📘🎥Friday's Film Adaptation🎥📘: The Killing by Lionel White

Summary:
The boys said it couldn't be done -- knocking over a racetrack. Too much security. Too much money to handle. Too many obstacles. But Johnny Clay knew, if anyone did, how to mastermind a daring robbery. You just had to have the right people to work with, a few ringers on the inside who could keep their mouths shut, and a diversion. A big diversion. Like taking out the favorite horse on the most anticipated race with a high-powered rifle. Things can go right, and things can go wrong. But Johnny knew his plan could work. If only everyone did his part without cracking.

The Killing (originally titled Clean Break) by the master of capers, Lionel White, is what many people consider the greatest heist novel of all time. Stanley Kubrick liked the book enough to option it and make a classic noir film of it, co-scripted with the great Jim Thompson. Now available from Chalk Line Books in an illustrated, premium quality edition.

A team of specialists plots a daring racetrack robbery, but they don't reckon with human frailty.

Release Date: May 19, 1956
Release Time: 85 minutes

Cast:
Sterling Hayden as Johnny Clay
Coleen Gray as Fay
Vince Edwards as Val Cannon
Jay C. Flippen as Marvin Unger
Elisha Cook Jr. as George Peatty
Marie Windsor as Sherry Peatty
Ted de Corsia as Policeman Randy Kennan
Joe Sawyer as Mike O'Reilly
James Edwards as track parking attendant
Timothy Carey as Nikki Arane
Joe Turkel as Tiny
Jay Adler as Leo the Loanshark
Kola Kwariani as Maurice Oboukhoff
Dorothy Adams as Mrs. Ruthie O'Reilly

Trailer

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Author Bio:
Lionel White was born July 9, 1905 in New York City. He started his career as a police reporter and true crime magazine editor, and turned those experiences toward fiction writing with his first novel, The Snatchers, in 1953, about a failed kidnapping. He wrote more than 35 books, many of them translated into different languages and turned into films like The Night of the Following Day, The Money Trap, The Big Caper, Pierrot le Fou and perhaps most famously, The Killing, adapted by Stanley Kubrick from White’s novel, Clean Break. He was considered the master of the big caper, and was credited by director Quentin Tarantino with the inspiration for his film, Reservoir Dogs. White died December 26, 1985, in Asheville, North Carolina.

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Review Tour: Guarding Garrett by RJ Scott

Title: Guarding Garrett

Author: RJ Scott

Series: Hockey Allies Bachelor Bid #1

Genre: M/M Romance

Release Date: April 7, 2020

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Summary:
A hardworking, competitive, and skilled hockey player, Garrett is the cornerstone of the Burlington Dragons hockey team and one of the league’s most popular playmakers. Blessed with a face that delivers millions in endorsements, he has a legion of fans, and a future so bright that he is the envy of many.

When his internet fame puts him in danger, and a stalker threatens his life, the team hires Jason, a quiet but deadly former marine, to protect him. Danger is always close, but forced proximity means sparks fly, attraction burns, and somehow, resentment turns to love.

When Garrett’s stalker ups their game at a charity bachelor auction, there is a real chance it could mean the end for Garrett, but Jason refuses to leave his side whatever the risk.

These two stubborn men will have to fight to walk away from this alive, but their newfound love is worth every sacrifice.

Brilliant!

Now I could leave it at that because it sums it up pretty perfectly but I'll say a little more😉.  First, I'll reiterate what I said when I reviewed VL Locey's series entry, Loving Layne: I was expecting something completely different with a series titled Hockey Allies Bachelor Bid, but oh how these are better than what my brain imagined.

Bodyguards. Danger. Stalker. Sarcastic hockey player. Humor. Drama. Romance. Most importantly there's plenty of heart.  I can't forget heat, after all it is RJ Scott and she does heat and heart best, not too much, not too little, perfect balance for my taste.

As for Garrett and Jason.  Well, Garrett is typical in that he's reluctant to accept the bodyguard and his restrictions.  Now I say "typical" not because it's cliche and been done to death but because I think it's a typical reaction that most of us would have as well.  As for Jason, he too is probably the typical bodyguard faced with having to convince the one in need of protection that the danger is real.    Together their chemistry is off the charts, push and pull that makes it yummy from the getgo.

For those who think Guarding Garrett sounds like a gay hockey version of the movie The Bodyguard, Jason himself says at one point "I'm not Kevin Costner".  Truth is, as someone who absolutely loves that movie and knows it by heart, Guarding Garrett is so much better.  You'll notice I don't really mention the mystery part of the story and I won't either other than it adds an extra level of intriguing flare to the story and the characters. That is the closest thing to a mystery spoiler you are going to get from me😉.

For those asking about series order, well I have only read books one and two(and I read two first), they are standalones.  The charity auction is the connection and as the MC hockey players are friends they have minor cameos but no it's not a must to read in order.  I will say that Garrett seemed to express a bit more passionately how important the auction was more than Layne, as it's book one in the series but I don't think that changes my opinion on reading order necessity, just thought I'd mention it though.

RATING:

Hot hockey players on the auction block…

Win a date with a professional hockey player during All Star weekend in Chicago. From leading scorers to fan favorites to guys you love to hate, watch the players strut their stuff in support of the Hockey Allies charity. 

Place a bid. You just might find someone to keep you warm.

Guarding Garrett - RJ Scott  /  Loving Layne - V.L. Locey  /  Keeping Kyle - Jeff Adams

Scoring Slater - Susan Scott Shelley  /  Absolving Ash - Chantal Mer

Author Bio:
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.

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Release Blitz: This Dark Mirror by Tricia Owens

Title: This Dark Mirror

Author: Tricia Owens

Series: Juxtan #4

Genre: M/M Romance, Fantasy

Release Date: April 14, 2020

Cover Design: Tricia Owens

Summary:
The mystery of Hadrian ni Agthon unsettles Caled to his core. He fears he will never learn the truth about the young sorcerer's reasons for betraying him. Though there are an increasing number of hints that Hadrian was a victim of his father, Hadrian himself suggests that every step he took was taken deliberately. When their group is contacted by a sorcerer who not only knows Hadrian but claims to be his friend, Caled is hopeful for a chance to finally separate fact from fiction. Instead, he's served a greater mystery: Hadrian appears to hate this supposed friend. Caled needs to learn more, but he worries that his quest for knowledge will come at the expense of their safety, for the road ahead looks to be riddled with traps not only physical, but emotional.

Hadrian was certain he would go mad with the depth of his lust. He parted his lips and helplessly mouthed Caled’s shoulder as his own hips pushed forward against the mercenary’s backside. He wanted Caled’s bare flesh in his naked palm. He wanted to hold that velvety heat and stroke it. He wanted to taste it. Oh, gods, he wanted it inside him.

"Please," he groaned.

"Easy," Caled murmured, though his voice sounded deeper. “This is enough, Hades. This is more than I should."

Hadrian didn’t want him thinking about that. Caled was finally giving in. Caled was finally giving him what they both wanted and Hadrian wasn’t about to let the other man change his mind when Hadrian had waited so very long for this.

They were at the back of their line, the others riding ahead, so Hadrian squeezed his thighs together and lifted himself high enough to put his lips on the sun-warmed skin of Caled’s nape. Caled flinched, but Hadrian persisted, moving his lips over that warm, golden skin and finally touching his tongue to it. The moment his tongue made contact, Caled’s entire body shivered and his hand crushed Hadrian’s against him.

"Hades," he groaned.

Hadrian shut his eyes and savored the lust riding in waves through his body. Courage which he hadn’t known he possessed fueled his hands and his words. He leaned up and whispered, “What you did to me in that boat was not unwanted.”

Caled’s entire body stiffened. Their horse bobbed its head, sensing the new tension.

“Damn you, Hades.”

“My body still aches from how you took me. It’s an ache I take into my dreams.”

"We’re not doing this," Caled panted, sounding almost angry as he continued to thrust into Hadrian’s hands. "Not here. Not now."

“You have become my master in torture,” Hadrian ground out. “Grant me relief.”

"I would master you in many ways.” Caled shook his head. “But it’s not that easy. Not—for me."

Author Bio:
Tricia Owens has been writing m/m fiction since 2000, after stumbling onto the term ‘slash’ and thinking it referred to horror stories. She is the author of the Sin City, A Pirate’s Life for Me, and Juxtapose City series, among several others. She lives in Las Vegas.

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Review Tour: Loving Layne by VL Locey

Title: Loving Layne

Author: VL Locey

Series: Hockey Allies Bachelor Bid #2

Genre: M/M Romance

Release Date: April 7, 2020

Cover Design: Meredith Russell

Summary:
Sometimes the last thing you expect to happen might turn out to be what you needed all along.

Roman Kennedy’s first trip to the Windy City isn’t going quite as planned. Mysteries intrigue him, and his best friend Dillon seems to be sitting on a whopper. So, with his grandfather’s favorite hat on his head and his notebook in hand, the journalism major starts digging. Sadly, getting his bestie to spill the beans on what the secret is isn’t as easy as Roman had hoped.

Now, through no fault of his own, he’s stuck in an expensive hotel attending a bachelor auction of all things. He’s surrounded by lumbering jocks who, he’s sure, are just waiting for the chance to poke fun at the skinny, gay Jewish guy. Imagine his surprise when one of the big lugs sits down with him and talks Bernstein and Woodward.

Layne Coleman is sexy as sin, smart as a whip, considerably older, and has the same passion for investigative journalism as Roman does. His deep blue eyes and dark hair make concentrating on anything but the soft kisses they’re now sharing difficult. Roman’s keen instincts are understandably clouded by romance, so when Dillon reveals his secret in a highly public way, it’s hard to say who is more stunned—Roman or Layne, the man at the center of it all.

This story was absolutely brilliant!  I'll admit it took me a couple of chapters to get into it but that was more to do with the fact that the last book I read before starting Loving Layne was a highly paranormal and complete opposite of this but once I was able to let go of the previous reading I was hooked on Layne and Roman's journey.

I won't lie, I was expecting a completely different kind of set-up with a series titled Hockey Allies Bachelor Bid but I wouldn't want Layne and Roman's story any different than the one VL Locey has written.  May/December romances are not something I generally seek out but nor to shy away from them, Miss Locey has done a wonderful job showing that age is just a number and that you don't have to be within 5 years of each other to be a perfect fit.

As for Roman, well his love of nearly everything "old"(and I am not referring to Layne😉😉) was a welcome element.  I love so many things classic and it's just not an aspect you often find in main characters when reading so it was a point that I not only welcomed but highly appreciated.  When it comes to Layne, well I loved him, it wasn't hard to see what drew Roman in.  Not making Roman feel like an odd duck for his love of everything classic was also highly appreciated.  There really is no doubting their connection from the getgo.

As for Dillon's bombshell, well I won't go into that and spoil anything but I truly loved the reactions and how each character dealt with the news.  Perhaps Dillon's original dropping of the bombshell could have been handled better but we have to have some drama, don't we?😉

Could Loving Layne been even better with a few points explored deeper?  Maybe.  Did the story being on the shorter side leave some lacking gaps?  Perhaps.  Personally, when written well, "gaps" that happen off-page pull me in even deeper because it kicks my imagination in high gear to help the author "write" the journey.  So in short: Loving Layne is an amazingly fun, dramedy with real characters that entertained me, and I can't ask for nor want anything more.

RATING:

Hot hockey players on the auction block…

Win a date with a professional hockey player during All Star weekend in Chicago. From leading scorers to fan favorites to guys you love to hate, watch the players strut their stuff in support of the Hockey Allies charity. 

Place a bid. You just might find someone to keep you warm.

Guarding Garrett - RJ Scott  /  Loving Layne - V.L. Locey  /  Keeping Kyle - Jeff Adams

Scoring Slater - Susan Scott Shelley  /  Absolving Ash - Chantal Mer

Author Bio:
USA Today Bestselling Author V.L. Locey – Penning LGBT hockey romance that skates into sinful pleasures.

V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, yoga, belly laughs, walking, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, Torchwood and Dr. Who, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, one dog, two cats, a pair of geese, far too many chickens, and two steers.

When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in one hand and a steamy romance novel in the other.

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