Gangster Country by Kade Boehme

Summary:
Logan Marshall moves to New York to be a social worker where he feels he's needed most. Logan's always had it good. His Daddy is a preacher, sure, but he preaches a laid back, tolerant congregation who accepted Logan's sexuality gracefully. He's from a ranch in nowhere, Texas, which makes him a hot ticket in the clubs with his tight, work strengthened body and his cute accent. He's out of his element in New York, not looking for Mr. Right Now but Mr. Right.

Gianni Rodriguez grew up in Brooklyn. Nothing could be further from the way he was raised than innocent, good hearted Logan was. Gianni is fascinated that people like Logan even exist. And parents that not only are God-fearing, but also accepting?

As second in command of Los Cuervos, his brother's not-so-merry band of drug runners and pimps, Gianni's life would be in serious jeopardy if anyone ever knew the truth. That's why his growing attachment for Logan is a bad thing.

When Logan's work collides violently with Gianni's life, Gianni has to decide if the man is worth risking everything, even his family-- the man that may not even want him once he realizes what a monster the man he's been sleeping with really is. Could Logan be Gianni's reason to go straight? Or will they both go straight to an unmarked grave?

Review:
I'm going to start out saying, "WOW!!"  This story hooked me in more than I ever expected it would.  From the summary I was expecting an interesting tale of  love between polar opposites, what I got was so much more than that.
You can't help but fall hard for both Logan and Gianni, thru their words, actions, and inner monologues.  They burrowed their way into your heart and just stayed there.  You go in wanting to hate Gianni but boy does he spark other emotions real quick.
This was an easy read, and that's not an insult to the author, I found myself reading and reading and before I knew it, I only had a few pages left.  I'm eager to check out other stories by this author.

Rating:  4 Stars

Author Bio:
Kade Boehme is a southern boy without the charm, but all the sass. Currently residing in Seattle, he lives off of ramen noodles and too much booze.
He is "the epitomy of dorkdom", only watching TV when Rachel Maddow or one of his sports teams is on. (That'd be Orioles, Seahawks, Ravens, or Gators.) Most of his free time is spent dancing, arguing politics or with his nose in a book. He is also a hardcore Britney Spears fangirl and has an addiction to glitter.
It was after writing a short story about boys who loved each other for a less than reputable adult website that he found his true calling, and hopefully a bit more class.
He hopes to write about all the romance that he personally finds himself allergic to but that others can fall in love with. He maintains that life is real and the stories should be, as well.

Author Links:
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All She Wrote (Holmes & Moriarity #2) by Josh Lanyon

Summary:
A murderous fall down icy stairs is nearly the death of Anna Hitchcock, the much-beloved American Agatha Christie and Christopher Holmes s former mentor. Anna s plea for him to host her annual winter writing retreat touches all Kit s sore spots traveling, teaching writing classes, and separation from his new lover, J.X. Moriarity.

For J.X., Kit s cancellation of yet another romantic weekend is the death knell of a relationship that has been limping along for months. But that s just as well, right? Kit isn't ready for anything serious and besides, Kit owes Anna far too much to refuse.

Faster than you can say Miss Marple wears boxer shorts, Kit is snooping around Anna s elegant, snowbound mansion in the Berkshires for clues as to who s trying to kill her. A tough task with six amateur sleuths underfoot. Six budding writers with a tangled web of dark undercurrents running among them.

Slowly, Kit gets the uneasy feeling that the secret may lie between the pages of someone s fictional past. Unfortunately, a clever killer is one step ahead. And it may be too late for J.X. to ride to the rescue. Warning: Contains one irascible, forty-year-old mystery writer who desperately needs to get laid, one exasperated thirty-something ex-cop only too happy to oblige, an isolated country manor that needs the thermostat cranked up, various assorted aspiring and perspiring authors, and a merciless killer who may have read one too many mystery novels.

Review:
As much as I enjoyed the first one in this series, this one surpassed what I was expecting.  I still don't think it matches the author's work in the Dangerous Ground or Adrien English series but I definitely found myself getting sucked into the story and the characters.
Once again there wasn't any characters that left you balancing on the fence of love or hate, you definitely either loved or hated them.  The mystery again was quite enjoyable to try and figure out, not only who could it be but whether there was actually a crime happening.
We also get to see the relationship between Holmes and Moriarity give and take.  Trust me, it does definitely give and take in some of the best ways possible and certainly in some of the most surprising ways for both men.  Christopher Holmes finds himself not only facing but wanting aspects of a relationship he never expected or dreamed of for himself.

Rating:  4 & 1/2 Stars

Go to previous posts for Author Bio & Links:   Author Info

Cover Reveal: Lost Dreams by Jude Ouvrard

  

Book: Lost Dreams

Author: Jude Ouvrard

Date of the cover reveal: April 20^th, 2014

Genre: Military Contemporary Romance / New Adult

Cover Designer: K23 Design
 

Summary:

When Carter is killed in combat, he left behind his heartbroken wife, Avery and his shattered best friend Remy. Naturally these two wounded soul gravitate together, irresistibly drawn by the loss of the one they both loved, as well as their deep friendship with each other. But when that friendship starts to turn into something more, new problems arise. Will Avery be able to move on after losing the love of her life?

Will Remy be able to fill the void left by the loss if his best friend? Or will this new chance at love cost them all they have left?

 

Excerpt:

July 17th, 2007

Carter

I tried to be the strong one, but today hurt every bone, muscle and brain cell in my body. Without her by my side, life was painful. For years, she had been the sun in my days, the one I was looking for in the darkness. She was my light, my love and inspiration. My reason to stay alive. We were always together before I joined Special Forces. During our last deployment, we were lucky to be working together as a team and we both enjoyed it. I knew her better than I knew myself and while we worked jointly, I saw who she was and how strong and dedicated she had become. Her pride over serving in the Army was beyond most men. Her determination was astounding, she'd faced death, survived to my abject relief and still stayed the fighter she's always been. Her injuries and pain didn’t make her weak, she'd become stronger and fought against her fears.

I sat in the plane next to Remy. We had left a little over two hours ago and I could still feel her sadness, as if it was attached to my heart. Remy was also feeling blue, as he considered Avery to be like a sister. I hated that I was the reason behind her sadness. I held back the tears as long as I could, but mid-way to our destination, it overwhelmed me and I gave up.

"Fuck.... Fuck... I hate this!" I yelled. I regretted leaving her. I should have requested a release at the same time as she did. This was a fucking nightmare. "I should be home with her, Remy. We could be starting a family like we want. I shouldn’t have come... I shouldn’t have." Each word, every memory of our conversations about the future hurt, kicking me in the chest because I wanted them now. Every minute away from her was a waste of our time.

"Cart, man, relax." Remy squeezed my shoulder with a strong hand. "This, the Army, is our life, you can't go back now. We'll do this and go back home like we always do. A couple of months won't change anything in the end. She loves you like crazy and you love her even more." He paused. "Look, we can do this. It’s hard now because you just left her. Even I'm sad. I'll miss her too but it's what we do, man, we are Special Forces. We leave and we come back stronger. We fight for what's right. We have a job to get done now. Focus on that."

"Being away from her is different this time. It's not that I don't like it, I hate it. It shouldn’t be like this. We had the best times of our lives these past few days. She was glowing, she was smiling like she used to, before the bombing. I felt like she was finally back with me, with us."

"I saw it too. She was different, happy." He smiled. "It's all you, Carter. You were able to make her the happiest bride, even though she knew you were leaving. Use that to motivate yourself. We'll be back before we know it."

"Thanks, bro." I dried my tears on the sleeve of my shirt. I was still angry at myself but he was right. She was happy again. I had to focus on that and come back home as soon as possible. She was my life now. Everything I am or own, is hers.

''I want you to tell me how you feel while you are away. Write me or call me as much as you can.'' I grabbed my backpack and opened the front pocket to find my pen and paper.

Avery,

I haven't arrived at our destination yet, and I’m already writing because I'm thinking about you. I miss you. I can't stop seeing your smile and beauty in my mind.

Thank you for the pictures, I'll keep the one of you in your wedding dress with me all the time. Except when I'm in the shower, of course.

I’ve been wanting to tell you how amazing and beautiful you are. Your smiles are back, the ones that made me fall in love with you years ago. The smiles that reach your eyes and the smiles when you bite your lower lip. I loved the way you blushed when you walked down the aisle. You took my heart at that moment and stole it. You are the one who owns it, take care of it. My heart is nothing without you.

I will be back to you soon and we'll start our family. We could even buy a dog or a cat and move to a different city. Somewhere by the beach or in the country. Anything baby, just say it and you'll have it.

I love you my shining star, more than you'll ever know.

Carter

Kisses and hugs

I placed the letter in an envelope and addressed it. I wanted her to receive it soon, as I knew the waiting would be hard for Avery. I was planning to write to her every day or every other day.

Remy had fallen asleep and I wondered how life was for him. He was single, I'd never seen him serious about a girl before. He flirted here and there but he never talked about any girl in particular, or suggested he hoped to meet 'the one'. Never. As far as I knew, he didn't plan to stay in the Army forever and I always assumed he would eventually try to settle down with someone. I feared the loneliness he must sometimes feel. It was probably hard for him to see Avery and me so happy together. I wanted him to be happy too. He deserved to be.

I couldn’t force him into anything but maybe I could talk to him about dating.

~~~*~~~

We finally made it to the camp. It looked the same as the last one. I had to try and stop imagining Avery everywhere. I was ridiculously obsessed with my wife. She was safe at home and this was the right thing for her, for both of us. While we were getting installed, the guys were talking about our wedding and were really cool about it. Most of them were married and already fathers. Some of them even asked me to show them my ring. That was just weird, wasn't it something girls do? The ring was simple, white gold with two small diamonds. We chose it together, the diamonds representing us. Avery's ring was as simple as mine, she'd never been the type of girl who wanted huge diamonds. I was ready to buy her the biggest diamond I could afford but she'd refused and went for something small and modest. It represented her after all.

As soon as we got on camp, we started doing some work in settling in and we discovered issues. And to make everything worse, the internet was not working properly. We had security issues and couldn't use it for personal requirements. That meant no emailing and Avery was probably going to lose it in Fort Bragg. I had to make sure my letter got to her as soon as possible. I could try to call her, I would love to hear her voice. In the Special Forces, it only happened rarely that we had to deal with communication problems since it was one of our most important tool.

Finally, I located my bunk bed, I placed my backpack next to it and put the envelope containing the pictures under the thin blanket. I retrieved Avery's picture from my front pocket and looked at her for a few seconds. Her pale blond hair was piled on top of her head, in elaborate curls. She was gorgeous. Her gown was showing just enough skin, and kissed all of her curves. I was a proud man, and knew I was lucky that she picked me.

Today was my first day away but on the bright side, I was one day closer to seeing her again.

That was my main focus.

Author Bio:

Jude was born and raised in a small village named Lacolle. She now lives in Montreal, Canada. She is the proud mother of a beautiful five year old son, Isaac and has spent the last twelve years with her boyfriend, Cedric.French is her native language, but she prefers to write in her second language, English. She has a passion for books, both reading and writing them.

 

Author Links:

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Twitter #2

Somebody Killed His Editor (Holmes & Moriarity #1) by Josh Lanyon

Summary:
Thanks to an elderly spinster sleuth and her ingenious cat, Christopher Holmes has enjoyed a celebrated career as a bestselling mystery writer. Until now. Sales are down and his new editor is allergic to geriatric gumshoes.
On the advice of his agent, he reinvents his fortyish, frumpy, recently dumped self into the sleek, sexy image of a literary lion, and heads for a Northern California writers conference to try and resurrect his career. A career nearly as dead as the body he stumbles over in the woods.
In a weirdly déjà vu replay of one of his own novels, he finds himself stranded in an isolated lodge full of frightened women—and not a lawman in sight. Except for J.X. Moriarity, former cop and bestselling novelist. The man with whom he shared a one-night stand—okay, maybe three—long ago. The man who wants to arrest him for murder.
A ruthless, stalking killer, or a hot, handsome ex-lover. Which poses the greater danger? It’s elementary, my dear Holmes!

Review:
The characters were interesting and they were very easy to either love or hate, there really was no middle line but that was okay because it worked perfectly for the genre and the setting.   Christopher Holmes is your everyday kind of guy that you really can't help but love.  I couldn't help but love others  even though  you're never quite sure who is guilty or another possible victim. 
I won't deny that I was a little disappointed in that it wasn't as enjoyable a read as the author's Adrien English or Dangerous Ground series but that by no way took away from the story.  I found myself still captivated by the characters and couldn't wait to find out what happened on every page.  The author, as always, is still among my favorites and cannot wait to start the next in this series, which I will be doing tonight.

Rating:  4 Stars

Author Bio:
Over the past decade, multi-award-winning author Josh Lanyon has written numerous novels, novellas and short stories as well as a definitive M/M writing guide. In June 2009 Somebody Killed His Editor, the first book in a brand new mystery-romance series, will be published through Samhain. Josh is a Lambda Literary Award finalist.

Author Links:
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Ball and Chain (Cut & Run #8) by Abigail Roux

Summary:
Home from their unexpected deployment, the former members of Marine Force Recon team Sidewinder rejoin their loved ones and try to pick up the pieces of the lives they were forced to leave behind. Ty Grady comes home to Zane Garrett, only to find that everything around him has changed—even the men he went to war with. He barely has time to adjust before his brother, Deuce, asks Ty to be his best man. But that isn’t all Deuce asks Ty to do, and Ty must call for backup to deal with the business issues of Deuce’s future father-in-law.

Nick O’Flaherty and Kelly Abbott join Ty and Zane at the wedding on an island in Scotland, thinking they’re there to assuage Deuce’s paranoia. But when bodies start dropping and boats start sinking, the four men get more involved with the festivities than they’d ever planned to.

With the clock ticking and the killer just as stuck on the isolated island as they are, Ty and Zane must navigate a veritable minefield of family, friends, and foes to stop the whole island from being destroyed.

Review:
I'm already having withdrawal symptoms now that I've got all 8 books read.  Ty and Zane really grab hold of your heart and you don't want to ever let them go. 
Being joined by Nick & Kelly only added to the amazing appeal and intrigue of their latest adventure.  Once again, the mystery seems to find the boys even at a family wedding.  Ty and Zane knew there was a little something that needed their special brand of attention going in but never expected it to become what it does.
There's still some emotional fallout from Touch & Geaux between Ty and Nick, and even though it's heartbreaking at times, it was definitely necessary for the believable evolution of their friendship.

Rating:  5 Stars

Check out my previous post for author bio & links:  Author Info

Reviews for Cut & Run series:
Cut & Run #1
Sticks & Stones #2
Fish & Chips #3
Divide & Conquer #4
Armed & Dangerous #5
Stars & Stripes #6
Touch & Geaux #7

Touch and Geaux (Cut & Run #7) by Abigail Roux

Summary:
After having their faces plastered across the news during a high-profile case, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have become more useful to the Bureau posing for photo ops than working undercover. Just as Zane is beginning to consider retirement a viable option, Ty receives a distress call from a friend, leading them to a city rife with echoes from the past.

New Orleans wears its history on its streets, and it’s the one place Ty’s face could get him killed. Surrounded by trouble as soon as they land, Ty and Zane are swiftly confronted with a past from which Ty can’t hide—one with a surprising connection to Zane’s.

As threats close in from all directions, both men must come to terms with the lives they’ve led and the lies they’ve told. They soon discover that not all their secrets are out yet, and nothing lasts forever.

Review:
Can I just start by saying "WOW!"  As usual I am completely blown away with Ty and Zane but I have to admit this one had something extra special that really puts the reader through an emotional ringer.
We learn a few things about both of the men's pasts through truthful flashback storytelling.  Unfortunately, a couple of those revelations threaten the peaceful relationship between the partners that just might be unfixable.   My heart was breaking as these truths came to light as I could understand both sides of the wall that was being built between Ty and Zane. 
Since I don't do spoilers all I'll say is that I immediately purchased book number eight and started reading it right away. 

Rating:  5 Stars

Check out my previous post for author bio & links:  Author Info

Cover Reveal for Hunger by B.L. Wilde





Hunger (The Seductors Series #2)

 

Cover Design: Jo Matthews

Genre: Romance/Erotica/Suspense 

Expected Release Date: June 6, 2014

 

 

 Summary:
When Jade walked out on Oliver six months ago, she left her heart behind. Little did she know her mission was far from over. Given a new mission—to secure a secret nuclear power core—she’s thrown back into his world and has to earn his trust once more. The only problem is that she’s competing directly with another Seductor that she despises, who has already been on the mission for two months.
Oliver was devastated when he discovered Jade had left him, so he closed himself off to the world, focusing solely on his job. Everything is thrown into chaos when she resurfaces, working for an old friend of his.
Will Jade be able to win Oliver back while fighting her jealously that another Seductor might steal the mission from her? Consumed with love, controlled by a hunger she has never known, can she protect her heart a second time around if Oliver takes her back?

Trailer:

Desire (The Seductors Series #1)

Summary:
Jade has worked as a Seductor in a secret organization for five years now. Her main job? To earn the trust of her targets and secure the object or information her company was hired to steal—by any means necessary. She’s damn good at it, too.
With five years left on her contract, she is handed an assignment that turns her world upside down.
Oliver Kirkham is the attractive, young CEO of Kirkham Industries, a weapons manufacturing company, and is currently in possession of some very important blueprints—blueprints that could change the way war, as we know it, works. He’s extremely focused and doesn’t have time to date, at least until he comes to the rescue of a shy but very alluring Jade Gibbs.
What happens when one night of passion turns into more? Will Jade allow her feelings for Oliver to get in the way of her mission? Or will she do what she was hired to do and secure the steal?

Desire Purchase Links:
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Author Bio:
          B.L. Wilde is a British author obsessed with many things, including heated love stories. Supported fully by her husband, she can often be found at her desk working on her next project.
          Her journey into the world of erotica began when she started writing online stories over three years ago, and she hasn’t looked back since.

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