Tuesday, April 30, 2019

April Book of the Month: Snow Storm by Davidson King


Summary:
The city of Haven Hart rests under the heel of Christopher Manos. He reigns over the most dangerous and deadliest citizens as the most powerful crime boss the city has seen in generations. Yet, for the last five years, the harshest edges of his nature have been tempered by the loving devotion of his husband, Snow, and the nephew Christopher adores like a son. His life is a balance of darkness and light until a birthday trip for his nephew, Simon, is interrupted by a hail of bullets and explosions, threatening to destroy it all.

Snow has found a home, a family, and the love of one of Haven Hart’s most powerful men. When Christopher and Simon are kidnapped, Snow risks everything to find his family. Utilizing specialized skills he learned on the streets and the finer points of running a city from his crime boss husband, Snow takes on roles he never dreamed he would--protector, leader, and avenger. No one threatens his family and lives. Experienced enough to know he can’t do this alone, Snow calls in every favor he is owed, risking his life promising favors in return, all to save his family and the man he loves.

The sins of the Manos crime family are escaping the dark recesses of the past and threatening the bright future of everything Snow and Christopher have built. Yet, even with the help of some unlikely and uniquely dangerous people, Snow finds himself wondering if their efforts will be enough to save the two most important people in his life. Will the loving family Snow has finally found be taken from him forever?


Never underestimate Snow.  The mother nature kind looks light and fluffy but can be anything but, well Davidson King's Snow on the surface is light, fluffy, and a bit of pushover(at least what a certain bad guy thinks) but just like Mother Nature's white stuff, Snow Manos can be deadly.  Let's be honest, there are times when its best if we get underestimated and Snow Storm is a prime example of just that.  Never threaten the Manos family, Snow may not be the head of the family but he is the head's husband and that makes him even more of a danger to cross.

Not sure which factor I loved most: Snow being underestimated or that Christopher knows his husband so perfectly he knew exactly what to say to him on the phone to get the ball rolling?  Talk about a perfect pair and its this knowledge and chemistry that will always put Snow and Christopher on the top of my favorite Haven Hart couples.

Snow is such an amazingly creative fun, flirty, and fabulous character which in my honest opinion defines exactly what Haven Hart is all about, both the city and the series.  Don't get me wrong, Haven Hart Universe is not all rainbows and unicorns kind of rom-com happy happy.  Oh no, it is anything but because there is danger always lurking and Snow Storm is the best example of that because Snow Manos brings happiness to everyone he meets but its not all he brings to the table.  With this series entry you realize that he really is what brings everyone together, he is the cement that makes the bricks into a home, he is the Force that binds the Jedi together, and he is the love that makes the Manos and Black Organizations family(even if neither Christopher nor Black want to admit that is what they've become since meeting Snow😉😉).

Speaking of Christopher, he is just as dangerously yummy as always.  His love for his nephew, Simon, has been blatantly obvious from the very minute Simon brought Snow home with him way back in book 1, Snow Falling, and if you hadn't already noticed that Christopher has become more than just a father figure you will clearly see he(and Snow) have become dads to the growing boy.  I already mentioned how perfectly attuned Christopher is with Snow by knowing what clues to give his husband to help find them so I'll just add that they may be well established couple but their passion for each other is still off the charts that will fry your e-reader if you're not careful.

As for the secondary characters, well has there ever really been any "secondary" characters in this series?  No because they all serve a purpose whether they get their own story or not, not a single one can be labeled "page filler", each one brings a needed element to the journey.  It is always nice to see where other couples are once they've had their story begun, the author letting her readers know there is still life after they get their HEA.

Snow Storm once again showcases Davidson King's knack for storytelling, not just a writer but a true storyteller.  She creates not only characters to read and plots to unravel but a whole community to discover and experience.  If you haven't been reading Haven Hart Universe yet, I highly recommend doing so because you are certainly missing out on quite a ride.

One final note: if you are wondering if this is a series best read in order than I have to say yes.  Sure each one features a new couple, well Snow Storm revisits Snow & Christopher from book 1 but each entry does have its own central plot so I suppose technically each one is a standalone but I have to recommend reading in order.  The characters, the friendships, the favors Snow cashes in, these factors just flow better knowing each pairings' journey.  If reading 5 books seems daunting, don't worry because the time will fly by and before you know it, you'll be kicking yourself for not savoring the moments but you just get so sucked in that you can't put them down.  I should probably add that for the first time EVER, I did a re-read in less than 2 weeks after my initial read and if that doesn't express how amazing Snow Storm is then I'm not sure what does.

RATING:


Christopher
“You settled that perfectly.” His voice was like a purr, and suddenly, I realized I was going to be very late for my meeting. “It’s like you’re some boss or something, making the hard calls.” He said the word hard with a moan and I knew if I turned around, he’d be stripping off his clothes.

“Snow…” I tried for a warning tone, but it was Snow. He couldn’t be deterred.

“You’re already going to be late.” His hands pressed against my back. “And you’re already going to be naked in a second.” He reached around my waist and began pulling my belt buckle.

“What’s a little more lateness, hmm?”

Resistance was futile, so I turned in his arms and smiled at the cheeky, adorable man I loved more than the air I breathed.

“You argue a good case, Mr. Manos, so make me later.”

He chuckled as he pushed me onto the bed, straddling me in all his flour and sugar-covered glory.

I relished in the feel of his mouth over my heated skin, his tongue gliding along my flesh like a paint brush. With my shirt open and my cock freed from the confines of my pants, I moaned as he made me later.





Author Bio:
Davidson King, always had a hope that someday her daydreams would become real-life stories. As a child, you would often find her in her own world, thinking up the most insane situations. It may have taken her awhile, but she made her dream come true with her first published work, Snow Falling.

When she's not writing you can find her blogging away on Diverse Reader, her review and promotional site. She managed to wrangle herself a husband who matched her crazy and they hatched three wonderful children.

If you were to ask her what gave her the courage to finally publish, she'd tell you it was her amazing family and friends. Support is vital in all things and when you're afraid of your dreams, it will be your cheering section that will lift you up.


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EMAIL: davidsonkingauthor@yahoo.com



Snow Storm #5

Series

Blog Tour: Sweating Lies by Emma Jaye

Title: Sweating Lies
Author: Emma Jaye
Series: Criminal Delights: Taken
Genre: M/M Romance, Thriller, Dark
Release Date: April 28, 2019
Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Summary:
“Gladiator or toy?” Kaspar asks, as if it’s the easiest choice in the world.

It might be an easy answer for someone branded, brainwashed, and who remembers no other life. But that’s not me, not yet anyway. I’m a cop—or at least I was until my cover got blown.

Now, I’m one of the trafficked people I vowed to save.

Kaspar’s a toy —a pleasure slave— content to warm our sadistic owner’s bed; he laps up the abuse he’s conditioned to associate with affection.

He’s my only way out. To gain our freedom, I must play the hardest undercover role of my career and be everything his fractured mind needs: a more controlling bastard than the man who turns people into grateful slaves for a living.

Officer Jiao Sweatt thinks I’m a victim.
He has a lot to learn.
And it’ll hurt.

*****

This book is part of CRIMINAL DELIGHTS. Each novel can be read as a standalone and contains a dark M/M romance.

Warning: These books are for adult readers who enjoy stories where lines between right and wrong get blurry. High heat, twisted and tantalizing, these are not for the fainthearted.


He accepted, absorbed, and floated in the serenity of obedience. His physical pain became walled up in a corner of his mind. The only thing that mattered was his master’s will.

“Fuck, I didn’t see you down there. Why didn’t you say something?”

“It’s not my place to disturb my master.”

Jiao frowned. “Don’t call me that. I’m nobody’s master, and you’re nobody’s slave, Kaspar. Come on, up you get. You don’t have to kneel to me.”

Kaspar didn’t move. He didn’t know if he could get up, but they needed to establish something first.

“I do have a master, and right now, it’s you.” He handed Officer Sweatt the Chorbaji’s note. He hoped Officer Sweatt wouldn’t mind that it was a little damp and crumpled from being in his hand all this time.

Jiao glanced at it and scowled. “Well then, as your master, I order you not to kneel to me.”

Kaspar didn’t resist smiling. A pet’s duty was to adapt to his master’s needs. Officer Sweatt clearly liked teasing, playfulness, that he could do.

“That’s going to make blow jobs a little uncomfortable, but–”

“You don’t have to do that either; now get up and talk to me like a man.”

“Can’t men kneel?”

“Just get up, will you? You make me feel uncomfortable.”

That got him moving. Making your master uncomfortable, unless it was to entice him to pleasure, was not good pet behavior. He tried for his normal graceful, hands-free stand, but ended up on his ass; his sore, bruised, battered, and cut ass. Rolling to his side he sucked in a breath, trying to contain the bright flare of pain while expected a kick for his lack of grace.

“Shit, how long were you down there? Never mind.”

With surprising strength, his new master lifted him to his feet, one hand on his bicep, one across his chest, under the brands, and helped him limp across to the bed. He climbed up and lay on his side, head resting on one fist while he balanced himself with the other in front of him. He hoped he looked at least a little enticing. Flirty and playful, that’s what had put a smile on his new master’s face in the gym.

“You’ve been on a drip.” Jiao nodded toward the small cotton ball taped to his inner arm.

“Not a lot gets past you, does it, Ma–” he paused at Jiao’s frown. “Well, what would you like me to call you? Sir? Officer Sweatt? Chief? Boss? Please, don’t say Daddy, anything but–”

“Would you shut up?”

Kaspar’s mouth snapped shut. At least he’d got him to give an order.
A hand pushed through the inky black hair. “Look, Jiao is fine. I got called ‘Sweaty’ enough as a kid never want to hear ‘Sweatt’ again.”

Kaspar frowned. “I’d never call you that, and your first name hardly seems respectful. I–”

“This is important to you, isn’t it?”

Kaspar’s frown deepened. Understanding this new master was a challenge. “Of course it is. The higher the status of my mas–” he paused, grinning “–special friend, the higher I–.”

As he spoke, his new master grabbed a bathrobe from the back of the bathroom door and draped it over him.

Humiliation hammered. He dropped his forehead to the mattress. He was useless, unworthy, and unwanted. He disgusted this man he had been instructed to please. His failures swirled and thickened in his mind like fog.

You deserved what Azur did to you; he should have finished it. Put you down like a useless old dog.




What is the biggest influence/interest that brought you to this genre?
I started off writing m/f then read an m/m. The lack of ‘female society baggage’ really interested me, as did the range of dynamics possible. With an m/f it's 95% given who will be the protector/savior and who will be the more emotional/protected character.

With m/m anything is possible. Plus for some reason, I find I can be far more cruel to male characters!

When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process (outline, plot, character names, editing, etc.)?
I love the way the characters evolve as I write. I only ever have a vague idea about how the story will go when I start writing, but as I put the characters in different situations, they evolve too, and I often have to go back and make sure I keep things consistent.

When reading a book, what genre do you find most interesting/intriguing?
I like high stakes for the couple, but not necessarily ‘world impacting stakes’. Hurt/ comfort, with horrible/stressful things happening to one or both main characters, but never violence between the couple, other than a little therapeutic BDSM on occasion. As for the setting, I don’t really care, I like contemporary, sci-fi, paranormal and fantasy.

If you could co-author with any author, past or present, who would you choose?
Hmm. Tough one. The practicalities of writing can make co-authoring tricky, with most authors having very individual processes and speeds for creation. I do however LOVE knocking ideas around with my author pals, particularly Nero Seal.

Have you always wanted to write or did it come to you "later in life"?
I’ve always made up stories in my head during those wonderful minutes before falling asleep at night. I began my writing career with academic writing before saying ‘f***k it, fiction is far more fun!’ The invention of eReaders has revolutionized the publishing and reading experience the world over. People can now read in just a huge mind-boggling array of genres that would NEVER have been available when only traditional publishers existed.

Author Bio:
I have a reputation for writing dark, angst filled stories in a swathe of genres, from Sci-fi and paranormal, to contemporary romance and erotica with m/f, m/m and multiple partners. I blame my rebellious muse (who looks like Chris from the Paint Series) for the erotic aspects tickling the angst, and the humour cuddling up with the erotic. You’ll find all this and more in my books!  No matter the genre, I can promise different characters, dark themes, steamin’ sex, laughs and a HEA or HFN.

When I’m notwriting or reading, in leafy Sussex, England, I herd Birman cats and sons. Both groups argue that the other is too large.


FACEBOOK  /  TWITTER  /  WEBSITE



Sweating Lies

Criminal Delights Series
AMAZON US  /  AMAZON UK
WEBSITE  /  GOODREADS TBR

Brought to you by:

Release Blitz: Wounded Soul by Annabelle Jacobs

Title: Wounded Soul
Author: Annabelle Jacobs
Genre: M/M Romance, Paranormal, Vampire
Release Date: April 29, 2019
Cover Design: Garrett Leigh at Black Jazz Design

Summary:
One night can change everything…

Jesse Sykes has lived far longer than his youthful appearance suggests. Becoming a vampire after tragedy struck seemed the only option when his soul was shattered, after all he’s no stranger to having to hide what he is from the rest of the world. But eternal life isn’t without problems or heartache.

With a good job and great friends, Ian Moreton’s life would be almost perfect—if only he wasn’t in love with his best friend. His feelings are unrequited, and in an effort to move on, he takes a chance on a one-night stand with the handsome stranger he meets in a bar.

Jesse knows the risks of becoming attached to a human, but with neither of them looking for anything serious, where’s the harm? At least, that’s what Jesse thinks until his chemistry with Ian proves off the charts.

A second hook-up solidifies their connection…and brings Jesse to his senses. He scrambles to protect Ian from danger, but it’s already too late. With Ian unwittingly drawn into a world he knows nothing about, events are set in motion that will change both of their lives forever, and it’s up to Jesse to steer them safely through it.


Author Bio:
Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They're usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.


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Monday, April 29, 2019

Monday's Mystical Magic: Hexhunter by Jordan L Hawk


Summary:
Detective Bill Quigley fell in love with the familiar Isaac the night they met. But after more than two years, it’s time to admit to himself that Isaac doesn’t return his feelings.

Isaac knows he’s too broken by his experiences for anyone to fall in love with. Especially someone like Bill, who deserves a partner unplagued by Isaac’s nightmares and doubts.

When children go missing from an orphanage, Bill and Isaac must work together to find them. And as years of yearning threaten to ignite into passion, they must decide once and for all whether to take a chance on love.


I'm going to start by saying I knew when we first met Isaac wayback when, I knew his story would pull at our heartstrings and Jordan L Hawk did not disappoint.  I just wanted to wrap Isaac up in a huge Mama Bear hug worthy of bubblewrap-used-for-delivery protection.  As for Bill, carrying a torch for two years knowing Isaac had to be the one to make the first move had to be excruciating and when he finally makes the decision to extinguish the flames determined to be Isaac's friend, you could hear his heart breaking.  We all know the author isn't going to leave the reader hanging there but for how the two turn out you'll have to read for yourself, trust me you won't be disappointed.

As for the mystery of the missing children, nothing is more heartbreaking than crimes against the young and Jordan L Hawk has given the story it's proper timing.  Asking yourself "what the heck does that mean?"  Well, it means that Hexhunter is a perfect blend of mystery and romance, paranormal and lust, magic and crime, good and evil, and most importantly friendship and heart that helps bond the reader and character.  There's no surprise that the crime will make you mad but the "solving" of it will make you smile for obvious reasons but for me, I found myself even more invested in watching Isaac grow and realize being in familiar form didn't have to be the negative experience as it once was.  That element was one of my favorite moments of the book, possibly the whole series. 

Now, I know some of you are thinking "Oh, she just gave away a big story point" and perhaps that's a bit true but for me, the real story, the adrenaline rush, the can't-put-it-down feeling isn't about the end result, it's about the journey the characters are on getting from point A to point Z.  Bill and Isaac quickly became my second favorite couple in the Hexworld series, coming in close behind Dom and Rook who we met in the introduction novella, The 13th Hex.  I've loved all the couples but there's just something special about these guys that put them above the rest.

One last note: if you want to know whether Hexworld needs to be read in order or you can start with Bill and Isaac's story, Hexhunter, my advice is to read the series in order.  The individual cases don't really overlap or carryover but for me, the friendships, camaraderie, bickering, and humor flow better having known the other pairings' journeys as well.  You won't be lost if you start with Hexhunter because any plot points that do carry over are quickly recapped but as I said the connections between the characters just meshed better.  However you choose to read this series, I can't recommend doing so enough because the Hexworld universe is attention grabbing and highly addictive, a true reading gem.

RATING:



Saturday's Series Spotlight
Hexworld
Part 1  /  Part 2

Monday's Mystical Magic

Saturday's Series Spotlight
The Pride



Author Bio:
Jordan L. Hawk is a non-binary queer author from North Carolina. Childhood tales of mountain ghosts and mysterious creatures gave them a life-long love of things that go bump in the night. When they aren’t writing, they brew their own beer and try to keep the cats from destroying the house. Their best-selling Whyborne & Griffin series (beginning with Widdershins) can be found in print, ebook, and audiobook.


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EMAIL: jordanlhawk@gmail.com 



Hexhunter #4

Series

The 13th Hex #.5
B&N  /  KOBO  /  SMASHWORDS

A Christmas Hex #2.5
B&N  /  KOBO  /  iTUNES AUDIO

Wild Wild Hex #3.5