Posts Tagged With: Self-Published

Book Review: Model Christmas by Jaime Samms

Reviewed by Ami

Title: Model Christmas
Author: Jaime Samms
Heroes: Sebastian & Cody
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 40 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 6, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Sebastian ‘s ideal Christmas looks nothing like his picture-perfect childhood experiences, but neither should it be spent wandering the cold streets alone and homeless.

Cody has no time for the holidays if he wants to eat. He needs a new model for his next commission–and he needs him now.

Seb can’t go home and Cody’s model took his pay and left. Both men are in dire straits, so when they meet over soup-kitchen chili they each see the answer to their problems in the other.

They never expected more than a means to an end, but now, that perfect Christmas might be as simple as seeing what’s right in front of them
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Categories: 3 Star Ratings, Ami's Reviews, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Forgotten by Colette Davison: Exclusive Excerpt & Giveaway!

Blogger_Exclusive Excerpt

Exclusive Excerpt from Forgotten

by Colette Davison

“I’m falling in love with you,” Kyrone said.

“You’re…” Jared shook his head. “I don’t even know what being in love feels like.” He had no clue what kind of relationships he’d had before the accident, but since it, this thing with Kyrone was the longest he’d spent with one man.

“I can tell you how I feel about you, if that would help?” Kyrone suggested.

Whether it would or not, Jared was too curious not to let Kyrone speak, so he nodded.

“I get butterflies in my stomach whenever you smile,” Kyrone told him. “I feel giddy when you kiss or cuddle me. I feel insanely happy when you’re around, and I miss you when you’re not. I love the feel of you.” He rolled them over again, this time straddling Jared so he was pinned beneath him. Then he kissed him, a slow, deep kiss that made Jared’s toes curl. “I am in awe of how brave you are and of how together you are for a guy who literally lost everything eighteen months ago. You amaze me. Being with you makes me feel fulfilled.”

“You’re pretty filling yourself,” Jared said, needing a joke to make the air around him easier to breathe.

He’d been holding his breath through most of Kyrone’s words. Each statement had made his heart swell a little more, and his head too. 

Kyrone nuzzled his neck. “I like filling you up,” he whispered, before looking up with a grin plastered on his face. 

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Categories: Book Promo, Excerpts, Giveaways, LGBT, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: The Rivalry by Beth Bolden

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: The Rivalry
Author: Beth Bolden
Heroes: Heath & Sam
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 458 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: March 9, 2020
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: The first time NFL quarterback Heath Harris meets Sam Crawford, it’s just them, a luxury yacht and a few days of fun in the sun. Sam turns out to be nothing like Heath expects. He’s kind and funny and irreverent—and also unbelievably, shockingly sexy. For three short, glorious, life-changing days, there are no rules.

The second time they meet, Sam has just been traded to Heath’s team, and instead of lovers, now they’re rivals. Heath has spent the last five years working desperately to be the best quarterback the Riptide could ever need, but when injuries threaten to derail his career, Sam is right there, standing on the sideline. Ready to take over, and ready to ruin everything Heath has given his life for.

Rival. Enemy. Teammate. Friend. Lover.

As their orbits collide, sparks fly, and Heath struggles to find the right label and the right box to shove Sam into, hoping to keep him contained. But Sam—and Heath’s feelings—refuse to cooperate.

Sam might not be just one of those things, he might be all of them, and so much more. Continue reading

Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2020 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Book Review: A Distant Drum by Amy Rae Durreson

Reviewed by Ami

Title: A Distant Drum
Author: Amy Rae Durreson
Heroes: Alex & Nik
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 89 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: December 20, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Christmas is coming… but Alex is running away.

Panicked by the prospect of spending Christmas with his boyfriend’s disapproving parents, Alex flees to the old houseboat in the Norfolk Broads his uncle left him. But when a freak snowstorm traps him there, Alex soon realises he’s not the only heartbroken lover haunting the shores of Halsham Broad.

Two hundred years ago, drummer boy Jack Sadler drowned skating over thin ice to meet his lover. Now, whenever the Broad freezes over, he returns and brings a curse with him.

And every night Alex spends trapped in the icebound boat, he hears the beat of a distant drum draw closer…
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, Guest Reviewer, LGBT, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Mr. Right Now by Annabeth Albert

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: Mr. Right Now
Author: Annabeth Albert
Heroes: Russ & Esteban
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 127 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 14, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: He’s Mr. Right Now, but for how long?

When Russ suffers a Thanksgiving disaster, his gorgeous neighbor Esteban is there to save the day. And after an innocent mix-up leads to the former Hollywood hottie playing the role of Russ’s date, Russ thinks scoring Esteban as his fake boyfriend is a huge win. The newly discharged marine is healing inside and out and could use some holiday cheer.

For his part, Esteban is intrigued by his big, bad neighbor. He likes how his matchmaking cat brings out an unexpected caring side of Russ. Desire flares as the reasons to continue their ruse pile up for both men.

And pretending feels so good. From chocolaty kisses to late night cuddles, their burgeoning friendship is getting cozier and cozier. But as the end date for their little deception looms, all the real feelings they’ve tried to ignore come tumbling in. Each must decide whether they have what it takes to ring in the New Year as a couple.

Mr. Right Now is a stand-alone holiday novella with sweet, low-angst feels, spicy love scenes, and foodie inspired, quirky Oregon romance with a military flavor. Happy ending guaranteed with no cliffhangers!
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: No Place Like Home by Annabelle Jacobs

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: No Place Like Home
Author: Annabelle Jacobs
Heroes: Oliver & Ed
Genre: M/M Contemporary
Length: 218 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: November 26, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Will Oliver get the gift he’s hoping for this Christmas?

Oliver Walker’s Christmas is shaping up to be a quiet one. That is until hunky neighbour Ed Middleton moves in next door.
Attraction is instant, but Ed is only there temporarily and neither wants to start something with an expiration date.

As the festive season approaches, holiday cheer wraps around them, and giving in to temptation is inevitable. But Ed is still set on moving in the new year—a fresh start, miles away from those he’s closest to.

If Oliver doesn’t want to lose his heart, he’ll have to show Ed that home is wherever he wants it to be, and love is possible no matter what.

No Place Like Home is a heartwarming story of love between neighbours, family and friends, about adorable rescue cats, and remembering that sometimes the very thing you’re looking for is right under your nose.
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Mending the Rift by Shea Balik

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: Mending the Rift
Author: Shea Balik
Series: Druid’s Curse #8
Heroes: Logan & Brandr
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 211 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 28, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: THE END IS NEAR!

The end would be upon Brandr and his friends soon. The only question, would Brandr be able to find his fated one in time? He feared he was too late when he arrived to find the field empty. Then the Veil opens again and hell rains down upon him as the Unseelie pets attack. But when Brandr was too injured to move, the Druid he was destined to claim as his own flees in terror. Talk about demoralizing.

That did not happen. Not even in some weird fantasy could Logan have imagined that a dead man could come back to life. And he had definitely been dead, since Logan had to put his head back on his body. But when he was faced with the truth, that the man was immortal, Logan has to admit to being…intrigued.

But as Samhain draws closer, the danger around them increases as the Fae converge. The Fae must be defeated if Brandr and Logan hope to find their happily ever after. Only by working together will they have any chance of Mending the Rift and saving humanity.

PLEASE NOTE: This is the FINAL book in an ongoing story arc. It is HIGHLY recommended that you read this series in order! Thank you!!
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Categories: 3.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Tears of Life by Shea Balik

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: Tears of Life
Author: Shea Balik
Series: Druid’s Curse #7
Heroes: Mingus & Oluf
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 188 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 13, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Mingus had one true love in life, animals. None of them were off the list, although, if he were completely honest, his favorite was his cat, Pretty Baby. He never imagined one day he might have to put someone else first. Not just anyone, but the man who has stolen his heart.

For centuries Oluf has dreamed of finding the one destined to be his. He’d even anticipated the need to woo him by becoming a chef. After all, according to his mother, the way to a man’s heart was through his stomach. What he hadn’t expected was that he would come in second to a cat with sharp claws, who seemed to enjoy using people as her personal scratching post.

As Mingus, Oluf, and their friends get closer to Samhain, the Fae will try to stop them using everything at their disposal. It means finding a way to work together, even if it takes shedding a few Tears of Life to do so. But in the end, will the fate of the human world come down to a cat?
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Categories: 4 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Book Review: Mastering the Flames by S.J. Himes

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: Mastering the Flames
Author: S.J. Himes
Series: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #4
Heroes: Isaac & Constantine
Genre: M/M Urban Fantasy
Length: 394 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: October 4, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: The fourth book in the hit urban fantasy series shifts focus to the remaining Salvatore brother in this slow burn romance…

*
Guilt-ridden after the massacre of his family, Isaac Salvatore turned to binge drinking to escape the pain. Now twenty-four years old, Isaac is a recovering alcoholic woefully out of practice in the magical arts, leaving his fire affinity hanging on the edge of disaster. After a month of rehab, he returns to Beacon Hill and his family, determined to remain sober, learn to control his magic, and figure out a plan for his life that doesn’t involve drinking.

Constantine Batiste is the oldest, most powerful vampire in the city. Born in ancient Gaul, the bastard son of a Celtic king, his long life has been shrouded in tragedy and horrors. Recent mistakes have left him wary and determined to guard his clan from all foes. When two of his clan members fall victim to an ancient evil, he summons the Necromancer of Boston for aid. Accompanying his older brother to the Tower is the handsome young fire mage once wounded by Constantine’s arrogance, and their encounter reignites an attraction that burns within both Constantine and Isaac.

The answer to who is targeting the vampires of Boston is buried in the dark, early days of Constantine’s transition to an immortal life. Isaac finds himself saddled with a painful insight into the evil cutting a swath through the supernatural population of Boston. While his brother, Angel, takes over the hunt to find and stop the threat to the city, Isaac struggles to find a balance between helping his brother and finding his own purpose and place in the world, free from his brother’s shadow.

Falling in love wasn’t part of his plan, but mastering the flames that burn between him and Constantine soon becomes the most important thing in his life, even as an ancient evil seeks to destroy them.

Mastering the Flames is the fourth book in The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series and is not a standalone. The series should be read in order for maximum enjoyment and understanding of the plot and characters. The Content Advisory is on the Copyright Page and can be seen by downloading a sample or using the Look Inside feature. 130k words.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Mind over Matter by Shea Balik

Reviewed by Nikyta

Title: Mind over Matter
Author: Shea Balik
Series: Druid’s Curse #6
Heroes: Wylie & Fritjof
Genre: M/M Paranormal
Length: 191 pages
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: September 27, 2019
Available at: Amazon
Add it to your shelf: Goodreads

Blurb: Who would have thought there was something more horrifying than an indoor boy being forced to live in the Amazon? Yet, there was. In fact, the more descriptive word would be mind-numbingly terrifying. That it was brought into his life by a drop dead gorgeous man claiming he was there to protect Wylie, only made everything that much more surreal.

Since the first druid came into their lives, Fritjof prayed he would never meet the druid that was destined to be his fated love. He knew that emotion would always lead to devastation and heartache. He’d seen it, experienced it, when his mother disowned him for not being able to save his father.

But what happens when the Fae goes after someone they both love? Will they be able to find a way to trust in each other? Are some things impossible to overcome or is it Mind Over Matter?

PLEASE NOTE: Although each book in this series focuses on a different couple, to best enjoy the overall story arc, these books SHOULD be read in order.
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Categories: 4.5 Star Ratings, Book Review, LGBT, Nikyta's Reviews, Published in 2019 | Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment