Showing posts with label New Year New Read. Show all posts

New Year, New Read - Charlie Cochet, Thirds

Part of the New Year New Read project...  

Is there anyone left who hasn't heard about Charlie's THIRDS series? Probably not! I came to it late and read the first few books one after the other. *Hooked* *SO hooked*

I picked up a spare THIRDS bag at GRL... so, watch this space and I will be posting a competition in the near future to win the bag and some other goodies.


At the bottom of this post Charlie sums up the year and looks forward to 2016.

Want to try some Charlie Cochet books? Simply, comment below with your email address and I will pick a winner 12 January 12:00 GMT, and then send on some books that I loved for you to read.

Hell & High Water (THIRDS book 1)


When homicide detective Dexter J. Daley’s testimony helps send his partner away for murder, the consequences—and the media frenzy—aren’t far behind. He soon finds himself sans boyfriend, sans friends, and, after an unpleasant encounter in a parking garage after the trial, he’s lucky he doesn’t find himself sans teeth. 

Dex fears he’ll get transferred from the Human Police Force’s Sixth Precinct, or worse, get dismissed. Instead, his adoptive father—a sergeant at the Therian-Human Intelligence Recon Defense Squadron otherwise known as the THIRDS—pulls a few strings, and Dex gets recruited as a Defense Agent.

Dex is determined to get his life back on track and eager to get started in his new job. But his first meeting with Team Leader Sloane Brodie, who also happens to be his new jaguar Therian partner, turns disastrous. When the team is called to investigate the murders of three HumaniTherian activists, it soon becomes clear to Dex that getting his partner and the rest of the tightknit team to accept him will be a lot harder than catching the killer—and every bit as dangerous.


Charlie sums up the year and looks forward



Hello all! Thank you so much for stopping by, and a big thank you to RJ for having me! Are you excited about the new year as I am? It’s funny how the ending of one year and beginning of another can have such an impact on us. It hits midnight, and we’re facing a world of possibilities. For many, it’s like a clean slate. A chance to do what you wanted to do the previous year, but for some reason or another weren’t able to.

For me, a new year is exciting because there’s just so much to look forward to! I’m not one to set resolutions, because they’ve never worked for me. I’m more of a short-term and long-term goal setter. I write down things I hope to accomplish in the coming year, and work out what I need to do to accomplish those goals.

In 2016 I’ll be attending the RT Booklovers convention for the first time. I’m even on a panel. Am I nervous? You bet. It’s my biggest convention yet. This year I decided it was time. Time to take the next step in my career. Next year is all about moving forward, about taking what I learned in 2015 about myself, my writing, the genre, and expanding on that. Growth is important, not just on a professional level, but a personal one. Here’s to a new year of love, laughter, and endless possibilities!

New Year New Read - Eli Easton, How To Walk Like a Man


Part of the New Year New Read project
Eli is one of my most favourite authors and whatever she writes I love... but... this book, the second in her Mad Creek series, is seriously the most gorgeous book of hers... Roman - I have no words to describe how I fell in love with Roman. My heart melted when I read his character - so brave, and strong, and fragile at the same time. Beautiful.


Want to try a few Eli Easton books? Simply, comment below with your email address and I will pick a winner after close on 11 January 12:00 GMT.

How To Walk Like a Man by Eli Easton

Buylinks: All Romance | Amazon

Blurb: Deputy Roman Charsguard survived Afghanistan where he lost his best friend—his K-9 handler James. Roman was a military dog until two years ago when he developed the ability to shift into a human. It’s not easy to learn how to be a man. He found a place to live in Mad Creek, a haven for the secret world of dog shifters. Finding a reason to live has been harder. That is, until a certain human walks into the Mad Creek Sheriff’s office and starts making trouble.

Matt Barclay has the worst luck. First he was shot in a SWAT drug raid, then he was sent as DEA investigator to Mad Creek, a little town in the California mountains. Matt’s job is to keep a lookout for illegal drug farms, but nobody in the town wants him there. And then there’s Roman, Matt’s erstwhile baby-sitter. He’s the hottest guy Matt’s ever seen, even if he is a bit peculiar. If this job doesn’t kill Matt, sexual frustration just might.

The town is counting on Roman to prevent Matt from learning about dog shifters, Matt’s counting on Roman to be his work partner and tell him the truth, and Roman’s trying to navigate love, sex, and a whole lot of messy human emotions. Who knew it was so complicated to walk like a man?

Review: Beautiful story. At times I laughed out loud, at others I wanted to cry for Roman. Roman is a wonderful character and I fell in love with him.

Gorgeous emotional richly described book

And Eli visited me to pass on her news...


Thanks RJ for having me on your blog! My goals for 2016 include writing 6 new books and having at least 6 books released. Among the books releasing in 2016 for sure are:

  • “Kingdom Come” (a murder mystery) in January from Penguin
  • “The Stolen Suitor” (a ‘Dreamspun Desires” and sort-of a sequel to “A Prairie Dog’s Love Song”) in February from Dreamspinner
  • a new “Howl at the Moon” book around May
  • “A Second Harvest” (a mature farmer and younger gay man, first in a new Lancaster County series)
  • “In the Land of Milk and Honey” (sequel to “Kingdom Come”) in August from Penguin
  • My Christmas 2016 novella in November TBD
There will probably be one more Eli Easton story or book released.

I’m also looking forward to going to Romantic Times convention in April in Vegas, hanging out with fellow authors and meeting readers. You can follow my progress here:

www.elieaston.com

Or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008994061782

Happy New Year!

Eli

Marie Sexton - news for 2016

Welcome to Marie Sexton, visiting to tell us about her news in 2016...

I have a novel coming out with Riptide in March called Trailer Trash. It's about two high school seniors in small-town Wyoming in the mid-80s. I should have a preorder link for that very soon, but not quite yet.

I also have a novella called Damned If You Do coming out in June from Samhain. It's sort of a romantic comedy about a devil trying to win the soul of devout young musician. I have a project lined up with a co-author that will be published by Dreamspinner Press later in the summer, but I can't share too many details about that yet! Watch this space...

As for events, I'll be at RT in Las Vegas in April, and if all goes as planned, I'll be at the M/M Romance Meeting in Verona, Italy in May, and at EuroPride in Berlin in June.

That's about as far ahead as I'm able to plan. :-)

Marie Sexton

 

New Year New Read - Marie Sexton with Winter Oranges

Part of the New Year New Read project... 

The first in Marie Sexton's Coda series, the wonderful Promises, is to me sheer perfection. I adore the characters, I love the romance, and it hooked me on her writing. The book I would like to gift on in my New Year New Read initiative is Christmas Oranges. 

Want to try a few Marie Sexton books? Simply, comment below with your email address and I will pick a winner after close on 10 January 12:00 GMT.

Winter Oranges

Buylink: Riptide

Jason Walker is a child star turned teen heartthrob turned reluctant B-movie regular who’s sick of his failing career. So he gives up Hollywood for northern Idaho, far away from the press, the drama of LA, and the best friend he’s secretly been in love with for years.


There’s only one problem with his new life: a strange young man only he can see is haunting his guesthouse. Except Benjamin Ward isn’t a ghost. He’s a man caught out of time, trapped since the Civil War in a magical prison where he can only watch the lives of those around him. He’s also sweet, funny, and cute as hell, with an affinity for cheesy ’80s TV shows. And he’s thrilled to finally have someone to talk to.


But Jason quickly discovers that spending all his time with a man nobody else can see or hear isn’t without its problems—especially when the tabloids find him again and make him front-page news. The local sheriff thinks he’s on drugs, and his best friend thinks he’s crazy. But Jason knows he hasn’t lost his mind. Too bad he can’t say the same thing about his heart.


Review: This is a gorgeous book, so vivid in description and I was sucked in from page one. I'm a huge fan of Marie Sexton and this book is another perfect MM, a must read for Autumn and Christmas.

Also, for a non seasonal book try the Coda Series:



Promises

Buylinks: Amazon.com Amazon.co.uk: ARe: Dreamspinner

Jared Thomas has lived his whole life in the small mountain town of Coda, Colorado. He can't imagine living anywhere else. Unfortunately, the only other gay man in town is twice his age and used to be his teacher, so Jared is resigned to spending his life alone.

Until Matt Richards walks into his life, that is. Matt has just been hired by the Coda Police Department, and he and Jared immediately become friends.

Matt claims he is straight, but for Jared, having a sexy friend like Matt is way too tempting. Facing Matt's affair with a local woman, his disapproving family, and harassment from Matt's co-workers, Jared fears they'll never find a way to be together-if he can even convince Matt to try.



Review

What I love most about this book is that it is absolutel MM romance perfection. It was the first thing I read of Marie Sexton's writing and it started me on the entire Coda themed series of books. It includes romance, just the right amount of angst, a slow burn with UST... just perfect. And Marie's writing style is so nice that I always feel like I can relax and really enjoy the books.

What can I say about Matt and Jared to convince you to go try the book? Jared is utterly sure of who he is, except he isn't, and Matt is utterly unsure of who he is, except he isnt... and yes, I know that makes little sense. I just feel that while we are at first presented with Jared as a confident and out gay man, what we then see is how much of himself he hides away. Then we have Matt, the best friend, the one who has a whole heart load of conflict. Add in characters like the idiot (abusive) dad, the sister, the new baby, the ex, the crime element, and this first Coda book ticks every single one of my boxes.

Not that I would ever compare Marie's writing with my own (hell I wouldn't compare anyone's writing to mine ever, I wouldn't want to insult anyone!) but if you liked Back Home, Moments, The Ex Factor, Crooked Tree Ranch, Decisions, that kind of thing, then you will love Promises...

I promise you...


Have you read the rest of Marie's Coda series? All the books here and reviews are on this site.

New Year New Read - Jordan L Hawk, SPECTR

Part of the New Year New Read project

Now, a lot of people read Jordan's Whyborne and Griffin series and boy do I love that series. I mean I seriously LOVE that series...

BUT

There is something I like better (I can hear you gasping from here) ... SPECTR... I have no words, I bloody well adore this series and I inhale them the minute I get them. I would like to gift the first book, or maybe the first three in a collection (whatever there is out there!).

Want to try a few Jordan L Hawk books? Simply, comment below with your email address and I will pick a winner after close on 9 January 12:00 GMT.

Email me if there are problems commenting (rj@rjscott.co.uk).

SPECTR book 1

Unregistered paranormal Caleb Jansen only wants a normal life. But when a demon murders his brother, Caleb knows he has to avenge Ben’s death, no matter what the cost. Unfortunately, his only allies belong to an extremist group who would kill Caleb if they found out about his talent.

Gray is a wandering spirit, summoned to hunt and destroy demons by drinking their blood. This hunt goes horribly wrong, and for the first time in his existence Gray is trapped in a living, human body. Caleb’s body…and Caleb is still in it.

Hotshot federal agent John Starkweather thinks he’s seen it all. But when he’s called to exorcise Caleb, he finds a creature which isn’t supposed to exist outside of stories. For Gray is a drakul: a vampire.

Having spent his life avoiding the government as an unregistered ‘mal, Caleb can’t let himself trust a federal exorcist, no matter how sexy. And he certainly isn’t going to give into the heat growing between them and sleep with Starkweather.

Can Starkweather win Caleb’s trust and convince him he isn’t the enemy? Can Caleb keep Gray under control, as the drakul experiences the temptation of a living body for the first time?

Because if he fails and Gray gives in to bloodlust, Starkweather will have no choice but to kill them both.

Review
See all my Jordan reviews HERE. This SPECTR series is a contemporary / different world. I found the beginning chap a little confusing and then everything just flowed... and I loved it. The world building, John and Caleb (and Gray!). I immediately went and got book 2 and I devoured it just as fast! Passion and lust and power and the most AMAZING three heroes EVER... Go buy.. now... ;)

Buy Links

Amazon (US) | Amazon (UK)

New Year New Read - Avery Cockburn, Glasgow Lads

Part of the New Year New Read project

(Note to Avery, see how I used the 1st as your day to be here!)

Now, Avery is an author I found through persistent marketing (we should learn from this). I was blown away by the covers (legs, kilts) and the premise of a group of guys playing football in Glasgow. Now, anyone who knows me knows I am not a fan of football (dodges flaming stakes and sharp knives). BUT... this series is not just about football, it's about camaraderie, and tension, and lust, and romances, and cute stuff, and class division, and religious division, and ... gah I could list it all... with added humour and angst, all set against the backdrop of football**.

Seriously, if you haven't read it, then you need to :)

**Soccer if you're not one of us... LOL

At the bottom of this post Avery talks about whats coming in 2016... go see! Personally I'd like there to be 12 Glasgow Lads books... LOL

 Want to try some Avery Cockburn books? Simply, comment below with your email address and I will pick a winner 8 January 12:00 GMT, and then send on some books that I loved for you to read.


Playing for Keeps (Glasgow Lads Book 1)


Buylink: Amazon

Rule One: No Drama!
 

Fergus Taylor is damaged goods. Reeling from a brutal breakup, he’s determined to captain his LGBT soccer team out of scandal and into a winning season. For that, he needs strict rules and careful plans. He does NOT need a brash, muscle-bound lad messing with his head and setting his body afire. 

John Burns has a rule of his own: Don’t get attached. Boyfriends are for guys with nothing to hide. Nobody—not his university mates, not the men he beds—knows his family’s shame. Now his double life is starting to unravel, thanks to a certain Highlander whose storm-riddled eyes turn John inside out, who wears a kilt like he was born in it. 

Fergus is the first man John wants to share his secret with—but he’s the last man who could handle it. John knows the truth would shatter Fergus’s still-fragile heart. But how can he live a lie when he’s falling in love? 

Note: The Glasgow Lads series contains dirty talk with a Scottish accent, naughty bits of a gay nature, and characters who call soccer “football.” 


Review: What can I say about Fergus and John? Poor broken hearted John, and Fergus with all his secrets. Absolutely loved this book, and I am totally hooked on this series.




Playing to Win (Glasgow Lads Book 2)

Buylink: Amazon

Colin MacDuff has nothing. Growing up in a Glasgow slum, he learned never to trust, never to cry—and never EVER to be at the mercy of anyone, especially rich men. So how did he end up half-naked at a rave with Scotland’s hottest young aristocrat? 

Lord Andrew Sunderland has everything. From ancestral castle to posh prep school, he’s spent his life wrapping others around his wee finger. With a social circle full of celebrities and politicians, nothing can stop Andrew’s rise to the top. Nothing, that is, save his desire for a dirt-poor, wolf-eyed footballer whose scars and tattoos tell unbearable tales. 

Colin and Andrew come from different worlds, believe in different worlds, want different worlds. Yet every time they touch, all worlds fall away. 

Set amid the fiery Scottish-independence struggle, this searing gay romance tells the story of two men who must lose everything to win each other's hearts. 

Note: The Glasgow Lads series contains dirty talk with a Scottish accent, naughty bits of a gay nature, and characters who call soccer “football.” 

Review: My absolute favourite of the series so far. Colin and Andrew's story is set against a momentous time in British History. A clash of classes, of ideals, and a love that overcomes all... *melts*. Seriously, this book should go on your buy list...


What is Avery up to in 2016?

 
From Avery:

Thanks a million, RJ, for featuring my books! I’m so flattered and thrilled that a fantastic writer such as yourself has enjoyed the Glasgow Lads.


2015 was a crazy fun debut year, with the release of four (!) titles in the series. 2016 will also see four Glasgow Lads titles. Playing With Fire, coming 31 January, is a best-friends-to-lovers story where one of our heroes is just starting to explore his bisexuality (a familiar storyline, I know, but PWF has a few twists I think readers will enjoy). In August the series villain Evan, finally gets to tell his side of the “I abandoned my team and lover when they needed me most but I swear I’m not a complete bastard” story and maybe get a shot at redemption.

My website (such as it is) is www.averycockburn.com. Readers who sign up for my mailing list get exclusive behind-the-scenes extras like developmental diaries, deleted scenes, and beta-reader comments in which each beta reader is assigned an appropriate Game of Thrones character. AND, subscribers receive advance free copies of twice-yearly short stories.

You can also find me at:


I plan to join Facebook soon, IF it doesn’t steal too much time from writing. The books come first, of course!

Happy Hogmanay and New Year to you all!

New Year, New Read

I thought I would go through my list of reviews from this year and pull out some of those authors who really stood out to me.

This list is by no means all of the authors I read, I just thought I would start something that I hope others carry on... sharing the love for authors they read. So this is the first few authors... more to follow later, and I may make this a regular thing. :)

I wanted to give people the opportunity to read these wonderful authors, so each day I will post an article about them and all you need to do it comment on the article. I will pull out a winner and gift them some of the author's books...

1 January - Avery Cockburn 
2 January - Jordan L Hawk
3 January - Marie Sexton
4 January - Eli Easton
5 January - Charlie Cochet
6 January - NR Walker

Links will go live on the days specified, come back every day for the articles. Keeping up with my posts is simple, just enter your email in the *follow by email* box to the top right of the website.

What authors would you like to recommend to your fellow readers? Comment and link people to books you love, writers you love... let's make this a positive and happy year!