Padme's Library: 05/10/18

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Retro Review Tour: The Given & the Taken by LA Witt

Title: The Given & the Taken

Author: LA Witt

Series: Tooth & Claw #1

Genre: M/M Romance, Paranormal

Release Date: March 13, 2017

Summary:
Levi finally persuaded his wolf clan to allow him to bond to Ian instead of his predestined female mate. The catch? They have to spend a year apart after the bonding ritual. Then Ian must—using only their newly-forged spiritual connection—seek Levi out, proving the bond actually worked despite Ian being human.

Now the year is over, and Levi is desperate to have Ian back in his arms, but there’s one problem—Ian’s changed. In a moment of weakness during that agonizing year apart, Ian cheated… with a vampire. Now Ian himself is a vampire, and a devastated, furious Levi wants nothing to do with him.

That is until he learns his clan wants Ian brought to justice for desecrating their most sacred ritual. If they find him, they’ll learn he’s a vampire, and kill him. Afraid for Ian’s safety, Levi rushes to find him.

Darius, the vampire who converted Ian, tries to take him someplace safe, but when Levi catches up, all hell breaks loose. Now Ian’s on the run with a dead wolf’s blood on his hands, and the only way Levi or Darius are going to get near him is to work together.

They need to get to him before the rest of the clan… assuming they don’t kill each other first.

When Levi and Ian agreed the year separation after the bonding ceremony they knew it would be difficult but they had no idea it would be as difficult and life-changing as it was. Upon reuniting, Levi finds Ian changed. Ian is now a vampire and Levi wants nothing to do with him. When he returns to his pack and learns what their plan for Ian is, Levi rushes to reach him first . When Levi finds himself having to work with Darius, the vampire who changed Ian, to save Ian's life will they reach him before they kill each other or will the attraction they feel win out? And where will that leave Ian when they find him?

WOW! There is no other word that will better describe the awesomeness of The Given and the Taken. Just brilliantly WOW! One of the things that I appreciated the most was that these men live in a world where people know about vampires and werewolves, where they are more than just myth and legend. It probably occurs more than I think but not nearly enough for my liking so when I realized that humans knew about the vamps and wolves I loved this story even more.

As for the characters, I love them all, well not the pack elders but the four main characters were just awesome. Sure I wanted to kick Levi's butt for awhile but let's be honest if we were in his shoes you know you'd be quick to judge Ian too and then have to spend the rest of the time fixing your mistake, so I can forgive him for that😉 Ian makes some mistakes but he was human after all, was being the operative word. Darius may be a deadly vampire but I found him absolutely lovely and adorable. Selena, Levi's best friend and would-be-mate if Ian hadn't come along, was honest and in-your-face, not letting Levi get away with his shoddy treatment of Ian not to mention making sure Levi and Darius don't kill each other. What a great cast of characters.

I don't do spoilers but I have to say that I found Levi's faith in the pack laws evolving from trust to despising to be very believable. Unfortunately, at some point we all lose faith in something or see what everyone else has been telling us so I was able to really connect with Levi in that instance. Just brilliantly done from beginning to end and I can't wait to read parts 2 & 3 of the Tooth & Claw trilogy.

RATING:

Author Bio:
L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell Lori A. Witt or Ann Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut…

FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE

BLOG / PERSONAL BLOG / KOBO / YAHOO

GOOGLE PLAY / B&N / SMASHWORDS

AMAZON / iTUNES / GOODREADS TBR

EMAIL : gallagherwitt@gmail.com

The Given & the Taken #1

AMAZON US / AMAZON UK / GOODREADS TBR

Series

AMAZON US / AMAZON UK / GOODREADS TBR

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May 7 - Mirrigold: Mutterings & Musings
May 8 - RAM PA Group
May 9 - Making It Happen
May 10 - Padme's Library, Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Drops Of Ink, Love Bites & Silk Ties, Wicked Reads
May 11 - Queerly Reads, Book Review By Virginia Lee

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Release Tour: What He Fears by EM Denning

Title: What He Fears

Author: EM Denning

Series: Desires #4

Genre: M/M Romance with a hint of Kink

Release Date: May 7, 2018

Publisher: Paper Gold Publishing

Summary:

For years Andrew Jefferies warred with himself; if he went so long without realizing he was bisexual, what other things are inside of him that he has yet to discover? When he lands in the arms of Nick Young, the hottest cop he’s ever seen and Andrew is determined not to let his fear hold him back anymore. But Nick is a complicated man and Andrew’s pursuit of happiness will change both their lives in ways he never dreamed possible.

Nick Young would love nothing more than to settle down with Rory, his Dom, but his need to switch has been in the way of that ever happening. When a lost, confused, and very drunk Andrew slams into his life, Nick’s inner Dom wants to help the lost soul and soon a friendship develops into something more. As a switch, Nick has always struggled to reconcile the two halves of himself, just like he struggles to reconcile his two different relationships. But Rory sees a solution through the added complication of Nick’s feelings for Andrew.

Rory Gallagher has loved Nick for years, and for years he's feared losing the man he loves. But solidifying a relationship with a switch wouldn’t be fair because Rory won’t give up top spot for anyone. When Nick confides in him about his feelings Andrew, his heart nearly breaks. He hates seeing Nick so conflicted. Rory would do anything for Nick, including enter into the most complicated relationship of his life.

“Later. I want to know later. Right now, I want to know if you’ve kissed yet?”

Andrew shook his head and glee unfurled in Nick so fast it felt like waking up and realizing that it was Christmas morning and Santa had brought him a brand new shiny toy.

Rory laughed and his hand stilled against Andrew’s chest. Nick liked the way they looked together. Andrew, with his guarded emotions and his uncertainty, and Rory with his openness and his magnetism. Nick reached down and palmed his cock. Fuck, the idea of the two of them, or the three of them together was enough to make him insane with lust, but he wanted more than sex, more than two gorgeous fuck buddies.

Once, he’d sat and asked Rory to be his one, his only, and Rory said no. And every moment after that one had been tainted with uncertainty. Then Andrew crashed into him, and Nick noticed him, and he’d have been content to be Andrew’s friend, but knowing he wanted more made him greedy, and now everything he wanted was so close he could touch it, taste it.

“Do you want to, Andrew?” He brought his hand from the back of the couch and put it on his cock. He gripped it through his pants and gave it a long, slow stroke. He watched Andrew watching him, aware that Rory watched them both.

Andrew nodded, and Nick didn’t wait for the words. The words could come later. He’d pull them out of Andrew letter by letter until he understood how this had happened. Nick looked at Rory, who wore a sly expression. Then Rory, with all his fluid grace, climbed onto Andrew’s lap. Nick wanted to pull his camera out and film this moment. He wanted to remember forever the way Rory’s fingers caressed Andrew’s cheekbones and the way Andrew’s eyelashes fluttered against his skin as he closed his eyes, then forced them open again.

Andrew bit his lip, and Rory used his thumb to tug it free gently. Impossibly, Rory leaned closer and Nick wanted to be there with them, sharing the same space, feeling their skin tremble as their lips touched for the first time.

Rory’s lips brushed against Andrew’s in a sweet, chaste way, that was so entirely satisfying in its tenderness. He paused, probably gauging Andrew’s willingness, the same way Nick was from across the room. Then Andrew’s hands slid up the outside of Rory’s legs and Rory leaned in and kissed him for real.

He wrapped his fingers around the back of Andrew’s neck and Nick watched Andrew’s lips part. A flash of tongue, then another. Then Rory pulled away. He smiled sweetly at Andrew as he ran his index finger down the slope of Andrew’s nose. “I’d like to do that again.” Rory slid off Andrew’s lap and nestled in next to him. He held onto Andrew’s bicep and pulled his feet up onto the couch next to him and leaned against him. “But first I think we have some explaining to do.” Rory glanced at the spot next to Andrew. “Sit, Nicky. I’ll explain for Andrew, he’s done a lot of talking today.”

What He Needs #1

Summary:

A Disillusioned Dom

A Devastated Sub

When Craig walks into the first kink club he’s been in for months, the last thing he expects to see is his former Dom, Tim, wearing a collar. If learning his ex is a switch isn’t shocking enough, Craig quickly finds himself on the wrong side of his ex's Dom. When the reunion turns ugly, another Dom swoops in and saves the day, and Craig is too shaken to argue when the sweet Dom steps in and takes care of him.

Alan noticed the boy the minute he walked into his club. It was hard not to. He was beautiful, sad, and fully clothed. Once the boy is in Alan’s arms he knows he doesn’t want to let him go, maybe ever. He worries that even though his hardcore Dom days are behind him, his experience will scare Craig and he’ll lose the chance to have something real with him.

Their relationship quickly heats up, but Craig can’t stop wondering if an inexperienced sub will be enough for a seasoned Dom in the long run.

What He Craves #2

Summary:

Matt Simpson is notorious for his bad decisions. From his rocky teenage years to his tumultuous early twenties, he's made a lot of mistakes. His latest, greatest, and perhaps stupidest of them all was his recent pursuit of his boss, the unattainable Steve Paulson. Desperate to make the man notice him, and knowing Steve would never get involved with an employee, Matt quits his job.

Unfortunately, Steve still won’t touch him. To make matters worse, his new job falls through and his older brother won’t hire him. Matt can’t bear to ask Steve for help, and soon he finds himself out of money and out of options. When Steve finds him living in his car and demands that he go home with him, Matt obeys, but living with the man he's wanted for two years proves to be frustrating as well as explosively hot. As Matt begins to explore his submissive side under Steve's firm guidance, his insecurities haunt him. What does a homeless, jobless kid with a string of failures behind him have to offer, even if Steve did want him for more than a brief fling?

What He Hides #3

Summary:

Everett Butcher is a successful vlogger with a secret. By day, he’s The Crock Cock, the internet’s hottest, gayest, and most naked chef. By night, he’s ConcealedandCuffed, a secret submissive who bends to the random whims that hit his inbox. To protect his identity and his career, Everett is careful to never show his face and to never play with the same guy twice. But Everett is tired of online submission. It only reminds him he has no one. When Puck1730 messages him, his world flips upside down.

Xavier Jeffries knows he’s playing a dangerous game, but when he discovered his big brother’s best friend’s secret submissive blog, his inner Dom reared his head and he knew he had to have him. He’s been in love with Everett for years and he feels like it’s now or never. But will Everett forgive him for the dubious way he initiated a relationship?

As the big, in person, reveal looms on the horizon, both men are on edge. Will their online playtime translate into real life chemistry and will Everett forgive Xavier when he discovers it was him the whole time?

Author Bio:

E. M. Denning is a writer from British Columbia. She loves her family and her animals and anything cute and fuzzy. She was born a hopeless romantic and when she’s not writing romance, she’s probably reading it. She loves love.