Wednesday, June 14, 2017

Black Dawn by Mallory McCartney

Title: Black Dawn
Author: Mallory McCartney
Genre: Fantasy, New Adult, Young Adult
Release Date: February 14, 2017
Publisher: Clean Reads Publishing

Summary:
“The end of an Empire. The rise of a Queen.”

Emory Fae enjoys leading a quiet, normal life that is until two mysterious, and dare I say handsome soldiers show up at her apartment doorstep and the life she knew is instantly whisked away. Coming from the magical and ravaged world of Kiero, Emory is brought back not realizing that both men are darkly woven in her past. Discovering she is the long lost heir to the Royal Line Emory is thrown into Black Dawn Rebellion with a dynamic role to ignite the rebels and reclaim her throne. With both lives clashing Emory uncovers hidden secrets from her past, a power held long dormant, and will soon realize there are worse things than supernatural humans, love, loss, betrayal, and a Mad King.

Some things are better left in the shadows.

What is the biggest influence/interest that brought you to this genre?
Thanks for having me! My biggest influence that brought me to fantasy/ epic fantasy books was reading Harry Potter and The Song of the Lioness series. I have always loved reading but these books got me obsessed with this genre. As a kid, I would roam outside for hours on our family farm, envisioning what my own fantasy world would look like and the characters that would be there. If I had not read these series at a young age, maybe I wouldn’t have developed the same passion that I have for writing fantasy.

When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process(outline, plot, character names, editing, etc)?
I adore mapping out plot lines. It’s kind of thrilling when each character’s storyline becomes clear, and the surprises that happen there!!! Especially in book two, Queen to Ashes, we will see the characters go down some dark roads. As the author, it still gives me that same kind of rush as we experience them, as I hope my readers will feel the same 😊

When reading a book, what genre do you find most interesting/intriguing?
I am a fantasy lover through and through. Though, I do enjoy a good YA contemporary, I am most of the time drawn to YA fantasy.

If you could co-author with any author, past or present, who would you choose?
Oh, Sarah J Maas!!!!! How I would fangirl! But seriously though, her writing is amazing and as an author, I find her inspiring.

Have you always wanted to write or did it come to you "later in life"?
A bit of both to be honest. I started writing at the end of Grade Eight and this is when I finished the first manuscript of Black Dawn. After that though, I left writing alone for seven years. I continued to read for pleasure, but it wasn’t until after I married my husband and we were talking about books and authors we liked, and It was an enlightening moment for me. A deep gut feeling that I had to rewrite Black Dawn, and I started this at twenty-two, and haven’t looked back since 😊

Author Bio:
Mallory McCartney currently lives in London, Ontario with her husband and their two dachshunds Link and Lola. Black Dawn is her debut novel, the first in a series. When she isn’t working on her next novel or reading, she can be found dog grooming, book shopping and hiking. Other favorite pastimes involve reorganizing perpetually overflowing bookshelves and seeking out new coffee and dessert shops.









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Back Home by RJ Scott

Title: Back Home
Author: RJ Scott
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: May 24, 2017
Cover Design: Meredith Russell
Summary:
Falling for his brother's boyfriend broke his heart. Now he's back home and falls in love all over again.

One birthday kiss and Kieran realizes he is in danger of falling for his brother’s boyfriend, Jordan. Leaving for college, then moving to another country is the only way to ease the ache in his heart.

But, when his father becomes ill and his sister begs him to come home, Kieran returns for good. He finds the family business nearly bankrupt and Jordan, the man he ran from, beaten down by despair and guilt.

Friendship is what they promise each other as they work to repair the business, but it could never be enough for Kieran. When secrets spill, and there are vital decisions to be made, Kieran realizes two things; he’s back home, and he wants to stay with Jordan for good.

Now he just needs to convince Jordan.


Back Home is a re-release for the author but it is completely new to me as I've never read any of the previous editions.  Jordan has been trying to hold everything together, his life, his deceased partner's family, their business and in the process he gets hurt because he's neglecting his health.  Kieran has been living in London after having run from his feelings for his brother's partner.  Fate has found away to bring these two back into the same time zone where they have to face their grief, their choices, and their feelings.

I think we can all see where this story is headed but that doesn't mean it's predictable or boring.  Sometimes the real story is not in the destination but the journey getting there and that is what Back Home is, a journey of love, of family, of heart.  Through some flashbacks from both Jordan and Kieran we get to see how and why the choices they made came about.  That's not to say you won't want to bang their heads together and scream "Open your eyes!" but then where would the fun be if there was no conflict to get the blood pumping?

Back Home will make you cry, laugh, scream with equal amounts of frustration and joy, and it will make your heart break but it will also make it bloom with love like a garden of flowers after a June rain.  I seriously can't believe I've never read this RJ Scott tale before but now that I have, it's already penciled into my future re-read list.

RATING: 


“Where’s Hayley?” he asked.

“She slept out last night,” Anna said as she spooned eggs onto a plate for him.

“Where did she say she was going?” Jordan asked again. He slipped into the familiar big brother role as easily as pulling on his jeans in the morning. After all, he damn was like a big brother to her, especially with Brad gone and Kieran on another continent. He had a right and a reason to be worried. As soon as Anna told him that Hayley hadn’t been home, he started fretting even though he knew he had to accept that the girl he thought of as five with pigtails had actually reached adulthood and had even had sex. He didn’t want to think about that in too much detail.

“She’s twenty-two, sweetie. If she wants to stay out, that’s her choice. Maybe she was with that nice young man Alex.”

Anna sounded so accommodating; as if it didn’t worry her that her youngest child was out God knows where with God knows whom. Alex might seem like a good guy, and Jordan had even grudgingly admitted he appeared to be a solid stable influence on the normally flighty Hayley, but still, he knew exactly what was in a twenty-five-year-old man’s head. After all, he was only twenty-nine himself, and he had a good memory. Resentment built inside him, sudden and bitter; after Brad, they should have been more careful knowing where their kids were and what they were doing.

Shit. Where had that thought come from? Brad had been a grown man. What had happened to him had nothing to do with Anna and Phil. They were good parents, and they had made a good family. It also wasn’t their fault Kieran was gone. He ruthlessly pushed down the irrational imaginings to where they belonged, way down where he stored his own guilt.

“Should’ve told us,” Jordan snapped in return, anger fighting with fear in his gut. She was so little, even at twenty-two, slim and petite and so blindly trusting of everything and everyone around her.

“Jordan…” Anna turned from the skillet, wiping her hands on a kitchen towel and looking at him with that patented mother expression that she did so well. It never failed to calm him down. “She texted to say she was okay. That is as much as we’re going to get. We know she’s okay—she said so.”

Jordan grimaced. Recently all he seemed able to do was focusing on the shit that was happening, or on the worst that could happen. It was so easy to let a million thoughts race through his mind, every one colored with death and blood and fear. He could imagine a kidnapper taking the phone and texting as her, or her being coerced… Jesus, it didn’t bear thinking about.

“I’m going to be having words with her,” he grumped, concentrating on the plate of food that Anna placed in front of him. He wasn’t even hungry, anxiety nibbling away at him until his stomach was one big knotted mess. Patiently, and acutely aware that Anna was watching him as she had done ever since his accident, he forked eggs and bacon into his mouth, the taste of them like ashes.

Eating didn’t stop him from brooding, and being watched didn’t stop his mood from spiraling lower. If anything, the combination of the two made everything worse. The appointment at the bank was still looming, and he was worried about what they would say.

Jordan had to go on his own; Phil wasn’t well enough to be there with him, but he was determined to be involved in dealing with the company's finances. He wanted to be hands-on, it was his company and on and on. Whenever Phil started talking that way, Jordan listened as patiently as he could, trying not to feel too hurt Phil was determined to hold on so tightly. After all, hadn’t he been running the company just fine for the last two years?

When the kitchen door opened, and Hayley took a step into the battleground, Jordan was on her like a ton of bricks, launching to his feet with temper running through him like fire.

“Where the hell have you been? We’ve been damn scared you were in a ditch or something. For God’s sake, your momma was worried.” Jordan’s voice was loud and quick and his temper on a rare high. He saw Hayley look at her mom with raised eyebrows, receiving a small smile and a shrug of delicate shoulders in return. She wasn’t taking him seriously. God damn it, she needed to take him seriously.

“Jordan—” Hayley started quickly, but he interrupted before she could get any words out. He took a step towards her, his free hand gripping her arm.

“You should have let us know where you were.”

“I—”

“Just so I don’t go ripping up the area looking for you.” He realized he was shaking her, unaware of anything else, his temper making his actions sharp, until a hand rested on his arm.

“She was with me.” A low voice was in his ear, lost in the sound of a gasp from Anna, then complete and utter silence for a second as a tableau of shocked, frozen people engraved itself on Jordan’s mind.

It was Anna who broke the awkward silence, launching herself at the son she hadn’t seen in too long. Jordan’s softly spoken “Kieran” was drowned out by Anna’s squeal, the rush of hugs and welcomes and the refrains of why didn’t you tell me? Everyone talked over each other with laughter and jokes.

Typical. After all this time, Kieran freaking Addison walks through the door, and suddenly everyone conveniently forgets how he ran out and left them all.

Jordan stared at the man who had shaken his world to the roots. He struggled to see the boy who had left only days after that rainy Tuesday when they had buried Brad. This was a different Kieran —not a boy, but a man. Gone were the uncoordinated lankiness of youth and the floppy blond bangs that were forever determined to cover his gray eyes. Instead here was a man in control—tall, strong, with styled, shorter hair, and a gaze that wouldn’t meet Jordan’s. When it came down to it, Jordan felt the shock driving into him that Kieran Addison had deigned to return to the Addison fold at all. He waited, watching Anna welcome home the prodigal son, allowing the moments of reconnection. Then he said the first thing that came to his mind as he looked at Kieran and cursed his arrival for so many reasons he couldn’t begin to list.

“What the hell are you doing here?”

Author Bio:
RJ Scott is the bestselling romance author of over 100 romance books. She writes emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men and women 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.


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EMAIL: rj@rjscott.co.uk



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Release Day Blitz: Kingdom Volume 1 by RJ Scott

Title: Kingdom Volume 1
Author: RJ Scott
Series: Kingdom #1-3
Genre: M/M Paranormal Romance
Release Date: June 14, 2017
Cover Design: Meredith Russell
Summary:
The three books in this volume were previously published titles available separately. There have been no changes to the stories. Previously known as the Supernatural Bounty Hunters series.

The Vampire Contract #1
A vampire guilty of murder on the run from justice to prove his innocence. A werewolf sent to retrieve him with one thought – that only the guilty run.

Vampire Micah Jamieson is found guilty of killing his human husband. He runs from the execution he is facing to get home. He just has to pray he’ll reach home before supernatural law enforcement, in the shape of a Glitnir Court Retriever close in on him.

Wolf shifter and Retriever, Connor Strand easily captures Micah and he’s fully prepared to take the runaway in. But his wolf has other ideas.

Something about Micah challenges Connor and his long held beliefs. What if Micah is actually innocent? Will Connor put to one side his own prejudices, and then risk both his life and career to keep Micah safe?

The Guilty Werewolf #2
Declan Finlay is the best Retriever that Glitnir has.

Well, he is now that Connor Strand has gone rogue.

He is sent to find Connor - the guilty werewolf. But he doubts that his best friend could ever be guilty and he resolves to track him down and find out why he ran with the renegade vampire.

When the Fae Alliance, reporting to Glitnir, demand that he not go alone he is forced to accept the Incubus, Levi Tiernan, an assassin, as his companion on the journey. If Declan doesn't kill Connor, then Levi will.

What happens when old lust and love dictate action and suddenly Declan is questioning everything he loves.

The Warlock’s Secret #3
In a world where magic is rare, Joseph Jamieson is one of the most powerful holders of power. Orophin Tiwele, or Phin to his friends, is the son of the Elf King and has magic of his own. The rules say two supernatural beings with magic cannot be together and Joseph and Phin have lived by that rule despite their attraction to each other.

The resistance is growing larger each day, but traitors threaten everything Joseph has built. He wants peace, but soon comes to realize the way to peace, is through war.

When the only thing that will save lives is Joseph and Phin working together, it becomes impossible to see where magic and passion end and where love could begin.

Author Bio:
RJ Scott is the bestselling romance author of over 100 romance books. She writes emotional stories of complicated characters, cowboys, millionaire, princes, and the men and women 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.


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Tuesday, June 13, 2017

Corruption of the Heart by Jessica Manson

Title: Corruption of the Heart
Author: Jessica Manson
Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance
Release Date: January 3, 2017


Summary:
Lilith Carson was a normal girl whose parents died suddenly. She moves to a different state with her aunt, and she cuts herself off from everyone. Until one day, when her crush appears beside her in the library. From there, they fall in love, fast and hard.

Lilith finds out that when she turns eighteen, she will transform into a Vampire-Witch hybrid. When a vampire conceives a female, that female already has a mate chosen for her. When Lilith was conceived, there was a mistake. Her world is turned upside down when she must choose between two guys she barely knows.

Lilith has chosen the guy of her dreams and has settled into a life that she thinks is perfect. But nothing is ever as it seems. She will soon face the ultimate betrayal by someone she loves deeply.

What is the biggest influence/interest that brought you to this genre?
The biggest influence that brought me to this genre would have to be the books that I read. Paranormal romance is the type of books that I read and I wanted to create my own paranormal universe.

When writing a book, what is your favorite part of the creative process(outline, plot, character names, editing, etc)? 
My favorite part of the writing process is the writing itself. To be able to sit down, crank up the music and let the words flow is freeing. It’s amazing to watch the words form on the paper and turn into a story.

When reading a book, what genre do you find most interesting/intriguing? 
When reading I typically go for paranormal romance. I love the fantasy about them. Being able to escape to a world that is nothing like our own is very fascinating.

If you could co-author with any author, past or present, who would you choose? 
Lola St Vil. She is my favorite writer. When my mother died I was knees deep in depression. I didn’t get out of bed, wouldn’t eat, I cried nonstop. I didn’t talk to my husband, wouldn’t have anything to do with my children. I mean I was in a real bad place. The heartbreak I was feeling was all consuming. One day I was laying in bed after hours of crying when I decided to read something. Lola’s book The Girl from her Guardians series popped up on my Kindle as being free. It looked interesting so I downloaded it and read it. Once I read it, there was no stopping me. I read the full series plus the spin off The Noru Series. Lola St. Vil’s writing brought me back to life. Those books made me cry, filled me with excitement and anticipation but most of all, her writing made me laugh. It’s not very often that a writer can change someone so drastically and I feel like she literally saved my life.

Have you always wanted to write or did it come to you "later in life"? 
I have always wanted to be a writer. When I was ten years old I read Edgar Allen Poe’s poem Annabel Lee and from that moment I knew I wanted to be a writer. At the age of ten I was writing my own poetry but writing books came later in life. I am 31 years old and just published my first book.

Author Bio:
Jessica started writing when she was 10 years old. She started out writing poetry which has been published in several Poetry Society books as well as on the Internet. She won the Publisher’s Choice Award for her poem A Lost Soul. She has always had an addiction to reading which is what lead her to become an author. Her debut book is Corruption of the Heart.





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Moms Against Zombies by Alathia Paris Morgan

Title: Moms Against Zombies
Author: Alathia Paris Morgan
Genre: Paranormal Horror
Release Date: June 8, 2017
Summary:
Emma Jackson is an army wife and new mom with all the uncertainties that come with it… until that fear is pushed in a different direction. Instead of worrying about diapers and feeding schedules, her only objective is to keep her child alive after being chased by a man who looks entirely too dead.

Trish Walsh thought her day was bad when she had to drag all four of her children on an errand, but she rethinks the meaning after what she can only hope was someone dressed up like a zombie beats on her car door. Yet, the bloody mess left behind is anything but reassuring.

Cooper Walsh’s job is top secret. When criminals break in to steal his company’s secrets, he overhears the conspiracy devised to create chaos as a cover-up. Knowing he must do everything in his power to right the wrong, he sets out on a mission.

Surviving long enough to reunite with their families is all that matters. That… and stopping the zombie apocalypse before it destroys them.


It had only been six weeks since I’d had my baby. Today’s the day for my check up and to get the doctor’s okay to do some hanky panky with my hubby when he comes home. Well it won’t matter if I have a doctor’s note or not, my husband is back overseas with his unit. He was able to come home for a week when the baby was born, but he won’t be home for good anytime soon.

As I lay there waiting for the Gyno doctor to come and check me out in this flimsy little dress, I hear a commotion out in the hallway.

Hurried whispers and quick running footsteps down the hallway make me get up and tiptoe to the door in my bare feet. Cracking the door open I look toward the reception area, but all I can see is a stack of papers floating to the floor.

“What in the world?” I glance back to make sure the baby, Pierce, is still resting comfortably.

Hearing a scream from somewhere in the front, I decide the best course of action is to get dressed and put my tennis shoes back on. Flicking the lock closed, I got dressed in record time and collected my stuff as I headed back to the door.

Cautiously opening it, I couldn’t see anyone at all so I sling the diaper bag over one shoulder and my purse on the opposite side. Placing my phone in my back pocket and my keys in my hand, I hooked my arm through Pierce’s carrier and walked out into the hallway ready for anything.

It has gotten spookily quiet. There weren’t any voices or sounds coming from the reception area that had been filled only a half hour ago.

As I proceeded out through the now empty building, I wondered what had caused the evacuation.

Opening the front doors, I’m hit with sunshine.

“Shoot, I forgot the sunglasses.” Placing the baby down at my feet, I start to dig in the diaper bag when I notice a sound at the side of the building. Glancing up, there is a man walking toward me.

Wait, walking is a broad term for the way he is dragging his feet and lumbering towards me in a very aggressive manner and that is when I notice the blood dripping from his chest.

The screams now made sense. There must have been a shooting. While I would love to help, I have a new baby to protect and this guy is creeping me out, so I grab the carrier and make a run for the car.

Punching the button to unlock and open the van’s sliding doors, I am tempted to just place the carrier inside and buckle Pierce in a few blocks away, but it’s already so ingrained, the need to secure him, so I go ahead even though it will take a few seconds longer.

Sure enough the bloody guy is following me to my car. I open my door and jump in hitting the locks and praying this guy doesn’t have a gun on him.

I place the vehicle in drive and screech out of the parking lot which I’ve never done before because it takes the tire tread off and that’s just wasteful.

As I head toward my home, I realize there is a lot of traffic out on the road and people look really panicked.

The highway is congested and I’m getting a really bad feeling about this so I decide to take the back roads to my home, which is thankfully only about ten minutes away.

Author Bio:
Alathia is known to those around her for having an a long time love affair/obsession with Dr.Pepper, she has asked to be buried with a can so that it never runs out in the after life. Always bossy, she uses her mothering instincts to help others and share awareness of abuse in child and domestic situations.

A B.S. in History and English gave wings to her vivid imagination in book form. A supportive and loving husband has given her the chance to make her dreams a reality. Their three daughters and three dogs keep her busy while writing is a great way for her to wind down and destress.

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Monday, June 12, 2017

Monday's Montage Mantlepiece: Brit Boys: With Toys


Summary:
From coast to coast and city to country Brit boys enjoy playing with each other and their toys. Not any old toys, though; guitars, rope, plugs and Moleskine journals all prove to be enormous fun. Throw in a shop that’s wall to wall with kinky ideas, a journalist on the lookout for the next big thing, and Dominants who insist on obedience and there’s sure to be something to cater for everyone’s taste.

Whether it’s a quickie or a slow indulgence, Brit boys know how to hit the spot and they aim to please every time. So take a ride, fly high, come enjoy these sexy boys and their toys.

Brit Boys: With Toys is an anthology of M/M stories written by British authors, featuring British characters in British locations. If this steamy set of stories has whet your appetite for more don’t miss Brit Boys: On Boys.

Hard Riders by Ashe Barker
If there’s one thing Liam loves more than a scorching hot lust-on-wheels superbike, it’s the gorgeous sexy guy who owns such a dream machine. When Jackson finds him all but drooling over his tyres and offers him a ride Liam takes no persuading at all. Soon they discover that their mutual fascination with boys’ toys is not limited to the two-wheeled variety, so it’s just as well that Jackson owns his own sex shop and Liam’s job leaves plenty of scope for dressing up.

But real life is much more than just a few kinky games, and has an unfortunate habit of getting in the way.

All Roped Up by MK Elliott
When Alex Fraser interviews Conner ‘Big-Mac’ McCaughey, the champion of London’s bare-knuckle boxing scene, he has more than just the fighter in his sights. Hoping to expose the fight club’s illegal dealings, Alex will stop at nothing to get the story, including doing whatever Conner asks.

The moment Conner sees Alex Fraser, all he can think about is what the young reporter will look like bound. Shibari—the ancient art of rope bondage—is the fighter’s passion, and he can’t think of anyone else he’d like to practise on more.

But Alex’s quest to expose the truth could land them both in serious danger…

Doctor’s Orders by Lucy Felthouse
Hospital porter Aaron Miller isn’t expecting a very exciting birthday. He and his doctor boyfriend, Blake Colville, are working opposite shifts, leaving Aaron to go home to an empty house and the prospect of another shift the following day. Just as he’s leaving work, however, an unexpected sexy encounter in a supply cupboard leaves him feeling in a much more celebratory mood. And an impending dirty weekend away with Blake just puts the icing on the non-existent cake. But who needs cake when you’re dating a dominant doctor?

Toys for Boys by KD Grace
Alpha Nerd, Will Charles teams up with Caridoc ‘Doc’ Jones in a coast to coast walk across England reviewing outdoor gift suggestions for the Christmas edition of Toys for Boys—an online magazine dedicated to the latest gadgets to tickle a man’s fancy. Will is recording their adventures with the latest smart phone technology. Doc is reviewing the latest outdoor gear. The two quickly discover the great outdoors provides even better toys for boys, toys best shared al fresco, toys that, in spite of Will’s great camera work, will never be reviewed in Toys for Boys.

Mile High Kink Club by Lily Harlem
Rhodri’s looking for love, but not ordinary love. He needs a man who’ll bend to his will, submit to his desires and obey his every command–including chastity.

So when Gay Hook Ups finds his perfect partner it’s well worth a trip to London. What he doesn’t bet on is his fragile-looking match being a sharp and successful entrepreneur. So when things between them soar, will he unlock the passion, free his desire and will they reach the dizzying heights of ecstasy together? It all depends on whether Darius is prepared to be caged in order to be set free.

Open Mike by Ashley Lister
Ken finds Mike reading poetry in a bar. Mike is confident and clever and seems capable of teaching Ken everything he needs to know about poetry. And, when Ken asks for his guidance, Mike gladly offers to share his expertise. Consequently, when Mike offers to share more than his expertise in poetry, Ken discovers there are a lot more things he wants to learn from him.

I Get You by Sarah Masters
Morton is Warren’s boss, and they fancy each other like crazy. Except neither of them has the courage to say so, until Warren blurts out an inkling of his feelings. Morton is stunned by Warren’s offer for them to go away together, but not half as stunned as Warren when Morton accepts. Both of them are pretending to be someone they’re not. And both of them soon realise that being yourself is the best bet.

The Guitar by Tabitha Rayne
When shy, awkward Kel plays guitar, it’s the only time he feels at home in his own skin. On stage he can hide in plain sight behind his band and the music. It turns him on to play and he can’t help rubbing up against his guitar. Kel is enraptured by a guy he sees every night in the audience and is shocked when this gorgeous guy seems to notice him. So full of his own self-loathing, Kel just can’t accept that someone as perfect as Damien wants to be with him. Will his insecurities put their happiness in jeopardy?


Hard Riders by Ashe Barker
“Holy fuck,” muttered Jackson, a spilt-second before he mashed his mouth across Liam’s.

The next few seconds were a frenzy of open-mouthed kisses and frantic grappling to be rid of jackets, shirts, anything else in the way.

“Someone might come…” Liam mumbled the words half-heartedly, not usually so cautious.

“That’s the idea. Come on.” Jackson broke the kiss and sprinted across the road to vault a four foot high dry stone wall. Liam was right behind him. They ended up in a field, home to a flock of disinterested sheep who continued to chomp at the springy grass in a manner which suggested half-clothed bikers rolling around in their meadow was an everyday occurrence.

“What about the bike?” Despite his enthusiasm for the turn of events now unfolding, Liam felt someone should spare a thought for the abandoned dream machine.

“It’ll be fine, we’ll hear if anyone’s about.” Jackson lay on his back and made a fluttery come-here gesture with the fingers of both hands. Liam did not require a second invitation and fell on top of him.

It took Liam approximately three seconds to get Jackson’s leather pants undone and shove his hand inside. He found a firm, solid cock already twitching and ready to go. Liam wrapped his fingers around the shaft and pumped, slow at first then firming up the motion, as Jackson gasped and moaned his appreciation. The other man arched his back, thrusting into Liam’s hand as clear pre-cum leaked from the tip of his erection. Liam glanced down, admiring the hard, veined dick in his hand, and ran his thumb over the smooth, bulbous tip to smear the juice around. He wanted to taste, and wriggled around to bring his face in line with Jackson’s groin.

“Christ, yes…” moaned Jackson, the flow of fluid from his cock increasing as Liam’s intent became clear.

All Roped Up by MK Elliott
As soon as he let Alex into his flat, the other man headed straight into the room, Conner watching his taut backside moving in his fitting jeans as he walked. With a suppressed smile, he followed Alex in.

“Can I get you anything to drink?” he offered.

Alex pulled his shirt over his head and dropped it to the floor. “I assume my hands are going to be tied, so unless you plan on letting me drink through a straw, I think I’ll say no this time.”

Conner smirked in amusement. “Okay, then.” He watched as Alex undid his belt buckle and shucked out of his jeans. “Are you warm enough?” he asked.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Are we going to do this, or are you just going to stand there staring at me all evening?”

“Sorry, but watching you strip in my playroom is a sight I want to remember.”

Alex grinned. “Good. Me, too.”

Conner walked further into the room and went to the box where he kept his rope. He opened the lid and started to pull out longer lengths than he had used last time. The last time he’d just been warming Alex up. This time he wanted to take things further.

“How do you feel about being gagged with rope?” he asked him.

“Gagged?”

“Yeah, you know—having the rope placed in your mouth so you won’t be able to speak.”

“How will I be able to tell you if something is wrong?”

“You’ll still be able to make noises, so you’ll be able to tell me if you’re in distress. But I promise nothing will go wrong. I’m always going to be gentle with you when I tie you up. I’d never be anything else.”

Alex nodded. “Okay, I trust you.”

Conner smiled. “It’s good to hear that.”

To create what he wanted, he needed several lengths of rope of different sizes. He always kept his rope neatly tied, so all he had to do was loosen a knot and the rope would unravel, ready for use. Conner selected his thirty meter rope and matched the ends and then pulled his way back to the centre. From here, he created a loop known as a bight.

“Put your arms behind your back, the way you did the other day.”

Alex did as he was told and Conner bound his arms together, wrapping spirals up his arms to just below the elbows. From here, he wrapped the rope around Alex’s chest and then moved upward to wrap higher and place the rope between Alex’s lips. Alex opened his mouth to him, his eyes wide and trusting. Not wanting to push Alex too much, he wrapped the rope only once around the back of his head. He folded the rope under at the base of his skull, before spiralling the running ends back down around his arms. He paused to place a kiss on Alex’s smooth shoulder, and then continued. He wanted each part of Alex to be joined to the next, so he attached a new length of rope to the first and pulled the running ends down to Alex’s ankles. He used the same technique on his ankles, wrapping the rope around his legs and then folding it under and spiralling it back down.

“Are you okay?” he asked, wanting to make sure. “If you feel any kind of discomfort, I’ll stop.”

Alex’s eyes slipped shut and he gave his head the slightest of shakes.

Conner continued to work. From Alex’s ankles, he worked the rope back up, and slipped the running ends between Alex’s legs. His hand brushed the soft, warm skin of his balls, and Alex’s cock jerked at the contact. He looked incredibly sexy tied up like this, with the rope accentuating every line and muscle of his body.

The draw of Alex’s beautiful cock was too much for him. He wrapped the rope around Alex’s balls and folded the rope right below the base of his dick. Then he wrapped another circle of rope around the stem of his erection. Alex’s breath caught, and then became shallower. His erection grew even harder, the head swollen and purple.

Tentatively, Conner ran his fingers along the length and then swiped his thumb over the end. A bead of pre-cum slicked the ball of his thumb and he lifted his hand to his mouth before looking directly at Alex. Alex’s lips were stretched at the edges by the rope, and his eyes were wide, and focused on Conner’s thumb. Without taking his eyes off Alex’s face, he lifted his thumb to his mouth and licked off the salty fluid.

Alex gave a groan and thrust his hips forward. Conner knew exactly what he was trying to tell him—that his cock needed attention. He imagined he’d be desperate to be stroked, especially with the extra sensation of the rope around his balls and the base of his cock.

Gently, Conner pressed on Alex’s shoulders, pushing him backwards so he sat on the heels of his feet. The position caused the other man’s cock to stand upright, jutting out from his body.

Blood rushed to Conner’s groin, and he hardened and lengthened in his jeans. But this wasn’t about him right now. His job was to take care of Alex, and that meant making sure he was comfortable.

Conner ducked his head down and placed both of his hands on the floor either side of Alex’s thighs. Alex’s dick bobbed inches from Conner’s face, and the masculine musky scent of him, combined with the salty pre-cum, filled Conner’s nostrils. He moved his mouth closer to Alex and parted his lips. He exhaled a rush of hot breath, the warm air hitting Alex’s swollen head and making the other man shiver with desire. Conner glanced up. Alex’s hazel eyes were wide and wild, and a thin trickle of drool slipped from the corner of his mouth.  The gag was doing its job.

Conner moved lower and placed his tongue at the flat base of Alex’s cock. With a slow, deliberate movement he raked his tongue back up until he got to the top. Then he circled the purple bell-end, spiralling inward to the slit, and pressing his tongue against it.

Alex let out another muffled moan and shunted his hips upward again.Shibari

Conner smiled against Alex’s dick, and then slowly opened his mouth and slid his lips over the head and down the rigid core of him. Alex was so hard, it was like sucking warm iron. Conner moved down as low as he could go, forcing himself to hold back his gag reflex so he could get Alex right to the back of his throat. The other man wasn’t massive, not like him, and Conner found he could take all of him, his lips touching the coarse rope wrapped around the base of his cock. He reached out and cupped Alex’s balls, his thumb skirting over the rope knotted tight at the top. It was so sexy, having Alex tied this way. Conner knew exactly what he was feeling right now. His cock would feel harder than it ever had before, tingling and rigid with pressure. He knew when Alex came, he’d come with more force than he imagined possible.

Conner squeezed and massaged Alex’s balls while he moved his mouth up and down. Above his head, he could hear Alex’s breathing growing harsher, his chest expanding and contracting, his hips bucking to try to force himself deeper and faster into Conner’s throat. The trickle of drool had become a rivulet, giving him a primal, feral appearance, especially with the rope stretched across his mouth. This smart, educated man had been turned into a creature purely focused on sensation, and he’d both lose himself and find himself in his unravelling.

Palming Alex’s balls, he slid his finger along his perineum, locating his anus. With a small amount of pressure, he pushed, not quite penetrating him, but causing enough sensation that Alex’s body bucked and his cock jerked in his mouth. Conner moved faster, swirling his tongue around him, and sucking with just enough pressure. The amount of pre-cum leaking into his mouth increased, and he knew Alex was close.

A sudden spurt hit the back of his throat, and then hot, salty cum was streaming into Conner’s mouth. He gulped and swallowed, not wanting to miss a drop.

Doctor’s Orders by Lucy Felthouse
Aaron hummed contentedly as he walked along the white-painted corridor towards the locker room. He was happy in his job as a hospital porter. He might not be saving lives, like his doctor boyfriend, Blake, but he liked to think he was improving them. He made the effort with the patients he transported around—or the ones that were well enough to hold a conversation with him, anyway. He chatted to them, showed an interest, tried to make them laugh, always remained positive, even when things were bleak. That was his way of spreading a little cheer, or helping someone forget their worries, even if it was only for a few minutes. It was a small contribution, but a contribution nonetheless, and it made him feel good.

The corridor stretched on, and Aaron thought for the umpteenth time that it could do with some artwork on the walls—something other than doors to break up the interminable expanse of white paint and grey dado rail. But patients never came to this area of the building—unless they were lost—so there was no need to spend any more money on it than was absolutely necessary. Aaron understood that, but boy did it make for a dull walk to the locker room.

As he continued his journey, he saw that a supply cupboard door on the left hand side of the corridor was ajar. It was nothing unusual—people often propped doors open with their feet if they were just leaning in to grab something, or used something as a door stop if they needed both hands to carry what they’d come to collect and therefore couldn’t open the door again to let themselves out.

Reaching the door, he’d just opened his mouth to call out and ask whoever it was if they needed help, when the gap grew wider. A white-clad arm appeared and the accompanying hand grabbed the front of his T-shirt, pulling him roughly into the cupboard.

“Wha—”

Aaron didn’t even get chance to finish his exclamation, as he’d been slammed against the now-closed cupboard door, and hard, demanding lips were pressed to his. Lips, he realised, as his brain caught up with the turn of events, that belonged to Doctor Blake Colville. Lips that were allowed to kiss his, thank God!

The fresh, spicy scent of Blake’s cologne invaded Aaron’s nostrils, and he relaxed into the kiss, returned it with enthusiasm. Blake’s tongue sought entrance to Aaron’s mouth, and he gave it willingly, moaning as their tongues slipped and tangled together sensuously, and Blake’s firm, lithe body pinned his slightly-more-muscular one against the cool wood of the door. He stifled any further moans that wanted to sneak out, remembering that, hot as the situation was, it was also pretty precarious, and both of them could get into serious trouble if they were caught. Patients may not frequent this area of the building, but the staff sure did.

Reaching out, he gripped the lapels of Blake’s white coat and pulled, so their bodies were crushed together and their kiss grew bruisingly brutal—in a good way.

Toys for Boys by KD Grace
“I really am sorry, lads,” the proprietress at the Keld Lodge said, “but I’ve only a tiny single room available which, due to health and safety, I can’t rent as a double.”

“God, I really don’t want to spend another night in that leaky tent,” the dark-haired bloke was barely understandable between chattering teeth. “There must be something else close by.”

“Not within easy walking distance,” the proprietress said. “I can let you put up the tent around the back,” she offered. “You can even use the showers and the drying room for your wet gear. Of course stay inside by the fire as long as you like.”

The weather had been abysmal when I arrived the night before on a short writing and walking retreat. It was worse today, so I’d spent my time ensconced in the pub’s restaurant at a table by the window looking out onto the misty Yorkshire Dales. It was mid afternoon when the two drenched, bedraggled lads slogged through the door, bringing with them a gust of icy, wet wind. I had just come to the bar to order a pot of tea and, as I stood quietly in the queue behind them, I noticed the blond casting worried glances at his shivering companion.

“Walking the Coast to Coast?” I asked.

“We are,” the dark-haired bloke replied. “Though I’m pretty sure we swam most of it today.”

“You taking the high level route through the mining ruins tomorrow?” I asked.

They both nodded. “Supposed to be sunny,” the blond replied. “Three days of bad weather and last night the tent sprung a leak. We were hoping for a hot meal and a real bed tonight.”

“I’m truly sorry, lads,” the proprietress said. “I wish I could help.”

I’m not sure what inspired me to make the offer, perhaps memories of the times I’d walked cold and wet, but more than likely it was simply because I’m a hopeless romantic and I recognised that the two men were more than just mates out for an adventure.

“Look, why don’t you take my room for the night? I’m on my own and I have a nice double until the end of the week. I can take the single, and then we can switch back tomorrow. Wouldn’t that work?” I asked the proprietress.

“I don’t see why not,” came the reply. “I’ll sort it with housekeeping, and you can work out the details among yourselves.”

“It has a bath and lots of hot water,” I said, recalling what a pleasure an actual bathtub was after a long, cold walk.

“Oh God, you’re a saint,” the dark-haired one said, offering me a blinding smile between chattering teeth.

Mile High Kink Club By Lily Harlem
“You’re sure they won’t come out of there?” Rhodri whispered in Darius’ ear.

“I’m sure.”

“Even if they hear…”

“What?”

“Noises.”

“No, and besides, they wear headphones, don’t they?” Darius pulled back and giggled.

“I guess so.” Rhodri felt as though his heart was swelling with love. “Because don’t think I’ve forgotten about those spanks.” He spun Darius within his arms so he faced the window. “Hold onto this shelf. You’re going to need to.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Rhodri scooped his right forearm beneath Darius’ waist then palmed his buttocks. “Damn, your skin. It’s beautiful, almost transparent, so delicate.”

“I’m not delicate.”

Rhodri smiled. His sub could pretend to be tough all he wanted, but he had the measure of him. He drew back his hand and delivered a stinging blow to Darius’ right cheek.

“Ah, fuck,” Darius gasped, jerking forward.

Rhodri held him tighter and watched as his skin turned rose-red instantly. It was stunning in detail, the shape of each of his fingers blooming. “Keep still.” He breezed his palm over the opposite buttock. Now Darius knew what was coming it was all the more fun to tease him with anticipation. He kept on stroking, caressing. “What do you see out of the window?”

“Clouds.” His voice was breathy. “Lots of fucking clouds…argh…!”

Rhodri had spanked him again. He’d hit hard. He didn’t dare give more than two loud slaps. Not here, not now. There would be times in the future when he’d have Darius glowing like a beacon and counting to fifty on each side, but this would have to be enough for today.

“How does that feel, sub?”

“Good, sore, hot…”

The Guitar by Tabitha Rayne
So I’m not the kind of guy you’d see in a magazine or fashion catalogue – I’m kind of chubby at the hips and have a hint of the man boob. I’m tall in that way that happened too quickly so I stooped as a teen and the stoop has remained. My face is probably slack rather than chiselled but I have quite full pouting lips (I’ve been told). My eyes are framed quite nicely with long black lashes and when I’m not being critical of my acne scars and uneven beard growth, I could say they were even pretty. Or handsome. Or whatever you’d say about eyes. Intense maybe?

I just am not confident. Well there is one part of my existence where I am. When I’m playing guitar.

One of my friends told me when I was quite young that Jimi Hendrix used to rub himself off with his guitar when he was playing on stage – I begged for lessons from my parents from that day. Turned out, I had quite a skill even if I did come late to learning.

Now though, I’m lying on my bed in the shaft of afternoon sun that shines into to my upper flat bedroom, with my guitar lying over my pelvis. I love the solid weight of it there as the gentle hum of the amp lets me know it’s plugged in and ready.

I’m naked. And from what I described earlier, that may not fill you with much excitement, it doesn’t really me either, but when I hook my long dextrous fingers into an A chord on the fretboard, my cock begins to swell. Thick cherry wood presses against is and it strains as I poise my plectrum ready to strum out the first chord. I love this moment. The shivering anticipation. You know what’s coming next. I barely even need to play anymore to get my cock fully erect. It feels good. The compressed swelling and growing.

I swipe the pick over the metal strings and a note shrills out through the amp and vibrates into my dick. It’s amazing. Sensations prickle through my pelvis into my ass and I clench my cheeks, grinding into the back of the guitar while the vibrating note sustains. I lean my forearm onto the body of the instrument and thrum again, this time massaging my cock with the guitar in time with the tune I’m beginning to play. It feels so good. I press the wood into my body and pull upwards, my balls pull up too and tighten a little. Afternoons are my time. My horny time. I spread my legs and begin rubbing and playing more frantically until the vibrations become too much and I have to throw off the guitar and grab my cock in my fist, pumping ferociously as the feedback yowls through my bedroom.

I come hard and fast over my belly and lie there panting and sweating. I cup my balls in and massage them for a bit. It is always at this stage in my play that my pinkie strays down to my perineum. Just a little. But it is enough to feel the stirring again. Oh to be able to stroke myself there with no guilt. To feel pressure at my most intimate place from a finger or even a cock.

Listen, I’m no virgin, by any stretch of the imagination. I’m just incredibly uptight. And that’s probably because of being told as a child that homosexuality is a sin. Hell is a scary place to young minds. It makes me angry that this was placed into my innocent psyche. Even then, in my bones, I knew it wasn’t true but it stuck. It remained. And it forms who I am today.

I’ve performed on men. Sure. But what I really want is an equal share in that performance. The ability to feel completely at ease with my desires. If I want to be made love to, why shouldn’t I be able to let that happen?

It makes me angry and sad. Why is my mind capable of holding on to these things? Perhaps it has something to do with the fact that my father died never knowing his son was gay. Was that a good thing? Probably for him. But now, now though, in the darkest nights when I’m fantasising and imagining being fucked hard by my lover, being stretched open and taken, it’s my father’s disapproving eyes that replace those of my lover and I stop.

Lying back into my pillows, I let the sensation of my come half trickling, half drying on my belly ease me into an afternoon doze.


Ashe Barker
Until 2010, Ashe was a director of a regeneration company before deciding there had to be more to life and leaving to pursue a lifetime goal of self-employment.

Ashe has been an avid reader of women’s fiction for many years—erotic, historical, contemporary, fantasy, romance—you name it. Now, at last in control of her own time and working from her home in rural West Yorkshire, she has been able to realise her dream of writing erotic romance herself.

She draws on settings and anecdotes from her previous and current experience to lend colour, detail and realism to her plots and characters, but her stories of love, challenge, resilience and compassion are the conjurings of her own imagination. She loves to craft strong, enigmatic men and bright, sassy women to give them a hard time—in every sense of the word.

When she’s not writing, Ashe’s time is divided between her role as resident taxi driver for her teenage daughter, and caring for a menagerie of dogs, rabbits, tortoises and a grumpy cockatiel.

MK Elliott
M.K. Elliott is the author of the bestselling short story collection, Rescued. A British author, she was born in Devon, England, where she now lives with her husband, two young daughters, a crazy Spanish rescue dog and four hens. Though she has a degree in Zoology, her true love has always been writing and she now works as a full time author.

Since Rescued hit the number one spot, she’s also had several other titles hit the bestseller list, including another short story collection, Some Love it Hot, and her erotic vampire novella, Deadly Beauty.

M.K. writes everything from contemporary romance to steaming hot erotica, and her love of travel and adventure is her main influence in her stories.

Lucy Felthouse
Lucy Felthouse is a very busy woman! She writes erotica and erotic romance in a variety of subgenres and pairings, and has over 100 publications to her name, with many more in the pipeline. These include several editions of Best Bondage Erotica, Best Women's Erotica 2013 and Best Erotic Romance 2014. Another string to her bow is editing, and she has edited and co-edited a number of anthologies, and also edits for a small publishing house. She owns Erotica For All, is book editor for Cliterati, and is one eighth of The Brit Babes. Join her on Facebook and Twitter, and subscribe to her newsletter.

KD Grace
Voted ETO Best Erotic Author of 2014, K D Grace believes Freud was right. In the end, it really IS all about sex, well sex and love. And nobody’s happier about that than she is, otherwise, what would she write about?

When she’s not writing, K D is veg gardening. When she’s not gardening, she’s walking. She walks her stories, and she’s serious about it. She and her husband have walked Coast to Coast across England, along with several other long-distance routes. For her, inspiration is directly proportionate to how quickly she wears out a pair of walking boots. She also enjoys martial arts, reading, watching the birds and anything that gets her outdoors.

K D has erotica published with SourceBooks, Xcite Books, Harper Collins Mischief Books, Mammoth, Cleis Press, Black Lace, Erotic Review, Ravenous Romance, Sweetmeats Press and others.

K D’s critically acclaimed erotic romance novels include, The Initiation of Ms Holly, Fulfilling the Contract, The Pet Shop. Her paranormal erotic novel, Body Temperature and Rising, the first book of her Lakeland Witches trilogy, was listed as honorable mention on Violet Blue’s Top 12 Sex Books for 2011. Books two and three, Riding the Ether, and Elemental Fire, are now also available.

K D Grace also writes hot romance as Grace Marshall. An Executive Decision, Identity Crisis, The Exhibition are all available.

Lily Harlem
Lily Harlem is a best-selling, award-winning author of erotic romance. She lives in the UK and writes for several publishing houses including HarperCollins, Totally Bound, Pride Publishing, Evernight, ARe and Sweetmeats Press. She also features in numerous UK and US anthologies, some of which all proceeds go to charity.

Her books are a mixture of full length novels and short stories, some are one offs, some are sequels or part of a series (all can be enjoyed as stand-alone reads). What they all have in common are colourful characters travelling on everyone’s favourite journey — falling in love. If the story isn’t deliciously romantic and down and dirty sexy, it won’t be written, at least not by this author. So with the bedroom door left well and truly open you are warned to hang on for a steamy, sensual ride - or rides as the case might be!

Ashley Lister
Ashley Lister is a prolific writer of erotic fiction, having written more than two dozen full length novels and over a hundred short stories. Aside from regularly blogging about poetry and writing in general, Ashley also teaches creative writing. He has hosted creative writing workshops at Eroticon, the annual conference for sex bloggers and erotica writers and is the regular host for Blackpool's Pub Poets. Ashley lives in Lancashire.

Sarah Masters
Sarah Masters is a multi-published author in three pen names writing several genres. She lives with her husband, youngest daughter, and a cat in England. She writes at weekends and is a cover artist/head of art in her day job. In another life she was an editor. Her other pen names are Natalie Dae and Geraldine O’Hara.

Sarah also co-authors with Jaime Samms, and as Natalie Dae she co-authors with Lily Harlem under the name Harlem Dae.

Tabitha Rayne
Tabitha Rayne just loves romance - with all its ups, downs and round abouts. She lives in the country where stormy weather inspires her and the passion between her characters.



Ashe Barker
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MK Elliott
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Lucy Felthouse
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Lily Harlem
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Sarah Masters
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Tabitha Rayne
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