Winter Blogfest: Megan Slayer


This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a necklace made by the author along with an autographed swag pack.

My Christmas Playlist

I thought I’d pull together a list of my favorite Christmas songs. I’m kind of picky about what I like at Christmas. I’m not wild about much of the newest versions of the old songs. Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order)

“Jingle Bell Rock” ~ Bobby Helms – It’s just classic. 

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” ~ Bing Crosby – this one makes me sad and think about the people in my life that aren’t there any longer. But it also makes me glad I knew them. 

“Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” ~ Burl Ives – now that I know he was blacklisted, I love it even more. 

“Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” ~ Gene Autry – we sang this song at school. It reminds me of being in the first grade. 

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” ~ Brenda Lee – doesn’t she have the best Christmas songs? Besides, how can you not love it and not think of Home Alone?

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” ~ Judy Garland – makes me sad, yet Christmassy, too. 

“White Christmas” ~ Bing Crosby – it’s just a classic

“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” ~ Bruce Springsteen – okay, I love how he asks how many have behaved and when he gets a poor response, he says, ah…not many, not many. Cracks me up.  

“Santa Baby” ~ Eartha Kitt – she makes Christmas sexy ? 
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“The Chipmunk Song” ~ How can you not like the Chipmunks at Christmas?

“Little Saint Nick” ~ The Beach Boys – I learned the Muppets version of this song and love both versions. 

“When the River Meets the Sea” ~ Paul Williams, but sung by Robin the Frog and Denver with the Muppets

And…. 

“The Peace Carol” ~ Traditional ~ John Denver and Scooter with the Muppets

I know I left off the Drifters, Otis Redding and Darlene Love among others. They’re on the longer list. What are your favorite Christmas songs? Do you lean classic or contemporary? I’d love to know.

Taylor Fyre never thought he’d find love at the dog park, but when he spots Nicky Campbell and his dog, Nagy, he begins to think the impossible is possible.
Taylor Fyre isn’t wild about dogs. He’s got serious reservations about the animals and the last thing he wants to do is cover a story about the dog park. When he arrives at the park, he realizes facing his fears won’t be easy, but if Nicky Campbell is part of the healing process, he’s ready to start. The handsome, tattooed mechanic makes him want to bare his soul. But Nicky’s got a dog and things could get sticky.
Nicky Campbell would rather keep to himself than talk to new people. He’s tired of being labeled dangerous because of his tattoos. His dog, Nagy, a pit bull mix, faces the same discrimination. When Nicky runs into Taylor at the dog park, he expects a fight. But the more they talk, the more he’s drawn to the polished reporter. If he and Taylor can overcome their differences and be themselves, they might find they have plenty in common and can have the forever they both deserve.
Reader advisory: This book contains expressions of homophobia, references to male prostitution and reference to past abuse at the hands of an uncle.

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.
When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library. Find out more about Megan and Wendi at: http://wendizwaduk.com/indexMegan.htm

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Winter Blogfest: Liz Crowe


This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a signed copy of LIGHTSTRUCK book 2 of the Brewing Passion series, with an official Liz Crowe tote bag! (U.S. Only).

Love the Ones You’re With: A Holiday Remembrance

Growing up, my family was not exactly poor, but our vacations mostly consisted of going to my grandparents’ Kentucky Lake house. We also spent every single Christmas Eve and Day + the Week After there, which was sometimes a challenge, considering my father was a minister of music at our church and head of the music department at a small Baptist college. In short, we were committed to this tradition, and while sometimes we were rushed to make it happen, we would always make the trek across the entirety of the Commonwealth of Kentucky in time to soak up all the awesomeness of the holiday PLUS (bonus) more birthday love for me, since I’m one of the Blessed Few who get to have a birthday and Christmas in one full-filled month.

I’m now in the fifty plus category when asked by marketing professionals and have had some time to create my own family traditions. Thanks to the six Christmases I spent with my family in three different countries, I’m somewhat averse to turning “traditions” into hard and fast rules. In my experience, the only real tradition necessary is that you and your family are together, happy, and healthy. It certainly worked for the Crowes as we celebrated alongside our new friends and neighbors in Japan, Turkey, and England. 

As I get older, I think back on my childhood Christmases spent in at that lake house, at meals that never, ever included alcohol, always involved at least one trip to church, with most evenings culminating in family-wide gin rummy games where we ate fresh popped popcorn and drank sugary co-colas, and realize that I probably did not realize how good I had it. It was, without a doubt, a more innocent world—sans social media, smart phones, and other interpersonal skill-killing devices. And I was, of course, madly in love with the holiday itself—the music most especially, plus the ballet, and the hush of a Christmas Eve carol service. It was all I needed in the whole wide world—my parents, my brother (ok, I had to include him), my grandparents, and extended family all living nearby. 

That solid base of holiday traditions stood me in good stead when I began creating my own—the last minute shopping (I hate shopping), the very last minute gift wrapping session, and a delicious meal—although we do include the Devil’s Juice, sorry Nana. One thing I do always try to do is find a new game—card* or board or otherwise—that we can all play a few times in the week leading up to New Year’s Eve, when the now-grown Crowes take flight for their now-grown lives and we all settle in to tackle a new year with good food, fun times, a fair bit of booze, and family game time to sustain us until the next December. 

*Remind me to tell you about that time we taught my 77-year old mother how to play Cards Against Humanity….

Happy Holidays to you all, no matter how, or with whom, you celebrate them!

Book one in the Brewing Passion series
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One hot entrepreneur plus a driven saleswoman and sultry brewer: simmered in the craft beer world for a unique, sexy reading experience!

When wealthy brewery owner Austin Fitzgerald meets sexy saleswoman Evelyn Benedict, angry sparks fly. They seem destined to clash, until a hot hookup in a cold beer cooler changes everything.

For Austin, it’s a life-altering moment that sets him on a path away from his birthright, while Evelyn must face her fears about committing to a man considered the playboy of the micro-brewing world.

The power of their preconceived notions nearly tears them apart—until they meet up with brewmaster Ross, who opens their eyes to a deeper, more erotic connection.

But three strong personalities don’t always make for the best emotional mix and when a simple misunderstanding causes chaos, it’s up to Ross to somehow repair the tattered shreds of their relationship.

Amazon best-selling author, mom of three, Realtor, beer blogger, brewery marketing expert, and soccer fan, Liz Crowe is a Kentucky native and graduate of the University of Louisville currently living in Ann Arbor. She has decades of experience in sales and fund raising, plus an eight-year stint as a three-continent, ex-pat trailing spouse to call upon for inspiration.
With stories set in the not-so-common worlds of breweries, on the soccer pitch, in successful real estate offices and at times in exotic locales like Istanbul, Turkey, her books are unique and told with a fresh voice. The Liz Crowe backlist has something for any reader seeking complex storylines with humor and complete casts of characters that will delight, frustrate and linger in the imagination long after the book is finished. Liz books bring something unique, both in settings and characters, that will hook readers of romance, women’s fiction and chick lit alike.

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Winter Blogfest: Sara Ohlin


This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win one $20 gift card to Amazon or Barnes & Noble.

My Bookish Christmas Traditions

One of my absolute favorite Christmas traditions has to do with books. Of course!! Over the years as I have moved so many times, I have spent a few Christmases alone. But I feel like, because I love books so much and the journeys they take us on I’ve always had a cozy place to visit between the pages of great novels. I think that’s why I love stories that include food & family and the communities we build around those, because even when I have been alone or lonely, I can sink into a fictional world of holiday tradition and togetherness. 

I remember one Christmas I spent alone in Seattle. On Christmas Eve I met my future husband at a bar, although I didn’t know it at the time. But I was smitten. He put a smile on my face that lasted…well, it’s still with me eighteen years later.

But that actual Christmas day, I made myself a favorite charred broccoli & feta pasta, dripping with olive oil and garlic, paired it with a buttery Chardonnay, cozied up on my couch alone and re-read Rosamunde Pilcher’s Winter Solstice. Pilcher had a way with setting and emotion that always drew me right into her stories. The bitter wind of the English winter landscape, hot tea served with scones and clotted cream, heartbreak from losing a precious loved one. And the beauty in finding love. 

The last words on her Winter Solstice book jacket perfectly sum this up. “Once again, Rosamunde Pilcher reminds us all that friendship, compassion, loyalty, and love can come together and renew us all—even when the days seem darkest.”

I love the power of books to comfort us! I’d love to know some of your favorite holiday book memories!

Salvaging Love

Animals aren’t the only thing that need rescuing when a sexy veterinarian encounters a hot-headed attorney…

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Intrigued by Ellie, hot-shot defense attorney Jackson gives her one month to convince him not to put his gentrification plans into progress. Attraction soon sizzles between them, but when Jackson makes his desires known, Ellie’s vulnerable heart doesn’t know what to think.

She wants to trust the sinfully handsome Jackson, just as he wants to gain her trust, but finding their way to love isn’t easy when her traumatic past and his criminal clients could sabotage their relationship for good.

Can the enchanting veterinarian and the brooding attorney fight the demons from the past…and build a new future?

Puget Sound based writer, Sara Ohlin is a mom, wannabe photographer, obsessive reader, ridiculous foodie, and the author of the contemporary romance novels, Handling the Rancher and Salvaging Love.
She has over fifteen years of creative non-fiction and memoir writing experience, and you can find her essays at Anderbo.com, Feminine Collective, Mothers Always Write, Her View from Home, and in anthologies such as Are We Feeling Better Yet? Women Speak about Healthcare in America, Take Care: Tales, Tips, & Love from Women Caregivers, and Chicken Soup for the Soul.
Although she’s the author of many essays about life, grief, motherhood and the connections we make through delicious food and shared meals, Sara loves creating imaginary worlds with tight-knit communities in her romance novels. She credits her mother, Mary, Nora Roberts and Rosamunde Pilcher for her love of romance.
If she’s not reading or writing, you will most likely find her in the kitchen creating scrumptious meals with her two kids and amazing husband, or perhaps cooking up her next love story.
She once met a person who both “didn’t read books” and wasn’t “that into food” and it nearly broke her heart. You can learn more on her website https://saraohlin.com.

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Winter Blogfest: Ann Marie James


This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook copy of Chasing the Dream.

Christmas Breakfast

Holiday traditions have a strange way of sneaking up on families. Growing up we never had a huge Christmas dinner. Our tradition was to have a huge Christmas breakfast instead. After my parents divorced, my brother, sister and I spent Christmas morning with my mom and stepfather, then my Dad would pick us up for Christmas with his side of the family. My mom and my stepfather always made sure we had a huge Christmas breakfast, before we left.

Dad eventually moved away and we didn’t see him all that often. However, the Christmas tradition stuck and grew to become an event where friends and family (including my Dad’s mother) would come for a grand Christmas breakfast at our house.

Leading up to Christmas, the refrigerator would be stocked with dozens of eggs and packages of bacon and loaves of bread sat ready on the counter for French Toast. The house was full of people talking and the scents of all the different breakfast items being made and coffee. After breakfast was over and clean up was complete, the rest of the day was ours to do with as we wished. Play with toys or read books that we received.

My favorite food was the French Toast. The smell of it makes me think of Christmas. My stepfather made the most amazing French Toast. It was golden brown and he slathered it in butter and syrup before he handed it over. People would wait in line to get it hot off the griddle. Which leads me to my giveaway…

For a chance to win a $10 Amazon Gift Card and an eBook copy of my debut novel Chasing the Dream: What food or scent makes you think of the holidays?

When Lee meets his fantasy man, his shy nature makes him want to run. But what will he do when his dream guy won’t let him?
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Saul Valencia. Tall? Check. Muscles? Check. Everything Lee Clark ever dreamed of in a man? Check. Bad case of nerves and feeling like an idiot whenever he’s around? Sigh. Check.

Being kicked out of the family home for being gay would have been bad enough, but Lee Clark also worked in his dad’s garage. Losing his family, his home and his job all in the same day left him floundering. He can’t believe his luck might be changing when he finds a job at Everyone’s Mechanic, another garage, where he’s accepted for who he is.

Then Saul, a former linebacker for the NFL Raleigh Raptors and a friend of Lee’s boss, walks into his life. The man is the embodiment of all his teenage fantasies, but Lee doesn’t dare hope Saul will ever actually notice him.

Intrigued from the start by the shy man now working for his business partner’s boyfriend, Saul struggles through bad advice and misunderstandings to convince Lee that he’s serious about wanting a chance with him. Getting Lee to give him a shot at romance was difficult enough, but when drama and blackmail from outside sources are added in, the relationship becomes almost impossible.

It will take the combined efforts of Lee’s garage family and Saul’s real one to set things right.

Ann Marie James is fluent in two languages, English and sarcasm. She believes that you will never learn anything new if you don’t read as much as you can, and/or talk to every stranger you meet. She always looks for the best in people and to treat people the way she wants to be treated. Above all Ann Marie believes in love, whatever form it takes. Relationships are hard, love is the glue that keeps it together.

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Winter Blogfest: Cassie O’Brien


This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a paperback copy of her Christmas novella, “The Best Gifts Aren’t Wrapped”, a paperback copy of her book, “Ellie’s Rules” and box of Christmas chocolates. No restriction on where the prize will be shipped..

Christmas Memories

Memories of a 1950’s British child. 

The war has been over for nearly a dozen years, although rationing has only been finally declared as ‘over’ in 1956. The luxury of being able to purchase sugar, fresh fruit and meat along with other imported goods has been restored, although the supply of them is not plentiful. Mother provides three ‘square’ meals a day at eight am, noon and five o’clock—there is no snacking or treats in between times, unless of course, it’s Christmas Day…

  *****

The most wonderful day of the year is nearly here and our house smells of pine, spiced fruit, tangerines and rum. The aroma of roasting meat will soon join them when Mother slow cooks our turkey overnight on gas regulo two—the bird enormous enough to feed the extended family that have squashed into our house for the next three days. There won’t be enough beds, but none of the men mind sleeping on the floor in their overcoats, so long as we are all together.

Dressed in my nightie, my damp hair rag-rolled to be released into ringlets when dry, I gaze at the clock on the mantlepiece and will the hands to move faster. My brother, as impatient as I for bedtime to arrive, can barely keep still. At last, Grandma nods at the Christmas tree. We are lucky, he and I, and pick-up not a sock or a lady’s stocking from beneath it, but a clean, white pillowcase apiece—it will bulge with interesting shapes come the morning, but it will not be full.

We drape our pillowcases over the foot of the narrow bed we are sharing and try to settle down, but if the anticipation of hearing sleigh bells is not enough to keep me from sleep, the tightly tied worms of linen festooning my head certainly are. However much later, my favorite aunt joins us, and in a soft voice croons Christmas carols into my ear until my eyelids flutter closed.

A noise wakes me. I hear a metallic clunk. The chain connected to the overhead cistern is being tugged to release the flush of the toilet. I sit up and blink. My brother does the same and in the grey light of dawn, my aunt smiles and asks. “Have you been good children this year? Has he been?”

Catching sight of our pillowcases, I bounce up and down on the bed laughing. “We have! Look!” She grins. “Come along, then.”
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A half-filled pillowcase is not a magnificent thing unless you are five and dragging it behind you as you run toward Mother and Father’s bedroom. Rather than Papa, their bed contains Grandma, Mother and another aunt and they make room for us to squeeze in between them under the eiderdown. The rest of the family, in thick dressing gowns and coats range themselves around the room to watch us. My hands are shaking, mottled with cold, for there is no heating on the upper floor.

I close my eyes and reach in, our presents are not wrapped, gift paper is so expensive as to be out of the reach of most. My haul includes a coloring book, crayons, a miniature tea set, a jigsaw and a bundle of candy canes. My brother’s is similar although he has more grown-up lead pencils and a chocolate tool set.

Nobody tells us off when we tuck-in to our sweeties before breakfast and there is spicy gingerbread on the table when we sit to eat it. Afterward we stand in front of the Christmas tree with our eyes closed for our big present to be brought into the room. Mine is a baby’s cot made by Grandpa in his shed, dressed with satin edged blankets sewn by Grandma, and a beautiful dolly from my parents. My brother’s is a collection of die-cast cars and a homemade two-level garage with a working ramp, operated by way of a small handle wound with string.

*****

Wonderful times. Would I go back? Yes, in an instant! Would I transport my children and grandchildren back in time with me? No. The Christmas memories of your childhood belong to the time in which you were that child.

Who says Santa doesn’t bring even the saddest person a beautiful gift?
Lauren hates Christmas. It reminds her of the death of her husband, Brian, and brings back memories too painful to bear. To keep herself busy over the festive season, she decorates a room in her house and shuts the rest of the world out—the door locked as tightly as her heart and emotions.
Until Joe comes along, a neighbor who is divorced, has two sons, and enough compassion to see her through the dark times. Although Lauren’s not looking for love, it creeps up on her, stealing her breath and forcing her to see that although she’s angry at Brian for putting himself in a fatal situation, she can now remember him fondly with the affection he deserves. Joe has helped her to see life is precious, and when Santa arrives with an extra-special gift, her world is complete and she can once again go about the business of living—with her heart well and truly taken.

Author of erotic romance published by Totally Entwined Group. My books can be found at https://www.totallybound.com/

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Winter Blogfest: Sadira Stone


This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Through the Red Door..

Mini Fruitcakes for People Who Hate Fruitcake

These little gem-colored treats are chewy and sweet but contain no cake. I’ve found that people who dislike fruitcake will gobble these up! They’re also quick and easy to make, a welcome addition to your holiday cookie repertoire. You can easily adapt the recipe to include your favorite dried and candied fruits.

Ingredients:

2 cups chopped nuts: I use walnuts and pecans.

1 pounds pitted dates, cut into quarters

2 8-ounce packages of mixed diced candied fruit for fruitcake. In my grocery store, it’s called Fruitcake Mix.

I love the flavor of orange, so I added ½ cup candied orange peel, diced. 

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a pinch of salt

1 can sweetened condensed milk

Combine all ingredients well, roll into small balls (Not gonna lie, it’s a sticky mess. Try oiling your hands first) and put into paper-lined mini-muffin tins. Bake at 300 degrees Fahrenheit for about 18 minutes until golden. Cool and serve. Makes three dozen.

Letting him inside could be her salvation…or her undoing.

Clara Martelli clings to Book Nirvana, the Oregon bookshop she and her late husband Jared built together. When rising rents and corporate competition threaten its survival, her best hope is their extensive erotica collection, locked behind a red door. In dreams and signs, her dead husband tells her it’s time to open that door and move on. When a dark and handsome stranger’s powerful magnetism jolts her back to life and he wants a look at the treasures of that secret room, she can’t help but want to show him more.

Professor Nick Papadopoulos is looking for historical erotica. Book Nirvana’s collection surpasses his wildest dreams, and so does its lovely owner. A widower, he understands Clara’s battle with guilt, but their searing chemistry is too strong to resist. Besides, he will only be in town for two weeks, not long enough for her to see beyond the scandal that haunts his past.

Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. After leaving her teaching career in Germany, she finally tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance and cozy mysteries from her home in Washington State. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, plays guitar badly, and gobbles all the books.

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Top Five Embarrassing Situations by Bru Baker – Guest Blog


Long and Short Reviews welcomes Bru Baker who is visiting with us as she celebrates the recent release of her newest book Downward Facing Dreamboat.

Top Five Embarrassing Situations
I am at heart a very awkward individual, so I have so many to choose from. I mean, my formative years were like the before footage of all the “geeky” girls who got a makeover or some jock dated on a bet and then they became popular.
I knocked the prom queen down the stairs once, for god’s sake. Accidentally, but still.

5. Last week I went to Noodles & Co with the kids and got excited about the new cauliflower noodles. (I’m diabetic, so pasta is generally a no-go for me.) Their zucchini noodles are called Zoodles, so I somehow got it in my head the cauliflower noodles were called Caulifloodles. I ordered them for myself and for Thing 1, so I probably said Caulifloodle no less than six times.

Turns out they’re just called cauliflower noodles. The cashier didn’t say a word, but honestly I’ll probably never go to that location again…

4. When I was 17 my family vacationed in Las Vegas. My parents spent the days in the casino leaving me to entertain my younger sister, which wasn’t that much of a challenge because our hotel had several pools and an arcade.

We were playing around in the pool and I dove in and came up…without my swimsuit top. A group of Japanese tourists were on the deck and they took considerable interest in my predicament but were respectful and didn’t catcall or anything. Later that night we were in the arcade and the same group of tourists were there. They gave me all of the tickets they’d won playing games. I nearly died of embarrassment.

Even worse: Being dragged back down to the arcade by my father who wanted to find those (adult) tourists after my sister and I came back to the room with the gigantic stuffed bear we’d bought with the tickets. (Because sure, I’d been embarrassed, but I’m not a fool. I spent those tickets!) >.<

3. A few years ago Hubs and I took the kids to visit my mother for Thanksgiving. We stayed in a hotel and the kids had a great time. They were getting along so well that I took a picture of their cute little heads bent together as they watched the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and posted it to Facebook. A few hours later a friend messaged me and asked me if I had zoomed in on the photo, so I of course pulled it up and zoomed in and realized there was a mirror next to the television, and my reflection was clearly visible as I took the photo.

Clad only in a bra and a pair of tights.

2. When I was 19 I accidentally boarded the wrong plane. This was a year or two before Sept. 11 and I’d been speaking at a conference in New York with my college newspaper advisor and some friends. A friend had managed to buy us a huge bottle of vodka and we didn’t want it to go to waste so we filled our water bottles with it and carried it through security still drunk from the night before. Somehow a friend and I managed to board the wrong plane (they even took our tickets at the gate!). The flight must not have been sold out because no one noticed we were in their seats. The doors were closed and the flight attendant started the safety spiel, welcoming us on the flight to Pittsburgh.

We were supposed to be flying to Indianapolis.
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Needless to say they were NOT amused to have to open the plane back up and escort us down the jetway, where we ran into my advisor having a hysterical breakdown at the gate because he thought we’d already taken off for Pittsburgh….

1. I’ve shared this story on some blogs before but it’s too good not to share again. When I was working as a librarian I was in the reference department at the library in a very conservative and wealthy community. I had spearheaded a program to teach computer skills to senior citizens, and given that it was a well-off community the classes were always full because the older people in the town had the money to buy all kinds of devices and then didn’t know how to use them.

I was teaching a class on Goodreads at the time, guiding people in real-time through account settings and features. I was using my own Goodreads account, a personal one I kept just for the library because I certainly didn’t want to link them to my Bru Baker account. One of the features we were using was the “import books from Amazon” and I had my screen projected on a big screen so they could follow along. My Goodreads shelf started populating with all the books I’d bought, which was all well and good until I looked up and saw the book “How To Bottom Like a Porn Star” very prominently featured right in the middle of the screen.

I didn’t want to call too much attention to it in case they hadn’t seen it, so I just casually kept talking as I navigated away from that page. Unfortunately several of these senior citizens HAD seen, and I was pretty lucky no one reported it because I doubt I’d have had that job much longer if they did…

Love is trying to catch up to two lonely men. Can they stop long enough to let it?

Running defines Kincaid’s life. It’s not until he loses it that he realizes how isolated he’s become. But even if an injury hadn’t forced him to slow down, the hottie in the yoga studio would have given him pause. In fact, admiring the man each morning is the only thing keeping the spring in his step when it feels like he’s lost everything.

Owen’s busy life as a yoga instructor doesn’t leave him much time to meet guys, let alone date. He’s convinced his passion for helping people is worth the sacrifice, but he’s willing to spare a few moments for the cutie who walks past the studio every morning.

When their lives intersect and romance is set in motion, they stumble off the starting block. But no matter the obstacles in their path, this race won’t be over until they reach the finish… together.

About the Author:Bru Baker writes sophisticated gay romantic fiction with strong characters, real-world problems, and plenty of humor.

Bru spent fifteen years writing for newspapers before making the jump to fiction. Whether it’s creating her own characters or getting caught up in someone else’s, there’s no denying that Bru is happiest when she’s engrossed in a story. She and her husband have two children, which means a lot of her books get written from the sidelines of various sports practices.

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Buy the book at Amazon, Dreamspinner Press, Barnes and Noble, or Kobo.

5 Embarrassing Sexual Type Situations for Anyone… Other than Z. Allora – Guest Blog and Giveaway


Long and Short Reviews welcomes Z. Allora who is celebrating the upcoming release of her newest book The Longest Night. Check below the post to find out how to win an e-book one of the other Entwined BDSM stories: Lock and Key or Secured and Free.

5 Embarrassing Sexual Type Situations for Anyone…
Other than Z. Allora

Thank you so much for having me. I’m going to share with you 5 situations that could have been embarrassing… but I’m Z. Allora so I embraced them. I’m not saying I’ve never been embarrassed by sex or sexual situations, but it gives me much more joy to embrace sex and sexuality. Then I’m going to celebrate my new release The Longest Night, a sweet BDSM with a giveaway.

Here are 5 situations that could have been mortifying if I let them:

1) Bangkok Go-Go Bar: “I fuck him too.”

On one of our trips to Bangkok, we were at a go-go bar and the bouncer placed us right in front of the stage. The dancers took great pleasure in dedicating themselves to me. As the only person who was assigned female at birth in attendance, their goal was to embarrass me with attention….

Although once they realized that was a hopeless endeavor, they began to try to make me laugh. One sweet dancer decided making silly faces was the way to go.

He was right! I snortled again and again at his twisted fish lips face.

Later that evening, Mr. Alpha, the biggest, most muscular dancer that everyone doted on, directed his attentions to me.

He strutted his fine, oiled muscular body over to me. Stopping in front of me, he raked his gaze over me as if trying to start a fire with no tinder.

After a moment of intense study, he announced with a confident smile, “I fuck you.”

*** All kidding aside, it was a lovely and thoughtful offer. It was clearly a coveted gift based on the reactions of the pouting of the patrons losing out on his attentions. ***

I shook my head, and elbowed my love. “I’m sorry, I’m with him.”

My love had stopped playing his game and smiled at the man in the loin cloth offering to fuck me. (Clearly my dearest heart knew there was no threat whatsoever.)

Mr. Alpha glanced at my love and grinned. He turned back to me and nodded. “I fuck him too.”

“Oh, thank you, but no. We’re good.” I didn’t want to insult him but I needed to be clear since I spoke only a few words of Thai.

*** This little scene had gotten everyone’s attention. The group on stage stopped dancing to stare at I’m sure what was a rare sight… Mr. Alpha being told “no.” ***

Mr. Alpha stared deeply into my eyes. “You very good. I make better.”

Thankfully, the bouncer at the door flashed a light signaling to the dancers that the police would soon be raiding the establishment.

Everyone darted away.

Mr. Alpha gave me one last longing look and ran out into the back.

My love and I beat a hasty retreat out the door.

2) The movers found handcuffs under our bed.

Mover: “Oh Mrs. Lady. Mrs. Lady. I found something of yours.”

I dash into the bedroom to find him smirking with an old pair of handcuffs, that had gotten lost under the bed, dangling from his fingertips. His intent was to embarrass or shame me.

Z.: “Oh God! Thank you so much! We’ve been looking for these.” I snatch them with a smile and clutch them to my chest. “These were my very first pair.”

Mover: Turns red, nods, and backs into a wall.

3) Carpet cleaner sucks up my bondage rope in his vacuum.

Cleaner: “Um, a… there’s some sort of rope attached under your bed.”

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Cleaner: …..

4) “I’ve never been hit in the head with a penis… until today.”

Carpet cleaner (same one, different visit): Upstairs in that room with all the pictures on the wall (which is cover art from my books)….

Z.: Yes. (Not sure where he’ll go with this…)

Carpet Cleaner: “Well, until today I’ve never been hit in the head with a penis….”

Z.: “Oh, my. Are you okay?”

Carpet Cleaner: “Yeah, I just… didn’t expect it. Why do you have one hanging in there?”

Z.: (mentally rubbing my hands together) Well, that’s a tintinnabulum from Pompeii. Where shop owners would hang these penises with bells attached to bring good luck to the store.”

Carpet Cleaner: nods… “Okay, so I guess I was hit in the head with good luck.”

5) Flying with Sex Toys

TSA: “What is this?” He points to my case of vibrators with a smirk.

Z.: “Vibrators. Would you like to see how I use them?”

TSA: (smirk falters) ….

Z.: “You put them on either side of your temple. If you have a cold use them around your nose to break up congestion, and to help with sinus pressure.”

TSA: ….

Z.: “There are other uses as well.” (bats eyelashes) “Orgasms.”

TSA: “You’re fine. Go.”

Z.: “I can show you—”

TSA: “Next.”

Not only accepting who you are but embracing yourself is a joy all it’s own. My characters in The Longest Night have finally accepted who they are and are clear on what they want. They are no longer willing to settle.

The holiday season is lonely for construction worker Benjamin Morgan, a big muscular guy who just wants to submit, obey, and serve. But the men he’s attracted to usually don’t have a dominant bone in their bodies. He’s done seeking his BDSM dreams with someone who isn’t interested in putting him in his rightful place—on his knees at their feet.

When a friend sets up a meeting with Foster Ridgeway at the BDSM club, Entwined, Benjamin has his doubts. Of course he is attracted to bookish Foster, who works for the same construction company, but how will someone so small and delicate-looking master Benjamin? But when Foster–the tiny temple of dominance wielding a crop–heads toward Benjamin, he might get what he’s always wanted, just in time for Solstice.

Do you give too much information (TMI)? I do (see the above post if you question me LOL) and I’m wondering if I’m alone. Let me know in the comments to enter for a chance to win an e-book one of the other Entwined BDSM stories: Lock and Key or Secured and Free. I’ll contact the winner on Dec 23rd by email.

Many hugs, Z. Allora

About the Author: Z. Allora believes in happily ever after for everyone. She met her own true love through the personals and has traveled to over thirty countries with him. She’s lived in Singapore, Israel and China. Now back home to the USA she’s an active member of PFLAG and a strong supporter of those on the rainbow in her community. She wants to promote understanding and acceptance through her actions and words. Writing rainbow romance allows her the opportunity to open hearts and change minds.

Facebook | Website | Twitter | Blog | Dreamspinner Author Page

Buy the book at Dreamspinner.

If I’d Never Heard of Me Would I Read My Book? by Kate Hill – Guest Blog and Giveaway


This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Kate Hill will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

If I’d never heard of me would I read my book?

This is a great question! I don’t think I’ve ever been asked this, but to me it’s the most important question for a writer. There are so many different people in the world. You will never please everyone. What one person hates, another will love. I might be wrong, but I think if you’re writing for profit (not a bad thing!), you want to try to please as many people as possible. I’m interested in profit, don’t get me wrong, but I have a day job. There was a time when I wrote full-time, turning out as many books as possible and following particular guidelines. Even then I basically wrote what I loved, but I made certain compromises that I wasn’t always happy with. On the other hand, I also learned a lot, not only about the craft of writing, but about what I really want in my writing life. While I still follow guidelines when working with publishers, I also do some indie publishing now. No matter how I intend to publish a book, whether it’s following the guidelines of a publisher or self-publishing, I always write a book I’d want to read.

When I write, it’s because it’s a story I’m looking for and haven’t found anywhere else. To me, life is too short to write entire stories that are solely for profit–a profit that isn’t even guaranteed. I write what interests me and somewhere out there are readers who also connect with that. I’m a huge fan of indie books, movies, and comic books. Many of my favorites aren’t well-known with a high budget.

If I can’t connect with my story on some level, I don’t feel it’s right to ask others to connect with it. Everyone is different, but I feel that if I write what I love, then my stories are sincere, and others who enjoy similar characters or themes will hopefully find pleasure in my work as well.

A blazing trail only he can see leads demon hunting biker Starr Johanson to his destined mate. A blessing placed on her family’s ancestral land summons Mysti Wild to the cabin where she’ll meet the man fated to share her life.

Each fears the other will be frightened by magic they don’t understand, but they quickly learn to trust each other, because no one can resist the person they were born to love.

Enjoy an Excerpt

Starr slipped and tumbled down a rocky, leaf-strewn decline. For several seconds he could only grunt and try to roll with the fall. He landed on his stomach, the wind momentarily knocked out of him. He tasted blood and spat a mouthful while pushing himself to his hands and knees. From what he could tell, he had cuts and bruises, but no breaks.

Blinded by rain and wind, he glanced around, dazed. He started climbing up the slippery incline, but fell again. Maybe it was an optical illusion, but he thought a path led off to his left. Starr tried to calm his mind and listen for guidance. Instinct told him to try the path, illusion or not, and he had long ago learned to listen to his instincts.

He took a step and his ankle nearly buckled.

Great.

He pushed forward as quickly and carefully as he could with a sprained ankle.

Something too warm for rain trickled down the back of his neck. He swiped it and looked at his bloodstained hand. Rain pelted it, diluting the blood. Dragging his hand along his denim-clad thigh, he limped on.

Squinting through the storm, he noticed a clearing in the distance, surrounding a lake or bay.

“Hey!”

That wasn’t a spirit voice, but human.

“Hey, you! Dude!”

Starr turned and saw a woman approaching. She wore a yellow fisherman-style raincoat and hat that left half her face in shadow.

She approached and Starr hobbled toward her.

“Hi,” he said. When she tilted her amber gaze to his, Starr’s heart skipped a beat.

He smiled faintly.

So she’s why I’m here.

About the Author: Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who started writing over twenty years ago for pleasure. Since 1996, she has sold over one hundred short stories, novellas, and novels.

She prefers to blend genres, and she loves horror and a happily ever after, so her books can be a bit unusual. If you’re looking for romance with witches, aliens, vampires, angels, demons, shapeshifters and more, there’s a good chance you’ll find something to your taste in her backlist.

When she’s not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, and watching horror movies. She also writes under the name Saloni Quinby.

Website | Blog | Compelling Beast Blog | Amazon Author Page | BookBub Author Page | Goodreads | Twitter | YouTube

Buy the book at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Changeling Press, Kobo, or iBooks

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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My Favorite Characters by Parker Williams – Guest Blog and Giveaway

Long and Short Reviews welcomes Parker Williams who is celebrating today’s release of On the Same Page, which he co-authored with KC Wells. Leave a comment or ask Parker a question for a chance to win a copy of the book.

My Favorite Characters
Okay, there are SO many characters whom I have come to love over the years. There are a few who stand out strong in my mind. Please note, this is NOT a full list, just the ones I can think of off the top of my head. I know there are a lot of others that would like to weigh in, but we have to keep the list short.

1) Olly from LM Somerton’s ‘Edge’ series.

What can I say about the brat that is Olly? When we first meet him, Olly is shy and scared. He’s been through something traumatic, and he doesn’t know how to move forward. Enter the new constant in his life, his Dom Joe. Through the love of Joe, Olly is able to let bits of his true self peek through to find what lies beneath the surface. What is it? An irredeemable brat! How so? Let’s take a peek, shall we?

Olly giggled and snapped another picture with his new camera. It was the best present he’d ever had, especially as Joe had given it to him. The zoom was good enough that he could get great shots without getting too close to his targets, which was very useful because he was determined to catch as many people as possible in compromising positions. He didn’t feel in the least bit guilty. If his friends did things in public that inspired Olly’s creative imagination that was their look out. Okay, maybe some of them weren’t exactly in public but it was hardly Olly’s fault if they left doors unlocked or windows open, was it?

He held his breath and crept backwards away from the greenhouse where he’d just managed to get a picture of Jacob, the gardener, snoozing with his feet up on an upturned bucket, his old stripy deckchair wedged into a corner between stacks of terracotta pots. Jacob gave an enormous snore and Olly couldn’t stop himself laughing. Jacob blinked awake and gave Olly a baleful look, then redirected his gaze to a nearby hosepipe. Olly yelped then fell backwards over a wheelbarrow. He scrambled to his feet and ran, just missing a drenching as Jacob set the hose on him.

Excerpt From: LM Somerton. “A Birthday at The Edge.”

2) Wes from Silvia Violet’s Wild R series.

OMG, what can I say about Wes? He’s a lanky cowboy with a horse shifter lover. And Wes DOES love Tristan with his whole heart. The two of them together on page is hot, but there is such tenderness there. Wes, like Olly above, has no problem being a bit of a brat (or a lot of a brat), but his love and dedication can never be questioned. How good are the two men together? Here’s a little snippet for you featuring the two men at Christmas.

“Wes! Come help me!” Tristan shouted.

Wes pushed himself up from the couch where he’d been doing research for his latest case. “Just a sec.”

When he stepped into the hall, he froze in disbelief. Tristan was stuck in the doorway with at least three shopping bags in each hand. “What did you do?”

Tristan looked at him like he was a simpleton. “I went shopping.”

Wes sighed as he held the door open so Tristan could push through. Then he followed his lover to the living room where Tristan dropped the bags in the middle of the floor and plopped down beside them.

“I thought you went for a run. What the hell were you doing shopping on the day after Thanksgiving?”

Tristan again stared at Wes like maybe he’d been replaced by an alien, one without much brainpower. “Buying Christmas decorations, of course.”

“Christmas decorations?” Wes did not want to consider the possibility that all those bags were full of Santas, reindeer, and glittery balls. Tristan’s balls were all Wes required this Christmas.

“Sure. I thought we could put them up this afternoon.” Wes’s horror grew as Tristan pulled out a red and green sweater. “Look what I got for Cole.” Tristan held up the offensive garment and Wes fought the urge to shrink backward. On the front was a wolf in a Santa suit surrounded by sheep wearing elf hats. It said “A Wolf in Santa’s Clothing.”

“That is… hideous.”

Tristan laughed. “I know. Isn’t it fantastic?”

“Tris, look… I don’t—”

“Check these out.” He held up lights shaped like reindeer. “They even blink.”

Wes knew arguing with Tristan was useless but he felt compelled to make a small effort anyway. “I usually just put a wreath on the door.”

Tristan gave him an innocent look, the little bastard. “Really?”

“Tristan.”

“Oh, it’s just a few little things,” Tristan said, clearly unconcerned about Wes’s frustration.

“Tell me you don’t have an album of cats meowing Christmas songs in there.”

Tristan put his hands on his hips, which looked ridiculous with him sitting on the floor surrounded by Christmas decor. “How insulting! Do you really not know I prefer the barking dogs? I find cats too… slinky.”

Wes groaned. “You’re going to be even more impossible than usual from now until Christmas, aren’t you?”

“I’m going to be festive.”

“A tree, stockings, maybe a few other small items. That’s festive enough. I can’t live in the middle of North Pole Central.”

Tristan rolled his eyes. “Stop being such a scrooge.”

“Tristan, I will not—”

Tristan’s sly, sexy grin derailed Wes’s train of thought. “I’m sure I can change your mind.”

“You’re always so damn sure you can get your way.” And all too often he was right.

Excerpt From: Silvia Violet. “Wild R Christmas.”

3) Bo from Eden Winters’s Diversion series

Oh, Bo. See, in this series, most people seem to love Lucky. I do too, but Bo? He’s something else entirely. There are so many layers to Bo, an onion is positively green with envy. He can be suave and sophisticated one moment, a total badass the next, or a wide-eyed innocent. Bo sheds personas like a normal person sloughs off clothes. The only person who knows the true Bo is Lucky.

With descending darkness and declining temperatures chasing away any possible witnesses, Bo and Lucky strolled hand in hand to their vehicles, although Lucky did keep their joined digits low and close to his body to minimize undue attention. Wasn’t anybody’s business if a fine man like Bo took leave of his senses enough to want to hold hands with Lucky. No fire, no brimstone, no falling sky resulted from the public display of affection, and no coworker popped out from behind a tree, pointing and yelling, “Aha! I knew it! Wait until I tell Walter!”

Bo’s heartwarming smile and a quick squeeze of his fingers conveyed his approval, though Lucky kept a watchful eye on the trees and shrubs.

They made their way to Bo’s truck and climbed inside. “Are you cold? Want me to turn on the heat?” Bo asked.

“Fuck the cold,” Lucky replied. Their eyes met, and they moved as one, mouths meshing over the console. Bo’s insistent tongue forced its way into Lucky’s mouth at the same instant Lucky aimed for Bo’s. Lucky wrestled Bo into the backseat amidst groping hands scrabbling for purchase, and his lover’s mouth latched onto his neck on that precise spot.

Bo sprawled on his back, one leg on the backseat, one on the floor. Lucky knelt on the seat between Bo’s spread legs, bracing his weight on his knees and one arm.

“Oh, God!” Bo exclaimed, plunging his hand into Lucky’s pants and wrapping chilly fingers around his full erection. He threw his head back against the side window, arching his neck and giving Lucky room to explore.

Excerpt From: Eden Winters. “Corruption.”

4) Dante from Again by Mary Calmes
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Okay, let me say right out of the gate this was a hard choice. Mary has so many characters I absolutely adore, including Rand from the Timing series. But my favorite, the one who holds my heart, is Dante Cerreto. In this book, he’s working hard to get his family back together, including his daughter. He seems all nice and sweet and pure, but Dante shows up in another book, and we find out he’s got quite the dark side to him. But in Again, he’s a man who wants to get back what he’s lost, and he’s never going to let it go again. Here’s my favorite snippet with Dante. Now, Noah (Dante’s former husband), is in Las Vegas for the wedding of a friend. He brought his current boyfriend with him, and when Noah goes to talk to the boyfriend, all hell breaks loose as they find the man in flagrante delecto.

I had no idea that the blender that my life was had been switched to puree.

“Shit!” Keith yelled.

It took a minute for me to see what I thought I was seeing.

“Outstanding,” Dante announced loudly, happily.

What?

Who?

I stopped, rewound, and replayed it in my head.

When I opened the door, Keith was on the bed, naked, and an equally naked man was on his knees in front of him with Keith’s dick buried in his throat. Now, Keith was scrambling around the room gathering pants, shoes, socks, lube, and condoms. The other man—Wes, I thought, pretty sure it was Wes—one of his buddies, was frantically doing the same thing.

“Oh my God!” I shouted, finally finding my voice.

“This is so awesome!”

I turned and looked at Dante.

“What?”

Excerpt From: Mary Calmes. “Again.”

5) Thomas and Peter from K.C. Wells’s ‘Trusting Thomas’

This book broke all my feels. We have Peter, a young man who wanted to belong to someone, and was beaten down by the person he (wrongly) chose. It left him with scars, both physical and emotional. When we first meet Peter, he’s being kept in a cage. He’s rescued and taken to Thomas Williams, co-owner of Collars & Cuffs, who agrees to care for him.
Only…

See, Peter doesn’t know what is expected of him. He doesn’t understand things like safewords, or the sub having the power. He only knows the pain that comes with agreeing to belong to someone.

One of the most powerful scenes in the book, is when Peter meets Leo Hart, the other owner of C & C. Peter figures that every Dom must be like Curtis, the abuser who hurt him so badly. When Leo introduces himself to Peter, things go to hell.

“Good morning. I’m Leo Hart, Thomas’s partner. Thomas invited me round.” A look crossed the boy’s face. Leo could swear the boy looked disappointed—and saddened. He sighed dejectedly and his shoulders slumped. With shuffling footsteps, he crossed the room and slowly lowered himself to his knees before Leo. He reached with trembling hands to grasp the buckle of Leo’s belt and began to open it. What the fuck?

“SO ARE you going to tell me why you’re looking so happy this morning?” Thomas teased as he peered into the oven, where cooked bacon and sausages were warming. Alex let out another delighted giggle. Thomas had to smile. Alex had changed so much since their first meeting back in June. Mind you, so had Leo. The two men were obviously good for each other. He hadn’t seen Leo this happy in a long while. In fact, in the two and a half years since the death of Leo’s former lover and submissive, Gabe, Thomas had often thought never to see his business partner happy again. He glanced toward Alex, who was pouring out the coffee into large mugs and smiling to himself. “Not going to tell me, huh?” He chuckled.

Alex met his eyes for the briefest moment before lowering them hastily, smirking. Thomas shook his head. The lad did not like making eye contact, which was probably just as well, seeing as he was now Leo’s submissive. Thomas was glad things seemed to be settling down between the pair, even if he’d had to step in—twice—to sort out Leo’s messes.

“Thomas? Could you get in here, please?” Leo’s call reached him from the lounge. It held a note of agitation that made both Thomas and Alex look up in surprise. Thomas put down the oven cloth he held and walked into the lounge, with Alex close behind him. Thomas came to a dead stop. Peter was on his knees before Leo, who held him firmly around the wrists. Leo’s belt was unfastened. Peter simply knelt there with his head bowed, but Thomas could see the boy was shaking.

“I see you’ve met my houseguest, Peter,” Thomas said dryly.

Leo’s face was a picture of embarrassment. “Your ‘houseguest’ was apparently all set to give me a blow job,” he muttered. Thomas quirked his eyebrows. The lad hid his face against Leo’s belly. As Leo gazed down at him, his expression changed. He let go of Peter’s wrists and gently helped him to his feet.

Thomas addressed the lad. “Peter, why would you do this?”

Peter blinked. “Isn’t that why you brought your friend round here? So I could service him?” His voice quavered.

Thomas was horrified. For a moment he was too shocked to speak. What had this poor boy been subjected to?

“No, Peter. That’s not what’s going to happen. I would never ask that of you. Ever.” He spoke quietly but forcefully. He wanted there to be no misunderstanding. “Why would you think I expected you to do that?”

Peter lowered his chin. “That’s how I was taught, Sir,” he murmured.”

Excerpt From: K.C. Wells. “Trusting Thomas.”

K.C. puts you through the emotional ringer with this book, and it’s painful to see Peter being drawn out of his shell, even though you know it’ll have a happy ending. There are so many things that happen (wait until you see the shaving scene) that you want to take Peter and put him in wool batting to keep him safe and loved forever.

So there you have it. Five of my favorite characters from M/M Romance. If you haven’t checked out these books, I hope you’ll consider it, because they all are amazing, and you’ll probably enjoy them as much as I did.

When a Dom invites a shy bookstore owner to live out his fantasies, more than one life will be transformed.

Words are Heath Snow’s life. He can’t remember a time when he didn’t have his nose buried in a book. He couldn’t make a living as a writer, so he did the next best thing—he bought a bookstore. But when he’s not selling books, he’s living vicariously through the characters he encounters. Real men can’t hold a candle to the hot men in his favorite genre.

The Pride display in the bookstore window may be what captured Xavier James’s attention, but the man enthusing about books interests him more. The BDSM book lying next to the cash register is a pleasant surprise, and when he draws attention to it, Heath’s flushed cheeks and bright eyes pique Xavier’s curiosity even further.

Xavier is about to learn that some things are more important than work, and Heath is about to step out of his comfort zone, into a place where fantasy and real life coexist.

About the AuthorsParker Williams loves the written word. The discovery of MM romance, as well as a chance encounter with an amazing author, changed the course of his life as he began to write the stories his men were whispering to him. With the help of some amazing friends and a community of writers he’s proud to be part of, Parker continues telling stories of love, hurt, comfort, and sometimes tosses in a little angst for fun.

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K.C. Wells lives on an island off the south coast of the UK, surrounded by natural beauty. She writes about men who love men, and can’t even contemplate a life that doesn’t include writing.

The rainbow rose tattoo on her back with the words ‘Love is Love’ and ‘Love Wins’ is her way of hoisting a flag. She plans to be writing about men in love – be it sweet and slow, hot or kinky – for a long while to come.

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Buy the book at Dreamspinner Press or Amazon.