Tag Archives: LGBTQIA+

TEASER TUESDAY: Dread (Scorned Devils MC) by J. Halie Steele

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Scorned Devils MC, Book 1

 

Contemporary LGBTQ MC Romance

Date Published: 9/6/2024

Publisher: Changeling Press LLC


 

Dread: Nicholas “Dread” Derickson is all about his MC, Scorned
Devils — until he spies a young man who sets his rebel blood on fire. Sexy
bastard might be his undoing if Dread can’t get the president to turn a
blind eye to his entanglement, which is cutting into club business just as a
splinter group from another club moves into the area. One rider of the
wayward gang rubs Dread the wrong way — particularly when he discovers the
biker had a prior relationship with the man Dread wants to make his.

Marvin: Marvin Branch hadn’t planned on attending an outlaw biker club
party with a woman he’d met at his new job, but now he can’t stop eyeing the
handsome older guy who’s definitely a member. Marv’s last liaison ended
because the biker he hooked up with refused to be open about their
relationship. Vowing not to go down that road again, Marv can’t help being
enthralled by Nicholas. Soon Marvin struggles with his new lover’s actions,
and his fear of what will happen when he walks away gets the better of him.
The man is not only possessive, he’s hell-bent on keeping Marv until he’s
had his fill.

 

Excerpt

 

Dread

“Nicholas, about the two prospects.”

Dread hated these damn open-air parties. The park was jammed with bodies.
Giving back to the community was necessary now and again. They deserved
something, because unless things really got out of hand, the two small local
police forces turned a blind eye to most of the Scorned Devils motorcycle
club’s bullshit.

More importantly, he hated being called Nicholas. Nicholas Derickson had
ceased to exist a long time ago. His death had occurred the first time Dread
killed a man. The culprit had missed being on the Scorned Devils MC’s
radar, but he should have been. That body had never been found. Never will
be, either.

There had been two others. Members who’d become disruptive and had to
be dealt with outside the law. Dread felt no guilt, as they understood the
rules when they prospected. There had been one more. Club president Barton
“Battle” Graves hadn’t been sure of the last death. Even
after finding the man’s cut in the clubhouse chest only he and Dread
had access to, Battle left it alone at first, ignoring the incident for a
time because Dread was Scorned Devils inside out, and Bat knew beyond a
doubt he intended to protect his club and anyone they vowed allegiance until
Dread took his last breath.

Hell, the man had screwed around with Bat’s older and only sister,
Glory Graves. Treated her like shit. She’d been abused, then abandoned
after the bastard fathered the pres’ niece, Belinda. He’d
occasionally turn up when he was down on his luck, to demand money, or a
room for a few days. If it was easier for Bat to believe the man walked away
for good, so be it.

Bat had asked about the disappearance once. Dread never responded. And that
skull never got painted on Dread’s bikes. However, if he delayed
answering Battle now, the jackass would never shut up.

“Nicholas, you hear me?”

“Don’t fucking call me that.” Dread had not taken his
gaze off the stranger who’d arrived accompanied by Bat’s niece,
Belinda. Jesus, he’s hot! The thought surprised Dread. The man was
lean, clean shaven and, fuck, downright pretty — and those types never
excited him. Something about the way the man carried himself, how he
returned Dread’s scrutiny without blinking, excited him, though.
Bastard exuded confidence.

Nodding in their direction, Dread asked, “Who’s that with
Belinda?” Dread had no interest in diving back into the same pond he
swam in for the last six months. His sex life had drifted into no
man’s land, but the youngster he eyed was a bright spot on the
horizon. I will fuck him until he can’t walk.

“How the hell would I know? Ask Belinda. No matter how much I bitch,
she cozies up to some man. Shit, she calls you uncle more often than
me.” Attempting to imitate his niece, Bat mocked, “Why
can’t you call me Bell, like Uncle Dread?”

“What’s the big deal?”

“My sister’s crap’s the big deal. She’s biting my
ass. Doesn’t like her daughter anywhere near me. Hell, I don’t
either.”

“Barton, grab your balls and tell your sister to fuck off.”
Dread’s attention remained on the newcomer.

“Kiss my ass. Anyway, he likely works with Belinda at one of your
establishments.” Kicking the dirt, Bat added, “All the strangers
here, you’re concerned by my niece’s latest
conquest?”

Holding eye contact, Dread smiled at the fucker. He knew the sexy young man
slinking behind Belinda wasn’t a lady’s man. “He’s
not her type.” There would be no complaint from Dread about her
dragging this one along, yet Dread made note to talk with his managers, keep
better tabs on who they hired. “You asked me to give her a job,
Battle. It was Cutters or Hell’s Lair.”

“She’s not to be in any part of the Lair, Dread. Bar,
clubhouse, nothing. I mean it.”

Dread observed Bell’s friend laughing at something a member’s
old lady had said. He is not Hell’s Lair material, either. Dread owned
both Cutters, a nice restaurant featuring live music on weekends, and
Hell’s Lair, a straight up hole-in-the-wall biker’s bar. He
received nice compensation monthly from the Scorned Devils MC treasury for
renting them the large, wide-open storage area behind the bar. It doubled as
the clubhouse.

The spot had had another name before Dread changed it to Hell’s Lair.
Paid pennies on the dollar when he violently wrestled ownership from a man
who didn’t deserve it. Jackass mistreated his employees and fired
anyone he discovered was gay. For a moment Dread wondered where that bastard
had ended up after being beaten to within an inch of his life and chased out
the city. One thing Dread was sure of, the son of a bitch would never open
his mouth about what had occurred.

Subsequently, the bar made enough for Dread to snatch Cutters up when it
came on the market. Only a handful of his crew were aware who owned Cutters,
and none ever set foot inside. Too fancy for their liking. Even he
couldn’t buy respectability, but Dread liked having one thing in his
life that felt decent.

“Too much talk in the Lair’s bar area. That shit must be
addressed and I don’t trust Belinda to follow my rule about visiting
the club.”

“I’ll handle the loose lips. Anyway, our guys know not to
permit your niece inside. If she sneaks in, you or I will get a call. If
they ever touch a hair on her head, they’ll see me sooner than
later.” Angling toward Battle, Dread slapped the pres’ shoulder.
“That’s what you have me for.”

“And sometimes you worry me.”

“Shut the fuck up.” Dread was the only one who dared speak to
the club president like that. “What were you saying about
prospects?”

“A vote on patching is necessary. They’ve both proved
themselves.” Bat’s sigh filled the air. “We got to watch
those five hellions out of Philadelphia. Shit, been too long since I had a
sit-down with the pres of Bayside Specters. Sons of bitches didn’t
even have the courage or respect to announce themselves. Still, I’d
like to avoid trouble. Devils have grown. We established ourselves in the
county and Coatesville is home. It’s a small city and trouble of any
sort marring our MC’s reputation will not be tolerated.”

Growth was important. Thirty-four members strong, Scorned Devils had become
a club to be reckoned with in Pennsylvania but Bat was right.
“We’ll take it up at the next meeting. This isn’t the time
or place.”

Over the last couple months, several instances had developed that Dread
wished the president had allowed him to handle. He understood Bat’s
caution, yet appearing weak wasn’t suitable. Dread had turned down
running the Devils, or becoming vice president as Battle had hoped, as they
moved up through club ranks. Dread liked his position of sergeant at arms.
Trusting anyone else to ensure club rules would be followed and appropriate
punishment doled out when necessary didn’t suit Dread, either.

“Don’t know how you can tell, but you’re probably right
about that young man. Anyway, I know I’m not getting anything useful
out of you until you make yourself known to him.” Turning serious, Bat
added, “Be careful.”

“Careful?” Bat knew who Dread was and he also understood some
things would never change. “That shit flew out the window twenty years
ago when I screwed the fourth prospect who patched for the Devils. I can
handle members who scoff at what I am.” A few hard cases, kept under
Dread’s scrutiny, disdained gay activity, but not one of the Devils
would dare say a word about his or any other member’s sexual
inclination. “Terror’s not here to protect the fuckers, and they
like having their teeth.”

The Scorned Devils vice president was near the end of a three-year sentence
for assault. Nineteen years younger than Dread, Terror was fucking nuts, and
Dread didn’t relish the time he would return. Made him wish,
sometimes, he had accepted vice president under Battle. Luckily, Bat had
succeeded in keeping them from tearing each other apart. At least for now.
But the day would come.

“You know what the fuck I mean. He’s not one of us. He’s
too clean cut for the likes of us, and he reeks of decency. Hell, the kid
isn’t even your usual hairy type.” Bat’s eyes shuttered.
“Not as if… Look, Dread, club culture doesn’t favor
settling down.”

“What? Fuck that, man, I’m not looking for anything permanent.
Scorned Devils requires my attention, I’m here, Battle. That shit will
never change.” Jerking away, Dread made his way through the crowd to
lay claim to his next conquest.

About the Author

Growl and roar — it’s okay to let the beast out. — J. Hali Steele

J. Hali Steele wishes she could grow fur, wings, or fangs, so she can stay
warm, fly, or just plain bite the crap out of… Well, she can’t
do those things but she wishes she could!

J. Hali’s a multi-published Amazon bestselling author of Romance in
Paranormal, Fantasy, and Contemporary worlds which include ReligErotica and
LGBTQ stories where humans, vampyres, shapeshifters and angels collide —
and they collide a lot! When J. Hali’s not writing or reading, she can
be found snuggled in front of the TV with a cat in her lap, and a cup of
coffee.

 

Author on Instagram/Facebook: @jhalisteele

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok:
@changelingpress

 

 

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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: CINDER31LA by Freida Kilmari

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CINDER31LA
Freida Kilmari
Publication date: August 31st 2024
Genres: Adult, LGBTQ+, Retelling, Steampunk

I have 22,280 days left to live.
She only has 31.

Here in Clepsydra, everyone knows when they’re going to die. Born with a life clock embedded into our wrists, the tick-tock of our heartbeat is a pulse we’ll forever hear. Steambotics rule number one? Never mess with a life clock. For 21 years of my life, I’ve followed the rules and walked in my late father’s footsteps, hoping to one day be as good an engineer as he was.

Until she walked into my life.

The princess is dying, and it’s up to me to break the law and do the impossible. To cure time.

Goodreads / Amazon

—

EXCERPT:

I had 22,280 days to live. That was all the time I would get, whether I liked it or not. The clock never lied. The brass and steel of my lifeclock embedded in my wrist ticked on despite my mental whirring and purring, and I yanked my blue coverall sleeve down to mask the annoying tick tock of my heartbeat.

Returning my attention to the engine in front of me, I asked, “What’ve you got today for me, then?” I popped the hood of the steamer open and watched the faulty lines cross where they shouldn’t and meet where they should, with nothing transferring. “Hmmm . . .” I rubbed sweat from my forehead with the back of my hand. “Seems you’ve got yourself all twisted, little buddy. Don’t worry, we’ll have you fixed up in no time.” As if in answer, the steamer chugged and whined, puffing a dirty cloud of old, used air in my face—clearly on its last legs. But I couldn’t return it to Old Mags like this; it was the only way she could see her grandchildren over in Prago City.

I spent all afternoon untangling the steam lines, trying to put them back together in a way that resembled the older models, but this thing was built before I was born and I couldn’t figure out how to line everything up to the radiator.

“Liquid toffee, El,” a synthetic voice croaked out from my desk.

“Ah, sweet toffee.” The bitter and sweet mixture always got my heart pumping.

IoN’s rusted, bronze body no larger than my head whizzed through the air with his new thrusters, his arms dangling behind as he raced back to the kitchen.

“Careful, IoN! You’ll knock something off the shelves if you don’t watch those arms.”

“Well,” he said as he whizzed back out with a can of compressed air, “if you did not pack them full with so many”—he paused and pulled an old project I’d been trying to work on last month from the shelf—“doodads, then I would not have a problem.”

He was always like this, moaning and complaining about the state of the garage these days. But with Dad gone, I had to step up and take over the business—my stepmother wouldn’t want to ruin her perfect new manicure my earnings paid for—and that meant there was no one to help clean up. The shelves on the metal and wood walls had stopped floating some time ago. I had since given up fixing their thrusters and nailed them to the walls the old-fashioned way.

“Just be careful,” I chuckled.

His small, hemispherical body whizzed around the garage, picking up all the tools I’d left lying about this morning after fixing my neighbor’s Instacaff mug. Business had been a bit slow recently—or, as my stepmother liked to remind me, nonexistent. The garage used to shine in the middle of downtown’s business park on level zero; even some of the rich would come to use Dad’s services. “He’s the best in the business,” they’d say, and I’d coo and wonder at his magnificence. Now, it was nothing but a scrappy old building with a broken sign the sun didn’t even reach since they’d built the city’s new level twenty-one a couple of years ago. We’d barely had any sunlight reaching us before, but twenty-one’s entertainment center blocked out the meager shaft of light that used to flicker our way from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. every day. Besides, its white marble and old cog design was an eyesore I could do without. I hated the damn sight of it every time I stepped outside.

“Mom to Cinderella,” the radio echoed across the garage, dispelling my thoughts.

I cringed. I hated that name and she knew it, but I was reminded of the warning my stepmother gave me this morning before leaving our apartment: “Cinderella, darling, don’t forget to make some actual money today, or I’ll be forced to resort to grounding you.” She booped my nose, smiled that cruel, frustrating smile at me, and walked to the local spa for her morning massage.

As if grounding me would help pay the bills. I was the only one working!

“Cinderella!”

I snapped out of the daymare that was her plastered-on face and ran to the radio receiver. “Yes, Phyllis?”

“Cinderella!” the radio crackled again, forcing her voice into octaves even higher than her fake personality would usually reach. “How many times must I tell you to call me ‘Mom’ or ‘Mother.’” She sighed over the receiver. “Really, Cinderella, I simply cannot keep telling you.”

“Sorry, Mother.” My voice retained its usual nondescript tone, hiding anything and everything she might use as leverage over my life. “What can I do for you?”

“Well, now that you’ve actually asked.” She coughed to clear her throat. “I may have a job for you. Someone sent us a letter requesting your assistance at the Dome on level eighteen.”

Level eighteen? I’d never even left level zero. Most commoners didn’t venture farther than level ten, and even that was only if you had a well-paying job or an invitation to take you there. Level eighteen? I bet I could see the sun from up there. Not the small slithers we occasionally got when you found the right street corner at the right time of day, but real, actual sunlight.

Author Bio:

Freida Kilmari, an author, writer, and editor from south-west England, has a passion for unique fantasy, one that started with the likes of Philip Pullman, Derek Landy, and Darren Shan. With their fantastical words, she spent her childhood and young adult life vying to create her own world of words one day. Eventually, after finishing her degree and settling into being a business owner, she started writing fantasy romance with LGBT+ twists, and from there, she’s kept twisting tropes, retelling fairy tales and legends, and seeing just how far you can push the boundaries of sexuality and gender.

Living in south-west England, she owns and runs Penmanship Editing, a fiction editing business that strives to make the most out of each author’s unique story, words, and heart. “Every writer is different, and it’s those differences that make our work a part of who we are.” She’s worked on over 100 books in the last two years and has received praise from authors and other editors alike for her encouraging and togetherness approach in a field that is lacking uniqueness and empathy.

Website / Facebook / Instagram / TikTok


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BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Online Rebellion: The Escape by Blue Matt Jeff

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Online Rebellion: The Escape
Blue Matt Jeff
Publication date: July 9th 2024
Genres: Fantasy, LGBTQ+

Courage rises.
Secrets fall.
Rewrite destiny in a world yearning for freedom.

In the heart of Slandra, a nation marred by secrets and tyranny, a tale of courage, betrayal, and a quest for justice unfolds.

Online Rebellion unfolds in a fantasy realm where individuals deemed outcasts in their homeland—whether due to their beliefs, LGBTQ+ identities, or opposition to cultural norms—seek refuge in a distant, democratic nation. Yearning for safety and acceptance, they confront persistent threats from their native land, where their past continues to haunt them. As they navigate this treacherous journey, their courage and resilience are tested at every turn.

Follow a diverse cast of characters as their desperate attempts to escape oppression lead them through treachery and heart-wrenching sacrifices.

Weaving themes of resilience, the power of unity, and the impact of truth in a society gasping for freedom, the tale reminds us how the actions of a few can inspire a movement and a nation’s destiny can be rewritten by the will of its people.

Join the rebellion. Get your copy today and explore a world where courage knows no bounds and justice demands sacrifice. Will you heed the call?

Goodreads / Amazon

—


Author Bio:

Blue Matt Jeff is a social activist with familial ties to the entertainment industry. They are concerned with human rights, women’s rights, and LGBTQ+ rights around the world. Their debut novel, Out of the Shadow, is a dystopian novel that draws from Their prior life experiences. Mostly, Blue writes in Fantasy, but they write in other genres as well. Blue has also performed in numerous stand-up comedy events.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram / TikTok


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NEW RELEASE: Ripple Effects by Alex Winters

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Book Title: Ripple Effects

Author Name: Alex Winters

Date Published: June 21, 2024

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Multiple Partners

About the Book:

Brady Sampson and Myer Joyner met in college, quickly bonding in their business classes and both landing gigs at nearby Global Initiatives in scenic Lost Lake, Tennessee. Combining their signing bonuses to invest in a rental house beside the lake together, the two take to being roommates the way they have every other challenge they’ve faced over the past two years — secretly pining for one another while never speaking a word about it.

That is, until their sexy new coworker, Carly Carmichael, produces an uncommonly sensual stirring in both men. When Brady invites their new neighbor over for a meet and greet, she takes him up on the offer on the one day he’s out. While she and Myer sip wine and get to know each other better, both let it slip that they have a crush on Brady, unleashing a series of events that threaten to topple everything they thought they knew about each other.

Retailer Link: https://books2read.com/RippleEffects

Get it at Changeling Press: https://www.changelingpress.com/ripple-effects-the-deep-end-3-b-3640

READ AN EXCERPT

“White or red?”

Brady Sampson glanced over at his new roomie, Myer, holding up two wine bottles and wearing an almost face-splitting grin. He struggled to ignore the equally cataclysmic ripples of desire that rang through his body as he kept a placid look on his face.

“Which do you prefer?” Brady answered.

Myer glanced from bottle to bottle as if he’d never seen them before, giving Brady time to openly adore his big, veiny hands as he held each aloft. “I always drank beer before now.”

Brady chuckled, never less than amused by Myer’s vaguely off-kilter outlook on life. “So why don’t we grab some beer then?”

Myer wrinkled his nose, nostrils flaring under a spray of cheery soft freckles to go with his mop of strawberry blond stubble. “I dunno, this seems so grown up right now, you know?”

Brady steered his own shopping cart closer, inching into the liquor aisle to join his new roomie. “Beer is grown up,” he suggested, studying the labels next to the shelf where Myer lingered. “And cheaper, too.”

Myer gave him a “spoilsport” frown but set the bottles back just the same. “Dude, you’re not going to be one of those cheap-ass roomies who puts his food on one shelf and mine on the other and pro-rates the rent if I happen to steal a grape or two, are you?”

Brady chuckled. “No, of course not. I just don’t really feel like paying for stuff I’m not going to drink, you know?”

Myer considered this as if he’d never thought of it before. “Valid point, I suppose.” His big fingers did unspeakable things to Brady’s already lurid imagination as he moved down the aisle, touching several brands of champagne. “Bubbly then?”

Brady nodded, as if equally inspired. “That’ll work,” he agreed, taking one of the two bottles from Myer’s hand.

“Hey!” Myer’s youthful face — oh yeah, he was definitely getting carded, for sure — broke into a surprised grin. “I thought I was in charge of alcoholic beverages this time.”

“You are, but that doesn’t mean you’re paying for it all.”

Myer’s gaze quickly assessed the running total of Brady’s half-full shopping cart. “You’re paying for the steaks already, though.”

“Cuz they come in a two-pack. You want me to tear them in half and get the butcher to rewrap them?”

Myer frowned, looking effortlessly casual in a mustard-colored V-neck and striped blue Madras shorts, the clothing seeming to hang off his lean, rangy frame the same way his shirt and ties did at work every day. “Fair is fair, though.”

“Now who’s the cheap one? Huh, Myer?”

Myer glanced at his own cart, only slightly less full than Brady’s. They were facing each other in the liquor aisle, carts side by side, just two bros out shopping like any other two bros out shopping. And yet, to Brady at least, the seemingly humdrum errand had such an intimate feel to it he had to struggle to keep from sweating.

“I mean,” Myer teased, nudging Brady’s elbow with no idea of what that little tremor from his touch felt like racing through Brady’s body. “Have you seen the price of yogurt lately?”

Brady snorted, romantic reverie suddenly broken. “No, Myer, because I’m not a retired housewife on a diet.”

They chuckled together, drifting onto the next aisle and quibbling over potato chips and pretzels like an old married couple. Brady struggled to keep things light when all he wanted was to reach out and grab Myer’s hand and cling to it like they were an actual couple.

He swallowed the desire, as he had all his life, and played it cool instead. Said the right things. Glanced Myer’s way just long enough, but never too long. Walked just close enough to him as they argued over wheat bread versus rye, and never too close. Laughed just hard enough, smiled just wide enough, sending all the right signals like he always had.

He’d leapt at the chance to room with Myer when they both got transferred to the Tennessee branch of Global Initiatives after their internship at the corporate offices in Latham, Georgia. They’d hit it off as interns, sharing lunch breaks and chatting it up in the campus gym after weekend workouts. Brady thought it would be the perfect way to solidify their friendship, even if he knew they could never be more than that. He thought he could be strong, thought he could fight the temptation, thought it would be easy, like it had been back when they’d just shared a cubicle.

But now? Sharing a sprawling house out on secluded Lost Lake, shopping together, padding barefoot down the same halls in various stages of undress? Suddenly Brady wondered if he was strong enough to weather the ups and downs of living with someone who only wanted to be friends.

When obviously, achingly, frustratingly, Brady wanted to be so much more.

Author Info:

Alex Winters is the pseudonym of a busy restaurant manager whose curious young staff would love nothing more than to follow him around the dining room reading his steamiest, most romantic passages aloud! When not writing romantic holiday stories of various heat levels, he enjoys long walks with his wife, scary movies and smooth jazz. Visit him online to see what stories are brewing up next!

Website: http://www.awintersromance.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100084802422320

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/a_winters_romance/

BOOK REVIEW: The Shadow of the Langham Hotel by Jonathan L. Ferrara

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About the Book:

The third installment of Jonathan L. Ferrara’s young adult paranormal anthology series is here!This past year, Collin Winters has tried to put the events of Chateau Du Coeur behind him. He’s struggling to move on with his life. It’s a new year, in a new school, in a new city, and with a new heart beating in his chest.

Shortly after his first term at the Art Institution in London, Collin is selected by the headmaster to partake in a class field-trip to New York City where he, and four other students, will check-in to an old hotel. Amongst those students is Collin’s roommate—Aaron, who is trying to put his own past behind him. The two boys don’t always get along. One moment they’re the best of friends, the next they’re rolling around the hotel’s lobby throwing punches and nearly getting themselves expelled. The boys’ friendship only strengthens as they attempt to unearth the hotel’s dark secret. It turns out, the building isn’t quite what it seems to be. There’s something lurking in the hotel’s shadows…something watching the classmates from afar. While Collin and his friends attempt to solve the mystery of the Langham Hotel, Collin starts to remember that he might have stayed in the building once before. The past is about to catch up to Collin Winters and will surely put his sanity to the test.

Release Date: April 23, 2024

Add to your Goodreads

My Review – 5 stars!

Be prepared for a twisted ride through Wonderland…

I’m not sure what I expected when I accepted an ARC of this book. I got something entirely different but in a good way.

I will say the beginning was a bit slow for me. It wasn’t until I was five or six chapters in that I was truly hooked. This one may be a ghost story, but it’s not scary. It’s a story of overcoming your obstacles or darker parts of your life and finding not only acceptance of yourself but also allowing yourself to be happy.

First, I didn’t read the previous book in the series. There was enough information in this story that I didn’t feel lost. So don’t hesitate to jump right in!

And second… you’re going to love this book!

The characters were well developed and intriguing, although Charlotte had a tendency to annoy me. The glimpses we see of Ruby during Collin’s childhood honestly made her my favorite character. There was more to her than most people saw.

It’s full of romance, intrigue, and lots of riddles! Honestly, I’d consider this more of a ghost mystery.

This story will keep you guessing and there’s one heck of a plot twist! More than one actually…

But reader beware … closer to the end, be prepared to cry! Not because of a horrible ending by any means. The opposite in fact.

This book will put you through an emotional roller coaster. But it’s one heck of a ride!

* Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book and am voluntarily leaving a review. The review above is only my opinion.

BOOK REVIEW Carousel by Sarah McKnight

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Ladies and gentlemen, the show is about to begin…

All Laura Fitzpatrick wanted to do was tell her lab partner, Maddie, how she really feels about her, but when a perfect opportunity falls into her lap, Laura does what she does best – chickens out.  

Then, Laura is dared to check out the abandoned carnival grounds outside of town, and she seizes the opportunity to prove to herself and others that she can be brave after all. To her surprise, Maddie isn’t about to let her go alone.

As they explore the eerie property, they’re thrust into an endless night of terror, where danger lurks around every corner. With a century-old mystery waiting to be uncovered, Laura must learn what true bravery means if she hopes to get herself – and Maddie – out of the Plum Creek Carnival alive.

Whatever you do, don’t let the Carnival Man see you…

Add to Goodreads

MY REVIEW – 5 stars!

Absolutely loved it!!

What started as a date turned into a nightmare for Laura and Maddie. I loved see Laura find her strength and realize she was braver than she’d thought. Her courage was inspirational.

I dislike spoilers so I won’t go into detail. However… Carousel kept me spellbound from start to finish. I can’t exactly call the storytelling of a gruesome horror beautifully written but… it was. The imagery of each brutal killing and the emotions of the characters brought this story to life.

Truly exceptional! This is a must-read for horror fans,

**DISLCAIMER: I am voluntarily leaving a review after receiving an ARC. The review above is only my opinion.**

PREORDER BLITZ: Sleeping Dragon by Stephanie Burke

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Dark Fantasy, Paranormal Women’s Fiction, LGBTQ

Date Published: April 19, 2024


 

Youltan lives a life of obligation and service, a slave to the desires of
others, harnessing the strange and powerful chaotic energies known as Ice
Magic. After a final betrayal by the people he protects, he finds himself
transported to the one being who holds the key to his freedom.

The wards tattooed across Garyn’s back ensure his total compliance,
trapping him in his own form of slavery, until one of the traitorous Mages,
the kind that devised this tortuous penance, is placed in his prison. Now
manipulating his way to freedom rules the sex-shifting dragon’s mind.

Garyn never expects Youltan to willingly sacrifice so much for a person he
barely knows. Nor does he expect to find the a core of passionate heat that
exists deep within Youltan’s soul. The fight for survival takes on new
dimensions and strains the very threads of their honor and morality.

But what would you expect….when you prod a Sleeping Dragon?

 


EXCERPT

 

Feet braced apart, arms extended to their maximum length, he stood and
waited. There was nothing in his mind; his world was a blank slate, waiting
to be filled, waiting for the agonizing pleasure… and the horrific
pain.

Slowly, it began, drawing its energy from the very earth on which he stood.
Pulsing writhing ropes of energy, of magic, of power, twined around
themselves as they sought a rod, a bearer for their might.

Around his ankles they looped, slowly, like some starving creature seeking
sustenance. And what they found seemed to please them, for they began to
roll up the length of his body. Faster and faster they twined, their colors
the brilliant blue that exists in the heart of every fire, the icy white of
the coldest glacier, a sharp glaze of power blinding all who dared watch
this spectacle.

Up around his knees they crept, gaining confidence and speed with every
second. On and on, around his waist, over his chest, across his shoulders
until his head jerked back as if snapped by some unknown entity.

Blood-red lips parted, a scream locked within a frozen throat, and a fall
of silver white hair blew madly around his form in a wind created by power
and magic. Bright lavender eyes snapped open to reveal luminescent sparks of
pure white that illuminated those strange orbs, the eyes of an alien-one,
and the eyes of the demented.

Then the power seemed to lash out at its conduit, raising him to his toes
as wave after wave of pure energy penetrated his body, gained a purpose,
grew in its strength.

His body arched, his arms flying above his head as the sheer strength of
the thing that possessed him brought him to his toes, building and building
until his whole person was one shining, glowing being that seemed almost too
beautiful to view, yet too sinister and compelling to look away from.

Suddenly, a cry erupted from his throat, loud, agonized. The cry echoed
over the land as the very earth began to quake beneath his feet.

His piercing scream startled the onlookers, the curious who had gathered to
view this unusual feat, to watch what both heaven and hell had wrought and
then left to travel this land that they called their own.

But they were too stunned to look away, transfixed.

As he continued to scream, cry after cry of ecstatic pain, the energy that
converged on his body began to coagulate, to meld into one large beam of
power.

Still screaming, he forced his arms toward the pulsing dome that surrounded
the land, the thing that honor and history demanded he tend to, no matter
the cost.

His sudden silence was almost as unnerving as his screams had been, as the
world seemed to hold its breath in anticipation, as the tension built around
the young man, as the very gods seemed to tremble in fear.

Then, as the tension built to a plateau, then nothing. Soon the people
began to breathe easy, thinking the show was over, then one final
high-pitched scream exploded from his mouth.

And with that cry, a monstrous beam of light and power leapt from his body.
Blue, silver, white, it all mended and swirled as warring colors shot from
his body, his eyes, his mouth, following its given path, striking the
shields with an audible crash that almost sounded like the shrieking cry of
pure crystal shattering.

His body gave way in the face of such a massive energy burst, but the power
would not let his body fall. It supported him, swirled around him almost
lovingly, then began to drain the very life force from his body.

Head tossed back to its farthest, hair whipping around that face, obscuring
its near beauty from the frightened yet silent watchers, his body bowed and
his knees bent as he fought to retain some of himself from the hungry
energies that sought to leach his very essence from his body.

Trembling and panting, he whimpered once as the beam began to lose its
brilliant illumination, then faded altogether, growing weaker and weaker as
the conduit struggled to reclaim part of himself from the massive outpouring
of power.

Then, suddenly, almost as if it had never been, the beam of light
dispersed, exploded into a million glittering sparkles, before disappearing
cleanly from sight.

With a groan, the conduit dropped to his knees, his body falling backwards
as all the energy seemed to leave with the passing of the beam.

He knelt there, supple body bent backwards, breath struggling in his chest,
as his strange, lavender eyes drifted shut.

Then, as he took his first full breath, the watchers were amazed to see a
shadowy mist exhaled into the brilliant heat of the day, a breath that
seemed as cold as the arctic islands they once harnessed to create that
shield that protected them from the evils of the outside world.

Then his whole body began to spasm.

About the Author

Stephanie is a USA Today Best Selling, multi published, multi award-winning
author, Master Costumer, handicapped, wife and mother of two.

From sex-shifting, shape-shifting dragons to undersea worlds, sexually
confused elemental Fey and homo-erotic mysteries, all the way to
pastel-challenged urban sprites, Stephanie has done it all, and hopes to do
more.

Stephanie is an orator on her favorite subjects of writing and
world-building, a sometime teacher when you feed her enough tea and donuts,
an anime nut, a costumer, and a frequent guest of various sci-fi and writing
cons where she can be found leading panel discussions or researching varied
legends and theories to improve her writing skills.

Stephanie is known for her love of the outrageous, strong female
characters, believable worlds, male characters filled with depth, and
multi-cultural stories that make the reader sit up and take notice.

 

Contact Links

Author on Facebook

Author on Twitter

 

Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok:
@changelingpress

 

Pre-Order Today


BOOK REVIEW: Killing Stalking by Koogi

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ABOUT THE BOOK:

The Mature-rated Boys’ Love horror webtoon from Lezhin that became a global manhwa hit! Get this chilling and thrilling tale in a deluxe, full-color paperback in English for the very first time.

Yoon Bum, a scrawny and quiet man, has a crush on one of the most popular and handsome guys in his college: Sangwoo. After the two cross paths again during their military training, Yoon Bum’s feelings grow in intensity until they become an obsession–and he breaks into Sangwoo’s home. But what he sees inside is not the Sangwoo of his fantasies; his dreams of this alluring man abruptly turn into a nightmare.

This wildly popular BL horror manhwa webtoon is the grand prize winner of the 2nd Lezhin Comics World Comic Contest, and has been published in numerous languages since its 2016 debut, winning critical praise across the globe. Now readers can own this full-color, deluxe paperback edition in English for the first time, with a special fold-out insert included in every volume!

TAGS: Manhwa, BL, Dark, Horror, Comics/Manga

MY REVIEW – 5 STARS!

I actually binge-read this series as a web comic the had to have the physical copies –and yes, I read the entire series.

First, if really dark content bothers you, then you probably aren’t going to enjoy this. But if you enjoy deeply disturbed characters with some serious psychological trauma that results in a twisted tale, this is a must read.

I couldn’t help but feel sorry for both characters to some degree. Bum truly did get the short end of the stick. Bullied in school, traumatized at home, and he falls for a killer… Kid had the worst luck ever. I won’t go into all the details, but I did mark this as a spoiler alert for those who prefer to go in completely blind. Once you learn all the things Bum suffered, you’ll understand why he turned out the way he did. All he really wanted was love and acceptance, and it didn’t seem to matter where it came from.

Sangwoo at first just comes across as your typical serial killer. And maybe I’ve A) studied serial killers too much and B) read too much dark twisted stories to use the words “typical” and “serial killer” together. However, as the story progresses, you begin to pick up on the clues and realize that he also suffered trauma at home, just of a different type than Bum.

The downside to this series is that once you’re done, you’re going to have a hard time finding anything this spectacular in the same genre. I was truly blown away by the art and storyline, and the true depth of the characters. If I could rate it more than 5 stars, I would!

Disclaimer: The review above is only my opinion. I purchased/borrowed the book. Neither the author nor publisher requested a review.

BOOK BLITZ & GIVEAWAY: Art of the Chase by Jennifer Giacalone

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Art of the Chase
Jennifer Giacalone
Publication date: October 9th 2023
Genres: Adult, LGBTQ+, Mystery, Romance

When a notorious art thief surfaces, warring detective exes reunite for the hunt. A second-chance lesbian romantic suspense that fuses the fine line between love and hate.

Six years ago, the “Fabulous Gustave” slipped the grasp of Agent Fleur van Beekhof, making off with a priceless artwork…and Fleur’s beautifully ordered life. Suddenly the cool, pragmatic Europol detective lost her detective partner and wife, her rising career, and her control, thanks to the addictive lure of cards.

When a new Italian art theft bears all the markings of Gustave’s taunting style, Fleur is put back in the field, because no one knows him better. She jumps at the chance to correct the mistake that ruined her life. The hitch? She has to work with her fiery ex-wife.

Where Fleur is by the book, Renata skirts the rules, leaps into danger, and looks frustratingly hot while doing it.

As Fleur and Renata chase flamboyant Gustave around Europe, will their case push them back into each other’s arms, or shatter what’s left of Fleur’s heart?

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo

—

EXCERPT:

“It really is odd that Gustave went for this painting, isn’t it?” Fleur said.

She closed her laptop and stretched her long frame out on the bed, allowing herself to relax into nostalgia despite herself.

“It did occur to me.” The sound of a lighter flicking and Renata taking a drag off a cigarette followed. “It seems like something he’d take if he specifically wanted us to chase him, you know? It’s easy enough to find out that I have a particular relationship with Artemisia’s work.”

“You’re saying it feels personal?”

“I guess I am, yes. But didn’t it always with him?”

Fleur and Renata had spent nearly a year chasing him all over Europe. Four thefts in that time, and each time the games grew more byzantine, more public. He had found in Fleur and Renata some sort of favorite adversaries and would often leave taunts aimed squarely at them.

“I suppose it did. Like the typewritten note he sent after the Cezanne in Amersfoort?”

“He complimented my jacket.” Renata sounded newly annoyed by it.

“The cashmere Prada? It was beautiful.”

“Of course it was, because I don’t wear shit. But it was very creepy, you know?”

“Don’t worry. When we do catch him, I’ll rough him up a bit for you.”

Renata chuckled again. “You would deny me the pleasure of doing it myself?”

Fleur was still feeling a little loose from the wine. “Oh, forgive me. I would never want to deny you pleasure.” It slipped out sounding suggestive, and she hadn’t intended it to, but a stubborn little voice in her said Don’t you dare apologize.


Author Bio:

Jen Giacalone is a former rock star, a graphic artist, a parent, a baker, amateur plumber and a timelord. She toured much of the east coast of the U.S. as a musician in her 20s, spent her 30s in corporate boardrooms of fortune 500 companies as a graphic artist, and in her 40s, became a published author.

She’s the author of the novel “Loud Pipes Save Lives,” published by Carnation Books, about a damaged detective pursuing a gang of vigilante lady bikers, and the current romantic suspense, “Art of the Chase,” a tale of a divorced detective couple thrown back together to pursue a notorious art thief who has come out of retirement. She writes whenever she can and when she can’t, she’s thinking about writing: novels, screenplays, poetry with clever heroines, ill-advised romance, arts, and usually some weaponry.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Twitter


GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

—

SPOTLIGHT: ‘Tis the Season by Gale Stanley #LGBT #HanukkahRomance

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‘Tis the Season (Passages 1)
A Contemporary Hanukkah Romance

Is it possible to be both a good Jew and a gay man? Jonah Dillon doesn’t think so. He can’t reconcile his faith with his attraction to men so he turns his back on Judaism. Away at college for the holidays, he plans to lose his virginity to Christian, the blue-eyed, blond, goy of his dreams.

But fate intervenes when Jonah meets Aaron Beck, an observant Jew, and they end up celebrating Hanukkah together. Aaron tells Jonah they’re beschert—meant to be. Jonah not sure he believes, but he’s lonely and welcomes Aaron’s company even if he has to celebrate Hanukkah to get it.

Can Aaron bridge the gap and convince Jonah to take a leap of faith? Or will they have to give up their desire for a future together?

Get the Book

EXCERPT

Copyright ©2023 Gale Stanley

The man’s image in the mirror, framed by small twinkling lights and swags of spruce and holly, appeared to be just the sort of ornament Jonah had been looking for all his life — or at least the part of his life that spanned the years since puberty. The phrase “objects in the mirror are closer than they appear” came to mind, making him smile. I should be so lucky.

Unfortunately, Jonah’s plan to remain on campus for the holidays and lose his virginity to a non-Jew, a goy, wasn’t going according to plan, although he’d gone to great lengths to make it happen.

The worst part had to be when he told his parents that he wouldn’t be coming home for Hanukkah. None of the excuses he came up with felt right and he procrastinated for a long time.

Finally, he could wait no longer. Working up the courage, he called his mother and blurted out the dreaded words, before he lost his nerve. “I’ll be staying on campus for the holidays.”

Dead silence followed his announcement, followed by a worried, “Why?”

Jonah had never been good at lying. He struggled to sound believable. “I have so much to do. The workload in grad school is much heavier and the holidays are the best time to catch up.”

“Bring your work home.”

Also not good at asserting himself, Jonah hemmed and hawed. “I’d be way too busy. No time to interact.”

Unfortunately, his mother was way too good at guilt-tripping him.

Her voice wavered, and she sounded on the verge of tears. “We just want to see you. We don’t ask for much. And we’ve always spent Hanukkah together. I’m making your favorites, latkes and sweet kugel.”

A knife pierced his heart, but Jonah thought fast and stayed firm. “One of my friends is stuck on campus, too, and I promised him we would study together.” Another lie.

“Bring him home.”

“I can’t, Mom, He’s… it’s just that…”

“He’s a girl, isn’t he? Well, if it doesn’t work out, you can always change your mind and come home.”

“Sorry, Mom. I’ll talk to you soon.”

Jonah hung up before his mom could ask any more questions. Damn, she sounded like her world had come to an end. If only he wasn’t an only child. If he had a sibling to pick up the slack, it would make his life a whole lot easier. Taking a few deep breaths, he calmed himself. There would be other holidays.

Now, sitting alone at a bar, he wondered if all the grief he’d caused his mother had been for nothing. Not many students or professors had remained on campus, so Jonah had ventured off campus to find a hook-up. Happy Hour at a bar seemed the best option, but Jonah didn’t have an ounce of gaydar in his body, and gay guys didn’t go around wearing sexual ID tags. Luckily, he’d found a gay watering hole in the small college town. The rainbow flag flying out front had been a dead giveaway, and the name, The Rainbow Room. Could it be any gayer? When he first saw it, he wanted to take off like a scared rabbit, but he’d been doing that for far too long.

Jonah had forced himself to open the door and go inside. It was a gay bar, so what? Nothing remarkable, nothing to be scared of, just a neighborhood bar, a place where a guy could have a conversation without screaming over loud dance music. Actually, there was no dance floor, and that was all good too. Jonah Dillon didn’t dance, especially with other men. The only thing that differentiated The Rainbow Room from any other corner dive was the fact that it was devoid of women.

Wooden stools butted up against a foot rail at the bar and the mirrored wall behind the bar threw back his reflection. A bearded bartender, sleeves rolled up over hairy forearms, filled orders. Holiday decorations were minimal. Other than the lights around the mirror, there weren’t any, and that was okay because he’d been born and raised Jewish, and a man assimilated a lot of attitudes and beliefs in twenty-one years. Ridding himself of them would take a lifetime. At least.

Having to stare at a Christmas tree or a Nativity scene while flirting with a blond goy would have made him feel even guiltier. Ironic, that the thought of sucking an uncut cock didn’t inspire quite the same guilt. Or maybe he was just too fucking horny to care anymore. Lost in thought, Jonah wondered if he was normal. Between waking up with morning wood and masturbating before bed, it seemed like he was always thinking about sex.

When he got to college, he’d settled for hurried blowjobs with other students. It took the edge off, but Jonah wanted more. It was time to let someone put their dick in his ass so he could lose his anal virginity. Finding a willing partner who made him feel comfortable was primary. One thing he was sure of, he wouldn’t be comfortable having sex with another Jew.

So here he was, trying to fit in with the goyim, to the point of actually shopping for one of those ugly red and green Christmas sweaters with prancing deer. Seeing himself in the dressing room mirror shocked the hell out of him, but he bought it anyway, and ran out of the shop before he could change his mind. He wore it like a costume, thinking it would make him feel less inhibited and able to take some risks.

But as Jonah discovered, the sweater didn’t help him blend in. His appearance in the bar had triggered a few snickers, and after glancing around at the jeans-and-sweatshirt crowd, he’d regretted his choice.

His inner voice told him he was trying too hard and he looked like an asshole. At the time, it’d seemed like a good idea. Now, he just felt dumb, but he forgave himself for not getting it right and toughed it out. Fuck it.

Jonah ordered a beer. The bartender set down a mug wet with condensation, and a bowl of peanuts. Jonah took a few and cracked them out of their shells. He tried to look like he belonged, but nobody looked like him and everybody seemed to be with friends. Ignoring the conversations around him, he glanced at his watch every so often, as if he were waiting for someone. It made him feel less alone. Pathetic.

What would his mother say if she could see him now? Come home, boychik. You don’t belong there. Thank goodness, she was miles away and oblivious. He’d never told his parents he was gay. Hell, it had taken years to admit it to himself.

He concentrated on today’s goal — find a guy to have sex with. How hard could it be? Pretty damn hard, even in a place that was user friendly.

Jonah took another swallow of his beer. God, he hated this time of the year. The holidays always made him feel more alone than ever. His back was to the room, but he could still see the crowd in the mirror — guys of all shapes and sizes, pairing up like animals ready to board Noah’s Ark, while he was mooning over a stranger. It was damn depressing.

Finishing his beer, he scanned the mirror for the blond. Yep, still there, but focused on the two men who framed him like bookends.

Hooking up with the man in the mirror didn’t seem likely. Jonah would not, could not, make the first move, and for sure he didn’t expect the hot blond to hit on him. Why would he? Jonah was a man who didn’t stand out in a crowd, unless it was for all the wrong reasons. After a lifetime of doing stupid shit, he’d become an expert at sabotaging himself. Too bad State College didn’t offer a course in How Not to Embarrass Yourself.

The hot blond was exactly the type of man he could see himself with. He had the sun-kissed good looks of a surfer dude — blond, blue-eyed, and cherub-cheeked — a nice contrast to Jonah’s dark brown hair, hazel eyes, and stubbled jaw. The nerdy guy and the goy. Pitiful. More than the width of the bar separated them.

But looking couldn’t hurt.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Gale Stanley grew up in Philadelphia PA. She was the kid who always had her nose in a book, her head in the clouds, and her hands on a pad and pencil.

Some things never change.

Facebook | Goodreads | Website

Celebrate the holidays with Changeling Press

‘Tis the season of giving! That means it’s time for our 20th Annual
A Very Changeling Christmas Celebration

Are you on Santa’s naughty list? Worried you won’t receive presents this year?
Well, at Changeling Press we’ll be giving gifts to some lucky readers

Want to know more?

Naughty Nights of Christmas:

  • Twelve Changeling recipients will receive one e-book download of your choice from ChangelingPress.com

Free Books For A Year:

  • Three Christmas 2023 recipients will each receive one e-book download of your choice per month from ChangelingPress.com —
    Three recipients, twelve e-book downloads each for 2024 from ChangelingPress.com.
  • Two Christmas 2023 recipients will each receive one e-book download of your choice per week from ChangelingPress.com —
    Two recipients, fifty-two e-book downloads each for 2024 from ChangelingPress.com.

No entry form. All you have to do is buy any Christmas themed book at ChangelingPress.com between November 24th and December 30th, 2023.

The Not So Fine Print:

  • Naughty Nights of Christmas gift recipients are eligible to receive more than one Christmas Gift.
  • Christmas Gift recipients will be chosen randomly from purchases of books in the Christmas Theme at ChangelingPress.com made between November 24th and December 30th 2023 and will be announced December 31st on the Changeling Bar and Grill (changelingpress.wordpress.com/), and the Changeling Facebook Page (facebook.com/changelingpress/).
  • Weekly and Monthly Christmas Gift e-book downloads will expire if not used within 30 days.