Review: A Little Blood (The Blood Bond Trilogy #1) by Aimer Boyz

Can you handle forever?

Eternity comes with a price. Forever is a lonely word and Etienne Vaillancourt needs more than blood.

Andrew Delaney needs to pay down his student loans, maybe save enough money to fix up his relic of a Honda. No rush, Andrew’s got his whole life ahead of him.

But one lifetime isn’t always enough.

A chance meeting in a movie theatre is the start of a future neither man had thought possible. A future together … if they can handle forever.





It’s been ages since I’ve read a vampire story and I was sooo glad this wasn’t a flop!


Etienne is a 236 year old vampire in a 28 year old’s body. During a chance meeting whilst seeing Twilight (I know right!?!), Andrew walks into Etienne’s life. Humans don't know vampires exist in this world, so Andrew and Etienne have a new relationship to work out as well as this secret that will need to be revealed.


I like how this world had elements of traditional vampires, like how Etienne actually dies when the sun rises and comes back to life when it sets and how his pupils turn red when feeding. Boyz has mixed these ideas into vampires living within the modern world with little details like how Etienne manages his wealth over 200 years. It was pretty engaging.




What really surprised me was the banter and humour. I loved how Etienne and Andrew interacted with each other. Andrew is happy and down to earth and Etienne has a dry sarcasm that compliments Andrew nicely.



Holy shit. How did I not think of that before? Andrew walked into the school, grin stretching across his face . There were a veritable arsenal of taunting, teasing nicknames for Andrew’s oh, so, dignified favourite fiend: Dracula, Nosferatu, Vlad, Night Walker. Awesome.


The build up of Etienne’s and Andrews relationship and the eventual ‘vampire’ reveal was great. It was pretty realistic with them dating first and slowly becoming more serious. It was a little bit insta-love with Etienne feeling Andrew was ‘special’ from the moment they met. It was all quite sweet and I was surprisingly suck to the pages because of these two.


Etienne took Andrew’s hand. “But you, there is no darkness in you. The first time you smiled at me, I saw it; sunshine . It is a part of you, it is who you are. Laughing, and teasing, calling me those ridiculous names; you chase the darkness away.”


The sex was hot! All biting and bleeding, everything vampire books should have! Some scenes were fade to black and some were glossed over but it was explicit enough to keep me interested, so that's saying something.




So if this was so good why the average rating? Well I was rating this 4.5 hearts all the way until the epilogue, when I finished I couldn’t believe how much was cut out completely and I find that really disappointing.


Spoiler ahead.


We finish the end of the book (minus epilogue) with Andrew deciding whether he was going to let Etienne ‘turn’ him. From about 80% onwards I expected not to see ‘the turning’ in this book as the build up was really well done and I knew it was the first of a trilogy. Then came the epilogue and the words…”Eight years later….. and yes Andrew has already been turned and apparently there was a bit of a story/drama with the whole process, so why the fuck couldn’t I read about that!!! It's what the whole story was building up to! I was sooooo excited to read about two characters I really liked going through the most important decision and moment of their lives, but no, instead I got highlights. Unfortunately the rest of the trilogy isn't about them either, so there's no possible way of getting more information about how they got to the point of their HEA.




I really really enjoyed this and I’ll definitely continue with the series, but I’m still so disappointed with the ending when I think of this book.






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Trivia Question

Name this angsty book that contains a triad relationship (Paul, Eve & Danny) that is based on BDSM & set in Florida. (worth 10 pts)

Don't forget to tag @BMBReviews on Twitter as well as the author and your answer to be entered to win DSP credits!

Review: Arctic Fire by Keira Andrews

When two strangers are trapped in a blizzard, heat rises.

Haunted by what he lost in Afghanistan, Captain Jack Turner is at a crossroads. While the last place he wants to go is the Arctic, at least the routine mission gets him out from behind his new desk. But he starts off on the wrong foot with the Canadian Ranger guiding him across the forbidding and dangerous land, and Jack would rather be anywhere than sharing a tent with Sergeant Kin Carsen.

The Arctic is in Kin's blood, and he can't seem to leave the tundra behind. He wishes he could live openly as a gay man, but the North isn't as accepting as the rest of Canada. Although he's lonely, he loves his responsibility as a Ranger, patrolling the vast land he knows so well. But he's on unfamiliar ground with Jack, and when they're stranded alone by a blizzard, unexpected desire begins to burn. Soon they're in a struggle to survive, and all these strangers have is each other.




 

Arctic Fire is on the shorter side, but it still delivers everything I've come to expect from Keira Andrews.

Jack was put in a desk job after his last tour in Afghanistan. He wasn't meant for a desk job. He knows it and everyone around him knows it. So he was sent to the Arctic to review the situation there. He was assigned to work with a Canadian Ranger, Kin. 

They got off on the wrong foot, mostly because Jack was Mr. Grumpy Gills and he didn't waste time letting Kin know that he thought this whole "job" was a waste of time. He put his foot in his mouth on more than one occasion. Oddly enough, it only made Jack even more likable. He didn't mean to be so disagreeable. He went through a lot during his last tour and experienced loss. So even though he was being a stinker, I felt for him. I felt that he didn't want to be the bitter person he'd become. 

And he certainly didn't want the attraction he had with Kin to grow.

While on patrol, they end up being stuck out in the middle of nowhere due to a blizzard. I found this part of the story kind of fascinating. I am not one that enjoys cold weather. I hate being cold. So reading how the Inuit people survive the extreme cold was interesting. They were in a tent FFS! But Kin was so knowledgeable about the land and survival. He had all kinds of brilliant tricks. Not to mention his tricks with his tongue... being stuck in such close quarters was bound to lead to some sexytimes.

The tension wasn't off the charts or anything, but it was good and they were sexy. They definitely had some hot moments and some sweet ones. They talked and had some very honest conversations with each other about their pasts. Neither of which were very easy. 

It ended on a sweet note. Things moved a little fast and there were some big decisions made. But they made sense with the story, especially for Jack. What did he have to lose? It's not like he was happy or really even living before he met Kin. He found his happy place and he went with it. 

When I opened up Arctic Fire and plopped myself down to snuggle with this feel good read, I didn't get back up. I read it in one sitting. It is Keira Andrews, after all.


A copy was provide in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads.

Purchase Links:
Global: http://mybook.to/ArcticFire_KA

Anniversary Shenanigans: Author Visit + Giveaway - Lisa Henry


These boots aren't made for walking. Strap in, kids. Lisa Henry brought'd it!


These boots

These boots? These boots are definitely not made for walking. Kyle’s been wearing them for two hours now, he can’t feel his toes anymore, and the twinges of pain radiating out from his spine are making him see flashes of white.

“That’s it,” Al says in an undertone. “That’s good.”

Kyle’s been crushing on Al for months now, which is the only damn reason he’s here at all. Al is a regular at the club where Kyle tends bar, and Kyle has slung so many free drinks his way it’s a wonder he hasn’t been fired, but Al still hasn’t noticed him. When Al put the word out that he wanted models for his latest shoot, Kyle figured why the hell not?

Except it hurts. It legitimately fucking hurts, and Kyle has no idea why Al is still taking photos, since he knows he sweated off his makeup under the hot lights a while ago, and the only facial expression he’s actually capable of right now is a grimace. How is that supposed to sell boots?

“Just a few more,” Al says, his voice low in Kyle’s ear. Kyle jerks in surprise at the unexpected sound, the movement sending a spasm of pain up his spine. He winces, stumbles, and only Al’s hands on his hips keep him from falling forward. Al keeps one hand on his hip. Slides the other around to his abdomen, and tugs him gently backward.

Kyle freezes under the bright, hot lights.

“Just a few more minutes,” Al says. He splays his fingers. “You can do that for me.”

Kyle nods, not sure if he believes it or not. He struggles to maintain his posture when Al releases him again. “These photographs won’t sell many boots though, right? I mean, I’m not making them look comfortable.”

The click and flash of the camera. “The people buying these boots don’t want their boys to be comfortable, Kyle.”

Kyle squints into the light. “What?”

Al is close behind him again, warm hands sliding down the quivering muscles in his thighs. “The people who buy these boots want their boys to cry.” He rubs a finger down the cleft of Kyle’s ass, pushing him up impossibly higher onto his toes. “Can you cry for me, Kyle?”

Kyle squeezes his eyes shut. “Yes, sir.”

“Good boy,” Al says, his voice low and pleased.

Well, he guesses he’s got Al’s attention at last. It’s going to be a long night.


About the author

Lisa likes to tell stories, mostly with hot guys and happily ever afters.

Lisa lives in tropical North Queensland, Australia. She doesn't know why, because she hates the heat, but she suspects she's too lazy to move. She spends half her time slaving away as a government minion, and the other half plotting her escape.

She attended university at sixteen, not because she was a child prodigy or anything, but because of a mix-up between international school systems early in life. She studied History and English, neither of them very thoroughly.

She shares her house with too many cats, a green tree frog that swims in the toilet, and as many possums as can break in every night. This is not how she imagined life as a grown-up.

You can email me at: lisahenryonline@gmail.com
Or check out my website at: lisahenryonline.com
Got Twitter? Follow me at https://twitter.com/LisaHenryOnline
Hanging out on Goodreads? So am I: Lisa Henry
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lisa.henry.1441



Make sure to leave a comment to tell Lisa what you thought of her fic AND to be entered for a chance to win the ebook of your choice from her backlist. Be sure to leave your email, Twitter handle or Goodreads profile by no later than Midnight EST November 19th so we can contact you. If there is no response within 48 hrs another winner will be chosen. Good luck!



Don't miss entering in our month long unicorn giveaway here!

Anniversary Shenanigans: Rick R. Reed Giveaway


Rick R. Reed dropped off a gift bag!

The tag says it's for you. Can you believe it?

He left a really easy giveaway for his latest from Dreamspinners, an ebook copy of Dinner at Jack's for one lucky person!

See we told you...the tag has your name on it.

Just enter in rafflecopter below for your chance to make it come true!



Personal chef Beau St. Clair, recently divorced from his cheating husband, returns to the small Ohio River town where he grew up to lick his wounds. Jack Rogers lives with his mother, Maisie, in that same small town, angry at and frightened of the world. Jack has a gap in his memory that hides something he dares not face, and he’s probably suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder.

Maisie, seeking relief from her housebound and often surly son, hires Beau to cook for Jack, hoping the change might help bring Jack, once a handsome and vibrant attorney, back to his former self. But can a new face and comfort food compensate for the terror lurking in Jack’s past?

Slowly the two men begin a dance of revelation and healing. Food and compassion build a bridge between Beau and Jack, a bridge that might lead to love.

But will Jack’s demons allow it? Jack’s history harbors secrets that could just as easily rip them apart as bring them together.

About Rick R. Reed:

Rick R. Reed is all about exploring the romantic entanglements of gay men in contemporary, realistic settings. While his stories often contain elements of suspense, mystery and the paranormal, his focus ultimately returns to the power of love. He is the author of dozens of published novels, novellas, and short stories. He is a three-time EPIC eBook Award winner (for Caregiver, Orientation and The Blue Moon Cafe). His novel, Raining Men, won the Rainbow Award for Best Contemporary General Fiction. Lambda Literary Review has called him, "a writer that doesn't disappoint." Rick lives in Seattle with his husband and a very spoiled Boston terrier. He is forever "at work on another novel."

Website
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Goodreads


Enter for a chance to win an eBook copy of Dinner at Jack's by Rick R. Reed!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The giveaway is open until 9:00PM (Pacific time) on 11/18/16. Shortly thereafter, we will contact a winner! 

Please respond to the winning notification within 48 hours or we will choose another winner. Good luck!

Don't miss entering in our month long unicorn giveaway here!

Anniversary Shenanigans: Author Interview + Giveaway - Misha Horne




Time for a super serious interview of Misha Horne. Lookit how super serious we look. Ahem! Watch out Anderson Cooper.



BMBR: What are your favorite M/M themes?

Okay, I’ll get the obvious out of the way first and say BDSM, kink, fetish, especially anything spanking related. Enemies to lovers is another huge one for me, the more obnoxious and frustrating, the better! College romances, especially with roommates. First love, first kiss, anything involving self discovery, kink discovery, kink exploration. I’m totally down for practically-instalove, especially in NA. One night stands that turns into something more. Mostly plotless books filled with angsty, anxious characters who overthink everything. That’s a theme, right? Oh, and forced proximity romances! Trap a couple of obnoxious, kinky college guys together in a cabin, throw in an anxious first kiss and some spanking, and I am so there!

BMBR: What books do you consider Desert Island Keepers?

Oh, that’s super hard. I’m going to forget at least fifty. The Secret Garden. Fahrenheit 451. The Outsiders. Anne of Green Gables. Valley of the Dolls. Little Women. You’ll Never Eat Lunch in This Town Again. Morning Glory. Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. The Stand. Well, pretty much anything by Stephen King. Or Elizabeth Berg, or Judy Budnitz. (As you can see, I plan to have some big bookshelves on this desert island.)

As far as specifically M/M books, Amy Jo Cousins’s Off Campus is my ultimate reread, because it’s one of those magical books that somehow feeds whatever emotion that I need to have fed at the time. Richard Rider’s Stockholm Syndrome falls into that same category. I just never, ever get tired of it, and if I open it for a second, I’ll totally sit and read the whole thing. Anything by J.A. Rock, because, I mean, hello. Love her characters, love her writing, and so much beautiful kink. But, especially The Subs Club. And By His Rules. And Calling the Show. Well, yeah, just anything of hers. Lana McGregor’s His Roommates Pleasure. Zoe X. Rider’s The Roommate Situation. Hmm. I really do have a thing for roommates, I guess. That’s probably pushing the desert island book limit. But, I know I still left out at least fifty.

BMBR: What's your go-to tasty beverage?

If we’re talking G-rated beverages, Extra Large Dunkin Donuts coffee. Hot. I don’t mess around with the cold stuff, even during the summer. With a Diet Pepsi chaser. Yes, I do stay up late. Why do you ask? If we’re talking grown up beverages, vodka cranberry, sour mash, or any bottle of wine I can get for less than 8 bucks.


BMBR: Do you have any secret talents? Inquiring minds want to know.

I can burp on command. Very, very, very loudly. I can also put IKEA furniture together really quickly. And I have super long arms. That’s not exactly a talent, but it does come in handy if, for instance, you drop something down a hole or behind a sofa. Call me up. I can reach it.


BMBR: If you had to choose to be one magical beast, what would it be and why? (you don't have to say unicorn...but we won't say neigh either)

Um, can I say Bigfoot? I’m not sure they’re magical, but then, I’m not sure they’re not, since I’ve never met one. I kinda think they are. I’m excellent at avoiding humans, sometimes for years at a time, so, I think I’d fit right in with them. Plus, constant front page coverage in the tabloids, so that’s pretty sweet!


BMBR: Who's your favorite porn star?

Awww, I love them all the same! But, I love Andy Lee just a little bit more, so I’ll say him. And Rudy Valentino. And Jirka Mendez. But that’s all! I’m awful at picking favorites!


BMBR: Do you have author envy? Whose words do you read and think, "GAH, I wish I wrote that!"?

I think I’m too selfish a reader to have author envy! When I read something amazing, it’s just the best feeling of all time. And I’d never get to feel that if I’d written it myself! I’m cool with just being me, writing the way I do, and being able to thoroughly enjoy all the awesomeness other people write. But, I'm always in awe of/in love with authors who make it look easy. The ones who write simply and cleanly and invisibly, and can ease you right into the story and make you forget there are words on the page at all. That’s kind of the ultimate goal for me.


BMBR: Any new projects you're currently working on?

Ohhh yeah! I’m one of those work-on-a-zillion-projects-at-once people, so I always have endless things in the works. I’m trying to keep it to a manageable level, but my brain doesn’t like to be managed so much. Right now, I’m working on finishing up the Benched series (3 more parts to go!) and on two more Old School Discipline books— a Bax & Alex sequel and a sort of spin off. Those each get a turn during the week, and the weekend is usually a free-for-all, when I work on whatever ideas have been trying to get my attention through the week. Lately that's been mostly an angsty rock star book and a labor of love slacker romance that’s been on hold forever. So, basically a huge stack of kinky spank-filled dirty romances!


BMBR: What are your feels on Papi's retirement?

Any gratuitous Red Sox fangirling is perfectly acceptable as well.


Waaaaaaaaah! That a feel, right? I’m so bummed. The Sox rip my heart out on a regular basis, but every time we lose one of the ’04 guys, it’s a special kind of agony. But to end it with Papi? Ugh. Sniff. Sob. No words, really. He’s the end of an era, and it totally sucks. I really hate the whole idea of going out on top. I mean, I get it, I guess, but I still hate it. Plus, I mean, come on! He’s crushing it this season. I've actually seen him run! So, is this even really the top? Who knows. Papi, don’t go! We need you! Forty is the new twenty!

I’d love to go all Red Sox fangirl here, but it’s postseason time as I’m typing this, and I'm mega superstitious, so I can’t risk jinxing anything by talking about how good we look. I don't know. It's a thing. I also keep my lucky shirt in the freezer. But, Go Red Sox! In general! Every year! :) 

~*~*~*

About Misha Horne

Misha Horne is an author of deliciously kinky M/M erotica that's often sprinkled liberally with romance. She's drawn to stories of young men discovering their naughty sides and exploring what love, lust, and life have to offer them-- especially when it's not what they expected.

Please expect heavy doses of spanking, dirty talk, explicit sex, and untidy emotion-- among other things. If you like stories where things get heated and stay hot, you're in the right place.

When she's not writing, she's probably reading, complaining about the Red Sox, or being destroyed in Mario Kart by her little brother for the nine zillionth time.


Goodreads

Website


If you'd like to commiserate about the collapse of the Red Sox or anything else Misha had to say please leave a comment! The unicorns would like to thank her for joining in the fun.



Enter for a chance to win an Ebook from Misha Horne's back list!


a Rafflecopter giveaway



The giveaway is open until 12:00AM (Eastern time) on 11/18/16. Shortly thereafter, we will contact a winner! 

Please respond to the winning notification within 48 hours or we will choose another winner. Good luck!



Don't miss entering in our month long unicorn giveaway here!

Review: Gideon (Order of the Black Knights, #1) by Ashe Barker

Gideon Maybury enjoys a life of wealth and privilege, not to mention the advantages his position offers him in his career as a merchant banker and his less public life as a high-class, skilled, and very well-paid assassin for Her Majesty’s government. When his brother dies unexpectedly, he becomes the Duke of Westmoreland.

Michael Mathison has hated Gideon since they were at university together. He’s convinced Gideon had a hand in the death of Michael’s college lover, Christopher, and that he had something to do with the death of his own brother. So he gets a job as Gideon’s driver, enabling him to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of the elder Maybury sibling. At first his suspicions seem to be confirmed, but clues emerge that suggest all is not as it appears at Maybury Hall.

As the mystery deepens, so does the attraction between the two implacable enemies, as does the feeling that they have met before—under dark and terrible circumstances. Each has reasons not to trust the other, but neither is averse to a bit of kinky play. Gideon and Michael end up owing each other their lives, and it results in consequences neither could have imagined.


I liked this. Gideon was a pretty interesting character, and the story, while simple was fun and definitely a unique concept.


I like immoral characters and Gideon definitely starts off as one! He enjoys killing and has no need for friends or silly sentiments such as regret or sympathy.



He loved the sense of power he derived from holding a life in his hands, quite literally, and deciding whether it was to continue or be extinguished. His choice. His call. He used poison, asphyxiation, withholding food or water.


His development throughout the book would have been set at a good pace, but because of Gideon’s character in the prologue, it seemed rushed. He was one evil bastard in the prologue and the change in his character throughout the rest of the book (even though he remained a bastard) seemed like a saint in comparison. It wasn't such a drastic change that people will be put off, I think it's just personal preference.


I think most of the aspects I didn't like, or found average about this book were personal preference and not based on anything objective or substantial within the plot or writing. The other ‘personal preference’ qualm I had was with the connection between the MCs. I understood the insta-lust but I didn't really see why they started to feel more for each other. There was just something missing for me to fully understand their love for each other.


I liked the sex though, it was very rough which was pretty hot.



His entry wasn’t gentle. There was nothing slow and easy in Gideon’s approach to fucking. He was hard, decisive, brutal, and, to Michael’s way of thinking, utterly sublime. His lubricated cock slammed deep into Michael’s ass and speared him against the bed. Michael grunted in pain and then gasped his pleasure. He loved it, hated it, and loved it more as he began to writhe and gyrate, and ground himself against Gideon.


Unfortunately there wasn't really any sexual tension because they get it on so quickly after meeting. There wasn't even any real anger/hate-fucking which is what I suspected there would be. They were already a bit too smitten for it to be fully hate… it was more like mildly distasteful fucking?


The mystery side of the story was a little simple, but I rather like that and it did kept opening up different aspects to the ‘who/how’ which I wasn't expecting. The whole supernatural concept behind Gideon was also quite interesting and I liked that concept.


Ok I feel like I've slammed this a bit harder than I intended to. This was good and I liked it, but maybe for me, it was one of those books that for everything I liked there was something I didn't quite connect with… on a purely personal level. It'll be different for everyone who reads it, just like any book really.


Dreamspinner Press
Goodreads

Review: Custom Fit (Tailor Made #2) by Josephine Myles

Being "wrong" has never felt so right!

Felix McAvoy is having an identity crisis. No longer the bad boy of art college, he’s now employed as a human billboard, roaming the centre of Bath dressed as a Roman soldier while attempting to fight off his nicotine cravings. It’s a come down for the former conceptual artist, although there are compensations to the costume. The skirt, for one…

While Felix hasn’t made a secret of his desire to wear women’s clothing, he’s never dared try it until now. He’s always been worried once he goes down that road, he won’t want to come back, and the prospect of cross-dressing 24/7 terrifies him. Of course, he can’t tell that to Andrew, who’s now busy making Felix a slutty red dress.

Andrew Wheeler loves coming home to Felix and their cosy city centre flat. He just wishes Felix would let him know what’s bothering him; maybe then Andrew could confide what he really wants. Felix might not see him as anything other than a top, but Andrew’s yearning to switch things up.

Living together is one thing. Actually plucking up the courage to talk about their secret desires is going to be a whole other—and excruciatingly embarrassing—kettle of fish.


The author describes Custom Fit as a “smutty romantic comedy” and she is spot on. Plus it’s got the added bonus of tackling a couple’s growth together and separately both respectfully and deliciously. So, fluff PLUS real feels. Allow me to elucidate . . .

Tailor Made is one of my all time favorite comfort reads. It’s funny, charming and beautifully British. We’re used to Felix having it all figured out and Andrew finding his way. In Custom Fit, Felix has graduated and is floundering a little. I mean, honestly, what does one do with an art degree right out of college? Well, apparently Felix gets a job sign twirling in a gladiator costume. He definitely looks good, but he’s hardly practicing his craft. Andrew is still in school and working part time. He’s able to keep his focus and his more practical nature is exactly what this next phase of their lives needs.
The guys are living together, supporting themselves and are learning how to “adult”. It’s no real problem for Andrew, but for Felix? It kind of is.

As they navigate the waters of being actual grown-ups, they’re also struggling separately with the realization that they each have some sexual curiosities they’d like to explore. The way the author had each character work through their thoughts was just so good. It read realistically because nothing was rushed and mistakes were made. It gave both Felix and Andrew even more depth. While I loved the New Adult arc of post college life and actual adult issues, the sexual compatibility arc of the story took the story to next level awesomeness.

It wasn’t like the ‘kinks’ these two had were extreme, but I totally felt where they were coming from with their insecurities. Moving on to the next stage of their lives together has thrown off Felix’s confidence so exploring his curiosity with lingerie that he tapped into at the end of Custom Fit has become more daunting. The days of college experimentation are over and he’s having some trouble reconciling his dreams and desires with the reality of rent and groceries.

So, while Felix is trying to figure out exactly what appeals to him and how to approach Andrew, Andrew is figuring out how to be chill enough to bottom for Felix. He wants to in his mind, but his strict childhood clenches him up like nothing else. Throughout the book the guys do communicate in starts and stops and that’s what made it read so realistically to me. Felix could hardly express himself well when he’s still figuring things out. Plus, Felix being Felix, his confession skills are lacking. Andrew is always realistic and honest, but he’s not exactly loquacious by nature, so it feeds into Felix’s lack of confidence as well.

Through all the shenanigans and revelations there was plenty of humor and smexy times. There’s never any doubt that these two cats belong together and want to be together. It’s so damn sweet to read their struggles. That sounds weird, but this is where the “smutty romantic comedy” comes in. The struggles are adorable and steamy and I loved every one.

The ending was a little quick and neat, but if I had to pick between time spent on the kink matching or time spent on future careers, I’m totally fine with what I got.

For more information on Custom Fit and the Tailor Made series, check it out on Goodreads.



**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

Trivia Question

Tommy does whatever it takes to keep his brothers and sisters out of foster care. He and his cop have a rough and emotional journey to an HEA. Who wrote this angsty contemporary romance? (worth 10 pts)

Don't forget to tag @BMBReviews on Twitter along with the author and your answer to be entered to win DSP credits!

Anniversary Shenanigans: Author Visit + Giveaway - Keira Andrews



Enjoying the party so far? Hands off the special punch! It's story time, first! Oh, who are we kidding? Get the punch and gather round because Keira Andrews has returned to the stable with goodies!


The Winner Takes it All
by
Keira Andrews



“Polka dots, huh?”


Rick jolted to a stop, the keys to his SUV digging into his palm. Squinting into the darkness of the players’ lot, he clenched his jaw as Brody fucking James stepped into the pool of light cast by the nearby lamppost. Rick had taken an extra-long shower and even trimmed his full beard to kill time. He practically growled now. “Fuck off.”


Brody lifted his hands, his leather jacket squeaking. “I come in peace.” In the wet mist, the light haloed his head, his blond hair gleaming.


“Well?” Rick jammed the key fob with his thumb, the alarm’s chirp and thud of the locks releasing sounding too loud in the nearly empty lot.


Brody’s crooked smile was annoyingly sexy. “Just wanted to apologize. I was trying to tackle you and…well.”


“Uh-huh. Fine, whatever. We still won. That’s what counts.”


Of course not only had the world seen Rick in his underwear, it just had to be the day when the laundry was piled up and he’d worn the polka dot briefs his sister had put in his Christmas stocking as a gag. Memes were already appearing on Twitter, he was sure.


“Does that mean I’m forgiven?” Brody asked.


Shifting from foot to foot on the damp concrete, Rick wondered why the hell it mattered. They were rivals, not friends. Sure, Brody fucking James was ridiculously attractive. And yes, Rick had often wondered if they played for the same team off the field. But that was all beside the point.


He cleared his throat. “Yes. Anything else?”


Brody glanced around before his smile grew wicked and his voice husky. “Since I’ve seen yours, I thought I could return the favor.”


Despite himself, a flare of heat licked up Rick’s spine, his dick twitching to life. He reached out and hooked a finger through the belt loops on Brody’s tight jeans, tugging him close. He made quick work of the button and zipper, and when Rick realized Brody fucking James wasn’t wearing underpants at all, he didn’t complain one bit.

***

Those polka dots are especially fetching, are we right? BMBR thanks her from the bottom of our unicorn squee filled hearts!

Let Keira know what you thought of The Winner Takes it All in the comments below.



About Keira Andrews:

After writing for years yet never really finding the right inspiration, Keira discovered her voice in gay romance, which has become a passion. She writes contemporary, historical, paranormal, and fantasy fiction, and—although she loves delicious angst along the way—Keira firmly believes in happy endings. For as Oscar Wilde once said, “The good ended happily, and the bad unhappily. That is what fiction means.”

Website: http://www.keiraandrews.com
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Review: Romancing the Wrong Twin by Clare London

How tangled can a romantic web get?

When gruff mountaineer Dominic Hartington-George seeks sponsorship for his latest expedition, his London PA insists on a more media-friendly profile—like dating celebrity supermodel Zeb Z.

Zeb can’t make the date, so he asks his identical twin, Aidan, to stand in for just one evening. Aidan, a struggling playwright, shuns the limelight to the extent people don’t even know Zeb has a sibling, but he reluctantly agrees.

When the deception has to continue beyond the first date, Aidan fights to keep up the pretense. Dominic likes his sassy, intelligent companion, and Aidan starts falling for the forthright explorer. But how long can Aidan’s conscience cope as confusion abounds? Will coming clean as “the other twin” destroy the trust they’ve built?


It’s no secret I am a hopeless romantic. I am in love with love. It’s also no secret that I adore the holy heck out of the Dreamspun Desire series and I am so addicted it could be scary if the stories weren’t so much fun.

This is definitely one of my favorites from the series and that is a tough thing to say. I love the series but when you have The Twin Switch trope then add in one gruff and grumpy bear of a mountaineer I am a goner for the pairing and this story was so much fun.

Dominic is a mountaineer from a family with history dating back the Tudors. Usually a family with that sort of lineage would have money to spend but sadly for Dom, it’s been exhausted and he has a huge trip, the Hartington Hike project, he wants to fund. The trip is one that follows in his late father’s trail, as he was also a mountaineer, and a homage to the expeditions that would take his father from home. It’s a melancholy and yet strong reason for Dom to want to complete this trek of Eiger, but Dom needs money. When his PR company suggests he get a few sponsors and be more out in the public eye aka out and about for the paparazzi, they find the perfect “date” for Dom in the form of model Zeb Z.

Zeb is unfortunately unavailable but he has an identical twin named Aidan who is struggling playwright and director in need of cash flow to get his troupe of actors to a respectable stage. When Zeb calls asks him to take a contract job for him that he cannot be home for, Aidan agrees because he needs the cash but Aidan gets more than he bargained for.

I adored this from the moment we meet both characters. I appreciate that the book has alternate POV’s and that we get each of the in chapter blocks with the start so we have a chance to get to know both of them before they meet and oh when they meet! The reaction of both men was adorable and their impromptu kitchen meal simply set the tone for the story for romance and intimacy.

Yes, I know that Aidan is lying to Dominic about who he is but really only in name and in real life that is so shameful yet in my romance, it’s a great setup for a wonderful story.

I am going to go against my normal and try not to ramble.

I adored the hell out of Dom and love that he bucked the stereotype of the gruff bead a few times. But oh that ONE TIME just about did me in and made me give a Judd Nelson at the end of The Breakfast Club fist pump because it was so sexy and vulnerable and just plain UNF! And UNF again because it’s deserving.

I loved Aidan and how he struggled with wanting to tell Dom but needing to keep the charade of character up for his twin who is off dealing with his own dilemmas while falling for Dom in so many ways. The men were a pure joy to read and fall in love with and just turn into goo over and over again and then feel the angst of it all waiting for the perfect moment of declaration.

Sigh.

Yeah, Romancing the Wrong Twin was the perfect read for a brisk Saturday morning in bed. It made me laugh, cringe, swoon and just really fall head over heels for the story.



For more info on Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads!

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What's the title of the book that features fated alpha/omega mates Cal & Gabriel? (worth 15 pts)


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Audiobook Review: Ace in the Hole (Wild Cards #1) by Ava Drake, Narrated by John Solo

Surveillance, seduction, and extra-dirty politics.

Christian Chatsworth-Brandeis has a problem. A huge one. The US senator he works for has run away with his latest mistress on the eve of a make-or-break fund-raising event, and it’s up to him to cover his boss’s irresponsible tracks.

Stone Jackson, the senator’s new bodyguard, looks enough like the senator that, with some extensive grooming, he might pass for Senator Lacey. Christian and Stone hatch a plan to fool everyone by substituting Stone for the senator, but Miami madness and the incendiary heat between them are throwing obstacles in their way. It’s a race to find the senator and pull off the con of the century before the attraction between them spins completely out of control.


Listening Length: 5 hours 43 Minutes
Narrator: John Solo


Well that was some fun shenanigans. Slightly unbelievable, but fun nonetheless. 

I knew what I was getting into when I picked up this book from the Dreamspun series. I knew it was going to be Harlequin-esque and I went with it. I can say I'm glad I took a chance on this series.

Christian worked for a d-bag senator. There was a death threat to him so they hired Stone as a bodyguard. When the senator took off without a word with his mistress, Stone was used as a fill-in for speeches and whatnot. Since he just happened to look so much like the senator.  

This forced Stone and Christian to work pret-ty close. Which, of course, only ramped up the delicious sexual tension. They were really great together and I loved their chemistry. 

There was some family angst and some drama surrounding their relationship. Especially since Stone wasn't going to be around forever. Once this job for the senator was done, he was done. But even that angst was light. This was mostly a fun and fluffy romance. 

John Solo did a nice job narrating. He had good voices and intonation which made for an enjoyable listen. He's a narrator I'll be looking for in the future. 

Ace in the Hole was my first from the Dreamspun series and it won't be my last. They're perfect for a light and fluffy romance. 


A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads and Dreamspinner Press. 

Anniversary Shenanigans: Author Visit + Giveaway - Barbara Elsborg (NSFW)



We're so pleased to have Barbara Elsborg in the clubhouse to celebrate today and she was nervous about writing a flash fic for us, so be sure to gush and squee in the comments!

Trouble 
by 
Barbara Elsborg
 





“It’s okay.” Matt held Jamie tighter. “You’re fine. Honestly.”
“Gone?” Jamie whimpered.
“Yep.”
“Might come back.”
“No.” Matt slid his hand under Jamie’s butt and accidentally on purpose stroked the crease of his backside.
Jamie shuddered and Matt hoped it was with desire and not fear.
“I’ll protect you,” Matt whispered and his cock hardened as he pressed his finger against the entrance to Jamie’s body.
Jamie wriggled against him. “Promise?”
“Promise.”
If a zombie had broken down the door, Matt would have dealt with it. No way was he going to let this chance evaporate. It had taken him weeks to get Jamie naked, though when the guy had leapt halfway across the room and flung himself at him so they landed in the chair, Matt had been a bit surprised. It was only Jamie’s shriek that made him realise Jamie wasn’t overcome with lust but with fear.
Matt pushed and pressed until his finger slid into Jamie. The gentle gasp of warm air that hit his chest and the tremulous sigh were what he’d hoped for.
“Okay?” Matt asked.
“Uhhuh.”
Jamie rocked against him as Matt finger-fucked him and pretty soon they were both breathing heavily. When Matt tried to move him to a different position, Jamie clung tighter so Matt gave up. He’d been so desperate to be doing this with Jamie that he could have probably come just by standing looking at him.
Jamie came first, spurting hot rivulets over Matt’s chest and that triggered Matt’s release. His eyes closed as his cum joined Jamie’s.
But when he opened his eyes, delight turned to dismay. Trouble was back. Shit.
“I’ll go get a cloth.” Jamie tried to get off his lap and Matt pulled him back.
“Let’s stay exactly like this. Please. I love holding you.”
Jamie smiled against his chest. “Okay.”
Now all Matt had to do was wait until that fucking huge spider disappeared back under the door.

***

Freakin' spiders. We'd like to thank Barbara for joining in the fun. Be sure to let her know what you thought of her fic in the comments!

About Barbara Elsborg

Barbara Elsborg lives in Kent in the south of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Vulcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.

After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.

Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they are to write.




Enter for a chance to win an ebook from Barbara Elsborg's backlist!

a Rafflecopter giveaway


The giveaway is open until 12:00AM (Eastern time) on 11/16/16. Shortly thereafter, we will contact a winner! 

Please respond to the winning notification within 48 hours or we will choose another winner. Good luck!

Don't miss entering in our month long unicorn giveaway here!

Review: Island Counselor (Island Medics #2) by Sue Brown

Counselor Logan Wilde has a successful therapy practice in London, but when a traumatic incident there leaves him suffering from PTSD, he takes refuge in his holiday cottage on the Isle of Wight, unable to face going back to work. Not that he’s allowed to relax. Logan’s time is taken up with helping Liam Owens, plus there’s Nick Brent, whom Logan discovers collapsed on the beach. Nick and Logan spend their time bickering with each other, but that doesn’t alter the attraction they feel.

Logan is forced to make some hard decisions about his future, which entails facing up to recent events. Only he’s not alone—Nick is with him. Unfortunately someone else makes a decision too, and now trouble is on its way to the Isle of Wight.




I really love the books Sue Brown writes and sets on the Isle of Wight, they are just my type of go-to comfort read. Island Counselor is the story of Logan and Nick and the rocky road to romance. 

I think the setting is integral to why these books work. The Isle of Wight is a small island just off the south coast of Britain. It is about 25 miles by 13 miles and is just a short ferry ride from the mainland - and it's a beautiful, beautiful place. Made of villages, small towns, a stunning coastline and gorgeous countryside, the setting lends itself perfectly to cosy romances. 


Nick and Logan are both suffering from events in their pasts, one with physical injuries and the other with mental scars. Together they slowly start to make headway into their problems, though there is plenty of reluctance despite an instant attraction. Rather than hurt/comfort, this is more a story of healing; of facing fears and demons and learning to trust and love again. 

Sue Brown writes in a way that is sweet without bringing on tooth decay! Her characters have character, they can be snarky and humorous and kind and sexy. I really enjoy her writing, it is easy read, but isn't lazy - it doesn't rely on hot n heavy sex scenes to carry a poor story. She writes well; it is simple in a way that this kind of romance requires (at least in my opinion) but it is in no way boring. So many times I have to skim read parts of books because they feel so over done. I never have the feeling of I've read this before, even though the author has several books in the same setting. Maybe the structure is similar, but the characters are fresh and unique and each story their own.

I will always be looking out for more from this author, they are a Sunday afternoon comfort read as far as I'm concerned. Me likey! 



A copy of this book was given in exchange for an honest review.
For more information see Dreamspinner Press or Goodreads.


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This kinky series features a figure skater & a rancher turned physical therapist. Name the series. (worth 10 pts)


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