Review Tour ~ CONFIDENTIAL ENCOUNTERS ANTHOLOGY ~ (Reviews)
CONFIDENTIAL ENCOUNTERS
M/M ANTHOLOGY
Release Date: 06.07.16
Nicole Colville
April Wallington
Louisa Mae
T.A. Reign
Laura Raven
COVER DESIGN: Kellie Dennis/Book Cover By Design
BLURB
When the pressure at work rises, so does the passion. Five sweltering shorts to heat up your kindle and set your pulse racing.
Relationships in the workplace sound like a fantasy come true, especially with your sexy boss, but it’s not all hot encounters in the stationary cupboard and stolen kisses over the coffee machine. Being a couple in both you professional and personal world could make it easier to face what life throws at you, but it could also threaten to drive you apart.
Confidential Encounters includes five short stories, each very different in their own way with equally different men, but all have one thing in common… their professional and personal lives are mixing.
Though the passion and the heat is off the charts, can they turn hot encounters at work into something more, or is that a step too far?
All the proceeds from this anthology will be donated to the Kaleidoscope Trust which promotes LGBT rights internationally. By reading, you’re helping support a very valuable service to our community. Thank you!!
www.kaleidoscopetrust.com
Mailroom worker Dylan finds himself working as a spy when his sleazy boss forces him to infiltrate a rival company. Living with an abusive father, Dylan is stuck in the closet. Unhappy and desperate to find a way out of his lonely life, but too afraid to do anything about it, he meets a man who could give him the confidence to take that leap — his new boss and the man he’s spying on.
As co-owner of his own business, sharing his home and work life with his best friends, Jamie appears to have it all: an active sex life and an expanding company to run, but he’s looking for more. When he meets Dylan, he’s offered that chance. Moving on means big changes for them both, and with Jamie’s private and personal life so closely connected, both question if a relationship will work and how it will affect the people close to them.
And can I just say I absolutely could not stand Brett? He was nice yes and not a bad person, but he was way too oversexed. The whole dynamic with the men turned me completely off of Brett. I truly felt this story lacked romance and love. If it would've been sweeter, if they'd have been more loving as opposed to sexual, I would have enjoyed it a whole lot more.
Okay, here's the thing, I am in no way a prude when it comes to what I read. I will read ménage, BDSM, kink, what have you (except for foot fetish, I'm totally not into feet, yuck!!). However, when I'm about to read a book I would really like for the blurb to at least mention that a book was going to be a ménage or group sex dynamic. I don't want to read a blurb that mentions only two main characters and then find out that the story is truly about how one of the main characters ends up part of a five-way sexual relationship. Now don't misunderstand me, there's nothing wrong with that, there's a time and a place for it, I would probably read it sometime but unfortunately I was in the mood for what I had expected. My disappointment is obviously reflected in my review.
I will, however, give major props to April Wallington for the writing. Even if I didn't enjoy the story itself, I can't say that the actual writing was bad. I think April is talented and I will definitely try one of her stories again. I'll just try to have a better idea of the plot.
3 Stars!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born in the Home Counties of England, (I then moved to Whitby before settling in Kilmarnock) I lived a pretty idyllic childhood. Playing out with friends on dry days and indoors reading when it rained. I have always loved reading. My mum encouraged it, getting a new book was a treat and something to be treasured. English was my favourite lesson at school, I hated maths, yet I’ve ended up in a job where maths is a daily necessity. To balance things out I read all the time, every spare minute I have my nose plastered to my Kindle screen.
In 2014, I finally decided to try writing my own MM book. I discovered my love of MM I a few years earlier and a story I’d had buzzing around my brain for a while seemed possible by swapping the younger character from Pippa to Philip. And Second Chance Love was born. I’ve self-published 3 books in total, so far, and have another already in progress.
I’ve beta read for several other authors and that has helped me to make the most of my own work, or I hope it has.
I was so pleased to have the opportunity to write alongside a best seller and I hope that this anthology not only raises lots of money for charity but also gets my name out there a bit more.
Twitter: @sj28wolf
Below The Line: Louisa Mae
When confirmed bachelor Connor James arrived at work sporting the hangover from hell, the last person he expected to see was his most recent one night stand. Despite Mr Tall, Dark and Handsome being the hottest person he’s ever met, Connor isn’t looking for a relationship, but fate it seems has other plans.
When self-made businessman Jason Birch took ownership of the up-and-coming marketing firm, the only thing he expected to find was another addition to his expanding firm, Ad-Venture. Coming face to face with his one and only random hook up from the previous night throws Jason a curveball. His every thought since he left their hotel room has been about hunting the sexy blond down, but a relationship with an employee isn’t going to happen.
One night was all either expected from the chance meeting, and an office affair is the last thing they need, but they’re unable to deny the passion which draws them together.
What Connor least expected was to find out his latest hook-up and the man who rocked his world the night before, is none other than his new boss. Jason doesn't indulge in one night stands, but he can't resist Connor, however, business and pleasure shouldn't mix, or should they?
This was a short, sweet and hot book. Connor was likable, but I wasn't too sure what to think about Jason when he just disappeared and didn't call Connor. They had good chemistry, but I'd like to see more of a progression in their relationship, rather than have everyone involved in their affair.
Still, it was an enjoyable read, well-written and engaging. I'd definitely check more books by this new author in the future.
Rating: 4 Stars!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Born and bred in the vibrant city of Leeds in the North of the UK. I’ve always loved reading, and one of my fondest memories from childhood was the weekly visits to the library with my dad. It always seemed such a magical place to escape into through the books I read on a weekly basis.
I’d not really thought about writing in my adult life until I was introduced to the world of Fanfiction and after reading so many I found myself making friends through this new media. My friend, Lori, told me to have a go at writing one, and I did. That work took on a life of its own and opened my eyes to the possibilities. This allowed me to get used to plotting a story and while making the characters my own. I also started to beta/pre read for others and discovered, that much to my surprise, they valued my opinion and input.
Making the move to write M/M or slash as it’s known, took me a little longer. After becoming good friends with a wonderful lady from Illinois who told me (repeatedly,) “You should write slash, I think you’d be good at it.” I shied away from the idea for so long, but the seed was firmly sown in my mind and soon took root and a life of its own. I decided to write a short piece as a surprise gift for Angela’s birthday that year. Emailing it to her, given the time difference between the UK and US this meant I was desperately waiting for her to see in and I think I heard her delighted scream. Thanks to this, and working on writing group competition, I soon found that I preferred writing M/M to M/F.
In 2013 fate intervened and I lost my job. Through my new one, I met Nicole Colville, and the rest, as they say, is history. This marked the start of a beautiful friendship. She encouraged me to make the switch to writing original fiction, and I signed up to Nano Wri Mo 2013, but due to changing jobs I couldn’t commit the time needed. In 2014 I signed up again, and smashed the 50K word goal in 30 days, with a story I love and am proud of.
I’ve been beta reading for Nicole over 17 books now (including the 10 shorts in Knights) and the confidence she inspires in me has been invaluable in my joining this anthology and publishing my first work.
Double Dealing: Nicole Colville
Caught in a messy merger with the mounting pressure to close a multi-million dollar deal, business mogul Ryder Granger finds things are more hostile than the average takeover, but he’s not just interested in acquiring the lucrative Lyon coffee chain. He has an entirely more personal motive hidden beneath his cool exterior and designer suit.
Trace Lyon believes the merger with B&G could be the way out of the closet his strict Southern father keeps him locked in, but there’s one big problem. Ryder Granger is everything Trace wants, and everything his father despises. Two years ago, they shared one incredible night together, but despite the connection and the intense heat, both walked away.
With the deal falling through, Ryder brings an unexpected offer to the table — a more personal type of merger between the two rival families, one Trace is dead against. After all, an arranged marriage in New York in 2016… That could never work out. Taking control in the only way he can, Trace agrees to marry Ryder, but secretly plots to double deal both his father and Ryder. He just has to get this whole absurd wedding out of the way first and ignore how happy Ryder makes him feel.
Trace and Ryder met two years ago, and neither of them has forgotten about each other. Trace has a plan to get from under the thumb of his intolerant father and claim his life back. Unfortunately for him, it seems Ryder is intent on railroading Trace's plans and take over his life in order to merge their companies. Forced into a marriage, Trace plots a way to deal with both his father and Ryder and get rid of them once and for all, but is the marriage as fake as he thinks it is?
I liked Ryder, and actually felt sorry for him for how badly Trace treated him. He was a bit more cohesive with the Ryder we saw in the Prologue, whereas Trace was nearly a complete opposite from his younger self. I liked the first version of Trace best, but at least he sort of returned to being a similar man before the book ended.
All in all, it was a good book. Long enough to develop the characters and the storylines, and to give us a complete view into Trace and Ryder's lives and how they achieved their HEA.
Rating: 4 Stars
The writing was good and this was definitely a story I would recommend. I really enjoy Nicole Colville and will be reading more of her books in the future.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole grew bored being a supermodel genius who worked part time for NASA, and decided to take a break from helping solve the mysteries of the universe with Stephen Hawkins to write m/m romance.
She has a loving relationship with her hubby of twenty years, and has achieved a lot in her short life considering she's only eighteen. She has fourteen dogs of all different breeds, plus twenty cats, and when she's not tending to their every need, and solving complex math problems, she loves to sew and can be often found knitting in the garden, which she maintains all by herself with her magical green fingers. Finding time to make all of her own clothing and master the kitchen better than Gordon Ramsey, she's also a vegan domestic goddess and can often be found cooking up a storm bare foot in her kitchen.
Okay, so that's not true, especially the cooking part, though I do tend to be bare foot and I swear like Gordon does while burning my latest creation -- and I still think NASA will be getting in touch. Any day now!! *crosses fingers* I could sooo do that job because I'm so obviously awesome, but until they do...
I'm a full time author of M/M Romance and Erotica, and somehow I have several bestselling books under my belt. I've been writing for four years, and I self-publish all my work under Hidden Pleasures with my amazing team of helpers in the form my cover designer Kellie Dennis, editor Jessica McKenna, and all of my beta readers and PA's. I'm a wife to my beloved hubby and mother to two young girls, and I do in fact have two cats who I adore, but no dog, as the hubby put his foot down. I live in Leeds in the North of England and I love it, despite the terrible weather.
She has a loving relationship with her hubby of twenty years, and has achieved a lot in her short life considering she's only eighteen. She has fourteen dogs of all different breeds, plus twenty cats, and when she's not tending to their every need, and solving complex math problems, she loves to sew and can be often found knitting in the garden, which she maintains all by herself with her magical green fingers. Finding time to make all of her own clothing and master the kitchen better than Gordon Ramsey, she's also a vegan domestic goddess and can often be found cooking up a storm bare foot in her kitchen.
Okay, so that's not true, especially the cooking part, though I do tend to be bare foot and I swear like Gordon does while burning my latest creation -- and I still think NASA will be getting in touch. Any day now!! *crosses fingers* I could sooo do that job because I'm so obviously awesome, but until they do...
I'm a full time author of M/M Romance and Erotica, and somehow I have several bestselling books under my belt. I've been writing for four years, and I self-publish all my work under Hidden Pleasures with my amazing team of helpers in the form my cover designer Kellie Dennis, editor Jessica McKenna, and all of my beta readers and PA's. I'm a wife to my beloved hubby and mother to two young girls, and I do in fact have two cats who I adore, but no dog, as the hubby put his foot down. I live in Leeds in the North of England and I love it, despite the terrible weather.
Twitter @NikkieColville
Skin Deep: T.A. Reign
Nurse Jai Kapoor lives in the shadows, keeping a barrier firmly in place between himself and the world. Considering himself a freak of nature due to his skin disorder, he hides under layers of clothes, hoping to blend in and become invisible. Lonely, touch-starved, and unable to break out of self-imposed restraints, he keeps his head down and focuses his energy on healing and comforting his patients.
Top of his field in orthopedic surgery, Doctor Lazarus Sukas demands perfection from those who work with him and in his private life. Despite his good looks, his only concern is his job and the patients he operates on, not on a relationship. When an explosive encounter in the operating room brings the two men together, their controlled, lonely lives begin to change. The attraction between them ignites in a firestorm of passion, creating a need so intense, neither can deny.
Nurse Jai has been trying to hide his skin disorder and himself from the rest of the world. He's lonely, though. An explosive encounter with gorgeous, but arrogant surgeon, Lazarus Sukas, sends Jai's life on a tailspin when the doctor seems intent on a relationship with him.
Very recommendable!
Rating: 4.5 Stars
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I’m married with two grown children, and live in beautiful Southern California. I have always had a love of reading, and have just recently started to write gay romance. I love a story with a tortured main character, and often write my main characters with broad ethnic backgrounds, quirky family members, and put them in uncomfortable situations that will, once pushed, help them realize they are truly men of extraordinary character.
I started my love of writing through role playing in a cannon group based on JR Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I tried out for Wrath, the king of the vampires. It was The Warden’s story about Qhuinn and Blay that got me interested in M/M romance. My very first M/M romance book I read was Aleksandr Voinov’s Special Forces Series (love love LOVE Vadim!) From there, the RP group started to write original character stories, and I was invited to try out. The rest, as they say, is history. I credit that group, and its founders, for setting me on this magical path of writing.
I am patriotic, and have deep respect for the military and their families. Their sacrifices and those who came before them are what allow me to live with the freedom to make my own choices. I also love animals, dogs especially. Currently, I have two puppies, Sampson and Daisy, and a middle aged dog named Acapella (Pella for short) Music is my other passion. I am a product of baby boomer parents, and grew up listening to Motown artists, Woodstock area musicians, then later the big hair bands of the 1980's.
Yes, I am a boring white bread American, nothing too exciting in my life. However, I make it up by creating exciting romantic stories, fiery men, and writing hot as hell sex scenes that hopefully will leave you wanting more, or to at the very least, go take a cool shower.
Twitter: @TensaReign
Beautiful: Laura Raven
With shaggy blond locks, deep green eyes, and a naturally athletic physique, Nathan Finn looks like your quintessential California surfer, but having grown up in Nebraska, he's never actually been on a board. Like many twenty-somethings in Los Angeles, Nathan and his roommate work together at crappy job in a call center while their band works to hit it big. Sadly, aside from working and the occasional gig, Nathan doesn’t really have much of a life to speak of, and those fleeting moments on stage are the only times he really feels alive. His love life is practically non-existent, and he doesn’t really feel the need to change that.
That is, until a mysterious stranger breezes into the office and wakes him up from his zombie-like existence. Nate’s new co-worker is stunningly beautiful… like, could be a model beautiful — lithe with long black hair, smooth pale skin, and blue eyes you want to swim in. From the moment their eyes meet, Nate wants nothing more than to learn everything there is to know about Skye.
There are questions he’s hesitant to ask, however. Is Skye a man or a woman? And, what does it mean that he doesn’t really care?
I loved Nathan. He's sweet, chivalrous, a bit naive, but very grounded. I loved that he was not focused on Skye being female but on the fact that Skye radiated beauty and he was drawn to that before he saw gender.
"...You though are either the best actor in the city, or you really are the kind of charming, honest country boy that every city kid dreams of". -Skye
I really liked Skye but I definitely didn't understand why the secrecy with Nathan. I understood wanting him to get to know Skye as a person first and not as a man or a woman but I'm pretty sure it was obvious.
Basically, this was a sweet story about loving someone for them and not using labels. It was well written and entertaining. A feel good read. I really enjoyed it and would recommend it.
4.5 Stars!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Laura Raven is the married mother of two very furry babies that walk on four legs and purr. She grew up in the south where her outspoken activism and constant demands for all forms of equality rarely did her any favors or won her any friends. She now lives and works full time in Colorado where the more inclusive atmosphere and eight months of snow a year make her a much happier woman.
As a self-proclaimed nerd, she spends most of her free time reading (especially if there is anything new from Nicole Colville, Emma Marie Leya, or Hannah Walker,) watching anything produced by either Marvel or DC, and playing video games. And now, with a great deal of support and encouragement from her favorite authors, she has achieved her dream of becoming a published author.
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