Tuesday, December 3, 2019

Random Tales of Christmas 2019 Part 2


A Soldier's Wish by NR Walker
Summary:
The Christmas Angel #5
The year is 1969…

Gary Fairchild is proud to be a hippie college student, and he protests the Vietnam War because he believes in love and peace. To him, it isn’t just a counterculture movement—it’s a way of life. When tickets to the Aquarium Exposition—3 Days of Peace & Music, or Woodstock, as it was better known, go on sale, there’s no way he isn’t going.

Richard Ronsman is a sheltered farm boy who lives in the shadow of his overbearing father. He’s hidden his darkest secret to earn his father’s love, but nothing is ever good enough—not even volunteering for the Vietnam War. And with just a few days left before he’s deployed, he’s invited by a striking hippie to join him at a music festival.

Three days of music, drugs, rain, mud, and love forged a bond between these two very different men that would shape the rest of their lives. They share dreams and fears, and when Richard is shipped off to war, they share letters and love. For Richard’s first Christmas home, he is gifted a special angel ornament that just might make a soldier’s wish come true.

This story is one of seven stories which can all be read and enjoyed in any order.

Original Review January 2019:
I have to be honest and say I generally don't seek out stories told in the 60s & 70s, maybe its because I was born in 1973 so that time frame isn't old enough to be "historical" and yet its not really new enough to be "present day" either.  Don't get me wrong, I don't not read that era if a book that sounds interesting comes along but I just don't go looking for it.  So my decision to read A Soldier's Wish  was partly the intriguing way the series is connected by a Christmas angel ornament but mostly the author.  NR Walker has never let me down before and she didn't here either.

For some Richard and Gary's insta-connection might seem farfetched or reaching but I loved it.  Insta-love is not for everyone and I'm the first to admit that sometimes it just doesn't work for the characters or setting but that's not true here.  Nope, A Soldier's Wish is well written and completely believable that two people who on the surface are polar opposites but given the right atmosphere you realize that they are only perfect for each other.  I really loved how the author used letters and visits to advance the story, giving the boys a piece of each other even when physicality and location wasn't exactly on their side.  The letters especially warmed the heart.

As with my reviews for the other entries in The Christmas Angel series, each book is a standalone and can be read in any order.  I still highly recommend reading Eli Easton's Christmas Angel first though because I know I would be a bit distracted wondering about the angel's origins and that would take away from completely enjoying the entry I was reading.  However, that is just my personal opinion and no matter what order you read this series it is most certainly not one you want to miss.

RATING: 

717 Miles Christmas Special by Sophia Soames
Summary:
717 Miles Novella
I promised myself many years ago that I would never set foot in London again.

I promised. Adam promised. I said I wouldn't. He said I would never have to.

Yet here we are again, and life has become quite surreal. This is us, a good few years later, older and wiser with more baggage than the baggage belt at Heathrow.

And now it is Christmas and Adam is working too much and I have far too much time to think about things that shouldn't really matter. Or maybe they should?

717 miles Christmas Special is a short novella to follow on from 717 miles, the novel, and should not be read as a standalone.

A Christmas Wedding by AE Ryecart
Summary:
Rory & Jack #3
Christmas. A Wedding. Family. It's the Perfect Storm...

For Rory Kincaid marrying Jack, the youngest son of the aristocratic De Lacy family, on Christmas Eve, is a dream come true. Handing over the wedding planning to Jack’s mother, the strong-willed Lady Diana, is turning out to be more of a nightmare.

As their big day approaches, the pressure’s on and the strain is beginning to show. Announcements in society magazines, a guest list that’s growing and growing, and fittings for the best bespoke tailoring in London, it’s all a far cry from Rory’s humble upbringing. Piece by piece, Rory and Jack’s dream of a simple winter wedding is fading fast.

Rory is Jack’s everything. Sweet, kind, and totally adorable, Rory is all Jack has ever wanted. And what Jack wants most of all is to give the man he loves the wedding day of his dreams — and that means taking a stand against the indomitable Diana.

***Warning: this story contains two gorgeous men, a mountain of mince pies and cupcakes, a punk rocker Christmas fairy called Bunty, and a snowy Christmas Wedding.***

New York Christmas by RJ Scott
Summary:
Christmas, and the man of his fantasies is back in Chris's life.

It's been far too long since Christian Matthews has seen Daniel Bailey. In fact the last time they met Chris was a senior in college and he was the TA tasked with helping Daniel who was a way too confident freshman.

Some years down the road, Chris is licking his wounds after being asked to leave the private school where he was teaching. He has no job, no money, and has to rely on his friend Amelia for the job and a room to live in. He needs a freaking Christmas miracle to make this Season anything other than a total loss.

Then Daniel comes back into his life and suddenly everything seems possible. Not only is Daniel still the man Christian wants more than anything, but this time Chris may well actually tell Daniel how he feels.

Audiobook Review September 2019:
My original review from 5 years ago is short and to the point.  Well, guess what?  Short and to the point states it perfectly.  I haven't re-read New York Christmas since, not because I didn't enjoy it, not because I didn't take the time, but because it was a holiday story and unfortunately I just have too many Christmas tales to read each year that I tend to not re-visit no matter how much I loved it the first time.  One of these years I will do a Re-Read Christmas in July Edition but until then, audiobooks make for a great chance to experience the magic again.

So the only thing I really have to add to this story is the narration.  Once again Sean Crisden brings to life the amazing-ness of RJ Scott's words.  Could another narrator do just as good a job?  Probably but at this time I can't imagine any other voice other than Crisden's.  New York Christmas is a bit sugary sweet(perhaps for some too much so) but if you can't have sugary sweet romance for Christmas then when can you?  This is a story of romance, friendship, discovery, all wrapped up in a lovely Christmas bow and Sean Crisden resonates that with every word.

Original Review January 2015:
We all have that one person we wonder about, "the one who got away" or more precisely "the one who never was but always wanted and wondered about."  Well this story is exactly that.  And perfectly done, in my opinion.  You can't help but love both Chris and Daniel and cheer them on from page one.

RATING:

Mr. Frosty Pants by Leta Blake
Summary:
Home for the Holidays #1
Can true love warm his frozen heart?

When Casey Stevens went away to college four years ago, he ghosted on his straight best friend, Joel Vreeland. He hoped time and distance would lessen the unrequited affection he felt, but all it did was make him miss Joel more. Home for the holidays, Casey hopes they might find a way to be friends again. But Joel’s frosty reception reminds Casey of just how hard he had to fight to be Joel’s friend in the first place. It’s going to take a Christmas miracle to get past that cool façade again.

Joel isn’t as straight as Casey believes, and his years of pining for Casey have left him hurting and alone, caring for his abusive father and struggling to get by. Unable to trust anyone except his rescue dog—and with no reason to believe Casey is interested in him for more than a holiday fling—Joel’s icy heart might shatter before it can thaw.

Can Casey and Joel’s love overcome mistrust, parental rejection, class differences, and four long years apart? Mr. Frosty Pants is a stand-alone, Christmas gay romance by Leta Blake featuring a virgin hero, childhood friends-to-lovers, second chance romance, and steamy mm first times.

Click to Check Out Previous
Random Tales of Christmas 2019

Part 1  /  Part 3  /  Part 4  /  Part 5
Part 6  /  Part 7  /  Part 8  /  Part 9
Part 10  /  Part 11  /  Part 12



A Christmas Wedding by AE Ryecart
“Where are we going? The Tube station’s that way.” Rory nodded in the direction they were coming from.

“We’re not going home, or not just yet.”

“Oh? I thought we were going to decorate our living room, drink lots of advocaat, and then get naked on the rug.”

Jack threw back his head and laughed. “That sounds like a plan, but there’s something I want to do first.”

“You mean something is more important than naked advocaat?”

Jack just smiled in response. There wasn’t a lot that was more important than naked advocaat, but what they were about to do next just about topped it.

The tiny street would be so easy to miss in the messy and higgledy-piggledy maze that was the City of London.

“Jack? What—?”

Jack pressed his fingertips to Rory’s lips and gazed into Rory’s questioning, confused eyes.

“Just go with me on this, okay?”

Jack pushed the door open, and he and Rory stepped into another time.
The shop was crammed with tall and narrow display cabinets, all of them holding a treasure of watches. Behind the counter, in a corner and almost hidden, sat a small, round, bald-headed man. A pair of glasses perched on the end of his nose, and another was wedged on the top of his head as he worked on the mechanism of a pocket watch, using what looked like a set of toy tools.

“Mr. De Lacy.” The man put aside his work, stood up and extended his hand to Jack.

“Mr. Hogarth. Let me introduce Rory Kincaid, my fiancé.”

Jack moved aside to allow Rory to shake Mr. Hogarth’s hand. Jack smiled; in a moment everything would be revealed.

“Let me bring your order.” Mr. Hogarth disappeared into a back room.

“Jack, I don’t understand. What’s going on?”

Before Jack could answer, Mr. Hogarth returned bearing a small black box, which he handed over to Jack.

“Please.” Mr. Hogarth gestured to a small table and a couple of chairs on the other side of the shop, in the only space not taken up with display cabinets, before he returned to his place once more behind the counter and took up his work as though he were alone.

“I want you to have this,” Jack said, opening the box as soon as he and Rory were seated.

“What?” Rory gaped at the watch, displayed on a pad of black velvet. “But we agreed a strict ten-pound budget, just something silly this year. I haven’t—”

“No, it’s not a Christmas present.”

“Then what—? I don’t understand.”

Jack took the watch out of the box. Like his own, it was plain and unadorned. The black Roman numerals were stark against the white face; the casing was gold, deep and burnished.

“When I was twenty-one, my father presented me with a watch from this shop. He did the same for George,” Jack said, referring to his elder brother. “My father also had a watch on his twenty-first birthday, as did my grandfather, great-grandfather, and great-great-grandfather. The De Lacy men have had watches in one form or another from Hogarth’s since the late eighteenth century. All those watches came from here, from this very shop.” Jack glanced toward the counter, but Mr. Hogarth had gone and was now nowhere to be seen.

“This isn’t a Christmas present, Ro. This is something every De Lacy man receives. And I wanted you to have one, too, because that’s what you’re on the point of becoming: a De Lacy man.” Jack’s lips lifted in a wry smile. “I didn’t know you when you turned twenty-one, although I wish I did. I’m just making up for lost time. On Christmas Eve, you’re going to take my name. I want you to be wearing this watch when you do.”

“Jack, I–I don’t know what to say.”

“Then don’t say anything. Just accept it, along with the words I had engraved.”

Jack held the watch out. All his focus was on his fiancé, reading for the first time the words engraved not only on the watch but on Jack’s heart.
Love, always and forever.

Four simple words which said everything Jack held deep inside about the man he’d found huddled on his doorstep just two Christmases before.


NR Walker
N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn't have it any other way.

She is many things; a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things...but likes it even more when they fall in love. She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since...

Sophia Soames
Sophia Soames should be old enough to know better but has barely grown up. She has been known to fangirl over tv-shows, has fallen in and out of love with more popstars than she dares to remember, and has a ridiculously high-flying (un-)glamourous real-life job.

Her long-suffering husband just laughs at her antics. Their children are feral. The Au Pair just sighs.

She lives in a creaky old house in rural London, although her heart is still in Scandinavia.

Discovering that the stories in her head make sense when written down has been part of the most hilarious midlife crisis ever and she hopes it may long continue.

AE Ryecart
I love all kinds of MM romance and gay fiction, but I especially like contemporary stories. Born and raised in London, the city is part of my DNA so I like to set many of my stories in and around present-day London, providing the perfect, metropolitan backdrop to the main action. I write at home, in the gym, in cafés —in fact I write any place I can find a good coffee!

RJ Scott
USA Today bestselling author RJ Scott writes stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, a happily ever after.

RJ Scott is the author of over one hundred romance books, writing emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men who get mixed up in their lives. RJ is known for writing books that always end with a happy ever after. She lives just outside London and spends every waking minute she isn’t with family either reading or writing.

The last time she had a week’s break from writing she didn’t like it one little bit, and she has yet to meet a bottle of wine she couldn’t defeat.

She’s always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers and other writers. Please contact via the links below.


Leta Blake
Author of the bestselling book Smoky Mountain Dreams and the fan favorite Training Season, Leta Blake’s educational and professional background is in psychology and finance, respectively. However, her passion has always been for writing. She enjoys crafting romance stories and exploring the psyches of made up people. At home in the Southern U.S., Leta works hard at achieving balance between her day job, her writing, and her family.


NR Walker
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Sophia Soames
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AE Ryecart
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A Soldier's Wish by N.R. Walker

717 Miles Christmas Special by Sophia Soames
A Christmas Wedding by AE Ryecart

New York Christmas by RJ Scott
AMAZON US  /  AMAZON UK  /  AUDIBLE

Mr. Frosty Pants by Leta Blake

Blog Tour: Unfettered by Kate Hawthorne

Title: Unfettered
Author: Kate Hawthorne
Genre: M/M Romance, Adult, BDSM
Release Date: November 21, 2019

Summary:
How can Heath find happiness again when he's terrified of the things he loves?

After a reckless scene gone wrong, Heath is floating alone though life, unable to trust anyone enough give up control. Everything changes when he accepts a dinner invitation from a handsome younger man.

Beau is a twenty-four year old student with a strong personality who he knows exactly what he wants in life. And right now, he wants Heath. It doesn't matter that Heath has a traumatic past, and it definitely doesn't matter when they find out Heath is one of his professors.

The reemergence of someone Heath used to know sends their relationship into a tailspin, and leaves Beau questioning everything he thought he knew about himself. To save his relationship with Heath, he has to turn to the support system he's never had before...his long lost brothers.

Heath has finally rediscovered the liberation in restraint, but now Beau needs to find the freedom promised from being truly unfettered.


“Come on.” Heath clapped his hands together twice and pointed toward the door. “Go get your books and come back, then we’ll get started.”

Everyone filed out, leaving him alone with Beau and a heavy and awkward silence.

“You never said you were a student,” Heath whispered, resting his ass against the corner of the desk. Beau didn’t move from his seat near the door.

“You didn’t ask.”

“I didn’t think to.”

In reply, Beau smiled.

“We obviously can’t see each other anymore.” Heath turned his back to Beau and stared at the trails of chalk dust that arced across the blackboard.

“We’re actually going to see each other every Tuesday and Thursday from eight to ten.” A chair screeched across the floor and Heath didn’t dare turn around to look.

“I mean like last night. Tonight.”

“Why not?” Beau’s words were hot against his ear and his fingers gentle against Heath’s waist.

“It’s improper.”

“But I want to see you.” Beau turned his head just so, so that his lips dragged across the shell of Heath’s ear.

“I could lose my job. You could get expelled.”

“We’ll have to be careful,” Beau whispered. He stepped closer to Heath until the fabric of their shirts rubbed together. “Don’t you want to see where this can go?”

Beau’s hands slipped around to Heath’s stomach and up toward his chest. His fingers were splayed wide and he brushed the tips of his fingers against Heath’s bottom lip.

“We can’t,” Heath pleaded.

This was awful. What had he done to deserve such a cruel twist of fate? Finally finding someone capable of pulling him out of his post-Mac funk and it was a student? He groaned, and Beau’s finger slipped through the part of his lips.

“I can do whatever I please,” Beau promised. “And I’ll be by at seven to pick you up. I hope that you’ll be ready.”





What is the biggest influence/interest that brought you to this genre?
Years ago, the almighty Amazon led me down the path to reading gay romance, which I didn't even know was a thing to be honest. It was a refreshing change from MF romance, but there was still a lack of BDSM books available in KU, which is what I was most interested in reading. My decision to begin publishing MM was driven solely from my desire to share the kind of content that I couldn't find on my own.

When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process(outline, plot, character names, editing, etc)?
I am a total pantser, so I don't know anything about outlines! Haha. My favorite part is getting to know my characters. I always have a general idea of how I think things are going to go, and sometimes the book goes according to plan and sometimes it doesn't. I really enjoy learning about the people I'm writing about.

When reading a book, what genre do you find most interesting/intriguing?
I really enjoy historical romance, especially if it's a little anachronistic. I'm just reading the occasional paranormal, too, because I love seeing what sorts of worlds authors create when they're given that flexibility.

If you could co-author with any author, past or present, who would you choose?
Aaah! I write with my best friend EM Denning, and she's wonderful and I'm spoiled by how easy it is to write with her. I have a couple other collaborations coming in 2020 with authors off the dream list, but I can't spoil that yet.

Have you always wanted to write or did it come to you "later in life"?

It's something I really loved as a child, but not something I was told I could make a career out of, so I never pursued it. I've been writing for as long as I can remember, but publishing is something relatively new to me, but I can't imagine going back now.

Author Bio:
Born and raised in Southern California, Kate Hawthorne woke up one day and realized she had stories worth sharing. Now existing on a steady diet of wine and coffee, Kate writes stories about complicated men in love that are sometimes dirty, but always sweet. She enjoys crafting hard-fought and well deserved happy endings with just the right amount of angst and kink.

From estate sale shopping to shoe worship, there's something in at least one of her books that'll tickle your fancy. Visit her website.


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Book Blitz: Caregiver by Rick R Reed

Title: Caregiver
Author: Rick R Reed
Genre: M/M Romance
Re-Release Date: December 1, 2019

Summary:
Winner of the 2013 EPIC eBook Award for Best Contemporary Romance

It's 1991, and Dan Calzolaio has just moved to Florida with his lover, Mark, having fled Chicago and Mark's addictions to begin a new life on the Gulf Coast. Volunteering for the Tampa AIDS Alliance is just one part of that new beginning, and that's how Dan meets his new buddy, Adam.

Adam Schmidt is not at all what Dan expected. The guy is an original - witty, wry, and sarcastic with a fondness for a smart black dress, Barbra Streisand, and a good mai tai. Adam doesn't let his imminent death get him down, even through a downward spiral that sees him thrown in jail.

Each step of Adam's journey teaches Dan new lessons about strength and resilience, but it's Adam's lover, Sullivan, to whom Dan feels an almost irresistible pull. Dan knows the attraction isn't right, even after he dumps his cheating, drug-abusing boyfriend. But then Adam passes away, and it leaves Sullivan and Dan both alone to see if they can turn their love for Adam into something whole and real for each other.


He started up the walk, not knowing what to expect, but imagining someone very weak, emaciated, whose skin was marred by KS lesions. No matter how bad he looks, Dan, you will be cheerful and friendly. You will not let the effect his appearance has on you internally show externally. Got that?

Dan rang the doorbell.

When the door swung open, Dan’s grin disappeared and his mouth dropped open, yet nothing came out. He cocked his head. His eyebrows furrowed.

“Well, don’t just stand there,” a seductive, Bette Davis voice intoned. “Get in here. I am not about to pay to air condition the great outdoors, especially not when the great outdoors happen to be located on the Gulf Coast.”

Dan still didn’t know what to say as he followed the feminine figure inside the little stucco house.

Mentally scratching his head and desperately wanting to act as though he was in on the joke, Dan stood near the doorway and took in what he supposed to be Adam Schmidt, since it didn’t appear anyone else was home.

Adam wore the classic little black dress, a string of pearls, black leather kitten heels, and sheer black nylons. His nails were painted a shocking red, a shade the gayest side of Dan was absolutely positive would have been called “Jungle Red.” Adam’s wispy blond hair had obviously been blown dry and sprayed into place. His angular features had been enhanced with a good concealer, a little blush, mascara, pale green eye shadow, and slash of red across his thin lips that perfectly matched his nails.

Adam put a hand on one hip and gave Dan the once-over. “Since you appear to be speechless, I’m going to assume you’re Dan something-or-other, something Italian. You’re going to be my new best friend, my buddy, right? But not my fuck buddy—God forbid!” Adam may have had AIDS, but it had no effect on his ability to weight his words with sarcasm.

Dan smiled and forced himself to move into the room. “Sorry. I, um, the cat had my tongue.” He stuck out a hand, feeling like an idiot. “Yes, I’m Dan Calzolaio. And I’m looking forward to getting to know you better, Adam.” Had a single human being ever sounded more nerdish, more square? Dan felt his face going hot, despite the wintry chill from the air conditioning. He regretted once more his nearly naked ensemble. He looked down at the goose bumps rising up on his forearms.

“Isn’t that sweet?” Adam turned toward the living room, which continued the surreal theme that had begun as soon as Adam opened the door. It was done all in shades of pink and vibrant green, with overstuffed rattan furniture that appeared as though it had been swiped from the set of The Golden Girls. “Come on and have a seat, Dan. I made us a batch of Mai Tais. You like Mai Tais, hon?”

“Oh yes. Love ’em.” Dan tried to recall when he had actually had one of the tropical drinks and drew a blank. He hurried to grab a seat on the couch, hugging himself to keep warm.

Adam observed him with an impish grin. “Cold? I’ll be right back.” Dan expected Adam to go into the kitchen to get their cocktails (Mai Tais at noon?), but Adam headed down a hallway. Dan could hear drawers being opened and shut.

Adam returned and flung a pair of sweatpants and a long-sleeved T-shirt at Dan. “Put some clothes on, sugar. As fine as all that tan flesh is to look at, it pains me to see you so chilly. Why, I can even see you’ve got your headlights on!” Adam giggled and Dan looked down at his chest, where Adam’s gaze was directed. His nipples poked through the thin cotton fabric of his tank like two pencil erasers. He hurried to put the sweats and T-shirt on over his clothes. “Whose are these?” he wondered.

“My boyfriend’s. You and he are about the same size.”

Adam disappeared into the kitchen and returned with a tray upon which were two tall glasses, each garnished with a Maraschino cherry, pineapple wedge, and a lime peel. Adam paused before Dan. “I know. I know. It’s kind of early for cocktails, but when time is short, you reprioritize. And I think the time is always right for a Mai Tai. Don’t you?”

Author Bio:
Real Men. True Love.

Rick R. Reed draws inspiration from the lives of gay men to craft stories that quicken the heartbeat, engage emotions, and keep the pages turning. Although he dabbles in horror, dark suspense, and comedy, his attention always returns to the power of love. He’s the award-winning and bestselling author of more than fifty works of published fiction and is forever at work on yet another book. Lambda Literary has called him: “A writer that doesn’t disappoint…” You can find him at his website or blog. Rick lives in Palm Springs, CA with his beloved husband and their fierce Chihuahua/Shiba Inu mix.


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