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Sometimes to find love, you must first learn forgiveness.
A dozen years, two thousand miles, and a law degree after high school, Rafi continues to harbor resentment toward Isaac , his childhood bully turned NBA star. When Isaac appears at Rafi's favorite restaurant acting like a long-lost friend, Rafi bluntly dismisses him. Isaac is tenacious and he has his heart set on the grown-up version of the boy he always wanted. The way Isaac sees it, he and Rafi are perfect for each other, if only he could sink the most important shot of his life: his one shot at forgiveness. |
Claire and Ty are looking for one thing, a night of amazing sex. No strings attached. No hurt feelings. Just pure lust and release. Of course, they don’t get that. Instead, they keep thinking about each other long after their night ends. I liked Claire. She was sweet with a good head on her shoulders. She a romance author who hasn’t found her perfect man. Ty is definitely harder to like. The beginning was rough because I wouldn’t blame her if she walked right out on him. Once we find out about his past and his life then things make more sense. He changes, growing once he knows the love of a woman like Claire. The sex is steaming with some one liners that made me smile. As the last few chapters came around, I was routing for Claire and Ty. They’re happy ending was beautiful and worth the wait. Complete Me is a highly recommended Read! - Giveaway - Prize One  Prize Two To ENTER comment below: WINNERS:
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 | Title: Into Something Good. Author: Stanalei Fletcher Genre: Romance, Contemporary TBR Reviewer: Bella Rating: 4 Stars - Highly Recommended Read! Heat: 3/5 - Flirty! |
Ready for a heart wrencher?!
Cayme has returned home to deal with her deceased mother. Then she runs into her old crush and his young son. It isn’t long before old feelings return. Can they do romance better now that they’re older? When her home is threatened by floodwaters, it’s more than their hearts on the line…
An emotional roller-coaster would be the best way to describe this book. From Cayme’s mother dying to Rick’s divorce and trying to take care of his son. I really liked their romance. It was a second chance for them and I felt the connection they had. His son is eight and adorable. I liked the relationship between the three of them and navigating things in this difficult world. There’s some action with the floodwaters that helps break up the romance and the heartbreak. My only issue was the editing, it’s a bit rough.
Into Something Good was a wonderfully emotional story!
Cayme has returned home to deal with her deceased mother. Then she runs into her old crush and his young son. It isn’t long before old feelings return. Can they do romance better now that they’re older? When her home is threatened by floodwaters, it’s more than their hearts on the line…
An emotional roller-coaster would be the best way to describe this book. From Cayme’s mother dying to Rick’s divorce and trying to take care of his son. I really liked their romance. It was a second chance for them and I felt the connection they had. His son is eight and adorable. I liked the relationship between the three of them and navigating things in this difficult world. There’s some action with the floodwaters that helps break up the romance and the heartbreak. My only issue was the editing, it’s a bit rough.
Into Something Good was a wonderfully emotional story!
 | Aiden Blackheart is the most powerful werewolf ever born. He’s a bit surprised when he discovers his mate is an ordinary meter maid with some baggage. Okay, a lot of baggage, which includes a million-dollar bounty on her head, and she’s not quite human. What is she? Even she doesn’t know. Like to laugh? Love mayhem? Do hot, sexy love scenes turn you on? Wanna know if a not quite human meter maid can find love with a billionaire Alpha wolf. Or will her enemies cut their romance short? |
- SNEAK PEEK -
A black Ford F450 truck tore through the caution tape and skidded to a stop in front of us.
I groaned as none other than the big, bad wolf himself jumped out in an expensive gray suit. Did the man even own a pair of jeans?
Blackheart’s eerie silver blue gaze swept over us, and he wrinkled his nose.
“Cow manure,” I supplied.
Aiden held out his hand. “Come here, Tommy.”
Bright yellow sparkles danced around Tommy as he transformed back into a naked, four-year-old boy. He scampered over to the alpha. “Bad man throwed rocks at me,” he said pointing at cactus guy. “The lady stopped him. Make him fall in cactus.”
“Is that true?” Aiden’s voice was a low growl.
I nodded and stared at the suddenly clean kid. How in the hell had that happened and would it work on me?
Cactus guy’s face filled with rage. “You goddamned dogs think you’re better than us humans. Well, you’re not. Show ‘em, Hank.”
“Bad idea,” I warned.
The tanker truck driver turned the nozzle on Blackheart and blasted him with cow dung. The force of the spray knocked Aiden back a step and coated him in a thick layer of black goop.
Tommy hid behind me. “They in trouble.”
“Yep.” Blackheart’s pricey suit and boots were history.
“Not so fancy now, are ya,” Cactus guy hooted.
I sighed. Testosterone should be outlawed.
The fury in Blackheart’s eyes was terrifying. Poof! In a blinding flash of light, he metamorphosed into a three-hundred-pound black wolf, with glowing silver eyes and enormous fangs. He was like something out of a wicked fairy tale. Aiden howled his fury.
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. It took everything I had not to run screaming back to Idaho. Blackheart beat the General hands down in the scary-as-hell department.
Cactus guy and his buddy shrieked like little girls and quickly locked themselves in the cab of the tanker.
Tommy giggled when Aiden leapt on the hood of the truck and raked his razor-sharp claws down the metal. Screech!
I’m glad someone found it amusing.
“We called the police,” the tanker driver yelled. “You’re one dead dog,”
In the distance sirens sounded.
Once the police arrived this was going to turn into a major cluster fuck.
“Policemen don’t like us,” Tommy said sadly.
I patted his head. “The police don’t like me either, sweetie.”
“Where my momma?”
“Not far.” My gaze settled on Aiden’s truck. He had left it running. He wouldn’t mind me borrowing it to get Tommy to safety, would he? I tugged at my muck-soaked shirt. Okay, I might get some shit in his pretty truck, but hey, he could have it detailed. Right? “Get in the truck, Tommy. I’ll take you to your momma.”
With a bounding leap, Tommy landed on the front seat.
Screech! Screech! Blackheart turned the tanker’s hood and engine to scrap metal.
Holy crap! I scrambled in the truck. Fuck! I couldn’t reach the damn gas pedal. I shot a quick glance at Aiden. He was ripping the driver’s door off the tanker. “Put your seatbelt on Tommy.”
“Kay.”
Moving the seat forward, I put the truck in gear, and floored it. I glanced at the side mirror. The monstrous wolf was giving chase. At least he wasn’t eating the idiots.
Thud! The truck shook violently.
I looked in the rearview mirror. One pissed off wolf glared back at me. Swell.
“Momma! That’s momma!” Tommy pointed at Sally who was standing in front of a barber shop.
“I see her.” I pulled over and watched two police cars race by. How they missed the big ass wolf riding in the back was beyond me. I leaned over and opened the passenger door. “Go to your mom.”
Tommy jumped out.
Putting the truck in park, I slid after him, leaving a thick trail of stinky, black goop over the white leather seats.
There was a bright flash of light and the wolf instantaneously transformed into Aiden. He grabbed the car door, stopping me from leaving. My eyes widened. Damn, not only was he shit free he was naked. I clenched my hands to keep from touching him. He oozed a raw sex appeal. “Keys are in the ignition and there’s not a scratch on it.”
Aiden snorted. “You forgot to mention the rancid stench of manure and the permanently stained leather.”
“Gee, I’m only human, I can’t do the instant clean thing like y’all can.” I shoved at the door. It didn’t budge. “I thought the most important thing was getting Tommy out of there before you ate the morons.”
“I wouldn’t have eaten them,” Aidan shot back.
“Uh huh.” My gaze roved over his lightly furred chest and moved down a flat abdomen rippling with muscles. Holy cow! His dick was huge.
Aiden growled, “Like what you see?”
“Well, it’s like this. If you’re gonna put your junk on display, a girl’s gonna look.” I planted my filthy hands on his chest and seductively rubbed them up and down. “As much as I’d like to stay and play, I need to wash up.
A fire truck raced by with its air horn blaring.
“And you’ll want to put some pants on before the police catch up with you.”
He glanced at the black goop smeared across his chest. ‘You like dangerous men, don’t you, darlin’?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve been dealing with a dangerous man all my life.” I ducked under his arm and made a mad dash across the street.
“A wolf?” Aiden shouted after me.
I paused in front of Lenny’s Burgers. “My father.”
I groaned as none other than the big, bad wolf himself jumped out in an expensive gray suit. Did the man even own a pair of jeans?
Blackheart’s eerie silver blue gaze swept over us, and he wrinkled his nose.
“Cow manure,” I supplied.
Aiden held out his hand. “Come here, Tommy.”
Bright yellow sparkles danced around Tommy as he transformed back into a naked, four-year-old boy. He scampered over to the alpha. “Bad man throwed rocks at me,” he said pointing at cactus guy. “The lady stopped him. Make him fall in cactus.”
“Is that true?” Aiden’s voice was a low growl.
I nodded and stared at the suddenly clean kid. How in the hell had that happened and would it work on me?
Cactus guy’s face filled with rage. “You goddamned dogs think you’re better than us humans. Well, you’re not. Show ‘em, Hank.”
“Bad idea,” I warned.
The tanker truck driver turned the nozzle on Blackheart and blasted him with cow dung. The force of the spray knocked Aiden back a step and coated him in a thick layer of black goop.
Tommy hid behind me. “They in trouble.”
“Yep.” Blackheart’s pricey suit and boots were history.
“Not so fancy now, are ya,” Cactus guy hooted.
I sighed. Testosterone should be outlawed.
The fury in Blackheart’s eyes was terrifying. Poof! In a blinding flash of light, he metamorphosed into a three-hundred-pound black wolf, with glowing silver eyes and enormous fangs. He was like something out of a wicked fairy tale. Aiden howled his fury.
The hair on the back of my neck stood on end. It took everything I had not to run screaming back to Idaho. Blackheart beat the General hands down in the scary-as-hell department.
Cactus guy and his buddy shrieked like little girls and quickly locked themselves in the cab of the tanker.
Tommy giggled when Aiden leapt on the hood of the truck and raked his razor-sharp claws down the metal. Screech!
I’m glad someone found it amusing.
“We called the police,” the tanker driver yelled. “You’re one dead dog,”
In the distance sirens sounded.
Once the police arrived this was going to turn into a major cluster fuck.
“Policemen don’t like us,” Tommy said sadly.
I patted his head. “The police don’t like me either, sweetie.”
“Where my momma?”
“Not far.” My gaze settled on Aiden’s truck. He had left it running. He wouldn’t mind me borrowing it to get Tommy to safety, would he? I tugged at my muck-soaked shirt. Okay, I might get some shit in his pretty truck, but hey, he could have it detailed. Right? “Get in the truck, Tommy. I’ll take you to your momma.”
With a bounding leap, Tommy landed on the front seat.
Screech! Screech! Blackheart turned the tanker’s hood and engine to scrap metal.
Holy crap! I scrambled in the truck. Fuck! I couldn’t reach the damn gas pedal. I shot a quick glance at Aiden. He was ripping the driver’s door off the tanker. “Put your seatbelt on Tommy.”
“Kay.”
Moving the seat forward, I put the truck in gear, and floored it. I glanced at the side mirror. The monstrous wolf was giving chase. At least he wasn’t eating the idiots.
Thud! The truck shook violently.
I looked in the rearview mirror. One pissed off wolf glared back at me. Swell.
“Momma! That’s momma!” Tommy pointed at Sally who was standing in front of a barber shop.
“I see her.” I pulled over and watched two police cars race by. How they missed the big ass wolf riding in the back was beyond me. I leaned over and opened the passenger door. “Go to your mom.”
Tommy jumped out.
Putting the truck in park, I slid after him, leaving a thick trail of stinky, black goop over the white leather seats.
There was a bright flash of light and the wolf instantaneously transformed into Aiden. He grabbed the car door, stopping me from leaving. My eyes widened. Damn, not only was he shit free he was naked. I clenched my hands to keep from touching him. He oozed a raw sex appeal. “Keys are in the ignition and there’s not a scratch on it.”
Aiden snorted. “You forgot to mention the rancid stench of manure and the permanently stained leather.”
“Gee, I’m only human, I can’t do the instant clean thing like y’all can.” I shoved at the door. It didn’t budge. “I thought the most important thing was getting Tommy out of there before you ate the morons.”
“I wouldn’t have eaten them,” Aidan shot back.
“Uh huh.” My gaze roved over his lightly furred chest and moved down a flat abdomen rippling with muscles. Holy cow! His dick was huge.
Aiden growled, “Like what you see?”
“Well, it’s like this. If you’re gonna put your junk on display, a girl’s gonna look.” I planted my filthy hands on his chest and seductively rubbed them up and down. “As much as I’d like to stay and play, I need to wash up.
A fire truck raced by with its air horn blaring.
“And you’ll want to put some pants on before the police catch up with you.”
He glanced at the black goop smeared across his chest. ‘You like dangerous men, don’t you, darlin’?”
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’ve been dealing with a dangerous man all my life.” I ducked under his arm and made a mad dash across the street.
“A wolf?” Aiden shouted after me.
I paused in front of Lenny’s Burgers. “My father.”
- Giveaway -
Prize one from Gail Koger
Prize Two from The TBR Pile
 Prize Three | Prize Four |
To ENTER you MUST comment below:
1. What was your favorite part of the sneak peek of Blackheart's Treasure?
2. Have you read Gail Koger before?
Good luck!
WINNERS:
$15 from Gail Koger: Anna L.
$10 from The TBR Pile: Roberta M
Prize list book: Cheryl and Carletta
 | Ameena has never been able to forget what she endured on her last assignment before she left the agency. The only female agent to live through what The Executioner did to his victims, she still bears the scars, both physical and psychological. When he escapes from his prison cell, her former handler brings two agents with him, telling her that one or the other will be her shadow, until her torturer is caught again. Having kept herself too busy for romance, she is caught off-guard by the sudden insertion into her life of two hot, sexy men, one who actively pursues her, and one whom she finds more attractive for his shyness. Doe she choose between them, or enjoy them both? Will she live long enough to make a choice? |
And once she does, is that the end of the story? When the man she chooses is captured while on his last assignment, she needs to recruit a team to rescue him. But she needs one more team member--the man she rejected. There's only one thing she can offer to him, that might convince him.
- What is the sexiest part of a man? -
What is the sexiest part of a man?
What part of a man do you consider to be the sexiest? The 6-pack abs that some drool over? The tight glutes on a well-shaped butt just made for your hands to dig into while he relentlessly pounds himself into you? The wide shoulders for you to hold onto, emphasizing how much bigger than you that he is, so you feel well protected? His arms, muscled and strong, with veins that pop out, a testament to his high testosterone level, proving how hard he works out to be sexy? His smile, just for you? Dimples? Eyes that burn into yours when he looks at you with lust on his mind? Or is it the male package--the triad--the two family jewels along with the shaft of pleasure--that for some odd reason is sometimes referred to as his junk?
Me? I like guys who are taller than me, which isn't difficult since I'm short. I like long legs and a tight ass. I like wide shoulders that taper to a sexy abdomen. And I study men's hands because I've read Xavier Hollander's The Happy Hooker, in which she explains how to estimate a man's package based on his fingers. I like scruffy faces with that barely-shaved-look--and a mustache. Hair color, eye color, skin color, nationality? All of those are negotiable.
But what part do I consider the sexiest? My answer might surprise you. I love everything about men--their hairiness, their strength, their sweatiness, their hardness--especially their hardness. Phew! But the one part of the male anatomy that I find the most sexy is--the brain. The brain? With all of those other attractive parts? Why? Simple. All men have sexy parts to their bodies, but only some know how to use them to give you maximum pleasure. Have you ever heard, It's not the size of the wand but the skill of the magician? How do men gain skill and learn how to use their many sexy parts to attract and please a woman? Duh--using their brain!
Any man who takes the time to learn about women--about our varied paths to pleasure, about the difference between the many kinds of orgasms we can have, and how to give them all--is already a step above the other men who never bother to think about pleasing anyone other than themselves. There are men who truly don't care as long as they are satisfied. Then there are men who learn just enough to get by--but spend any time being intimate with them and you can almost see them remembering that they need to grab here, squeeze there, lick a bit, then go for it! Here's a clue, fellas--this is not the best way to endear yourself to any partner.
The man to look for is the one who looks at all women as unique beings, who learns how to do basic things, but asks each woman he is with--What pleases you? How can I help you to enjoy yourself more? He will respect your intelligence, engaging in conversation and actually listening to and responding to your opinions.
Every idea he comes up with, every position, every variation, has to start in his brain. So in my opinion, unequivocally, the sexiest part of a man is his brain.
What part of a man do you consider to be the sexiest? The 6-pack abs that some drool over? The tight glutes on a well-shaped butt just made for your hands to dig into while he relentlessly pounds himself into you? The wide shoulders for you to hold onto, emphasizing how much bigger than you that he is, so you feel well protected? His arms, muscled and strong, with veins that pop out, a testament to his high testosterone level, proving how hard he works out to be sexy? His smile, just for you? Dimples? Eyes that burn into yours when he looks at you with lust on his mind? Or is it the male package--the triad--the two family jewels along with the shaft of pleasure--that for some odd reason is sometimes referred to as his junk?
Me? I like guys who are taller than me, which isn't difficult since I'm short. I like long legs and a tight ass. I like wide shoulders that taper to a sexy abdomen. And I study men's hands because I've read Xavier Hollander's The Happy Hooker, in which she explains how to estimate a man's package based on his fingers. I like scruffy faces with that barely-shaved-look--and a mustache. Hair color, eye color, skin color, nationality? All of those are negotiable.
But what part do I consider the sexiest? My answer might surprise you. I love everything about men--their hairiness, their strength, their sweatiness, their hardness--especially their hardness. Phew! But the one part of the male anatomy that I find the most sexy is--the brain. The brain? With all of those other attractive parts? Why? Simple. All men have sexy parts to their bodies, but only some know how to use them to give you maximum pleasure. Have you ever heard, It's not the size of the wand but the skill of the magician? How do men gain skill and learn how to use their many sexy parts to attract and please a woman? Duh--using their brain!
Any man who takes the time to learn about women--about our varied paths to pleasure, about the difference between the many kinds of orgasms we can have, and how to give them all--is already a step above the other men who never bother to think about pleasing anyone other than themselves. There are men who truly don't care as long as they are satisfied. Then there are men who learn just enough to get by--but spend any time being intimate with them and you can almost see them remembering that they need to grab here, squeeze there, lick a bit, then go for it! Here's a clue, fellas--this is not the best way to endear yourself to any partner.
The man to look for is the one who looks at all women as unique beings, who learns how to do basic things, but asks each woman he is with--What pleases you? How can I help you to enjoy yourself more? He will respect your intelligence, engaging in conversation and actually listening to and responding to your opinions.
Every idea he comes up with, every position, every variation, has to start in his brain. So in my opinion, unequivocally, the sexiest part of a man is his brain.
- Sneak Peek -
Ameena has to attend a weekend-long celebration for a music producer's birthday. She has to choose one of the men to accompany her. Since he's been trying to seduce her, Tomás is shocked when she tells Adam to pack for the weekend.
As she opened the door, Ameena couldn't help but react to Adam's changed appearance. He had changed into even tighter jeans, that appeared molded to his skin. The fabric was worn smooth from age, hugging his thighs, and showing off a bulge that suggested the pleasures to be had from peeling the fabric off of it. His tee-shirt had been replaced by a shirt and tie, but the combination was striking. The shirt was made of a silky fabric in swirling shades of blue, that accentuated his light blue eyes. The fabric clung to every curve of his shoulders and his arms, showing off a wiry, muscular build that she had previously been unaware of. The tie was a skinny black leather one held in place by a clip with the initial A on it. It accentuated his almost-black hair. And since it was later in the day, his five-o'clock shadow gave him a scruffy, bad-boy look.
Ameena was unable to make words come out of her mouth, when Adam was standing in front of her looking like a wet dream. She could feel her nipples pucker against her bra, and a familiar warm sensation was spreading from her inner thighs upwards, while her breathing had sped up, drying her lips. She managed only one word, in a breathy voice. "Wow!"
Adam smiled at her obvious appreciation of his new look.
"You look like a seventies porn star, Adam," Tomás said from his vantage point at the table.
Ameena shook her head as Adam walked into the apartment. "No he doesn't."
Adam interrupted her to haughtily correct Tomás. "Obviously you don't know the kinds of videos that Eddie-G is famous for creating the template for. He was really instrumental in the early eighties, as the one who almost single-handedly created the punk look, hearkening back to the Beatles' early days headlining at the Cavern in Berlin. I figured I'd salute him on his birthday, with a tribute to his early genius."
Malcolm nodded. "Even in Ireland, we dressed like that back then. Didn't that look involve black leather jackets, too?"
Adam nodded. "It's in the car."
Ameena had found her voice. "I didn't have time to change. I'll fill you in on the ride. I'll just go get my bags and be right back."
While Tomás glared at Adam, Malcolm grinned approvingly. "You really do look good, mate. Just be alert, and stay close to her all weekend."
Adam nodded. "Of course."
Ameena came back into the room with one bag over her shoulder, and another larger one in her hand.
Tomás rose quickly, but Adam hadn't sat down, so he was already on his feet. He got to her first. "Let me carry that for you."
Ameena surrendered the larger, heavier bag and smiled. "Ready?"
He nodded.
"Then let's hit the road!"
As she opened the door, Ameena couldn't help but react to Adam's changed appearance. He had changed into even tighter jeans, that appeared molded to his skin. The fabric was worn smooth from age, hugging his thighs, and showing off a bulge that suggested the pleasures to be had from peeling the fabric off of it. His tee-shirt had been replaced by a shirt and tie, but the combination was striking. The shirt was made of a silky fabric in swirling shades of blue, that accentuated his light blue eyes. The fabric clung to every curve of his shoulders and his arms, showing off a wiry, muscular build that she had previously been unaware of. The tie was a skinny black leather one held in place by a clip with the initial A on it. It accentuated his almost-black hair. And since it was later in the day, his five-o'clock shadow gave him a scruffy, bad-boy look.
Ameena was unable to make words come out of her mouth, when Adam was standing in front of her looking like a wet dream. She could feel her nipples pucker against her bra, and a familiar warm sensation was spreading from her inner thighs upwards, while her breathing had sped up, drying her lips. She managed only one word, in a breathy voice. "Wow!"
Adam smiled at her obvious appreciation of his new look.
"You look like a seventies porn star, Adam," Tomás said from his vantage point at the table.
Ameena shook her head as Adam walked into the apartment. "No he doesn't."
Adam interrupted her to haughtily correct Tomás. "Obviously you don't know the kinds of videos that Eddie-G is famous for creating the template for. He was really instrumental in the early eighties, as the one who almost single-handedly created the punk look, hearkening back to the Beatles' early days headlining at the Cavern in Berlin. I figured I'd salute him on his birthday, with a tribute to his early genius."
Malcolm nodded. "Even in Ireland, we dressed like that back then. Didn't that look involve black leather jackets, too?"
Adam nodded. "It's in the car."
Ameena had found her voice. "I didn't have time to change. I'll fill you in on the ride. I'll just go get my bags and be right back."
While Tomás glared at Adam, Malcolm grinned approvingly. "You really do look good, mate. Just be alert, and stay close to her all weekend."
Adam nodded. "Of course."
Ameena came back into the room with one bag over her shoulder, and another larger one in her hand.
Tomás rose quickly, but Adam hadn't sat down, so he was already on his feet. He got to her first. "Let me carry that for you."
Ameena surrendered the larger, heavier bag and smiled. "Ready?"
He nodded.
"Then let's hit the road!"
- Giveaway -
Prize One
| Prize Two |  Prize Three - ebook |
To ENTER comment below:
1. What do you think is the sexiest part of a man?
2. Have you read Fiona McGier before?
Good luck!
WINNERS:
Gift card: Angle Morgan
Ebook of Undercover Lovers: Mary P.
Prize list book: Becca
 | An ex-boyfriend, his massive dog, her house, and no hotel room in sight. What could go wrong? After Blair ended things with Brandis, she was determined to get away--and stay away from him for good. She put family, friends, and the life she knew in Michigan in her rear view mirror and started over. As owner and head chef of her own place in Louisville, she stays plenty busy, especially since “Blair’s Kitchen” is the darling of the restaurant scene. She’s managed to avoid Michigan for almost a decade, but when her best friend needs her help, she drops everything and heads home. Brandis has spent the last ten years coming to |
terms with addiction, personal tragedy, and the loss of the woman he loved. He’s now the third generation to run his family’s construction business, and he’s managed to reconstruct tattered relationships with his family. He’s even adopted a dog, thanks to some donated renovation time spent at an animal shelter. He’s got everything he needs—except a for one thing.
When the contractor she paid to build her restaurant’s expansion vanishes, leaving her with a giant mess, Blair only hesitates a moment before calling Brandis for help. But when he rushes to her side to evaluate the crisis, there isn’t an available room in a twenty mile radius. So they settle in to a routine—her, her one-time boyfriend, and his giant, slobbering dog in her small house. It doesn’t take long for the temptation of close proximity to give way, and while Blair tries to keep it all physical, Brandis has other ideas.
The end of the Stewart Realty saga brings the second generation full-circle in ways many never expected, and no one regrets.
When the contractor she paid to build her restaurant’s expansion vanishes, leaving her with a giant mess, Blair only hesitates a moment before calling Brandis for help. But when he rushes to her side to evaluate the crisis, there isn’t an available room in a twenty mile radius. So they settle in to a routine—her, her one-time boyfriend, and his giant, slobbering dog in her small house. It doesn’t take long for the temptation of close proximity to give way, and while Blair tries to keep it all physical, Brandis has other ideas.
The end of the Stewart Realty saga brings the second generation full-circle in ways many never expected, and no one regrets.
- Sneak Peek One -
Blair grabbed a pint of ice cream. “Dessert? Movie?”
“Yes, please.” Brandis whistled for the dog who came bounding down the hallway and skidded to a stop after slamming into the kitchen wall. He gave her a pill and a bone to chew. She trotted to the living room. “She’s gonna need a bath,” he said. “Sorry if she’s stinking up your place.”
“It’s okay.” She reached for some bowls but Brandis handed her a spoon.
“Let’s not dirty any more dishes,” he said. “And I hope you get Disney because I’m in a retro Star Wars mood.”
“Of course, I do. Give me some credit.”
They passed the carton back and forth, keeping air between them on the couch while the dog chewed her bone, stretched out on the rug and cut such a loud fart Blair burst out laughing. “Wow,” she said, waving a hand in front of her face.
“Oh, that’s nothing. It’s one reason I don’t give her processed dog food. Her digestion is delicate.”
“Delicate is not the word I’d use.”
He ate the last bite, then took their spoons and the empty container to the kitchen. When he returned, he pulled her feet onto his lap as a matter of course. She tensed, but when he began rubbing her arches she forgot pretty much anything else. She must have dozed because when she opened her eyes, the dog was on her eye level, looking at her with a curious head tilt. “You snore,” Brandis said. “Freaked her out a little.”
“Sorry,” she said, rolling onto her side. Brandis kept his hand resting it on her hip while the movie ended. Before she realized what was happening, she was being carried, and then tucked into bed. A finger traced her cheek and lips. Half asleep, she opened one eye. “This is weird, and I’m sorry I’m being so…”
“Horny? I’m not sorry one bit.” He brushed her hair off her face, his touch gentle.
“So needy,” she said. “But also, um… unavailable at the same time.”
He leaned over and whispered, “I get it. And I’m okay with it. For now.” He pressed his lips to her neck, right below her ear. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. When she let go and rolled away, exhausted, sore, happy, and sad all at once it only took seconds to drop back to sleep.
“Yes, please.” Brandis whistled for the dog who came bounding down the hallway and skidded to a stop after slamming into the kitchen wall. He gave her a pill and a bone to chew. She trotted to the living room. “She’s gonna need a bath,” he said. “Sorry if she’s stinking up your place.”
“It’s okay.” She reached for some bowls but Brandis handed her a spoon.
“Let’s not dirty any more dishes,” he said. “And I hope you get Disney because I’m in a retro Star Wars mood.”
“Of course, I do. Give me some credit.”
They passed the carton back and forth, keeping air between them on the couch while the dog chewed her bone, stretched out on the rug and cut such a loud fart Blair burst out laughing. “Wow,” she said, waving a hand in front of her face.
“Oh, that’s nothing. It’s one reason I don’t give her processed dog food. Her digestion is delicate.”
“Delicate is not the word I’d use.”
He ate the last bite, then took their spoons and the empty container to the kitchen. When he returned, he pulled her feet onto his lap as a matter of course. She tensed, but when he began rubbing her arches she forgot pretty much anything else. She must have dozed because when she opened her eyes, the dog was on her eye level, looking at her with a curious head tilt. “You snore,” Brandis said. “Freaked her out a little.”
“Sorry,” she said, rolling onto her side. Brandis kept his hand resting it on her hip while the movie ended. Before she realized what was happening, she was being carried, and then tucked into bed. A finger traced her cheek and lips. Half asleep, she opened one eye. “This is weird, and I’m sorry I’m being so…”
“Horny? I’m not sorry one bit.” He brushed her hair off her face, his touch gentle.
“So needy,” she said. “But also, um… unavailable at the same time.”
He leaned over and whispered, “I get it. And I’m okay with it. For now.” He pressed his lips to her neck, right below her ear. She closed her eyes and wrapped her arms around him, holding him close. When she let go and rolled away, exhausted, sore, happy, and sad all at once it only took seconds to drop back to sleep.
- Sneak Peek Two -
Brandis kept his distance despite every nerve in his body’s effort to propel him forward. Tiny wandered over and sat next to Blair, putting her huge noggin on Blair’s lap with a sigh.
“I’ll take care of her while you go to your meeting. Does she need to eat?”
“What?” He was mesmerized by the sight of her hand on the dog’s head. “Oh, uh, it’s okay. She can go with me.”
“I think she wants to stay with me, don’t you girl?”
Tiny looked over at him with a clear “of course I want to stay here, dude,” expression. He eased toward the doorway, needing space to think. “I’m going to shower.”
“Fair warning, the shower head hasn’t been working so great,” she said.
“What’s wrong with it?” He forced his feet to move, silently thrilled to have a purpose other than the one yammering at him to grab her and kiss her until they were both dizzy.
“I think I need a new one.”
“I’ll fix it,” he said, grabbing his duffle bag.
“Don’t be late to your meeting.” She got up and stretched, revealing a tantalizing line of exposed flesh between her jeans waistband and sweatshirt hem. “I’ll make us something for dinner.”
He stopped, gazing at her, surprised she sounded so calm, so normal in the face of this odd circumstance. Maybe she was over him, he thought as she hummed and poked around in the fridge. He stared at the pleasant way her well-worn jeans hugged her butt, cursed under his breath and headed for the bathroom.
After fiddling with the shower head and the lines from the old-fashioned faucets, he decided he’d have to buy her a whole new set up. He managed a quick rinse off, dried and redressed in jeans and a travel-wrinkled button-down shirt, once he’d tidied up after himself. He carried his bag and shoes down the hall to the kitchen, using slow, careful steps as if it might help quiet the clamor in his brain.
He stopped in the doorway, frozen in place yet again by the sight of her. She was facing the sink, the deep black cascade of her hair halfway down her back. A tear slid down the cheek he could see in profile. Her hands curled into fists, pressing onto the edge of the sink. Everything about her screamed misery. With a jolt, he realized she wasn’t miserable because of him. He could fix her problem this time—he had the skills, the contacts, the wherewithal to do all of it.
He walked to the back door to put his shoes outside. Before he could talk himself out of it, he crossed the room to her, stood behind her, his hands raised in the air, unsure of himself for a split second. This was the moment. It was time. It was up to him to breech the chasm she’d dug between them. He had to do it. It was now or never.
He placed his trembling palms on her shoulders. Tiny raised her head from the rug near where they stood, but put it back down as if reassured. His ears were ringing. His heart beat so hard it was a drumbeat against his ribcage. With a sigh, he slid his hands down her arms.
She stiffened at first, leaning against him in a way that forced a low, choked noise from his throat. He closed his eyes when she took his hands and guided them around her. They stood like this a few minutes, their breathing in sync, the clock on the wall nearby the only sound other than the whooshing noise replacing the ringing in his ears.
“I’ll take care of her while you go to your meeting. Does she need to eat?”
“What?” He was mesmerized by the sight of her hand on the dog’s head. “Oh, uh, it’s okay. She can go with me.”
“I think she wants to stay with me, don’t you girl?”
Tiny looked over at him with a clear “of course I want to stay here, dude,” expression. He eased toward the doorway, needing space to think. “I’m going to shower.”
“Fair warning, the shower head hasn’t been working so great,” she said.
“What’s wrong with it?” He forced his feet to move, silently thrilled to have a purpose other than the one yammering at him to grab her and kiss her until they were both dizzy.
“I think I need a new one.”
“I’ll fix it,” he said, grabbing his duffle bag.
“Don’t be late to your meeting.” She got up and stretched, revealing a tantalizing line of exposed flesh between her jeans waistband and sweatshirt hem. “I’ll make us something for dinner.”
He stopped, gazing at her, surprised she sounded so calm, so normal in the face of this odd circumstance. Maybe she was over him, he thought as she hummed and poked around in the fridge. He stared at the pleasant way her well-worn jeans hugged her butt, cursed under his breath and headed for the bathroom.
After fiddling with the shower head and the lines from the old-fashioned faucets, he decided he’d have to buy her a whole new set up. He managed a quick rinse off, dried and redressed in jeans and a travel-wrinkled button-down shirt, once he’d tidied up after himself. He carried his bag and shoes down the hall to the kitchen, using slow, careful steps as if it might help quiet the clamor in his brain.
He stopped in the doorway, frozen in place yet again by the sight of her. She was facing the sink, the deep black cascade of her hair halfway down her back. A tear slid down the cheek he could see in profile. Her hands curled into fists, pressing onto the edge of the sink. Everything about her screamed misery. With a jolt, he realized she wasn’t miserable because of him. He could fix her problem this time—he had the skills, the contacts, the wherewithal to do all of it.
He walked to the back door to put his shoes outside. Before he could talk himself out of it, he crossed the room to her, stood behind her, his hands raised in the air, unsure of himself for a split second. This was the moment. It was time. It was up to him to breech the chasm she’d dug between them. He had to do it. It was now or never.
He placed his trembling palms on her shoulders. Tiny raised her head from the rug near where they stood, but put it back down as if reassured. His ears were ringing. His heart beat so hard it was a drumbeat against his ribcage. With a sigh, he slid his hands down her arms.
She stiffened at first, leaning against him in a way that forced a low, choked noise from his throat. He closed his eyes when she took his hands and guided them around her. They stood like this a few minutes, their breathing in sync, the clock on the wall nearby the only sound other than the whooshing noise replacing the ringing in his ears.
- Giveaway -
Prize One from Liz Crowe
Prize Two
Prize Three
To ENTER comment below:
1. Which sneak peek did you like from Backup Offer and why?
2. Have you read Liz Crowe before?
Good luck!
WINNERS:
$20 Amazon Card: Anna
$10 Amazon card: Lisa
Prize List book: Cathy M
 | Title: Lost and Found Author: Suzy Shearer Genre: Romance, Older romance, contemporary TBR Reviewer: Bella Rating: 4 Stars - Highly Recommended Read! Heat: 3/5 - Blush Worthy! |
This is an older couple romance. Oliver is in love, too bad he only knows this woman’s first name. He’s determined to find her no matter the cost.
A one-night stand leaves a lasting impression on both Oliver and Simone. However, once morning comes, they’re parted and that loss is felt to their souls. Oliver is a millionaire and he uses every resource he can to find this woman. At fifty-one he knows what he wants and he’s determined to get it. I felt his frustration when things didn’t pan out and the joy when he finally found her. Simone is equally as enamored by him so their romance is a sweet connection. I definitely wasn’t expecting the baby part with her being forty-six. The romance and falling in love was a little too fast for my taste. We start the book right when he’s searching for her so I didn’t get the intensity between them. As the book continues, they do learn and grow with each other. The action was a bit slim and the fact that Simone believed everything she was told was a bit simple. I did like how this was an older pairing dealing with new love and a child.
A one-night stand leaves a lasting impression on both Oliver and Simone. However, once morning comes, they’re parted and that loss is felt to their souls. Oliver is a millionaire and he uses every resource he can to find this woman. At fifty-one he knows what he wants and he’s determined to get it. I felt his frustration when things didn’t pan out and the joy when he finally found her. Simone is equally as enamored by him so their romance is a sweet connection. I definitely wasn’t expecting the baby part with her being forty-six. The romance and falling in love was a little too fast for my taste. We start the book right when he’s searching for her so I didn’t get the intensity between them. As the book continues, they do learn and grow with each other. The action was a bit slim and the fact that Simone believed everything she was told was a bit simple. I did like how this was an older pairing dealing with new love and a child.
Giveaway:
Prize One
Prize Two - ebook
Prize Three
To ENTER comment below:
1. Why do you want to read Lost and Found?
2. Have you read Suzy Shearer before?
For extra entries share this post using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below. Good luck!
Winners:
Gift card: Elizabeth Griffin
Ecopy of Lost and Found: Linda
Prize List Book: Hannah
 | Lyric: I'm in so much trouble. My orders are to find the highest-ranking member of Salvation's Bane or Black Reign MCs and sleep with him. Worm my way into his bed so I can feed information to Kiss of Death. Little did I know I would find the one man I could never forget -- the man who broke my heart six years ago and left me to fend for myself against a ruthless club who will break me the first chance they get. Rycks: Lyric ran out on me six years ago. Not that I'd given her any reason to stay. The second I see her again, I want to punish her. She waltzes back into my life with an agenda I can't figure out. When I do, the |
truth is as scary as it is infuriating. Lyric is my torment. She's sent to me as bait in a bigger plan I can't fathom. Mainly because I'm too distracted by what she reveals. Now I'm questioning my loyalties to both her and my mentor, El Diablo. She pulls at my need to protect at the same time she might just prove herself to be a traitor.
- Sneak Peek -
My heart was pounding. Something wasn’t right. When I entered the other room, there was a long, semicircular table. In the center, in front of the table, was a chair on a black mat. Men sat at the table while more stood in the background. Wouldn’t you know it, Rycks led me to the center chair and indicated I should sit.
I looked up at him. He didn’t meet my gaze.
“You’ll answer their questions truthfully and completely,” he said softly. Then, finally, he met my gaze. When his eyes locked with mine, I knew I was looking at death itself.
Sucking in a little gasp, I swallowed. Then I nodded. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“You’ll address yourself to us, Lyric.” Havoc, the vice president of Salvation’s Bane, instructed. “Rycks isn’t a member of our MC. He’s here out of courtesy to him and his club since he’s helping us with this ongoing matter.” Havoc’s tone wasn’t unkind, but it wasn’t gentle either. The man meant business. Whatever had happened to lead to this meeting was serious. And more than just me confessing something to Rycks in an effort to help their club. “Do you understand?” When I nodded, he continued. “You told Rycks last night that you’d been sent by Kiss of Death to glean information from us.”
It took me a second to realize he expected an answer, that it wasn’t rhetorical. Then I responded simply, “Yes.”
“Did you pass on anything you saw? Anything you heard?”
“No. I was with Rycks from the time I met up with him until now.” I thought about the bugs. Was now when I needed to tell them? What was the protocol? Before I could answer, I was interrupted.
“We’re aware of that,” Havoc said. “What I want to know is, did you make it so that Kiss of Death could gather information on our club from the inside. Did you plant any listening or video devices?”
So they had found them.
“Yes. Not tonight, but when I was here before with Wrangler. In the common room. Last night, I was searched before I came in.”
“So you had nothing we could readily see or detect if we didn’t know what to look for.”
What was he getting at?
“Sir, I was with Rycks the entire night. Yes, I did as I was instructed and planted three bugs. I have no idea if they were visual or audio, but they had to be pressed into a wall or flimsy piece of wood. I didn’t go anywhere other than the common room, and the bathrooms I was allowed into all have tiled walls.”
“But you were there an hour and a half before you left with Rycks.”
I paused, thinking. “I suppose so, yes. But I was in the common room the entire time.”
Havoc nodded once, then used a remote to turn on a big TV across the room. My attention automatically focused there. On the screen, I saw myself at the bar with the time stamp. After a couple of seconds, the camera zoomed in. It focused on my left hand where I had apparently removed something from the pocket of my shorts and placed it under the lip of the bar. Then another scene with me doing the same at a table. And a couch. All of them out-of-the-way places that were easily accessible, but wouldn’t be noticed if they hadn’t been looking for them.
“I didn’t do that.” I said softly. “If you pan back, you’ll see it’s not me. I didn’t have anything that stuck to anything. It had to be pushed into the wall. Like a thumb tack.”
He did. And it was me.
“After checking the places in question, we found listening devices. There were also a couple of video devices. Then, you left the room. You stopped to talk to a club girl and get directions to the bathroom. She pointed you in a direction down the hall, which you followed. Only you didn’t go to the bathroom. You went to Thorn’s office.”
The next video on the screen was of her, rifling through the drawers in the president’s desk. Again, it looked as if she planted bugs all around the room.
“I’m going to need you to show us where all those bugs are, Lyric,” Havoc said. “We found some of them, but they’re extremely tiny. There were at least three places where it looked like you planted something, but we couldn’t locate the device.”
“But I didn’t --”
“Stop lying!” Rycks growled. “I gave you a chance to come clean with me, Lyric. You told me about Kiss of Death expecting you to infiltrate Bane and set yourself up with a patched member to feed them information. You neglected to tell me you’d already bugged the whole compound. How many times have you been here with Wrangler?”
“Only once. It was when I planted the bugs I was given. I didn’t lie to you, other than not telling you about them. I intended to, but our conversation was pretty intense and emotionally draining. Other than this, I’ve been completely honest with you. It was an honest omission.”
“Bullshit,” he spat. I felt like he’d slapped me. I even flinched a little before I could stop myself. If I’d lost Rycks’s protection, I was fucked. Whatever happened down here, I had no hope of preventing. At that moment, I wasn’t sure I cared. Because, no matter what Salvation’s Bane did to me, it was going to be so much worse for Bella. And she’d never understand what was happening. Rycks had just ripped out my heart for more than one reason. I loved Bella with everything inside me, but I hadn’t realized how much I was beginning to care for Rycks. I hadn’t realized how tightly he had a hold of my heart until he ripped it from my chest. If they killed me, at least the pain would go away. But what would happen to Bella?
I looked up at him. He didn’t meet my gaze.
“You’ll answer their questions truthfully and completely,” he said softly. Then, finally, he met my gaze. When his eyes locked with mine, I knew I was looking at death itself.
Sucking in a little gasp, I swallowed. Then I nodded. “I’ve got nothing to hide.”
“You’ll address yourself to us, Lyric.” Havoc, the vice president of Salvation’s Bane, instructed. “Rycks isn’t a member of our MC. He’s here out of courtesy to him and his club since he’s helping us with this ongoing matter.” Havoc’s tone wasn’t unkind, but it wasn’t gentle either. The man meant business. Whatever had happened to lead to this meeting was serious. And more than just me confessing something to Rycks in an effort to help their club. “Do you understand?” When I nodded, he continued. “You told Rycks last night that you’d been sent by Kiss of Death to glean information from us.”
It took me a second to realize he expected an answer, that it wasn’t rhetorical. Then I responded simply, “Yes.”
“Did you pass on anything you saw? Anything you heard?”
“No. I was with Rycks from the time I met up with him until now.” I thought about the bugs. Was now when I needed to tell them? What was the protocol? Before I could answer, I was interrupted.
“We’re aware of that,” Havoc said. “What I want to know is, did you make it so that Kiss of Death could gather information on our club from the inside. Did you plant any listening or video devices?”
So they had found them.
“Yes. Not tonight, but when I was here before with Wrangler. In the common room. Last night, I was searched before I came in.”
“So you had nothing we could readily see or detect if we didn’t know what to look for.”
What was he getting at?
“Sir, I was with Rycks the entire night. Yes, I did as I was instructed and planted three bugs. I have no idea if they were visual or audio, but they had to be pressed into a wall or flimsy piece of wood. I didn’t go anywhere other than the common room, and the bathrooms I was allowed into all have tiled walls.”
“But you were there an hour and a half before you left with Rycks.”
I paused, thinking. “I suppose so, yes. But I was in the common room the entire time.”
Havoc nodded once, then used a remote to turn on a big TV across the room. My attention automatically focused there. On the screen, I saw myself at the bar with the time stamp. After a couple of seconds, the camera zoomed in. It focused on my left hand where I had apparently removed something from the pocket of my shorts and placed it under the lip of the bar. Then another scene with me doing the same at a table. And a couch. All of them out-of-the-way places that were easily accessible, but wouldn’t be noticed if they hadn’t been looking for them.
“I didn’t do that.” I said softly. “If you pan back, you’ll see it’s not me. I didn’t have anything that stuck to anything. It had to be pushed into the wall. Like a thumb tack.”
He did. And it was me.
“After checking the places in question, we found listening devices. There were also a couple of video devices. Then, you left the room. You stopped to talk to a club girl and get directions to the bathroom. She pointed you in a direction down the hall, which you followed. Only you didn’t go to the bathroom. You went to Thorn’s office.”
The next video on the screen was of her, rifling through the drawers in the president’s desk. Again, it looked as if she planted bugs all around the room.
“I’m going to need you to show us where all those bugs are, Lyric,” Havoc said. “We found some of them, but they’re extremely tiny. There were at least three places where it looked like you planted something, but we couldn’t locate the device.”
“But I didn’t --”
“Stop lying!” Rycks growled. “I gave you a chance to come clean with me, Lyric. You told me about Kiss of Death expecting you to infiltrate Bane and set yourself up with a patched member to feed them information. You neglected to tell me you’d already bugged the whole compound. How many times have you been here with Wrangler?”
“Only once. It was when I planted the bugs I was given. I didn’t lie to you, other than not telling you about them. I intended to, but our conversation was pretty intense and emotionally draining. Other than this, I’ve been completely honest with you. It was an honest omission.”
“Bullshit,” he spat. I felt like he’d slapped me. I even flinched a little before I could stop myself. If I’d lost Rycks’s protection, I was fucked. Whatever happened down here, I had no hope of preventing. At that moment, I wasn’t sure I cared. Because, no matter what Salvation’s Bane did to me, it was going to be so much worse for Bella. And she’d never understand what was happening. Rycks had just ripped out my heart for more than one reason. I loved Bella with everything inside me, but I hadn’t realized how much I was beginning to care for Rycks. I hadn’t realized how tightly he had a hold of my heart until he ripped it from my chest. If they killed me, at least the pain would go away. But what would happen to Bella?
- Giveaway -
Prize One
Prize Two
To ENTER comment below:
1. What did you like about the sneak peek of Rycks?
2. Have you read Marteeka Karland before?
For extra entries share this post using the Facebook and Twitter buttons below. Good luck!
 | Eric Tinsley, the unexpected new Lord Gossett, has inherited a mess. He was never meant to be Lord of the manor, since he was the ‘spare’, but is forced into the role upon the deaths of his father and brother. Little does he know that the title comes with a mound of debt that he cannot afford to pay. Enter Robert Bennett, American Billionaire. Robert has tried multiple ways to move up in society, but even his billions can’t crack the royal elite. But where there’s a will, there’s a way, and Robert finds that way with Eric, Lord Gossett. |
Married under a ten-year contract that outlines every aspect of their relationship, they soon find themselves questioning everything.
- Interview with MJ Calabrese -
1. When did you first realize you wanted to be a Writer?
I was about 13. I was a voracious reader. I’d always had a good imagination. I came home from the local library declaring there were no more books to read. My mother said, much to her chagrin now, “then writer some.” Took possession of my Dad’s old Remington portable and started writing. Of course, looking at them now, they were atrocious, but it was a start.
2. How long does it usually take you to write a book?
That’s hard to say. The creative process of coalescing a story in my head can take from months to a few hours. Putting it on paper and completing a novel, maybe 3 months or a little less, sometimes. But that being said, I just completed a serial called White Picket Fences: Ryder and Aaron in 2 weeks. That was 38,000 words.
3. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
After I’ve plotted out the story and some dialogue in my head, I write long-hand on a steno pad, initially. Just me. That way I can write anytime, like if I’m in the car waiting on someone or a doctor’s appt. or if I’m just sitting in the living room. It’s a very portable way to write. Me or a friend will input it in the computer, usually in the evening. I will continue to expand the story on the computer, sometimes working 10 hour stints. Sometimes as late as 2:30 am. I like the quiet. I’m a bit of an insomniac.
4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have several. I talk to myself out loud, sometimes act out the scenes. Wifey ignores me. It’s great to do in the car when you are alone. People think you are talking on your phone. LOL. When I have an idea in my head, I get this drifty look. Like I go into a fugue state watching the scene unfold in my head as I listen to the characters. Again, Wifey has learned to stop asking if I’m alright. She just looks at me and says, “Writing?” I nod and she leaves me alone.
5. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I’m very visual. A photograph can give me a story idea. I collect photos of actors who are the visual representation of my characters and photos that show emotions I want to express in a scene. I’ve always done this. My office looks like a homicide department with all the suspects hanging on my walls. A line from something I read can set me off. If I need to do actual research on a topic, I use photos, Google, library, and my own extremely varied personal experiences, such as unusual jobs and experience with addiction. I’m a trivia nut, as well.
6. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Read and travel.
7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That characters and stories have a mind of their own. It’s a lot like wrangling cats. Early on I was a pantser (someone who just starts a story and lets it go wild), I’m now a plotter. I tend to know at least my ending before I begin. I can’t waste time. Another surprising thing is how big a part social media plays in an author’s life. You may not like to think about it, but what you write may be influenced by what you see there.
8. How many books have you written? Which are your favorite/s?
This is my debut book as M.J. Calabrese. Using other pseudonyms, I’ve written screenplays and short stories. Ages ago, straight romances. I truly love Warrior’s Way. Adam and Eagle are my boys. They spark my creative mind. They make me want to tell their story and their imperfections are what make them memorable.
9. Do you have any suggestions to help anyone become a Writer? If so, what are they?
Write, write, write. If you ever want to be published, get yourself a good support team, people who will be honest with you. Be open to suggestion. Sometimes a fresh perspective can show you things you never thought of. Also, No One Is Trying To Steal Your Story! No one can write like you. There are no new plot lines under the sun. Be willing to talk to other writers, mentors, teachers. I’ve taken classes from some of the best and I encourage writers to always be expanding their skills. I took an acting class because I wanted to understand dialogue better.
10. What do you think makes a good story?
I come from a screenwriting background, so dialogue, plot and characters are important to me. I’ve had to work on description because a screenplay doesn’t have much. I want to be engaged and care about the people I’m reading about. If I’m not, then as soon as I put that book down, I’ll never miss it. Be brave. Tackle topics that aren’t easy to write about. Great sex scenes in MM romance can be wonderful, but it can’t be all there is to the story.
MJ Calabrese Links:
Website: www.mjcalabrese.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormjcalabrese/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/calabrese_mj
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mj.calabrese/
I was about 13. I was a voracious reader. I’d always had a good imagination. I came home from the local library declaring there were no more books to read. My mother said, much to her chagrin now, “then writer some.” Took possession of my Dad’s old Remington portable and started writing. Of course, looking at them now, they were atrocious, but it was a start.
2. How long does it usually take you to write a book?
That’s hard to say. The creative process of coalescing a story in my head can take from months to a few hours. Putting it on paper and completing a novel, maybe 3 months or a little less, sometimes. But that being said, I just completed a serial called White Picket Fences: Ryder and Aaron in 2 weeks. That was 38,000 words.
3. What is your work schedule like when you're writing?
After I’ve plotted out the story and some dialogue in my head, I write long-hand on a steno pad, initially. Just me. That way I can write anytime, like if I’m in the car waiting on someone or a doctor’s appt. or if I’m just sitting in the living room. It’s a very portable way to write. Me or a friend will input it in the computer, usually in the evening. I will continue to expand the story on the computer, sometimes working 10 hour stints. Sometimes as late as 2:30 am. I like the quiet. I’m a bit of an insomniac.
4. What would you say is your interesting writing quirk?
I have several. I talk to myself out loud, sometimes act out the scenes. Wifey ignores me. It’s great to do in the car when you are alone. People think you are talking on your phone. LOL. When I have an idea in my head, I get this drifty look. Like I go into a fugue state watching the scene unfold in my head as I listen to the characters. Again, Wifey has learned to stop asking if I’m alright. She just looks at me and says, “Writing?” I nod and she leaves me alone.
5. Where do you get your information or ideas for your books?
I’m very visual. A photograph can give me a story idea. I collect photos of actors who are the visual representation of my characters and photos that show emotions I want to express in a scene. I’ve always done this. My office looks like a homicide department with all the suspects hanging on my walls. A line from something I read can set me off. If I need to do actual research on a topic, I use photos, Google, library, and my own extremely varied personal experiences, such as unusual jobs and experience with addiction. I’m a trivia nut, as well.
6. What do you like to do when you're not writing?
Read and travel.
7. What was one of the most surprising things you learned in creating your books?
That characters and stories have a mind of their own. It’s a lot like wrangling cats. Early on I was a pantser (someone who just starts a story and lets it go wild), I’m now a plotter. I tend to know at least my ending before I begin. I can’t waste time. Another surprising thing is how big a part social media plays in an author’s life. You may not like to think about it, but what you write may be influenced by what you see there.
8. How many books have you written? Which are your favorite/s?
This is my debut book as M.J. Calabrese. Using other pseudonyms, I’ve written screenplays and short stories. Ages ago, straight romances. I truly love Warrior’s Way. Adam and Eagle are my boys. They spark my creative mind. They make me want to tell their story and their imperfections are what make them memorable.
9. Do you have any suggestions to help anyone become a Writer? If so, what are they?
Write, write, write. If you ever want to be published, get yourself a good support team, people who will be honest with you. Be open to suggestion. Sometimes a fresh perspective can show you things you never thought of. Also, No One Is Trying To Steal Your Story! No one can write like you. There are no new plot lines under the sun. Be willing to talk to other writers, mentors, teachers. I’ve taken classes from some of the best and I encourage writers to always be expanding their skills. I took an acting class because I wanted to understand dialogue better.
10. What do you think makes a good story?
I come from a screenwriting background, so dialogue, plot and characters are important to me. I’ve had to work on description because a screenplay doesn’t have much. I want to be engaged and care about the people I’m reading about. If I’m not, then as soon as I put that book down, I’ll never miss it. Be brave. Tackle topics that aren’t easy to write about. Great sex scenes in MM romance can be wonderful, but it can’t be all there is to the story.
MJ Calabrese Links:
Website: www.mjcalabrese.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/authormjcalabrese/
Twitter: www.twitter.com/calabrese_mj
Instagram: www.instagram.com/mj.calabrese/
- Giveaway -
Prize One
| Prize Two | Prize Three |
To ENTER comment below:
1. What question/answer did you like best?
2. Have you read MJ Calabrese before?
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WINNERS:
Gift cards: Hannah
Prize list books: Beth and Tessa
 | Title: Playing to Score Author: Lisabet Sarai Length: 65 pages Genres: Contemporary Romance, LGBTQ, BDSM TBR Reviewer: Fiona Rating: 4 Stars - Highly Recommended Read! Heat: 3/5 - Blush Worthy |
Jason Hofstadter has spent many years attending the Four States Annual Scrabble championships in Omaha. In fact, last year he made it up to number two! He aims to score higher this year. But that leads to the second reason he attends to score in bed with a likely candidate. He has to be careful about whom he chooses to approach, since approaching a homophobic man could get him thrown out of the tournament. But using his "gaydar," he's always managed to have successful, if totally forgettable one or two-night stands with a different guy every year. He has no reason to think that this year will be any different.
When Jason sees a young man sitting by himself, peering through his thick glasses at lists he's obviously memorizing, Jason approaches him, asking if it's his first championship. The man's sexy smile makes him harden, and when the young man glances at his crotch, he's sure he's met this year's choice. Matt Sawyer is just what Jason looks for in a man. They do some flirting, exchange some words, and before long, Jason is sucking the younger man off in a uni-sex bathroom in a Starbucks. This leads to more varied exploration of each other in Matt's room. Jason is surprised when Matt brings out a paddle and some restraints which he asks shyly if Jason will used on him. Seems Matt's dom passed on a couple of years ago, and Matt's been waiting a long time to find someone new to take his place. But Jason has never been into the BDSM scene. He's never even held a paddle. Will he enjoy it, or will his fear that he's hurting the other man make him too anxious to enjoy it?
This is a quick read and I was disappointed when it ended. I grew to really like Matt--and Jason has possibilities of growing into being the new dom that Matt craves so desperately. Or Jason might just return to being the unrepentant horn-dog that he was in the first chapter. I want to know which way things will end between them! But the story ends on a HFN note, and one can only hope about which direction their budding relationship will go.
When Jason sees a young man sitting by himself, peering through his thick glasses at lists he's obviously memorizing, Jason approaches him, asking if it's his first championship. The man's sexy smile makes him harden, and when the young man glances at his crotch, he's sure he's met this year's choice. Matt Sawyer is just what Jason looks for in a man. They do some flirting, exchange some words, and before long, Jason is sucking the younger man off in a uni-sex bathroom in a Starbucks. This leads to more varied exploration of each other in Matt's room. Jason is surprised when Matt brings out a paddle and some restraints which he asks shyly if Jason will used on him. Seems Matt's dom passed on a couple of years ago, and Matt's been waiting a long time to find someone new to take his place. But Jason has never been into the BDSM scene. He's never even held a paddle. Will he enjoy it, or will his fear that he's hurting the other man make him too anxious to enjoy it?
This is a quick read and I was disappointed when it ended. I grew to really like Matt--and Jason has possibilities of growing into being the new dom that Matt craves so desperately. Or Jason might just return to being the unrepentant horn-dog that he was in the first chapter. I want to know which way things will end between them! But the story ends on a HFN note, and one can only hope about which direction their budding relationship will go.
 | Title: Blue Mountain (Pack #1) Author: Cardeno C. Length: 148 pages Genres: Paranormal Romance, Shifters, LGBTQ TBR Reviewer: Fiona Rating: 5 stars - A Must Read! Heat: 4/5 - Smoking Hot! |
After being thrown out of his pack by a cruel leader, Omega wolf Simon has learned to survive by ignoring his gentle nature. His mother was also an Omega, who couldn't allow her 13-year-old son to be on his own away from the safety of a pack, so she went with him. When the story begins, 12 years later, he's once again on the grounds of the Blue Mountain pack, to bury his mother, who asked him to accompany her there, knowing she'd die while there.
The first four pack members who find him, rough him up a little, to scare him off. Then they report back to Frederick, their current pack leader. He and his twin brother Mitch, killed off the last pack leader and his three beta sycophants, then took over the pack. They're both alphas, but Mitch has no desire to be a leader. He's the "enforcer" for the pack. His gruff manner keeps everyone at bay, and that's just the way he likes it.
When Mitch and Frederick smell the blood of a foreign shifter on their reporting pack members, they both realize that this is Mitch's mate. Frederick tells him to go deal with the interloper. When found by Mitch, Simon panics, he's been treated badly by Alphas and other male shifters before he smells "off", because not only is he a rare Omega male, but he's gay. His first instinct is to roll over and submit, but he fights until he's worn out. Then he wants to bare his belly to allow the alpha to kill him, since he's tired of always having to fight to survive. But Mitch takes him to his home that he rebuilt out of an old ruined house, it's close enough to where the pack leader lives, but far enough away for Mitch to have the privacy he needs.
Simon fights against everything Mitch tries with him and he refuses to tell Mitch why. Luckily for them both, Mitch's rough exterior hides a gentle, loving man, who will give Simon all the time and space he needs to realize that they're a mated pair, bound to each other for life. The realism in this book was totally engaging. I was captured by Mitch's gentle giant, and astounded by Simon's inner strength, which he didn't believe in, but which kept him alive during his time living out of a pack. I loved both of these characters, and almost wept with happiness that they both found in each other, a harbor for their hearts and souls.
The first four pack members who find him, rough him up a little, to scare him off. Then they report back to Frederick, their current pack leader. He and his twin brother Mitch, killed off the last pack leader and his three beta sycophants, then took over the pack. They're both alphas, but Mitch has no desire to be a leader. He's the "enforcer" for the pack. His gruff manner keeps everyone at bay, and that's just the way he likes it.
When Mitch and Frederick smell the blood of a foreign shifter on their reporting pack members, they both realize that this is Mitch's mate. Frederick tells him to go deal with the interloper. When found by Mitch, Simon panics, he's been treated badly by Alphas and other male shifters before he smells "off", because not only is he a rare Omega male, but he's gay. His first instinct is to roll over and submit, but he fights until he's worn out. Then he wants to bare his belly to allow the alpha to kill him, since he's tired of always having to fight to survive. But Mitch takes him to his home that he rebuilt out of an old ruined house, it's close enough to where the pack leader lives, but far enough away for Mitch to have the privacy he needs.
Simon fights against everything Mitch tries with him and he refuses to tell Mitch why. Luckily for them both, Mitch's rough exterior hides a gentle, loving man, who will give Simon all the time and space he needs to realize that they're a mated pair, bound to each other for life. The realism in this book was totally engaging. I was captured by Mitch's gentle giant, and astounded by Simon's inner strength, which he didn't believe in, but which kept him alive during his time living out of a pack. I loved both of these characters, and almost wept with happiness that they both found in each other, a harbor for their hearts and souls.
