere.

I was one of the first to arrive. There was another guy with a ponytail who was busy glaring at his smartphone, two cameramen and one man who was busy taping a large microphone to a rod.

"Hi there," I greeted no one in particular and no one in particular responded. The only replies I got from the four men were muffled grunts and a mumbled "Hello."

I went to the man with the ponytail. "Hi, I’m Mike. Mike Fawkes."

Tapping away on his phone, he barely looked up. "Peter Evans. Call me Pete. I’m the producer-slash-director-slash-casting agent. Any questions, talk to me."

"Yeah, all right." I let my gaze travel across the run-down film set. A super king-size bed was tucked into a corner, which was probably for the best as it didn’t look inviting. Its stripped mattress wore a multitude of stains in different shades—fading scars that had been earned in countless battles. An old-fashioned but large sofa sat in the middle of the room, its faded green corduroy covering threadbare in places. No, they didn’t put much effort into an appealing location. "So, this is where the action’s gonna happen, huh?" I observed, mainly just to say something.

Pete glanced at me. The corners of his eyes were wrinkled in a half-smile. "Yeah. You’re early."

"Well, yes. I figured it might be better if I came early."

A soft chuckle right behind me made my back tingle. "Sweetheart, in this business it’s never good to come early."

Pete looked past me and grinned. "You took the words right out of my mouth. Hi, Colin. You’re a bit early yourself."

"Yeah, I know," Colin drawled. He moved past me and leaned in to Pete who tilted his head. For a moment I thought he’d kiss him full on the mouth, then Colin turned the motion into a quick peck on the cheek, but it was too late.

A scene from the film I’d watched last night in anticipation of the meeting interfered with reality and a dirty fantasy began to unwind in my mind. I imagined Colin greeting me with a kiss, only that ours would be open mouths and tongue-touching and all. Blood shot into my dick, fast enough to make me dizzy. Fool that I was, I’d come prepared to meet the star of my dreams, but nothing had prepared me for Colin’s enormous sex appeal. On camera he was sexy as sin, off camera he was Viagra on legs. He wore tight-fitting, ripped blue jeans and a pale grey, long-sleeved T-shirt. The fabric of the latter was so soft that it not only hugged the curves of his pectoral muscles—I could also easily make out the shape of the nipple piercing underneath.

* * * * *

For the full series listing, please visit the publisher’s website at: https://www.totallybound.com/index.php?route=product/series&series_id=388


The first four books are also already available from

Amazon  |   ARe (the links take you to the first book in the series)

Or visit Sage’s world on www.sage-marlowe.com

About the author

Sage is a multi-published author of MM erotic romance novels and novellas and loves exploring the flavours of gay erotic fiction.

A willing slave to all the fascinating guys who keep queuing up and want their stories told, Sage can almost always be found cooking up the next hot story or daydreaming about new ways of rubbing sexy male bodies together to make the sparks fly.

Contact and buy links

Sage’s website & blog: www.sage-marlowe.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/sage.marlowe0

e-mail: marlowe.sage@yahoo.co.uk

Twitter: @SageMarlowe

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/SageMarlowe

Amazon: www.amazon.com/author/sagemarlowe

For all books published with Totally Bound, go to: http://www.totallybound.com/sage-marlowe

For all books published with Siren-BookStrand, go to: www.bookstrand.com/sage-marlowe


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Valentine Trail - Protective Mate by Toni Griffin

News from Toni

Thanks RJ for having me on her Valentine Trail.

I will be starting on the expansion of Forbidden Mate, book 4 in the Holland Brothers series, sometime in the next month or so. I hope to have it released late April early May. For now I'm working on my very first Sci Fi story and also a Contemp set around the Sydney Harbour Bridge Climb (Which I did last year, and was awesome).

Please Note: Due to unforeseen circumstances all books previously published through Silver Publishing have been removed from sale. I hope to have these books available again for you shortly.


Competition



Simply comment below and you can win an ebook of your choice from my back list.

The Book - Protective Mate

Book 3 in the Holland Brothers series.

Excerpt:

It wasn't until they were outside and Zack was buckling Hayley into her car seat that he remembered he'd picked Simon up earlier.

"Simon, I need to take you home first." Zack's voice held the disappointment he felt at having to say goodbye sooner than he'd anticipated.

"Don't worry about me. Let's get Hayley back to the hotel, cleaned, and into bed. I can call one of my brothers later and get them to pick me up." Simon smiled reassuringly at him.

"Are you sure that's no trouble?"

"It's fine, mate. They'll understand and won't mind in the slightest."

"Okay," Zack said as he opened the driver's door and got into the car. Simon slipped in the passenger seat beside him, and once they were buckled in, Zack pointed the car in the direction of the hotel where he was staying.

Zack removed an obviously tired Hayley from the car five minutes later, and he watched as Hayley knuckled her eyes before she cuddled up close against his chest.

"Come on, pumpkin, let's get you ready for bed." Hayley didn't reply.

Simon followed Zack as they made their way to the room. Once inside, Zack grabbed Hayley's pyjamas and a pair of pull-ups and took his daughter to the bathroom for a quick clean-up.

He turned to look at Simon before he left the room. "Make yourself comfortable. We shouldn't be long."

"Will do," Simon replied with a gentle smile.

Zack got Hayley undressed and in the shower in short order and cleaned his daughter as best he could without completely saturating himself in the process. Satisfied Hayley was as clean as she was getting, he turned off the taps and wrapped her up in one of the hotel towels, rubbing her vigorously to get her dry. Hayley squirmed and giggled under his ministrations, and Zack thought for what must have been the millionth time that there really was no better sound in the world than that of a child's laugh.

Hayley stepped into the pull-ups and then her nightie. All dressed and ready for bed, they cleaned her teeth and then Zack picked her back up and held her close.

"Story and bed."

"'Kay," Hayley said tiredly.

Zack walked back into the hotel room and stopped dead. Simon was lying on the bed, and his shoes had been removed and placed neatly out of the way. He had pillowed stuffed behind him, so he was more lounging that laying down. His long jean-encased legs were crossed at the ankles, and his hands were behind his head. The man looked absolutely delectable, and Zack wanted to eat him up. Instead he picked up the Ladybird book his daughter loved so much and made sure she had Woofie before he sat beside Simon and got comfortable, Hayley held against him.

"Ladybird, Ladybird, fly away home. Your house is on fire, your children are flown," Zack started reading. He knew the book off by heart after the number of times he'd read it to his girl. Simon sat up a little and moved in closer to them, threading his fingers through Zack's where they rested against Hayley's smaller frame.

It didn't take long at all for Hayley to close her eyes, and by the time Zack ready the last line, the soft even breathing told him Hayley was fast asleep.

"She's so beautiful," Simon whispered to him as he stared at Hayley.

"I know. She’s everything to me. I don't know what I would have done if the Stewarts had been successful in their bid to take her from me," Zack replied just as quietly, his gaze locked on the peaceful face of his sleeping child. "I'm scared to death they're going to find a way to take her from me."

"That's never going to happen," Simon said adamantly as he squeezed Zack's fingers lightly.

Zack smiled hesitantly at him and then released his grip on Simon and stood, holding Hayley close and trying his hardest not to wake her up. Zack kissed her forehead before he lowered her into the cot, covered her up, and made sure Woofie was tucked in beside her.

He wandered back over to the side of the bed he had been sitting on and flicked on the table lamp, then turned off the overhead lights.

The room darkened immediately with only the small amount of light emitting from beside him.

Zack lay down on the bed and turned on his side to face Simon. There were so many things he would love to do with his mate right now and not a single one of them included them being fully dressed. With Hayley so close though, none of them were an option. Zack watch as Simon scooted down the bed and got comfortable lying in a similar position opposite him. He reached out and tucked a stray strand of hair behind Zack's ear.

"You're so gorgeous," Simon said, making sure to keep his voice quiet so they didn't wake Hayley.

Zack blushed. He didn't feel gorgeous. Most days he was exhausted after work and spending time with Hayley; then he'd find himself covered in some substance or another, all thanks to his beautiful little girl. Zack wouldn't change it for the world though, no matter what he got covered in.

"You are," Simon emphasised. "So sexy and loving and you're such a great father. I hope you will give me the opportunity to help you raise Hayley. I want to be a part of both of your lives, a big part." Simon's hand had trailed down Zack’s arm until their hands were once again clasped together.

Zack swallowed past the lump in his throat. "I want that as well," he whispered. "I hope you understand why we need a little time, though." Zack breathed a relieved sigh when he saw Simon nod.

"I do," Simon said, then rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling, Zack watched as Simon's jaw clenched. He couldn't help the momentary pang of hurt that flashed through him at Simon's actions. Was he mad that Zack was making him wait? "Sorry," Simon said after a moment. "It's just you're so close, and I can see you, hear you, smell you, and we're holding hands, so there's touch as well. My body is going into overdrive, wanting to jump your bones and ravage you senseless." Simon groaned at his own words and flung his other arm over his eyes, cutting off his sight.

Zack chuckled lightly, then moaned himself when he saw the prominent bulge in Simon's jeans. "Umm, maybe this isn't such a good idea having you here."

"Nonsense," Simon argued. "I can control my body. I want to spend time with you and get to know my mate if that's all right with you?"

Zack's grin couldn't have been bigger. "I would like that very much," he said as he squeezed the fingers wrapped tight around his own. "So what would you like to know?"

Buy Links

Buy link Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Protective-Mate-Holland-Brothers-3-ebook/dp/B00I14L8AS/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1392127847&sr=8-1&keywords=protective+Mate

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-protectivematehollandbrothers3-1399454-145.html
 




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Valentine Trail - The Heart Of Texas by RJ Scott

RJ's News

Firstly, I want to thank every one of my author friends who have taken time out to join in with my Valentine Trail. Hugs you all...
 

I'm currently working on book 1 in my Heroes series. I'm about half way through, but a bit delayed with a bad attack of not being able to write. Thankfully I seem to be over it now, I blame caffeine withdrawal... ROFL.

I'm working on getting the Fire Trilogy (Kian, Darach, Eoin) out over the next few months, and of course I have Montana 2 all ready to write.


Competition


Comment on this post and be in with the chance of winning  a $20 gift certificate for Amazon or ARe.

The Book - The Heart Of Texas (Texas 1)

Riley Hayes, the playboy of the Hayes family, is a young man who seems to have it all: money, a career he loves, and his pick of beautiful women. His father, CEO of HayesOil, passes control of the corporation to his two sons; but a stipulation is attached to Riley's portion. Concerned about Riley's lack of maturity, his father requires that Riley 'marry and stay married for one year to someone he loves'. Angered by the requirement, Riley seeks a means of bypassing his father's stipulation. Blackmailing Jack Campbell into marrying him "for love" suits Riley's purpose. There is no mention in his father's documents that the marriage had to be with a woman and Jack Campbell is the son of Riley Senior's arch rival. Win win.

Riley marries Jack and abruptly his entire world is turned inside out. Riley hadn't counted on the fact that Jack Campbell, quiet and unassuming rancher, is a force of nature in his own right.

This is a story of murder, deceit, the struggle for power, lust and love, the sprawling life of a rancher and the whirlwind existence of a playboy. But under and through it all, as Riley learns over the months, this is a tale about family and everything that that word means.


Texas Series

Book 1 - The Heart of Texas
Book 2 - Texas Winter
Book 3 - Texas Heat
Book 4 - Texas Family
Book 5 - Texas Christmas

Buy Links


Buy Links - Print Book

Excerpt

"What d'you want, Riley?" He shifted himself and scooted up the bed, encouraging Riley to move with him until they lay side by side, heads on soft pillows, legs twined together, Jack hard against his lover. With his hand closing around Riley, he found a rhythm and finished him off with no more than a few twists and pulls of his clever fingers. He didn't give Riley time to say a word, or even to breathe. He wanted to come when he was kissing Riley, wanted to lose it as he tongue fucked his husband's mouth, his need for touch and taste overwhelming. He didn't know what was pushing this. Even as he felt Riley finally come, arching hard and stiff against him, hot and wet between them, he wanted to taste and rut and feel. He heard Riley's breathing in his ear, harsh, quick, and words of love and thanks, and he lost it, coming so damn hard he saw stars. Riley reached for the towel he'd been wearing after his shower, wiping them and pulling Jack back close to cuddle.

"I know something is on your mind. Talk to me," Riley demanded softly.

Jack groaned inwardly. He was so going to come out of this sounding like some huge girl.

"We didn't arrange to renew our vows," Jack finally said. Great, he'd said it now, it was out there, and yes, he did sound like a girl, all kind of hurt and worried. Riley, for his part, was silent, and Jack lifted his head, expecting to see Riley's wide grin and reassurance in hazel eyes. Instead he saw a face twisted in a frown and closed eyes. "Riley?" he asked. This really wasn't going how he expected it to go. Riley slid out from his grasp, moving to sit on the side of the bed, twisting and pulling at the sheet that pooled around him and then slumping in defeat with a huge sigh. "Riley?"

"We don't have to, you know," Riley finally said, his shoulders stiffening as Jack embraced him from behind.

"What do you mean?" Jack asked softly, even though he knew damn well what Riley meant.

"You can change your mind, you know. We can leave it at the year," Riley finally offered.

"I knew that was in your head, Riley, and I say again, I love you, I want this to go past a year, two years, ten years, twenty, even more if we're lucky."

Riley looked up, a hopeful light in his eyes "So we could do it properly."

"Properly?"

"Us. That’s all we need, the family, and words we mean— maybe out by the paddock with your land laid out in front of us, at dusk?"

Riley sounded so wistful, and it was all Jack could do not to smile a sappy smile in return to his husband's words. He didn't need to say anything else. He hoped Riley could see he wanted this and could see the remainder of his life spread out in front of him with Jack in his life.

"Beth and Steve get married in three days," Riley finally said. "I want to renew our vows sooner."

"Sooner?"

"Tomorrow."


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Valentine Trail - Stupid Cupid by Nicole Dennis

An Anti-Valentine's story

Stupid Cupid

With horrid Valentine's Day experiences, Preston Larkin hates the holiday with a passion to the point he prefers to be drunk and unconscious. Heading to a club, SideWays, he plans to drink and dance until the 15th. He didn't expect a cute admirer to alter everything.

Adoring Lark from afar for over a year, Colin Gabriels finds the courage to buy the man a drink, dance the night away, and take him upstairs to the private rooms. His expectations of the man isn't matching the reality. Things falter the next morning, but Preston changes everything.

Excerpt

“I want you to meet my friend and an admirer of yours. You can’t scare him away.” Eddie lifted and waved a hand.

Preston stared into the clear liquid, but glanced to the side. A young man broke free from the sweaty, dancing crowd, tripping over another who got too close, and almost stumbled. Within seconds, Preston caught the young man before his head smacked the counter.

“Nice entrance as always,” Eddie said as the other man laughed and got himself on his feet.

“You know me. Always like to make an impression until I stick my foot in my mouth and screw up,” the younger man said. His green eyes were bright and shining under the lights. He wiped his hands off with a proffered napkin and shoved them through curly golden brown hair.

“Colin, want a Red Bull with tonic?”

“Yeah, thanks, Eddie,” Colin said.

Preston leaned an elbow back against the bar.

“Oh-my-god-it’s-you-Lark!”

Turning at the mashed words shouted higher than the music, Preston quirked an eyebrow.

Eddie broke out laughing as he gave Colin a new one. “Yes, this is Lark, Colin. Lark, this is Colin.”

“Lark is my name when I’m behind the bar.” Preston checked over the lean young man in tight black pants, sky-blue mesh shirt, and black shoes. Perfect club twink.

Buy Links

MLR Books: http://www.mlrbooks.com/ShowBook.php?book=NDSCUPID

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-stupidcupid-1419355-149.html


News:

My M/M Contemporary series – Southern Charm – with Totally Bound is almost here. The first book – Rules of the Chef – will be available in April. The second book – By the Numbers – will be available in May. The third book – On the Green – is almost out of Beta and ready for submission. I'm working on the fifth book.

I also hope to have additional books come out throughout the year. Keep an eye on my blog/website/Facebook for news.


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Sid Love Blog Tour

The Book

Bradley Parker has waited twenty years for Mr. Right, and on Valentine’s Day, he finally finds him. It’s love at first sight, and Brad even loses his virginity to the man of his dreams. But when he wakes up the next morning unable to remember anything—even what the man looked like—his best friend, Leslie, is convinced he imagined the whole thing. Brad knows he didn’t make up the best night of his life, but he has no idea of the danger he’s putting himself in as he struggles to recall the details of his perfect man. His search may lead him to parts of New York City he never dreamed existed and a war being waged in the shadows.

Competition

TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY:5 ecopies of Holding on to Hope
1 Amazon GC worth $25


Raffle copter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Raffle copter Link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/0f7bf73/


About the author

Sid Love grew up in one of busiest cities in the world, Mumbai, listening to the excerpts of Indian epics from his father every night. While it served as an inspiration back in time, he has always had an ambitious mind. In 2007, when he had just turned sixteen, he decided that he would make his lifelong dream come true—to become a well-known, respected author some day.

Ask him and he would refuse to accept that he is obsessed with books. Or movies. Or TV shows. Addicted may even be the right word. He is a die-hard fan of Jane Austen’s romance novels and loves to reread them time and again.

You can find him on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sid.love.16?ref=tn_tnmn or tweet him anytime: https://twitter.com/FatefulMercy, or simply e-mail him at sidlovethewriter@live.in.


Excerpt

“Okay, remember how I said it is huge?” Brad finally spoke, and Leslie nodded her head to let him know she was all ears. “Well, it is. Last night, something happened, something unimaginable… beyond any of my wildest dreams. I never thought….”

“Brad.” Leslie yawned. “To the point, please. I don’t have all day.”

“Okay, all right! What happened is….” He paused, plastering a big grin on his face. She tried very hard not to roll her eyes, letting him tell her at his own pace. “Last night, my dear, I finally got laid!”

When he broke the news to her, Leslie’s subsequent yawn was cut short by the initial shock she went through. Her body jerked forward, now fully awakened. There wasn’t any amount of caffeine that would have made her feel as lively as she felt at that moment.

This was definitely huge, and not just for Brad. Over the years, Leslie had constantly tried and consequently failed in hooking him up with several guys. Bradley Joseph Parker had the arrogance of a drag queen, she thought. He was too picky when it came to dating and relationships; never wishing to settle for anything less. He dreamt of a guy whose mere presence would take his breath away, who would be so handsome that every girl and every gay guy in the world would yearn to have him in their lives. “Such a guy would only belong to me, holding my hand in a roomful of envious people,” he would say with a smirk. “I would look around and say to them ‘Suck it up, bitches! He is mine!’”

Brad had wasted years with these stupid fantasies, and he had remained a virgin. So Leslie never thought the day would come when Brad’s whining would ever end.

But it had. And Leslie thought she would faint, even with the adrenaline rushing through her veins.

“Wha—?” She became aware of the fact that she had left her mouth hanging open for too long and shut it immediately. A smile crept across her lips, getting bigger by the second, and it turned into a cheek-hurting grin. “Oh my God! Shut up. Seriously?” She quickly sat up, hopping on the bed to cross her legs.

“Very seriously, Les.” Brad’s cute face beamed with wonder and excitement. Leslie couldn’t blame him. She remembered the day she had had sex for the first time, and even though it was a while back, she couldn’t forget the bliss she’d felt after finally losing her virginity or the hunger she felt for getting some more. Leslie was ready to bet that Brad was experiencing similar whirls of emotions in him.

“Last night, on Valentine’s Day…?” she asked.

Brad gave a nod. “On Valentine’s Day.”

“That’s so funny.” Leslie laughed out loud. Even though Valentine’s Day never meant anything to her, something this huge happening to her best friend did force her to consider it a special day. “Okay, you have to tell me everything, dude! Don’t leave out a single detail. I don’t care if it’s too much information. I just have to know. How long has this been going on between you two?”

Brad laughed. “Not too long. I just met him yesterday.”

“And you slept with him already?” Leslie’s mind was drawing up the picture of the perfect guy in her imagination, a guy who had managed to entice someone like Brad in such a short time. She was sure he would be down-to-earth, with an impeccably charming personality. “Way to go! I won’t deny it; I like the spontaneous Brad. Who is this guy, by the way? Do I know him?”

“No, you don’t.” His smile wavered a bit.

“Well, what’s his name?”

Leslie watched him hesitate for a moment. “I… don’t know.”

It took her by surprise.

“I think my devilish side just had a mind-blowing orgasm. You not only have sex with a guy for the first time, but you are also telling me it was simply a one-night stand?” She put her hand over her heart and mockingly said, “Mama Les is so proud of her boy!”

“But Les,” he knitted his eyebrows together as he stood up and came over to sit by her side. He took hold of Leslie’s hand, and she felt his grip tightening when he said, “It wasn’t a one-night stand. Definitely not, uh-uh.” He shook his head, and she immediately wondered if he was trying to convince her or himself. “It was special to me, and I could tell it was special for him too. Why else would he go to extremes to make that night an unforgettable memory? He lit up hundreds of scented candles in the room for me, and there were rose petals all over the bed where we did it.” Leslie didn’t miss the blush forming on his face again as he spoke. “There was champagne, sweet music, and he was a perfect gentleman. He kept asking me if I was sure about this.”

“WOW! Sounds utterly cheesy to me….” Leslie said, although she was quite impressed by all of it and maybe a bit jealous too.

Brad let go of her hand and sighed. “It was damn romantic.”

Leslie moved her gaze around the dorm room, scrutinizing it. “I am guessing it wasn’t here you did it then?” She inquired, turning to face him and watched him slowly crossing his legs like she had.

“No, he took me to his place.” Brad had his mouth open to probably add something more, but he stopped abruptly, scrunched his nose up, and glanced at her with some doubt. “I think it was his place… I don’t know. Where else would he take me?”

Leslie noticed uncertainty, even when he shrugged. What Brad was saying didn’t make any sense to her. “The champagne! Did you have too much of it?”

He frowned. “God, no! Why would I want to give him the impression I’m an idiotic drunkard on our first meeting?”

Of course she didn’t believe him. “Right, says the one who’d put Britney Spears to shame with his underage drinking. Seriously, dude, I’ve had to pick you up in a drunken state from God knows how many parties by now. So don’t shit me by saying you didn’t have any amount of alcohol in you last night.”

Brad reddened and carefully said, “I may have had a little bit of alcohol.”

Typical. Leslie rolled her eyes. “Weren’t you at Ian’s party last night?” She tried to keep her face straight as she asked. The party he had gone to was for all the single men and ladies from their college. Leslie knew exactly how that turned out every year by the end of the night.

He gave a nod in reply.

“Well, maybe you did it at his place?”

“No, it can’t be because we were partying at a nightclub last night.”

“Since when do nightclubs allow in a bunch of twenty year-olds?” she asked, certain they must have been stopped at the door for IDs. She couldn’t say about the others, but Brad’s cute baby face did give away his age.

“They don’t, but Ian somehow knew a few guys working at this nightclub that we went to, so we were able to sneak in.” He grinned.

Leslie suddenly wished she could have joined them. “Lucky you!” Now she couldn’t wait for May to arrive; that was when she turned twenty-one. She had been planning it in her mind forever. “So you met this mysterious guy in that club?”

“Yes, I think so.” Brad chewed on his lower lip.

“Well, what did he say to you? What did he look like?”

Brad turned sorrowful. “If I only knew….” He hung his head down and began to pull on his hair. “Fuck, Les!” He yelled, then looked up, scowling at her. “I can’t seem to remember any of it. The only thing that has managed to stay stuck in my memory is the mind-blowing sex that I had with him. I even remember all the positions we did it in, and God, that guy has the stamina of a wild lion, I tell you.”

Buy Links

http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4633

See more on this Blog Tour

10th - The Blog of Sid Love - Spotlight
- Andrew Q. Gordon - Author Interview

11th - MM Good Book Reviews (Pixie) - Promo Spotlight + Review
- Sue Brown - Guest Post

12th - Joyfully Jay - Guest Post
- Rhys Ford - Promo Spotlight

13th - Live Your Life, Buy the Books - Promo Spotlight + Review
- Rick R. Reed - Guest Post

14th - The Novel Approach (Lisa Horan) - Review
- RJ Scott - Promo Spotlight

17th - Mrs. Condit & Friends - Promo Spotlight + Review
- Madison Parker - Guest Post "Valentine's Day"

18th - Prism Book Alliance - Author Interview
- Alicia Nordwell - Promo Spotlight

19th - Pants off Reviews - Review
- JP Barnaby - Guest Post

20th - Elisa Rolle - Guest Post
- Cate Ashwood - Author Q&A

21st - Kimi-chan - Review
- Cody Kennedy - Promo Spotlight

24th - My Fiction Nook - Promo Spotlight + Review
- Charlie Cochet - Guest Post

25th - Book Reviews & More by Kathy - Interview
- Elin Gregory – Promo Spotlight & Interview

26th - Sinfully Sexy – Monique – Guest Post
- Michael Rupured – Guest Post

27th - The Blogger Girls – Promo Spotlight
- Z A Maxfield – Promo Spotlight

28th - Fallen Angel Reviews – Spotlight + Review


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Valentine Trail - Carlyle's Crossing by Chris Quinton

News From Chris

2014 has started with a bit of a bang. My contemporary paranormal romance from Totally Bound received a third place in the Paranormal Romance Guild Reviewers' Choice 2013, as did the self-published rerelease of Starfall! That was a great boost, believe me. My next book with Totally Bound - Caravaggio's Angel, another contemporary paranormal romance - will be up for preorder on March 14th. Works in progress are Heat, with someone called RJ Scott - you may have heard of her. I'm still working on Greymalkin, and Undercover Blues for Manifold Press, an as yet unnamed contemporary cowboy story to be self-published, and a co-written cop story with Terri Beckett.

My website and blog is http://chrisquinton.com
My Facebook page is https://www.facebook.com/chris.quinton.14

Competition

Prize - Choice of my backlist. Just comment below to be in with a chance.

The Book - Carlyle's Crossing

Genre: m/m contemporary paranormal romance

Buy Link - http://bit.ly/16osuqM

Jubal is the last Carlyle, and lives near Seattle, far away from his Abenaki ancestors. A letter from a lawyer draws him and his best friend, Sal, to Vermont and the town of Whitewater. Soon they are right in the middle of the old conflict that drove Jubal's parents away just before his birth.

Whitewater is suffering and not just from the economic downturn. Unleashed by one man's obsession to call back the spirit of his dead wife, and by the well-meaning but flawed actions of another, dark forces are bringing depression and hopelessness.

Jubal's father had neither the talent nor the wish to attempt the task of driving back the incursion, but Jubal knows he has to try. He must find a way to reverse the process before the malaise spreads. But he has no knowledge, no training, just instinct - and Sal. Always Sal, who is rapidly becoming far more than a friend with benefits. The dangers they face are insidious, and more than their lives and sanity are at risk.

Excerpt

“Okay.” Jubal took a deep breath and tried to marshal his thoughts and emotions into something coherent. “I think—no, I know—what I feel for you. I love you,” he said, not looking at Sal. “Loved you for years, cowboy. I want us to be together, for real. You’re the only man I’ve ever had full on sex with, because high school blowjobs don’t count, and if you don’t say something in the next two seconds I’m going to get out of the car and walk back to Mid—”

“Yes,” Sal cut in.

Startled, Jubal turned to look at him. Sal was flushed, his jaw set in a determined jut.

“Yes, what?” he asked cautiously, hope and trepidation tangled up in his chest.

“What you said.” Sal still didn’t look at him.

“Which bit? I should walk back, or—”

“We’re together,” Sal blurted. “The whole nine yards.”

He shuffled round in his seat and they gaped at each other for a few seconds.

Jubal cleared his throat. “Well, as long as we’re both on the same wavelength.”

Sal nodded. “Yeah,” he said. He sounded dazed. “Wavelength. Yeah.”

“Yeah,” Jubal whispered, his voice husky. Giddy delight filled him, banished all previous doubts to oblivion. Sal was gazing at him, wide-eyed, as if he hadn’t seen him properly before.

Then, “Fuck this,” Sal growled. He reached across to hook one hand behind Jubal’s head and haul him in for a voracious kiss. Jubal responded with joyous enthusiasm, and it was a while before they separated.

“So,” Sal said, his mouth swollen and his breathing uneven, “just so’s we’re on the same page. You and me—committed, exclusive and permanent. Right?”

“Right. And we don’t let the shadows mess with our heads.”

“No way.”

Jubal picked up Sal’s hand and pressed kisses to the palm and the thin skin of his inner wrist. “Thank you. I don’t think I could deal with all this crap without you.”

“Sure you could,” Sal said. “Jackass.” The I love you too, was implicit in every syllable.


Buy Link http://bit.ly/1ghaiGC


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Valentine Trail - Flight Of The Clockwork Angels by Tris Merlin

Hi – I’m Tris Merlin – UK writer of Fantasy, Science Fiction and Romance.

For Valentine’s Day I have a new steampunk short story, Flight of the Clockwork Angels with cover art by the fabulous Reese Dante.

Once Yvo are Tielo were lovers...




“We'd lived in the Age of Discovery. The Age of Steam. Now we faced each other two centuries away from our younger twenty-one-year old selves, scions of rival houses, who had dared to fall in love.”

Tielo is a gentleman artificer, an artist, sculptor and inventor. Yvo is an assassin. Forced into a political marriage to end a feud, he falls in love with Tielo, his bride’s brother. It’s never going to end well.

Tielo dreams of a future where they can be together...

"I wish we could just grow wings and fly away."
But Yvo is tied to the Steel City by bonds he can’t escape.

* * * * *

“We had thought ourselves safe. We'd found a refuge from the world. A room filled with cushions and a single bed that was never too small for the two of us where the sunlight played across the floor and we shared kisses, wine, and love. The tower—close to the city walls—looked out across the empty plains to the known boundaries of the empire and the wild lands that lay beyond.

I remember Tielo holding me one night when the moon was setting—some hours before the dawn when we knew we'd both have to return to our real lives. I stood in his arms, naked, warmed by his touch and the flame that burned within us.

He was excited, flushed and not only from the wine. He kissed me and then said, "If I could 'take you away from all this' would you come?"

It was a crazy question and he knew it. There was no escape from the steel city. If we fled to the wild lands we would die.

"I hear tell there's a colony," he said. "Several days out. Real people. No constructs."

"Squalor, disease, and death," I said. "No enhancements. No factories. No repairs."

"Freedom," he said.

"You always were an idealist. They'd send the hounds."

"And you think we couldn't outrun them?"

"No one ever has."

* * * * *

Can there be a happy ending in their future or are Yvo and Tielo doomed to meet forever across the centuries until finally Yvo’s clockwork heart runs down? 

Flight of the Clockwork Angels is available from Silver Publishing | Amazon 

Competition

And what is Valentine’s day without a gift or two? For a chance to win an e book of Flight of the Clockwork Angels please leave a comment below.

Both Yvo and Tielo could use a little love.

Tris Merlin

http://trismerlin18.blogspot.co.uk/


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Ellery Mountain News

Ellery Mountain Vol 2: including - The Doctor and The Bad Boy (Ellery 4) & The Paramedic and The Writer (Ellery 5) is out in paperback today.

Also The Agent and The Model is out with all third parties tomorrow...

Buy links for all to follow...

Read more about the Ellery Mountain Series here:

Ellery Mountain
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Valentine Trail - Never A Hero by Marie Sexton

Marie's News:

On February 18th, I'll be re-releasing Cinder, my gay re-telling of Cinderella. And on March 16th, I have a novella called Normal Enough coming from Amber Allure. It's a fun and sexy little fetish story.

Buy links

Riptide: http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/never-hero-tucker-springs-novel
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00CR3DO7O


Competition

Simply comment on this post to win an ebook from Marie's backlist (winner's choice).

News and Information from Marie

Marie Sexton lives in Colorado. She’s a fan of just about anything that involves muscular young men piling on top of each other. In particular, she loves the Denver Broncos and enjoys going to the games with her husband. Her imaginary friends often tag along. Marie has one daughter, two cats, and one dog, all of whom seem bent on destroying what remains of her sanity. She loves them anyway.

You can find Marie at http://mariesexton.net/, and on Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/MarieSexton.author

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MarieSexton

Excerpt


“Have you noticed the moon tonight?” Nick asked suddenly.

The change of subject surprised me. He was staring out my sliding glass door, and he reached out to me. “Come look,” he said as his fingers touched my arm.

Such a simple gesture, but it caused me to freeze in my tracks. Nobody ever touched my left arm. Not casually, at any rate. Sure, doctors had touched me there with cold, practical efficiency. And my mother had touched me there, but only out of embarrassed necessity. Friends or relatives occasionally, but always by accident. They always apologized for it, turning quickly away. But in twenty-eight years, I couldn’t recall anybody touching me there the way Nick was touching me now. I felt the need to hold perfectly still, lest he realize he was touching my ruined arm and pull away.

His fingers moved again, a tickle on my flesh, a spark of energy that raced up my arm, over my shoulder, and raised goose bumps on the back of my neck. I shivered, suddenly transported back to a day from my childhood: sitting in the cold, prickly grass in the shade of a tree, the buzz of a distant lawnmower, traffic passing on the street, and me, enthralled by a ladybug crawling on my left arm. The almost imperceptible kiss of sensation as it crept down my biceps, over the inside of my elbow, around the pink apex of my stump. That tiny, beautiful bug was oblivious to the horror beneath her feet. My left arm was as good as my right as far as she was concerned. In my whole life, no person had ever touched me like that, as if unaware that my left arm wasn’t normal.

Until Nick.

“Owen?” he asked. His hand shifted. Not pulling away, but changing from a brush of fingers to a gentle grip around my biceps. “Are you okay?”

I opened my eyes, like waking from a dream, to find him staring at me. My vision blurred.

“I’ve upset you. What did I do?”

Jesus, I was crying! I turned away, trying desperately to wipe my eyes. “It’s n-n-n—” And now I was stuttering, too. As if I needed a reason to be more embarrassed. “It’s nothing.”

“It’s not nothing. Tell me what I did.”

“I’m fine. I’m s-sorry. Must be s-something in my eye.” God, was that really the best I could do?

“Owen?”

I felt his hand on my arm again, sliding downward toward the hideous joint of my elbow, and I pulled away, suddenly horrified. “Please,” I said, holding up my arms to ward him off, but that only served to draw attention to the fact that one was longer than the other. I looked at the stump of my left arm, pointed obscenely in his direction, and hurried to tuck it back down out of sight at my side. I tried to turn away, but I’d gone as far as I could. I was against the wall, and there he was, staring at me, his eyes wide—not with horror, but with compassion and confusion. I wiped furiously at my eyes. I forced my tongue to move without betraying me. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry. Just tell me what I did.”

How could I explain it? Talk of soccer and superheroes had left me raw, and something as simple as his hand on my arm had apparently done me in. “It’s n-not your fault.”

“But—”

“Give me a m-minute, okay?”

“Sure.”

And he did. He took a step back to give me space. I didn’t have to look at him to know he was still watching me, patiently waiting for me to get my shit together and stop acting like a freak. Waiting for me to get my traitorous tongue under control. I took a couple of deep breaths. I dried my cheeks. My heart had at least stopped racing. I wasn’t as flustered, which meant I could speak clearly. “I’m being stupid. It’s really no big deal—”

He reached out again and put his hand on my left shoulder, cutting my words short. For half a second I found myself wondering why he kept touching the left side of my body, but then I realized it was obvious—he was right-handed. And unlike most people, his discomfort at my disability didn’t overcome his natural inclination to use his dominant hand.

“Owen?” he asked again.

He was so earnest and reassuring, and I blurted out the answer without realizing I was going to do it. “Nobody touches me.”

He pulled his hand away, looking stricken. “You’re saying you don’t like to be touched?”

“No.” And suddenly, the absurdity of the situation hit me. I laughed. It felt good, such a normal, healthy release of tension, but it made Nick look even more confused than before. “My arm,” I said, gesturing with my right hand toward it. “People don’t touch it.”

He blinked at me, processing that, and I saw comprehension dawn.

Now that the moment had passed, I was left with nothing but embarrassment that I’d overreacted, and in such a dramatic fashion. “I’m being stupid.”

“It’s not stupid,” he said. He put his hand up again, slower this time, and brushed his fingertips over my upper arm. “Our skin is our largest sensory organ. Humans don’t just want to be touched. We need it. Babies who aren’t touched enough don’t thrive. And neither do adults. Wanting to be touched isn’t stupid. It’s normal.” He stroked my arm again. Not a mere touch this time. It was a caress. “What is our flesh for if not to feel?”

Suddenly, embarrassment was the last thing on my mind. There wasn’t much space left between us, but he managed to move closer. My mouth went dry. I wondered if he could hear my heart pounding.

He stroked both of my arms. His smile turned from gentle and soothing to something that made the blood in my veins rush quickly toward my groin. He leaned forward and kissed my jaw, causing my breath to catch in my throat. His lips teased toward my ear. “The question is,” he said, his voice low and husky, “where else haven’t you been touched lately?”

* * * * *

Coming soon...


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Valentine Trail - Max's Italian Romance by Serena Yates

News from Serena Yates

I'm currently working on Diamonds of Victory, book four in the Gemstones Chronicles series. Sam's New Family is up for a transformation from short story to novella length next. I'm planning rereleases of my Workplace Encounters books later this year, and I recently submitted book four in the Modern Battles series; hopefully Fighting for Freedom will be out in May or June with Dreamspinner Press.

The Book


Max still can’t get over the loss of his lover two years after the accident – so a trip to Florence and its famous works of art might be just what he needs.

Max Travis is a lonely bus driver, stuck in a job he doesn’t want but he has to pay the bills. He’d love to be a photographer and is interested in art, so his brother gives him a trip to Florence for Valentine’s Day. Even though Max thinks the gift is too lavish, he can’t resist the temptation and goes. When he runs into hunky art professor Rocco Moretti on his first day there, the attraction is immediate.

The two men share a steamy romance, but what will happen when Max must return to the USA?
Buy link for that book (Direct from pub, amazon etc)

Publisher: https://www.totallybound.com/maxs-italian-romance
Al Romance: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-max039sitalianromance-546372-145.html

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Maxs-Italian-Romance-Serena-Yates-ebook/dp/B004ZH3COA

Contact Serena

Website   |  Facebook

Competition

Comment on this post to win one of Serena's ebooks - winner's choice.

Excerpt
  

Rocco Moretti was taking in the scene as he completed a leisurely walk through the centre of Florence on this beautiful Saturday afternoon. He’d lived here for almost ten years now, but he could never get enough of its statues. Maybe it was because he was a sculptor himself, at least when he wasn’t teaching art history to mostly unwilling young artists. But mostly he thought it was the sculptures' beauty and majestic permanence that drew him.
Rocco grinned at his own melodramatic thoughts as he rounded the octagonal fountain, looking up to admire Neptune glistening in the sunshine. He was nothing like the bronze river gods, satyrs and marble sea horses around the perimeter of his domain. Made from Apuan marble, he stood above and apart from them, dominance and authority pouring from his every beautifully sculpted muscle.
“Ouch!”
Rocco stopped in his tracks, whipping his head around to find out who had run into him. A flash of longish blond hair turned into a bright face with light blue eyes and pink lips when the smaller man looked up at him. He blinked and wobbled on his feet, clearly disoriented.
“Scusi.”  Rocco grabbed the man by the shoulders to prevent him from falling.
“I... Sorry.” The stranger grinned, steadying himself as he held onto the camera.
Aha, a tourist. His fine facial structure and white skin reminded Rocco of marble. His body was well proportioned without being muscular. Rocco felt physical attraction tugging at him, intensified by the adorable confusion in the brightest blue eyes he’d seen in a long time. Their owner looked young, maybe in his early twenties.
“It is I who am sorry.” Rocco switched to his mother’s language easily. He didn’t let go, liking the feeling of the unexpectedly strong shoulders and upper arms under the down jacket. “I should have watched where I was going. It’s not the first time I’m here, after all.”
“No, no, I’m sorry.” The tentative smile on his lips made his face light up. “It’s just that I didn’t expect the fountain to be this beautiful, so I wasn’t paying attention to anything else.”
“Well, it appears you weren’t the only one.” Rocco reluctantly let go and took the smallest possible step back. “I was just as distracted, and I’ve lived here for a long time. I still take weekly walks around the centre, just to enjoy the beautiful art and architecture everywhere.”
“You live here? Wow, you’re very lucky.” He didn’t seem to want to move away either. “I’m just visiting.”
“Is this your first visit?” Rocco would bet it was, he’d rarely seen this much wide-eyed wonder in anyone’s gaze.
“Yeah. I’ve wanted to come here for a long time.” He grinned. “I can’t wait to explore everything.”
“Would you like some help with that?” Oh, Rocco would like to explore this man as well, but they could always start with the sights. He’d use any excuse to spend more time with the cute stranger.
“Uhm...” He frowned. “I don’t want to be a burden.”
“You wouldn’t be. It would be my pleasure because it gives me an excuse to visit all my favourite spots again. My name is Rocco Moretti, and I’m an art history professor at the Florence Academy of Art.” Rocco held out his hand, delighted with their first skin to skin contact when the other man took it. “I only have two classes to teach on Friday, so I would be happy to take you around the city any time.”
 “That’s a great offer.” He man took a deep breath. “I’m Max Travis, just arrived a few hours ago and here for a whole week.”
“So, do we have a deal?” Rocco held his breath. He really, really wanted to get to know Max better. A lot better.
“Only if you let me invite you for a coffee.” Max grinned and took his hand back.
“Okay.” Good place to start.
“Would you—maybe—know the best place for coffee around here?” Max’s smile turned impish. “I mean, it wouldn’t do if I took you somewhere awful, would it?”
Rocco laughed out loud. Max was cute and had a sense of humour. It looked more and more like it was going to be a great week.
 
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