Published in 2014

Book Review: Gilded Lily by Delphine Dryden

Reviewed by Heather C

zTitle: Gilded Lily
Author: Delphine Dryden
Series: Steam and Seduction #3
Hero/Heroine: Barnabas Smith-Grenville/Frederique Murcheson
Genre: MF Steampunk
Length: 304 Pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Available at: Berkley, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance Ebooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: HIDDEN IDENTITIES, SCANDALOUS SECRETS…
DEADLY ATTRACTION.

Frederique Murcheson’s introduction into society hasn’t gone smoothly—some would even call it a disaster. Only Freddie considers her debut a success. Her scheme to become a makesmith has gone off flawlessly. The only thing that could upset her plans now would be if someone discovered that brilliant tinker Fred Merchant is, in fact, a lady in disguise.

Wooing a spoiled heiress is not exactly Barnabas Smith-Grenville’s idea of high espionage. However, considering his brother disappeared on the job, supposedly into the most iniquitous of opium dens, he cannot expect much better. At least the assignment will afford him time to search for his brother, whom he suspects is in spy-related trouble rather than a drug-addled haze.

But when Freddie proves to be both irresistible and the key to the answers he seeks, Barnabas finds himself not only entwined in a scandalous mystery involving lethal submersibles and deranged dirigibles, but also in a dangerous game of the heart…

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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Heather C's Reviews, M/F, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Honorary Blogger Silvia Violet: Writing About Navy SEALs – Excerpt + Giveaway!

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Writing About Navy SEALs

by Silvia Violet

The series, like most of mine had a bit of a topsy-turvy, unplanned start. I saw a submission call for a military-themed anthology and decide to write a story since that was a story type I hadn’t tried yet. Other projects took longer than expected and I realized I couldn’t make the deadline so eventually I took the story start I had an developed it into Unexpected Rescue.

As soon as the story came out, I started getting requests for Sport’s story, and I began playing around with ideas and developing a much more involved suspense storyline than I’d originally conceived of. Thus the need to extend Unexpected into a series with several titles.

When I pondered a military theme, I chose SEALs because I’ve been fascinated by them since I started reading Suzanne Brockmann’s Troubleshooters series over ten years ago. The grueling training they go through and the amazing things they accomplish awe me. I’m thrilled to have finally included some former SEALs in a series.

Before you read Unexpected Trust, make sure you know where it all began: Check out Book 1 in the Unexpected series, Unexpected Rescue.

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About Unexpected Trust

1Special Agent Hugh Cranford, better known as Sport, is conducting an off-the-record investigation. He’s after Danny O’Sullivan, a spy rumored to have assisted in the ambush of Sport’s former SEAL team. Danny claims he and Sport are on the same side, and the real traitor is the man Sport is working for. But Danny is a master manipulator. He’s also the most seductive man Sport has ever met. Sport can’t help being attracted to him, but that doesn’t mean he’s willing to trust him.

In his quest to bring down a few highly-placed traitors in the US government, Danny O’Sullivan has been keeping tabs on Sport. When Sport comes looking for him, Danny decides to bring Sport in on his secret mission and into his bed. Sport may not trust Danny, but he wants him. As the two men risk their lives to complete Danny’s mission, they discover neither is as strong as they like to pretend.

Available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Kobo

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An Excerpt from Unexpected Trust

He closed the box and reached for another. Then he heard the whoosh of a door opening. No footsteps followed. Someone was trying to be silent. O’Sullivan? A security guard? It might be nothing more than a routine check, but his instincts told him he was about to be discovered. He flattened himself again the wall next to the shelves.

Several seconds of silence. The hall door opened and closed again. Sport started to put his gun away.

Suddenly, the office door swung open and Danny was there, aiming a Glock at his chest. Fuck. He hadn’t heard a thing.

Why hadn’t he waited to come back here? Based on what he’d seen of the security, he could have gotten in easily after hours. He could hear his instructor at Quantico berating him for his impatience. Mr. Invincible. Mr. I’m-Better-Than-Any-Fucking-Spook. Look where that got you.

“Hello there,” O’Sullivan said. “Waiting for me?”

The Irish lilt went straight to Sport’s cock. Damn the man. “Just leaving actually,” Sport said, pushing away from the wall.

Danny shook his head. “Not yet. Get rid of your gun and then we’re going to get to know each other better.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea, O’Sullivan,” Sport said as he dropped his gun on the floor. Danny kicked it away from him.

“Call me Danny. You’ve obviously been getting to know me already.”

“Can’t say that I have. Not much here to learn from.”

Danny walked to the desk and jerked open the drawer where Sport had seen the bug. Danny ripped it loose, dropped it on the floor, and smashed it with his foot, apparently no longer caring if whoever placed it realized Danny was on to them. “That’s better, now we can have some privacy. So tell me this, why did you bother poking around in this dusty old place when what you really want is right here?” Danny swept his hand down his body, letting it graze over his cock.

“It looked like you’d already found some company,” Sport said, keeping his face neutral. “I don’t do secondhand.”

Danny moved closer. “You’d do me. Any way you could get me.”

Sport fucking hated him, and he hated that he wanted the man under him, begging for mercy. That would be a mistake though; he couldn’t trust a word a man like O’Sullivan said. “Cut the games. Either shoot me or step out of the way so I can get back to my evening.”

Danny took another few steps toward him. Sport could have reached out and touched him, made a grab for Danny’s weapon or…. something else.

Danny reached out and drew a line down Sport’s chest with the tip of his gun. Sport didn’t flinch. Danny wasn’t going to shoot him, not that night anyway. After a while you learned to tell who was likely to pull the trigger and who wasn’t. Danny had no intention of ending things yet. He was the type who enjoyed the game far more than the outcome. He liked pitting himself against other operatives and coming out on top.

Sport could make sure he enjoyed coming on the bottom too.

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About Silvia Violet

Silvia Violet writes erotic romance in a variety of genres including paranormal, contemporary, sci fi, and historical. She can be found haunting coffee shops looking for the darkest, strongest cup of coffee she can find. Once equipped with the needed fuel, she can happily sit for hours pounding away at her laptop. Silvia typically leaves home disguised as a suburban stay-at-home-mom, and other coffee shop patrons tend to ask her hilarious questions like “Do you write children’s books?” She loves watching the looks on their faces when they learn what she’s actually up to. When not writing, Silvia enjoys baking sinfully delicious treats, exploring new styles of cooking, and reading to her incorrigible offspring.

You can find Silvia on her Website, Facebook or Twitter.

Blog_Tour_Giveaway

The prize in this blog tour is a chance to win a $20 All Romance eBooks Gift Card! To enter, just click the link below!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway unless otherwise stated but are still welcome anyway.

Don’t forget to check out Morgan’s review of Unexpected Trust to see what she thought of it!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Excerpts, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , | 3 Comments

Book Review: Unexpected Trust by Silvia Violet

Reviewed by Morgan

1Title: Unexpected Trust
Author: Silvia Violet
Series: Unexpected #2
Heroes: Hugh “Sport” Cranford, Danny O’Sullivan
Genre: MM contemporary
Length: 175 Pages
Publisher: Silvia Violet Books
Release Date: July 17, 2014
Available at: Silvia Violet Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Special Agent Hugh Cranford, better known as Sport, is conducting an off-the-record investigation. He’s after Danny O’Sullivan, a spy rumored to have assisted in the ambush of Sport’s former SEAL team. Danny claims he and Sport are on the same side, and the real traitor is the man Sport is working for. But Danny is a master manipulator. He’s also the most seductive man Sport has ever met. Sport can’t help being attracted to him, but that doesn’t mean he’s willing to trust him.

In his quest to bring down a few highly-placed traitors in the US government, Danny O’Sullivan has been keeping tabs on Sport. When Sport comes looking for him, Danny decides to bring Sport in on his secret mission and into his bed. Sport may not trust Danny, but he wants him. As the two men risk their lives to complete Danny’s mission, they discover neither is as strong as they like to pretend.
Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Black Rook by Kelly Meade

Reviewed by Nikyta

Black Rook (Cornerstone Run Trilogy, #1)Title: Black Rook
Author: Kelly Meade
Series: Cornerstone Run Trilogy #1
Hero/Heroine: Rook/Brynn/Knight (No, this isn’t menage!)
Genre: M/F Paranormal
Length: 334 pages
Publisher: InterMix
Release Date: July 15, 2014
Available at: InterMix (Penguin), Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: She never saw this coming…

Brynn Atwood is a low-level Magus whose unpredictable precognitive powers have made her an outcast among her people—and an embarrassment to her highly-regarded father. After a frightening vision in which her father is murdered by a loup garou man, Brynn decides to prove herself by finding the killer, and stopping them at any cost.

Her target is Rook McQueen, the son of a small-town loup garou Alpha. Despite being the youngest of three, Rook is first in line to inherit the role of Alpha, a duty he isn’t sure he’s capable of fulfilling. When Brynn finally meets Rook, she doesn’t expect the attraction that draws her to him—and him to her.

No longer believing him a murderer, Brynn and Rook strike an alliance to find her father’s real killer. But when his older brother is targeted by an unknown enemy, Rook will have to choose between his growing feelings for Brynn and his duty as the future Alpha of his community.
Continue reading

Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, M/F, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Honorary Blogger Jake Biondi: The BOYSTOWN Experience – Excerpt (NSFW) + Giveaway!

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The BOYSTOWN Experience

by Jake Biondi

Writing the BOYSTOWN series has been one of the most fantastic experiences of my life. From the moment the idea came to me in the Spring of 2013 until now, I have enjoyed every moment of the writing and marketing process. But what I have really enjoyed the most about the entire experience has been the interaction with the BOYSTOWN readers. BOYSTOWN fans are, quite simply, the best.

I have been so touched and humbled by the outpouring of kindness and support I have received from BOYSTOWN readers since the moment the first episode hit the internet in June of 2013. People began to email me from all over the country – and beyond – to share with me their thoughts and ideas about the BOYSTOWN characters and story lines. I made it a priority to respond to every email that I received not only because I valued the readers’ feedback but also because I want my readers to understand that I want them to reach out to me. I want to hear from them — their ideas, their suggestions, their reviews, their feedback. In fact, their comments and ideas actually can and do impact the future of the series because I have written some of their suggestions into the series. In short, by contacting me, the readers can actually impact what happens to their favorite characters.

Several dedicated fans voluntarily created online BOYSTOWN book tours simply because they loved the books and wanted to bring the series to the attention of others. Some readers have allowed me to post BOYSTOWN promotional materials on their websites and blogs, and others have contacted me to see how they can become involved with BOYSTOWN.

When I held a nation-wide photo contest looking for “models” whose images we could use in the BOYSTOWN promotional materials, the response was overwhelming. People from all over America submitted their photos in the hope of becoming one of the “faces” of BOYSTOWN. I ended up selecting five winners for that contest because I wanted to include as many people as possible. Even after the contest was over, people continued to submit their photos asking to be a part of the BOYSTOWN team and I have welcomed several more of them on board.

I met my new BOYSTOWN Director of Art, Design & Advertising, Michael Vargas, and my new BOYSTOWN Director of Social Media, Patrick Murphy, because they were fans of the books. They contacted me on Facebook, we chatted and got to know each other, and now they are running all the promotional and advertising campaigns for the BOYSTOWN series.

I have also been intrigued by the fans’ responses to certain couples in the series. For example, I never anticipated that so many people would be fans of “Kemmett” (Keith and Emmett). Fans are very vocal about what I did to that couple at the end of “Season One” and provided many ideas for how I should write those characters in “Season Two.” Fans of “Dole” (Derek and Cole) are also very vocal. While most readers like and connect with the character of Cole, some like him with Derek and others don’t. Many fans want Derek to stay with his wife Joyelle. Finally, I was really taken aback by people’s reactions to Justin, who only appeared on the BOYSTOWN landscape at the end of “Season One.” Readers really found him appealing and interesting – and wanted to know everything about him: his sexuality, his motives, his plan. Those fans will be happy to know that Justin is a central character in “Season Two.”

People often ask me how many books the BOYSTOWN series will have. I simple tell them this: as long as the fans are interested in the series, I will keep it going. “Season Three” is already in the works and, if the fans want more, “Season Four” will be right behind it. I hope fans will continue to reach out to me and let me know their thoughts and ideas. BOYSTOWN truly belongs to the fans!

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About BOYSTOWN Season One

1One of the most diverse and lively neighborhoods in the country, Chicago’s BOYSTOWN has something for everyone. So it’s no wonder that Jesse Morgan and Cole O’Brien chose to live there upon graduating from college.

Ready to begin the next phase of their lives in an exciting new city, Jesse and Cole quickly find themselves at the center of a new group of friends. Joyelle and Derek Mancini have been happily married for years, but Derek is harboring a secret that could tear them apart. Derek’s brother Emmett is about to discover that his boyfriend Keith Colgan has a past that will haunt them both. Long time couple Logan Pryce and Max Taylor must face a crisis that neither of them expected.

And, before they realize it, Jesse and Cole find themselves at the center of it all in the adult playground known as BOYSTOWN.

Welcome to BOYSTOWN!

Available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks

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An Excerpt from BOYSTOWN Season One – Episode One (NSFW)

The emergency room should have been busier, but it wasn’t. After all, Saturday night at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Chicago’s Lakeview neighborhood was usually quite a sight – all the usual unusuals. But things were quiet as Joyelle Mancini checked her cell phone for the umteenth time. She shoved the phone back into her scrubs pocket and headed back to the nurses’ station. Her baggy, blue scrubs covered the form of her gorgeous body and only those who knew her outside of the workplace knew of her model-like physique. She was certainly modest, but enjoyed the compliments she regularly received on a night out on the town.

“Nothing?” Joyelle’s coworker at the admittance desk asked.

“Nope. I just checked again.”

“I’m sure his flight is just delayed a bit. You know O’Hare. Don’t worry, sweetie.” The coworker smiled and Joyelle continued on toward the nurses’ station.   Everyone knew that it was Joyelle’s fifth wedding anniversary and she was anxiously awaiting word from her husband that he was safely back in Chicago from his business trip in Boston.

She quickly passed the nurses’ station, patted her hand on the counter twice to get the attention of her colleague, mumbled “I’ll be right back,” and headed toward the ER doors to the outside. As she approached the doors, they flung open before her, and she stepped outside into the cool autumn air. The area that was usually loud with ambulance sirens was eerily quiet and Joyelle took a deep breath. She loved Chicago in autumn: the crisp air, the bright gold and orange leaves of the trees, and the dramatic waves of Lake Michigan. Winter would be here before she knew it and Joyelle had learned long ago to make the most of Chicago’s short fall seasons.

Joyelle first met Derek about seven years ago at their five-year college reunion. She had never known him when they were both undergrads at the University of Michigan, but they were introduced by mutual friends at a dinner event during their reunion weekend. For her, it was love at first sight. He stood there in front of her with his boyish good looks and a great physique that she could recognize hidden beneath his perfectly fitted suit. They talked all night over cocktails as if they had known each other for years. He had played varsity baseball at Michigan, earned both his BBA and MBA there, and worked at a law firm based in Chicago with clients all over the country. He was intrigued not only by Joyelle’s beauty, but her brains as well. She was articulate, sophisticated, and driven. As a nurse, she spoke with compassion and empathy about her patients and was just about the kindest girl Derek had ever met.

Over time, they learned more about each other and each other’s families. They fell deeply in love and five years ago this very night, they were married at a lovely autumn ceremony at Chicago’s Botanic Gardens. It was the fairytale wedding they had both dreamed of and married life seemed to suit them well. They carefully balanced their careers with their personal lives, enjoying friends and neighbors in their Lakeview neighborhood and beyond. Joyelle hated that Derek’s job took him out of town so often, but she appreciated the income it produced so she kept her concerns to herself.

Joyelle glanced at her wedding ring as it sparkled in the autumn moonlight. Derek and she had designed their own wedding rings, specially crafted with both yellow and white gold and a series of diamonds. People always commented on them because they were so beautifully unique.

Joyelle then checked her phone one more time. No texts or missed calls. So she put her phone away, took one last breath of the night air, and returned back into the emergency room to complete her shift. Optimistic, she still hoped that Derek and she could celebrate their anniversary at least a little bit once her shift ended and he landed back in Chicago safely.

Unlike Chicago, Boston was experiencing a severe storm that night – frequent lightning lit the Boston skyline — but that wasn’t why Derek was late arriving back in Chicago. Although rain pounded against the hotel window, music from an ipod next to the room’s bed drowned out that sound. Lightning illuminated the otherwise dark bedroom, revealing the contours of Derek’s muscled body as he rolled back on top of Cole O’Brien.

Derek smiled looking into Cole’s eyes and shoved his tongue down Cole’s throat. Clinging to Derek as if he would never let go, Cole dug his toes into the back of Derek’s calves and cupped Derek’s tight ass with his hands. Derek’s tongue moved down Cole’s neck, then back up along his jaw line to his ear. Cole’s moans urged Derek to continue, and he did.

In some ways, Cole’s body reminded Derek of what his used to be. While Cole’s body was completely smooth except for a small tuft of blond hair that accented his penis, his muscled chest, arms and thighs were reminiscent of the hard body Derek had during his days playing baseball of Michigan. Certainly, his body was still great, but there was a youthfulness to Cole’s that made it even more appealing.

Cole playfully nibbled on Derek’s chin and smiled. Then he flipped over on top of Derek, sitting across his hips and looking down at Derek’s hairy chest. He leaned forward and put his lips on Derek’s nipple, carefully biting the tip. Derek’s twitched momentarily and then laughed, “Oh, no you don’t!”

Derek powerfully flipped back over on top of Cole and pinned him down, his arms over his head. Cole watched the smile leave Derek’s face and anticipated what was about to happen. Derek reached over to the nightstand to grab a condom and quickly pulled it on. Then Derek once again began to kiss Cole and pulled Cole’s legs over his shoulders. As he took Cole’s toes into his mouth, Derek positioned his hard cock against Cole’s inviting hole.

“Yes,” Cole whispered as he grabbed Derek’s butt and began to pull Derek inside of him. Derek thrust hard, and Cole’s face turned red, the tips of his blond hair stuck to the sweat forming on his forehead.   Cole’s toes curled as he felt Derek’s hard dick pumping into his hole. The thrusts were long and penetrating, while Cole’s own hard dick was sandwiched between the men’s hard abs. Cole loved the feel of Derek’s furry chest against his and ran his fingers up Derek’s back, digging them into his flesh each time Derek hit the spot deep inside of him.

Derek continued to kiss Cole as he pounded deeper and deeper, Cole wiping the sweat from Derek’s back.   Derek intended to once again show this boy who was in charge and Cole showed no signs of resisting.

“Oh fuck, I’m close,” Derek whispered as Cole smiled and tightened his ass around Derek.

“Stay inside me….please,” Cole begged, but Derek took orders from no one. He continued to pump as his entire body began to tense up. “Please,” Cole pleaded once again, but Derek swiftly pulled his cock from inside Cole, tore off the condom, and shot his load all over Cole’s smooth chest, letting out a large moan as he did so.   The load was thicker and larger than the previous ones, nearly hitting Cole’s neck. As it settled on Cole’s chest, Cole’s whole body began to tremble. Derek used some his own cum to stroke Cole’s incredibly hard cock. “Oh God,” Cole moaned as his own load shot and mixed with Derek’s. Derek collapsed onto Cole, kissing him and then rolling over onto his back next to his conquest.

Derek took several deep breaths as he looked up at the hotel room ceiling, the lightning from outside casting strange shadows across it. “Fuck…”

 “You rock,” Cole smiled as he planted a kiss on Derek’s chest. He ran his fingers through the mixed cum on his chest, making a random design.

“Looks like you need a towel,” Derek smiled as he hopped out of bed and headed to the bathroom. Cole enviously watched Derek’s ass as it disappeared behind the bathroom door. Derek tossed Cole a towel and then closed the door completely.

Cole tasted some of the cum on his fingers, then wiped up the rest with his towel. He sat up and flipped his legs over the side of the bed as he pulled on a pair of Notre Dame shorts and shoved his toes into some flip flops. Then he stood up and walked to the window. It was still raining.

“Oh fuck!” Derek yelled as he ran back into the bedroom. “I’m gonna miss my flight.” Cole turned from the window as Derek scanned the room for this pants and shirt. He pulled on his pants and sat down to put on his socks. Cole crawled across the bed and wrapped his arms around Derek’s back, kissing his neck. Derek smiled and continued to put on his shoes. Then Derek stood up and pulled on his shirt. “Notre Dame? Really?” Derek quipped as he caught a glance of Cole’s shorts.

“Yup. So?”

“I went to Michigan,” Derek smiled. “Notre Dame sucks.” Cole just smiled back at Derek, no comment. “What are you doing in Boston anyway? You said you’re still in school.”

“I’m graduating early, in a few weeks. Job interview here.”

“Oh cool. Good luck with that,” Derek said as he pulled on his suit coat. “I gotta grab a cab.”

“When’s your flight?”

“I think I missed it. Fuck.”

“Before you go, can I get your number?” Cole smiled, then bit his lip.

“I told you. Can’t do that.”

“Aw come on,” Cole pleaded again.

“Look, these two days have been awesome. Hot, even. But I have to go back to my life. And you do, too.” Derek leaned in to kiss Cole quickly on the lips. “Thanks, man.” And with that comment, Derek was out the door and gone.

“Ya, thanks,” Cole mumbled to himself. He walked over to the mirror on the wall and checked himself out. Then he let out a sigh and returned to the window to contemplate the storm. As he walked across the room, the lightning reflected off something shiny on the floor, half-buried in the carpet. He knelt down to take a closer look and picked up what turned out to be a ring. It was both gold and silver in color and had a series of small diamonds in it. Cole turned toward the hotel room door, then looked back at the ring. He examined it more closely and then slipped it on his finger; Derek hopped into a cab outside.

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About BOYSTOWN Season Two

1In the aftermath of the warehouse shootings, lives are forever changed and relationships are forever altered. As the families of the victims work to put the horrific event behind them, they find themselves at the center of an even larger plan for revenge.

Ciancio twins Marco and Gino are as handsome as they are powerful — and they arrive in Boystown with a scheme rooted in the bad history between the Ciancio and Mancini families.

At the same time, Keith Colgan seems hell-bent on getting back the boyfriend he believes was stolen from him, Ben Donovan continues with his plan for Jacqueline Morgan and her son Jesse, and a stranger from the past threatens the future.

It all leads up to a spectacular New Year’s Eve engagement party that no one will ever forget.

Welcome back to BOYSTOWN!

Available at: Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks

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About Jake Biondi

Growing up in the suburbs of Chicago, Jake Biondi fell in love with “The Windy City” at an early age. He left the Chicago area for four years to attend the University of Notre Dame, from which he graduated with degrees in English and Business. He was awarded the university’s prestigious William Mitchell Award for Playwriting. Upon graduating from Notre Dame, Biondi returned to Chicago where he attended and graduated from the Loyola University Chicago School of Law.   He has been living in Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood for over 20 years.

While studying literature, Biondi became a huge fan of Charles Dickens whose novels were originally released in installments, each ending in a cliffhanger to keep readers coming back for more. Because of his love of those novels as well as television dramas such as Dynasty, Knots Landing, Dallas, and Revenge, Jake Biondi decided to create a serialized saga for contemporary audiences. Thus, BOYSTOWN was born.

Biondi began BOYSTOWN in June of 2013 as an online story and intended to release one “episode” online per month, each ending in a cliffhanger. The story became so popular — and the online reading audience grew so quickly — that people from all over the country began to email him demanding to know what happened to their favorite characters and wanting the episodes to be released faster. They also had suggestions for future storylines! Biondi was surprised and excited by the readers’ response to BOYSTOWN and began to write and release installments more quickly. By November, Biondi had released 10 episodes and his reading audience had expanded well beyond the borders of America.

Because of BOYSTOWN’s huge success online and the serialized nature of Biondi’s writing, readers from all over the globe have been able to correspond with Biondi and influence the storylines of the BOYSTOWN saga as Biondi writes it.

Readers also suggested that Biondi publish the first 10 episodes as a book rather than leaving them online. He took their advice — and “BOYSTOWN Season One” was published in late November of 2013. The book is selling very well locally and nationally. In the meantime, Biondi continued to write additional episodes. Episodes 11 – 20 were released as “BOYSTOWN Season Two” on July 7, 2014. Biondi is currently working on episodes 21 – 30, which will be published as “BOYSTOWN Season Three” at the end of the year.

Because of the popularity of the book, people have suggested that BOYSTOWN be turned into a television series. Biondi has begun to reach out to television networks and producers — and their response has been very positive. Working with actors and other professionals in the entertainment industry, Biondi hopes to bring BOYSTOWN to television in the near future.

BOYSTOWN readers and fans may reach Jake Biondi at BoystownTheSeries@yahoo.com or through the website.

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Jake has kindly offered up an eBook copy of BOYSTOWN Season Two one lucky winner! The giveaway starts now and ends August 5, 2014 at 11:59 pm. To enter, click the Rafflecopter link below!

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Please be aware that the only way to enter the giveaway is to click the Rafflecopter link above. Any comments on this post will not count towards entering the giveaway, except to verify your Rafflecopter entry.

Don’t forget to check out JustJen’s reviews of BOYSTOWN Season One & BOYSTOWN Season Two to see what she thought of them!

Good luck!

Categories: Book Promo, Excerpts, Giveaways, Honorary Blogger Post, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , | 7 Comments

Book Review: BOYSTOWN Season Two by Jake Biondi

1Reviewed by JustJen

Title: BOYSTOWN Season Two
Author: Jake Biondi
Series: Boystown #2
Heroes: Too many to name
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 219 Pages
Publisher: Jake Biondi
Release Date: July 7, 2014
Available at: Jake Biondi, Smashwords, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

 

 

Blurb: 

“As the others scrambled, two more gunshots were fired, echoing throughout the room. Blood splattered on the wall and floor as three bodies fell to the ground.” –BOYSTOWN Season One

In the aftermath of the warehouse shootings, lives are forever changed and relationships are forever altered. As the families of the victims work to put the horrific event behind them, they find themselves at the center of an even larger plan for revenge.

Ciancio twins Marco and Gino are as handsome as they are powerful — and they arrive in Boystown with a scheme rooted in the bad history between the Ciancio and Mancini families.

At the same time, Keith Colgan seems hell-bent on getting back the boyfriend he believes was stolen from him, Ben Donovan continues with his plan for Jacqueline Morgan and her son Jesse, and a stranger from the past threatens the future.

It all leads up to a spectacular New Year’s Eve engagement party that no one will ever forget.

Welcome back to BOYSTOWN!
Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Early Review: Swan Prince by Erin Lark

Reviewed by Nikyta

22718599Title: Swan Prince
Author: Erin Lark
Heroes: Oliver/Bastion
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 149 Pages
Publisher: Entangled: Edge
Release Date: August 4, 2014
Available at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Trapped between his royal heritage and swan shifter status, Oliver doesn’t pay close attention during his flock’s winter migration, and gets caught in the crosshairs of a trigger-happy hunter.

Careening toward the ground with no place to go, Oliver submits to his human form. As his swan’s feathers recede, he seeks shelter in an old barn.

Bastion’s spent the better part of his adult life caring for a bunch of bullheaded stallions, but this is the first time he’s ever found a naked and gorgeous man in one of his stalls. When he asks the man his name, he doesn’t get a reply. Without a wallet or a voice to tell him who this stranger is, Bastion takes Oliver in, clothes him and tends to a mysterious wound.

Oliver has nowhere else to go. Bastian is in a bind after firing a farmhand who would much rather call in sick than do his job. When passion flares, can Bastion and Oliver overcome their differences, or will this swan prince fly south?
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Sins of the Fathers by Edward Kendrick

Reviewed by Susan65

1Title: Sins of the Fathers
Author: Edward Kendrick
Heroes: Mark/Paul
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 115 Pages
Publisher: JMS Books
Release Date: July 6, 2014
Available at: JMS Books, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, All Romance eBooks and Kobo
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: When ex-priest Mark Collins is suddenly catapulted to fame as a super-model he discovers there is more to it than he expected. With the help of Paul, his boss’s assistant he manages to weather the promotional gigs. Then there is his blossoming involvement with Angelo, a police detective he met soon after arriving in the city.

Everything is thrown into disarray when he finds out his boss may be trafficking with the Mafia. When he’s attacked, his life soon becomes a game of who to trust. Will it be Angelo or the very appealing FBI agent who puts him into protective custody to keep him alive until he can testify?

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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Published in 2014, Susan65's Reviews | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Home the Hard Way Virtual Tour + Giveaway!

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Hello and thanks to The Blogger Girls for letting me be here today!

I’m Z.A. Maxfield, coming at you from lovely sunny southern California where I’m blogging about my latest release, Home The Hard Way.

I’m doing a giveaway and there are a couple different ways to win! At each tour stop, one lucky winner will get to choose any book from my backlist, so if you’re new to Z.A. Maxfield, this is a great way to find out if you want to dive in! At the end of the tour, I’ll be giving away a Riptide gift certificate, so you’re going to want to follow along the whole blog tour HERE for your best chance at a prize!

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About Home the Hard Way

1Dare Buckley has come home—or at least, he’s come back to Palladian, the small town he left as a teenager. After a major lapse in judgment forced him to resign from the Seattle PD, Palladian is the only place that’ll hire him. There’s one benefit to hitting rock bottom, though: the chance to investigate the mystery of his father’s suicide.

Dare also gets to reacquaint himself with Finn Fowler, whose childhood hero worship ended in uncomfortable silence when Dare moved away. But Finn isn’t the same little kid Dare once protected. He’s grown into an attractive, enigmatic stranger who neither wants nor needs what Dare has to offer.

In fact, Dare soon realizes that Finn’s keeping secrets—his own and the town’s. And he doesn’t seem to care that Dare needs answers. The atmosphere in Palladian, like its namesake river, appears placid, but dark currents churn underneath. When danger closes in, Dare must pit his ingenuity against his heart, and find his way home the hard way.

Available at: Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks

Don’t forget to check out JustJen’s review of Home the Hard Way to see what she thought of it!

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About Z.A. Maxfield

About the Author – Z. A. Maxfield started writing in 2007 on a dare from her children and never looked back.  Pathologically disorganized, and perennially optimistic, she writes as much as she can, reads as much as she dares, and enjoys her time with family and friends. Three things reverberate throughout all her stories: Unconditional love, redemption, and the belief that miracles happen when we least expect them.

If anyone asks her how a wife and mother of four can find time for a writing career, she’ll answer, “It’s amazing what you can accomplish if you give up housework.”

Readers can visit ZAM at her website, Facebook, Twitter, or Tumblr.

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There’s two ways to win today! Comment below for a chance to win an ebook from my backlist AND you can also… Enter the Giveaway!

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Categories: Book Promo, Giveaways, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , | 19 Comments

Book Review: Home the Hard Way by Z.A. Maxfield

Reviewed by JustJen

1Title: Home the Hard Way
Author: Z.A. Maxfield
Heroes: Dare Buckley/Finn Fowler
Genre: MM Contemporary
Length: 230 Pages
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date: July 28, 2014
Available at: Riptide Publishing, Amazon, Barnes & Noble and All Romance eBooks
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb:  Dare Buckley has come home—or at least, he’s come back to Palladian, the small town he left as a teenager. After a major lapse in judgment forced him to resign from the Seattle PD, Palladian is the only place that’ll hire him. There’s one benefit to hitting rock bottom, though: the chance to investigate the mystery of his father’s suicide.

Dare also gets to reacquaint himself with Finn Fowler, whose childhood hero worship ended in uncomfortable silence when Dare moved away. But Finn isn’t the same little kid Dare once protected. He’s grown into an attractive, enigmatic stranger who neither wants nor needs what Dare has to offer.

In fact, Dare soon realizes that Finn’s keeping secrets—his own and the town’s. And he doesn’t seem to care that Dare needs answers. The atmosphere in Palladian, like its namesake river, appears placid, but dark currents churn underneath. When danger closes in, Dare must pit his ingenuity against his heart, and find his way home the hard way.(
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, JustJen's Reviews, LGBT, Published in 2014 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment