Monday's Montage Mantlepiece: Chestnuts Roasting Anthology

TITLE: CHESTNUTS ROASTING ANTHOLOGY

SERIES: Mischief Corner Anthologies #5

RELEASE DATE: November 27, 2014

GENRE: Gay Romance, Holiday Romance, Christmas Romance

LENGTH: 110,251/355 pages

PUBLISHER: Mischief Corner Publishing

Summary:
Christmas means different things to everyone, but most often it’s all about pulling loved ones close and brightening the gloom. The fire’s crackling. The snow is piling up outside, even if it's only in your dreams. Time to snuggle up with some cocoa and some stories carefully crafted by the Mischief Corner Crew to warm hearts and cockles.


Wreath of Fire: Smokey Mountains Bears 2 - Toni Griffin
Michael's trying to start a new life away from his abusive father, but he's drifting and not sure what he wants. When he accidentally starts a kitchen fire, the hot new fireman who comes to the rescue is not only another bear shifter. He's Michael's mate. Michael desperately needs to get his act together and figure out what he wants if he has any hope of claiming the bear fated to be his.


A Christmas Cactus for the General - Angel Martinez
Exiled to Earth for perhaps the worst failure in Irasolan history, General Teer must assimilate or die. Earth is too warm, too wet, too foreign, but he does the best he can even though human males are loud, childish louts whom he can't imitate successfully. When a grieving seaplane pilot strikes up a strange and uneasy friendship with him, he finds he may have been too quick to judge human males. They are strange to look at, but perhaps not as unbearable as he thought.


Holly Jolly - Silvia Violet
I’m not gay. I just notice men sometimes. Everybody does, right? I notice Dane a lot, like every time I’m near him, but just because I think he’s an attractive man that doesn’t mean I like him, does it?
I’m also not a fan of Christmas. Too many years “celebrating” with my Bible-thumping family ruined the holiday for me. So what if I envy all these cheerful souls dashing about with smiles on their faces? I don’t have to like Christmas, do I? If anyone could get me in the Christmas spirit, it would be Dane with his easy, relaxed manner and his gorgeous smile. If that were going to happen, though, I’d have to find the courage to talk to him and to admit that maybe I don’t know myself all that well after all.


Snow on Spirit Bridge - Freddy MacKay
Alone in Japan, Finni is struggling against the constant distrust, avoidance, and xenophobia he experiences every day. He misses home. He misses his family. Nightmares come all too frequently because of the stress, and well, Christmas is just not Christmas in Japan. Not how he understands it.
Distressed by how miserable Finni is, his roommate, Mamoru, offers to be Finni's family for Christmas. Little does he know how much one agreement would change everything between them, because both of them kept secrets neither ever dreamed were true.

Author Bios:

Toni Griffin
Toni Griffin lives in Darwin, the smallest of Australia’s capital cities. Born and raised in the state she’s a Territorian through and through. Growing up Toni hated English with a passion (as her editors can probably attest to) and found her strength lies with numbers.
Now, though, she loves escaping to the worlds she creates and hopes to continue to do so for many years to come. She’s a single mother of one and works full time. When she’s not writing you can just about guarantee that she will be reading one of the many MM authors she loves.

Angel Martinez

Angel Martinez currently lives part time in the hectic sprawl of northern Delaware and full time inside her head. She has one husband, one son, two cats, a love of all things beautiful and a terrible addiction to the consumption of both knowledge and chocolate. 

Angel's alter ego writes the all-ages science fiction - Sandra Stixrude.

Sylvia Violet

Silvia Violet writes erotic romance and erotica in a variety of genres including sci fi, paranormal, and historical.

Silvia Violet can often be found haunting coffee shops looking for the darkest, strongest cup of coffee she can find. Once equipped with the needed fuel, she can happily sit for hours pounding away at her laptop. Silvia typically leaves home disguised as a suburban stay-at-home-mom, and other coffee shop patrons tend to ask her hilarious questions like "Do you write children's books?" She loves watching the looks on their faces when they learn what she's actually up to. When not writing, Silvia enjoys baking sinful chocolate treats, exploring new styles of cooking, and reading children's books to her wickedly smart offspring.

Freddy MacKay

I grew up and went to college in the Midwest where I currently reside with my family. I spend most of my time playing sports and running around outside. And honestly, that much has not changed since I was little, except who is included my activities. I also have a healthy geocaching addiction. It's so much fun! I enjoy spending my time traveling when I can, and I hold the view that a person should continually to learn about new things and people whenever possible.

Toni Griffin

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Email: info@tonigriffin.net

Angel Martinez

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Email: ravenesperanza@yahoo.com

Sylvia Violet

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Email: silviaviolet@gmail.com

Freddy MacKay

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Email: freddy.m.mackay@gmail.com

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Forbidden Awakenings by Lisa Bilbrey

Title:  Forbidden Awakenings

Author:  Lisa Bilbrey

Series:  Awakening #1

Genre:  Erotica, Adult Romance

Release Date:  December 1, 2014

Summary:
Elle Reid and Sadie Williams are best friends, turned lovers. Always considering themselves to be friends with benefits, they opt to let loose and celebrate after landing a high-profile project with the best architecture firm in San Francisco.

Callum Davis and Derek Flores have been best friends since they met at college. While they've admitted their attraction to each other, neither have the courage to act on their feelings, both fearful of losing their friendship. At least, not until they meet Elle and Sadie at Club Venom.

Elle, Sadie, Callum, and Derek embark on a life-changing journey that defies what society tells them is normal. But when you find yourselves in love with multiple partners, how do you choose? And what will happen when their families find out about their unconventional relationship? Is their forbidden awakening worth unraveling the secrets they've been keeping?

     “And when you moved to L.A., did you find what you needed there?”
     Nodding, he said, “A part of it. I was terrified to leave home, but when I met Callum, got to know him, I found someone I knew I could count on. Callum’s my best friend, Elle. I’ve cared about him for a long time.”
     “Are you in love him?” Elle questioned. Derek opened his mouth to reply, but clamped his lips together before he could utter a sound. “You are, aren’t you? You’re in love with him.”
     “I don’t know,” he admitted, sliding his hand onto her hip. “I don’t know what I feel right now. He’s everything I never knew he could be. In my family, men aren’t supposed to love each other like this, Elle. They’re not supposed to want to kiss them, to make love to them, but I do want to kiss Callum and make love to him. I just . . . I just want him.”
     “Hey, you don’t have to explain that to me,” she groused. “My parents would disown me if they knew anything about you, Callum, and Sadie. I learned a long time ago not to expect their approval, Derek. And not just because of my attraction to Sadie, either. They made it clear that I wasn’t the daughter they wanted me to be, but I’m okay with that because I’m happy with who I am. I have Sadie, and you and Callum now. My sister and her fiancé love me, support me, and I’m all right, ya know?”
     “You know I care about you, Elle, don’t you?” His tone was almost pleading. “You and Sadie — you’re not just a causal fuck for me or Callum. It’s important that you know that you’re both important to us.”
     “Of course I do,” she murmured, trying to keep her emotions from betraying her. “I care about you, too, Derek. So much that it scares me.”
     “What scares you?” he whispered.
     Elle’s eyes closed, and she took a ragged breath. “I don’t want to lose you. The thought of not having you in my life makes my heart ache.”
     “Look at me,” he ordered and her eyes opened in a heartbeat. “We are not leaving you, at least not unless you want us to. Do you understand that? Callum and I will never pressure you to give us more than you feel comfortable with.”
     All Elle could do as tears filled her eyes was nod. The warm drops sprinkled against her cheeks.
     “Don’t cry, beautiful,” he cooed, leaning forward and brushing his lips across hers.
     “Then don’t be so fucking sweet,” she whimpered, smiling through the cascade of tears. “I trust you, Derek. You, Callum, and Sadie — you’re everything I never thought I deserved.”
     With a kick of his foot, Derek sent their dishes crashing to the floor before closing the small space between bodies and reminding Elle how much he wanted her.

Author Bio:

Obsessive, compulsive, slightly crazed, but enough about her personality. First and foremost, Lisa Bilbrey is a mom to three and a wife to one. She loves to write, and spends the majority of everyday writing. It's who she is, and what she's meant to be doing. Words are her life, the air she breathes, and the nutrients of her soul.

Finding a love in the written word, Lisa Bilbrey started writing as a way to express herself and let her voice be heard. From the first word she wrote, she'd found her heart and soul.Always willing to learn, she's spends much of her time trying to improve as a storyteller.

Lisa's works include:
Life's Unexpected Gifts
A Season of Change
The Apartment
Broken Hearts & Dusty Dreams
Angel's Heart: The Keeper
Angel's Heart: The True Enemy
The Journey Home: Book One
The Journey of Champions: Book Two
The Journey to Forever: Book Three
The Journey to a New Life: Book Four
The Journey Collection
Whispers of Time Gone By
Forbidden Awakenings 

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Heart's Beat by Charity Parkerson

TITLE – Heart’s Beat

SERIES – Ugly Eternity

AUTHOR – Charity Parkerson

GENRE – GBLT Romance

PUBLICATION DATE – December 1, 2014

PUBLISHER – Punk & Sissy Publications

COVER ARTIST – Charity Parkerson  

Summary:
By day, Cade works as a mechanic. By night, he’s the drummer for a popular nightclub band. Music has always been his greatest love and biggest dream. That is, until Cade meets Dylan.
For Dylan, working as head bartender for Club Khronos is the ultimate job opportunity. There’s no way he could’ve foreseen how torturous the position would become. Six months of craving Cade has driven Dylan insane. No matter what he tries, Dylan can’t get a clear read on Cade. When Cade does finally make his move, Dylan realizes a fate worse than never having the man of his dreams—being kept a secret.

**Author Note**
Heart’s Beat is the introduction to a new series—Ugly Eternity. You can grab this M/M Romance for only $0.99 USD.

Author Bio:

Charity Parkerson is an award winning and multi-published author with Ellora's Cave Publishing, Indie Publishing House LLC, and Punk & Sissy Publications. Born with no filter from her brain to her mouth, she decided to take this odd quirk and insert it in her characters.
*Winner of 2, 2014 Readers' Favorite Awards
*2014 Golden Ankh Nominee
*2013 Readers' Favorite Award Winner
*2013 Reviewers' Choice Award Winner
*2012 ARRA Finalist for Favorite Paranormal Romance
*Five-time winner of The Mistress of the Darkpath

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31 Days of Winter by CJ Fallowfield

Title: 31 Days of Winter

Author: CJ Fallowfield

Series: 31 Days #1

Genre: Erotica, Contemporary Romance

Release Date: December 1, 2014

***Containing sizzling scenes as well as romance, intrigue and humour, the 31 Days duology contains adult themes and is suitable for the over 18’s only***

Summary:
What would you do if everything you thought you knew about your relationship turned out to be a lie? If your boss made you dread going to work each morning, despite the fact that you enjoyed what you did? If you had a dream that you'd never followed because you were scared of change?

Ellie Baxter is a 26 year old Senior Editor in a Publishing firm, whose relationship is stagnant and she feels unfulfilled and underutilised in her career. Following a shocking discovery, her best friend convinces her to take a month out, to give her time to reassess her life. So she books a twenty-eight day retreat in a cute little boathouse, situated on an island, in the middle of a loch, in a remote part of Scotland. Her intention, to be as far away as humanly possible from any distractions.

The gorgeous caretaker of the island that she has escaped to however, instantly challenges that plan. Sexual sparks fly from the moment he picks her up from the airport. Yet while the mutual attraction is undeniable, he insists that nothing can ever happen between them, they can only be friends. As they spend more and more time together, is it a promise that he can keep? Can a man and a woman with sizzling chemistry really just be friends?

He wants to know Ellie's life story, but refuses to give away much about himself, not least where he disappears to for four hours every day. Ellie is intrigued by him, and becomes determined to break down his emotional walls, as well as tempt him into her bed. But when she finds out his secret, will she still want him?

31 Days of Summer, the conclusion, is due to be released on 26th December 2014.

Author Bio:
 I write contemporary erotic romance, with humour, which are full of emotion and plenty of drama. I am a 44 year old female from the United Kingdom and live in the wonderful countryside of Wales, surrounded by rolling hills, trees and fields full of sheep and cows. Writing aids include chocolate, Ben & Jerry’s and copious amounts of coffee, wine or cider.

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Email: cjfauthor@btinternet.com

31 Days of Winter

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31 Days of Summer

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For the Night Series:  Goodreads TBR

Strangers for the Night:  Amazon

Virgin for the Night:  Amazon US  /  Amazon UK

Filthy for the Night 12/12/14

Ménage for the Night 1/16/14

Sophisticated for the Night TBC

Biker for the Night TBC

Dominant for the Night TBC

Actor for the Night TBC

The Austin Box Series

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Intense 2 Box Set

Title: Intense 2 ( A Collection of books from some of today's bestselling authors) 

Release Date: December 1st

Format: Ebook Only and Exclusively at Amazon 

Genre: New Adult Romance

**On sale for a limited time only & at a special low price**

Summary:
One book from one bestselling author is exciting, but when you put ten all together what you get is something more.

Something Intense.

Intense 2 is a collection of ten unique stories from eight authors who bring their A game every time they sit down with a blank page. Combined together you get a limited edition read jam-packed with passionate encounters, powerful alphas, and romance that will keep you warm at night.

This is a must read for any romance reading, page turning book addict. Download it now before it’s gone!

This collection includes: 

Cambria Hebert - Text (novel)

Julie Richman - Bad Son Rising (novel)

Tijan - Brady Remington Landed Me In Jail (novel)

Ilsa Madden-Mills - Very Wicked Things (novel)

S. E.  Lund - Drake Restrained 1 (novella) / Drake Restrained 2 (novella)

Liv Morris - Love Handles Club (novella)

J.l. Mac - Reach Me (novella)

Author Kailin Gow - The Blue Room (novella) / Heat (novella)

Text by Cambria Hebert
     As I ran, something darted out from the side. I jerked, the sudden movement startling me. My stride faltered and I turned toward whatever it was, but I didn’t see it.
     It plowed into me, knocking me over, my hip taking the brunt of my fall. I grunted in pain and scrambled to get up.
     But someone pinned me down.
     I shoved at the man, and he glanced down, his eyes meeting mine. There was something cold in his blue-eyed stare. Something empty and flat.
     Panic bloomed in my chest, spiking through my body as my heart rate went wild and alarm bells started sounding in my head.
     Yes, I read the stories. Yes, I saw it on the news.
     Woman is kidnapped. Search for missing woman continues. Woman is found beaten and dead.
     But that stuff didn’t happen to me. That stuff happened to other people. Unfortunate women… women that weren’t me.
     This isn’t happening to me.
     A surge of adrenaline had me bringing up my knee and catching the man in his balls. He made a high-pitched sound and fell to the side. I scrambled up and took off, racing down the path, toward the road that intersected it. If I could make it there, I could flag down a car. I could find someone to help me.
     The earbuds had fallen out of my ears and hung around my neck, banging into my skin and reminding me that I had my phone. My phone! As I ran, my hand fumbled, trying to yank it out of the band around my arm. Finally, I managed to grasp it and I held it up in front of me, calling up the keypad and dialing.
     9-1—
     He tackled me from behind and I fell face forward, the phone tumbling out of my hands, just ahead, just out of reach. I cried out and stretched my hand toward my lifeline, desperate to finish the call.
     “You’re going to pay for that, bitch,” the gruff voice said.
     I’d never known such fear in all my life. I could barely think straight. Straight-laced dread and panic took over my body, making my limbs feel heavy and numb.
     Don’t give in, the voice inside me screamed.
     I bucked like a pony and reached forward, my hand closing over my phone. Yes! My joy was extremely short-lived when the man, who was still straddling my back, snatched it out of my hand and tossed it into the nearby creek.
     “No,” I cried, watching it swept away beneath the surface.
     “No one’s going to help you,” the voice above intoned.

Very Wicked Things by Ilsa Madden-Mills

     I got out of the shower and dressed hurriedly, anxious to get back to Cuba.

     The door opened, and like he did it every single day, he stepped inside the steamy bathroom.  

     “Think I need a shower, too,” he said, his fingers easing off his football practice shirt. 

     What? Now?

     Trying to play it cool and failing miserably, I moved my eyes off his naked chest and checked out his track pants and the obvious bulge he sported. 

     Oh. Did his lower body match the rest of him? Was it all sinewy muscle and big? 

     Just, yeah. That thought got stuck in my head and went round and round.

     “You staying?” he asked, a grin working his face. Pleased at my open admiration, probably.

     “No,” I said, but made no move to go. ‘Cause I had no shame when it came to catching a glimpse of his muscular body.

     “Good,” he said, his smile broadening.

     He pivoted to turn on the shower, and my eyes betrayed me again, admiring the muscles in his back, checking out how they twitched and rippled when he moved. Football and rowing had been good to him. My fingers itched to know how they’d feel underneath my hands. Which was stupid because we had nothing in common. Not a rich Highland Park boy and a poor girl from Ratcliffe. 

     And most importantly, he was a player, not to be trusted.

     He hooked his thumbs into his pants, paused a moment—maybe waiting to see if I’d run from the room?—but when I didn’t budge, he slid them and his underwear off. My mouth opened. Fuck me. Cuba Hudson, the most popular guy at Briarcrest was standing right in front of me, naked and beautiful. And like the cocky bastard he was, he posed for me, his big-ass muscles making me vibrate all over. Need for him slammed into me.

     Did I say he was hot? 

     Well, I was wrong. 

     He was off-the-charts, no-holds-barred, freaking going make-me-lose-my-mind-right-there delicious. The ultimate man-candy, the kind I knew to stay away from, yet here I was, ogling him.

     “Still leaving?” he asked huskily.

     “Any minute,” I said in a weak voice, backing up to the wall and propping myself up. “Just chillin’. Shower wore me out. I might need to hold this wall up for a sec.”

     “I want you to stay,” he said, eyes at half-mast, glowing with heat.

     “Why?” I said, aching to touch him. But that was crazy. I was a virgin, and I didn’t know jack about touching a guy’s you-know-what. 

     “Look at me, Dovey.”

     I tore my eyes from his manhood, blushing.

     His eyes burned. “There’s a sense of urgency in my head. Like our time is limited.”

     I nodded. Yeah, same here.

     “And, I’ll be honest, I don’t want to rush you, but I’m dying to sink into you. I want to set you on fire with need for me.” He ghosted his hands over the steel rod between his legs. Once, twice, and—holy hell, he didn’t stop. 

     My chest rose faster and faster. This was insane.

     He lowered his voice. “Kiss me again, Dovey.”

     Oh, shit. “That’s a terrible idea, Cuba. Cause you’re naked, and I’m turned on because you’re naked. And you’re touching yourself. And you’re naked.” I sucked in a sharp breath. “Not a good combo. Odds are we’ll end up in that shower together or back in your bed doing the double-backed monster.”

     “Then join me in the shower. I’ll be good. For you.” He arched his back, his hands still doing that back and forth that was driving me insane.

     Liar, liar, pants on fire, I thought. No way he would he be good. 

     Because he was the heartbreaker of Briarcrest. And one wicked boy.

Brady Remington Landed Me In Jail by Tijan

     He was different when he was with me. If we'd been at the party, he would've had the hard edgy look to him. He liked his tattoos to be seen, but I saw that he had pulled a blanket to cover the tribal tattoo on his stomach. The one on his shoulder was hiding in the shadows.

     "It's not that I don't like her. It's just that…she's one of them."

     "One of what?"

     "You know. Your girlfriends."

     "My what?"

     "Your girlfriends." I didn't think that I needed to spell it out. "She's…I don't know. She's cool and confident and…she's not the type of person that I'm friends with."

     "You're friends with me." His voice was quiet.

     The air shifted again. Here we were…I knew that I needed to tread lightly, very lightly. I met his gaze, swallowed over a knot in my throat, and felt that we were talking about something different.

     "You're different. I mean…we're not normal, Brady."

     A scowl formed at his mouth. "What are you talking about? We're not normal?"

     "You know—you're…one of them and I'm…not."

     "That is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." He threw himself off the bed and stalked towards me. "You are just like me. You are no different than me. You are no different from Clarissa."

     "Yeah, but…" I was pressed against the doorframe as Brady towered over me. "I'm not one of your girlfriends."

     His chest was in front of mine. Another step, just an inch, and we'd be pressed against each other. His gaze was glued to my lips. I kept looking from his eyes to his lips, but then I felt something strange wash over me when he murmured, throatily, "You're more than that."

     I sucked in a large breath, I couldn't let it out. I stood there, frozen in place. He skimmed the side of my face with his hand, then tucked my hair back and cupped my cheek. He moved close and slowly, so slowly, rested his forehead against mine. His breath tickled my lips. "You're my best friend, Ray."

My hands had lifted to his arms. I felt his muscles shift underneath my fingers and I clasped harder. I couldn't fall.

     "What are you doing?" The words wrangled out of my throat.

     Brady didn't answer. He closed his eyes and nuzzled his mouth against my temple. My hands slid from his arms to his shoulders and then behind his neck. One of his hands cupped the back of my neck where he applied pressure and arched my head back. The other hand skimmed the side of my robe. When his fingers spread out, the top of his thumb brushed underneath my breast.

     "Brady, I don't…" I couldn't talk anymore, but I knew there was something that I needed to say. I knew it, but…

     "Shhh." His lips touched mine. They rested there, but there was no pressure, no demand from him.

     Then his lips opened over mine. A surge of need rushed through me and I clasped him tight. Brady pushed me against the doorframe and he urged my leg to wrap around his waist. I couldn't get enough of him. It was like before, but this time it was different. I knew what would happen.

     I never thought I'd do this or be like this, but it was Brady.

Love Handles Club by Liv Morris

Bradley was down to his boxer briefs. My beautiful man. He appeared fully ready for me, filled out in all the right places, not a love handle in sight. Carved well and defined.

I’d seen him before, made love to him countless times. Granted it was years ago, and he was a man now, but tonight there was something totally different between us. All the past memories didn’t seem to count. They’d faded and felt like a lifetime ago. We were truly having a new beginning.

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The Innocent Liar by Elizabeth Finn

Title: The Innocent Liar

Author: Elizabeth Finn

Genre: Erotic Romance

Publisher: Musa Publishing

Summary:
Fiona was desperate to find a life in Jackson, Wyoming, but when a job interview that was supposed to be a sure thing turns ugly, she doubts there’s much hope of it. Eli sees through her lies, and regardless of the favor his father has asked of him, he’s just too stubborn to hire a woman who refuses to even give him her real name.

But there is a reason for everything, and he finds out soon enough her deceptions have a purpose too.
Secrets and lies are nothing to build a relationship on, but a relationship isn’t something either of them seem able to avoid. They’re simply magnets pulled together in a situation that should be driving them apart, but Eli has his own ghosts to contend with, and his past leaves him incapable of trusting a woman he can never fully know.

How can they move beyond her lies when the truth is what Eli really needs, and when her past threatens to destroy her, can he rise above his own needs to protect her—his innocent liar?

Author Bio:
Elizabeth Finn is a multi-published contemporary romance author. Her passion is creating stories packed full of angsty believable conflicts, characters who leave you rooting for them, and romance that might just short-circuit your e-reader. She likes her characters flawed and scarred, but they always find the best part of themselves on their journey, and her readers find themselves devoted to her authentic, honest and heartfelt voice.

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