AotM: Honor and Pride by Ann Lister ~ Review+Giveaway

Tracy, Jaymie and I want to thank the very lovely and so talented Ann Lister yet again for agreeing to be our June's Author of the Month and thank her for her generosity. And to all of you our Junkies, thanks for your participation, we hope you found some great new books to read among Ann's booklist! 💗 Mari

AotM: Honor and Pride by Ann Lister (+ More Than My Words Excerpt Reveal) ~ Review+Giveaway

Honor And Pride

Guarding The Gods: Book 2 

by Ann Lister

Amazon  ~ Goodreads

Description

* * * Since the topic of college hazing could be a trigger for some, please consider this a warning as this may not be a book you’d be comfortable reading. * * *

Fizzbo is used to taking care of people. He’s the one in charge of the personal and professional security needs for both world-famous rock bands, Ivory Tower and Black Ice. Having their backs is what he does best, and he takes pride in that, both on and off the job. When he’s called into action to save the man he loves, all of his skills are put to the test. Suddenly, he isn’t so sure his training will be enough, but saving Kensey is personal, and he’s willing do anything to keep him safe.

Kensey Pride is the man who rocked Fizzbo’s world when they met during the European tour with Ivory Tower and Black Ice. Kensey’s passion for his job, making people look and feel beautiful in their own skin, is something he lacks in his own life until the magnetism of a certain security guard comes along and breaks down the walls he’s built around his heart to keep him safe. For the first time in his life, Kensey discovers he likes who he sees looking back at him in the mirror.

Without the safety of those walls and his heart left unprotected, Kensey becomes an easy target for those who can’t let go of the past. Will Fizzbo’s strength and love be enough to bring Kensey home, or will old truths be too much for the guard to handle?

Release Boost ~ Tied (Devils Wolves #2) by Carian Cole

Release Boost ~ Tied (Devils Wolves #2) by Carian Cole 

Title: Tied

Series: Devils Wolves #2

Author: Carian Cole

Genre: Standalone Contemporary Romance

 Release Date: June 26, 2017

Blurb

He was the myth and the legend of our small town. But no one knew the truth... except me.

Me

My childhood was stolen by a monster. I’ve forgotten what love feels like. What happiness feels like. What hope feels like. I am numb.

Him

He’s possibly as damaged as I am. Maybe even more. Scarred just as much on the inside as the outside. Just like me. He doesn’t speak. He doesn’t smile. He hides in the woods like an animal.  I should be scared of him. But I’m not. He’s the only one that has ever made me feel. And I want to make him feel, too. everything...

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Review Tour: Summer Heat by Jay Northcote

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Cover: Garrett Leigh @ Black Jazz Design

Length: 47,000 words approx.

Blurb

A summer fling is an ideal cure for a broken heart. But when it's with your best friend, things get complicated.

When Adam is dumped by his boyfriend, a week away at a beach resort seems like a great opportunity to get over his ex. Sun, sea, and no-strings sex will be just the boost he needs to move on with his life.

Adam's best friend, Finn, agrees to accompany him at short notice. Finn's had a crush on Adam for years, but is determined to put his feelings aside and be the perfect wingman in Adam's time of crisis.

A spontaneous threesome with another guy forces Adam and Finn to confront their attraction to each other. Having a holiday fling together wasn't part of the plan, and as their trip heats up, they soon realise that one night of fun won't be enough for either of them.

The passion might be scorching, but their hearts and friendship are on the line. If their romance is going to survive the flight home, they have to be honest about what they want.

Cover Reveal ~ Lying Eyes by Robert Winter (Excerpt)

Title:  Lying Eyes

Author: Robert Winter

Publisher:  Robert Winter Books (self-published)

Release Date: July 7, 2017

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 84300

Genre: Romance, Mystery, BDSM

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

This bartender’s art lies in more than mixing drinks …

Randy Vaughan is a six-foot-three mass of mysteries to his customers and his friends. Why does a former Secret Service agent now own Mata Hari, a successful piano bar? Where did a muscle daddy get his passion for collecting fine art? If he’s as much a loner as his friends believe, why does he crave weekly sessions at an exclusive leather club? 

Randy’s carefully private life unravels when Jack Fraser, a handsome art historian from England, walks into his bar, anxious to get his hands on a painting Randy owns. The desperation Randy glimpses in whiskey-colored eyes draws him in, as does the desire to submit that he senses beneath Jack’s elegant, driven exterior.

While wrestling with his attraction to Jack, Randy has to deal with a homeless teenager, a break-in at Mata Hari, and Jack’s relentless pursuit of the painting called Sunrise. It becomes clear someone’s lying to Randy. Unless he can figure out who and why, he may miss his chance at the love he’s dreamed about in the hidden places of his heart.


Note: Lying Eyes is a standalone gay romance novel with consensual bondage and a strong happy ending. It contains potential spoilers for Robert Winter’s prior novel, Every Breath You Take.

Promo Post ~ Uncomplicated Choices by Cara Dee ~ (Excerpt)

Uncomplicated Choices by Cara Dee

“Choosing you would complicate everything, yet it’s the most uncomplicated choice I’ve ever made.”

Title: Uncomplicated Choices

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Pairing: Gay Romance

Amazon US: https://goo.gl/6gi5uI

Amazon CAN: http://a.co/9TVI3zn

Amazon AUS: https://goo.gl/6gi5uI

Amazon DE: https://goo.gl/MihNzq

Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/O5vSr3

Goodreads: https://goo.gl/ILSWgz

Synopsis:

When life gave you lemons, you learned who stayed and made lemonade with you. Or something to that effect. And the day Ellis Hayes kidnapped me—or, borrowed a yacht and didn’t know I was on board—he'd definitely been handed too many lemons.

We faced a dilemma when I woke up hungover in the middle of the ocean. He needed to get the hell out of town to do some soul-searching and decide whether or not to divorce his wife, and I needed to get back on land because humans didn't belong on the water. There was also better cell service on land, and I had my four-year-old daughter on vacation in Paris to check in with.

Then I remembered I wasn’t a complete tool. Ellis wasn’t doing all right, and we were practically family. I had to stay and make lemonade with him. Of course, me being me, seemingly undateable and complicated, I had to develop feelings for him, too.

Blog Tour ~ Gnarly by Mickie B. Ashling ~ (Review + GuestPost)

Hi all! Thanks for stopping by to help me celebrate my latest release, Gnarly, a long novella that is part of Dreamspinner’s World of Love collection. The setting for this story is San Sebastian, a beautiful seaside town in Northern Spain (Basque Country).
Gnarly is a standalone. The only similarity to my other series featuring a Basque character (Loving Edits Series) is that it’s m/m/m. There’s something about the area that compels me to write polyamorous relationships. I’m not certain why. My best guess is the overabundance of eye candy. I had the opportunity to spend six weeks in San Sebastian—Sanse as the locals call it—last summer, and left with a small arsenal of plot bunnies.
Basques are passionate about cooking and eating. Today I’d like to share a recipe for Alubias Rojas de Tolosa.
Tolosa is a small town located about twenty miles south of San Sebastián. The dried red beans of the region are particularly flavorful and highly prized. This red bean stew is traditionally accompanied with the spicy-hot pickled peppers known as guindillas.
Before we move on to the recipe and excerpt, I’d like to thank Bayou Book Junkie for hosting my blog tour visit, and J my wonderful publicist, for her excellent help in keeping me organized.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: Gnarly

Author: Mickie B. Ashling

Series: Dreamspinner’s World of Love collection (Spain)

Genre: M/M/M, Contemporary Gay Romance

Length: 172 pages

Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht

Release Date: June 21, 2017

BLURB

Dr. Ed Hollingsworth, widowed for five years, returns to San Sebastián, Spain, after a thirty-year absence. He seeks out his first and only male lover, pro surfer Javi Elizalde.
After surviving a near-fatal shark attack, Javi turned his back on the sport he loves and became a recluse.
Iker Lizaso, professional jai alai player, finds himself at loose ends now that his contract has expired. Forced to retire at thirty-eight, he returned to his home in the Basque Country to figure out what to do with the rest of his life.
Three different men, encumbered by their past, converge in a city famous for its food, summer festivals, and romantic promenades. Can they find happiness together? It’ll be difficult, maybe even improbable, considering their backgrounds, but Cupid’s arrow usually hits the mark, and this particular strike might be epic.

Blog Tour ~ Wolf of the Northern Star by SJ Himes ~ (Review + Giveaway)

Title: Wolf of the Northern Star

Author: SJ Himes

Series: The Wolfkin Saga, #2

Release Date: June 15th 2017

Genre: Gay Paranormal Shifter Romance

                                                         

BLURB

Ghost, once known as the cub Luca, is finally home. Back among his kind and learning what it means to be both a man and a shaman, Ghost battles the expectations of his people, his family, and the pressures of a society that is both foreign and familiar. His power is greater than any seen before, dwarfing that of even the legendary Shaman Gray Shadow—and his union with Kane places him in the center of a controversy that rattles wolfkin society around the world.

Kane, greater alpha and Heir to Black Pine Clan, has finally defeated the traitor and murderer that destroyed the heart of Black Pine years before. Freed at last from guilt and pain, Kane has a new enemy to face: his own people. Placed on trial for violation of Law and blasphemy, Kane will have to fight to the death to preserve his bond with Ghost and keep his mate and people safe.

The soulbond between Ghost and Kane is forged by the creator and Goddess of the wolfkin. Usually, a sacred and treasured union that honors the pair and their clans, this soulbond is seen not as a gift, but a threat to eons of tradition and Clan Law.

The union of a Shaman and Alpha is anathema—but how to reconcile that belief when it is the wolfkin Goddess who forged it? Can Ghost and Kane save themselves, preserve their bond, and find a new future when the laws of the ancient past threaten to tear them apart?

*This book is part of a series and should not be read as a standalone. Prior books should be read to understand content. 104,000 words*

Purchase: Amazon Universal

Find The Wolfkin Saga on Goodreads

Release Tour ~ Bound by Desire by Ryan Michele ~ (Review + Giveaway)

Title: Bound by Desire

Series: Ravage MC Bound #2

Author: Ryan Michele

Genre: MC Romance

Release Date: June 20, 2017

Cover Design by Cassy Roop at Pink Ink Designs

Photography by Wander Aguiar Photography

Models: Zack Salaun & Kali Feline

Have you ever wanted something so badly it consumes you?

There is a fine line between needs and wants.

Deke Gavelson has wanted his Ravage cut for as long as he can remember. He’s earned it. He was born to be in this club. He’s not afraid to fight for his place, either. 

Then she barreled into his world, and Deke suddenly desires something more than his rag and winning the next round. 

Rylie Hollister has lived through hell and back. Each event makes her the strong, independent woman she is today. Until a bitter underground fighter threatens to turn her plans upside down.

These two are bound by their desires, but oh, how that changes when his intensity meets her passion.

Guest Post ~ Texting, Autocorrect And A Prius

GoodReads ~ Amazon ~ Dreamspinner

Blurb:

Clay McDonald finds the perfect car on Craigslist and is quick to send the seller a text: 

Is your penis still for sale? 

AutoCorrect strikes again. Damn—he should’ve proofread. How embarrassing.

Luckily Darrell Anderson, a mechanic and the owner of the Prius, is more amused than offended, and the two men agree to meet. When they do, the attraction is instant, and a date is arranged. But a series of mishaps, misunderstandings, and misplaced assumptions sorely test the new relationship. 

In a contemporary romantic comedy about the perils of technology and dating in the modern world, a text that went so wrong might just lead to something so right—but only if Clay can refrain from jumping to conclusions and give love the benefit of the doubt.

Release Day Blitz: Jordan's Pryde by Giovanna Reaves (Excerpt+Giveaway)

Title:  Jordan's Pryde

Series: Pryde Shifter Series Book 1

Author: Giovanna Reaves

Publisher: Independent

Release Date: June 30th 2017

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 83K

Genre: Romance, Science Fiction, Mpreg, Paranormal Romance

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

All he did was apply for a job and then his world was turned upside down.

Thrust into the world he had no idea about, Jordan Sutton’s only goal was to get a job working for Duncan Pryde of Pryde Industries. He thought werewolves, vampires, and faes belonged in fairy tales, not in the real world. What will he do when he finds out that there’s more than meets the eye to his boss and his family?

Duncan Pryde had too much going on in his life. He became the sole guardian of his twin niece and nephew along with the addition of his pack and company. He had no time to think about a mate when trouble came to his front door. What happens when the man he hired for one job turns out to be his destined mate? Does he deny what he feels or embrace it?

Excerpt

Release Blitz ~ The Shape of You by Felice Stevens (Reviews)

Release Blitz ~ The Shape of You by Felice Stevens (Reviews)

Title: The Shape of You

Author: Felice Stevens

Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance

Release Date: June 29, 2017

Blurb

Too big. Too fat.

All his life Eric Sontag has judged himself on his size, believing love and friendship aren't in the cards for someone like him. Tired of being alone and scared of his doctor’s warnings, he enrolls in a nutrition support group, determined to change his life. When a beautiful thin man sits next to him, he can’t believe they have anything in common, but conversation between the two soon proves first impressions aren’t always what they seem.

Drifter. Loner.

Corey DeSantis has always been the scrawny waif; he’s tired of struggling with his art and with life. Scarred by the disappearance and death of his drug-addicted mother, he doesn’t wish for love, believing it will bring him nothing but pain in the end. Now his only hunger in life is his desire to paint…until a health scare and his mentor force him to attend a nutrition class where he meets a man who piques his interest. One drunken kiss later, Eric is all Corey can think about.

The same, yet different.

An unlikely friendship is born with both men wanting more but afraid to listen to their well-guarded hearts. When Corey receives shocking news leaving him angry and helpless, it’s Eric he turns to, to help see him through, while a surprising career opportunity finds Eric leaning on Corey for advice. One night of explosive passion leads to a second and soon neither man can imagine a life without the other. Life is shaped by the challenges accepted and roads not taken but as Corey and Eric walk the path together, they’ll discover the most beautiful destination of all. Love.

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Blog Tour ~ Coach’s Challenge by Avon Gale ~ (Review+Excerpt)

Coach’s Challenge by Avon Gale

Series: Scoring Chances Book #5

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): June 26, 2017

Length: Ebook: ~70K (181 pages)

Subgenre: Sports romance, LGBTQ+ romance

Buy Links:

Dreamspinner Press ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Book Blurb:

It’s been decades since blackmail forced Troy Callahan to retire from playing professional hockey, and he’s built a successful career behind the bench. When he’s offered the opportunity to coach the Asheville Ravens—the most hated team in the ECHL—he’s convinced that his no-nonsense attitude is just what the team needs to put their focus back on hockey. But Troy is disheartened when he finds that the Ravens have signed Shane North, a player known for his aggression—especially when Shane’s rough good looks give Troy inappropriate thoughts about a player, even if Shane’s set to retire at the end of the season.

Shane’s career in the majors never quite took off. Wanting to quit on his own terms, Shane agrees to a one-year contract with the Ravens and finds himself playing for a coach who thinks he’s an aging goon and with a team that doesn’t trust him, the coach, or each other. Despite his determination to not get involved, Shane unwillingly becomes part of the team… and is just as unwillingly drawn to the gruff, out-and-proud coach. As the Ravens struggle to build a new identity, Shane and Troy succumb to the passion that might cost them everything.

Blog Tour ~ Abroad by Liz Jacobs ~ (Excerpt)

ABROAD: Book One by Liz Jacobs

Series: Abroad Duology

Publisher: Brain Mill Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): June 27th wide release; early access June 17th

Length (Print & Ebook): ~100K words; 372 pages

Subgenre: NA; LGBTQIA

All buy links or pre-order links:

BMP ~ Amazon

Book Blurb:

Nick Melnikov doesn’t know where he belongs. He was just a kid when his Russian-Jewish family immigrated to Michigan. Now he’s in London for university, overwhelmed by unexpected memories. Socially anxious, intensely private, and closeted, Nick doesn’t expect to fall in so quickly with a tight-knit group of students from his college, and it’s both exhilarating and scary. Hanging out with them is a roller coaster of serious awkward and incredible longing, especially when the most intimidating of the group, Dex, looks his way.

Dex Cartwell knows exactly who he is: a black queer guy who doesn’t give a toss what anybody thinks of him. He is absolutely, one-hundred-percent, totally in control of his life. Apart, maybe, from the stress of his family’s abrupt move to an affluent, largely white town. And worrying about his younger brother feeling increasingly isolated as a result. And the persistent broken heart he’s been nursing for a while . . .

When Nick and Dex meet, both find themselves intrigued. Countless late-night conversations only sharpen their attraction. But the last thing Nick wants is to face his deepest secret, and the last thing Dex needs is another heartache. Dex has had to fight too hard for his right to be where he is. Nick isn’t even sure where he’s from. So how can either of them tell where this is going?

Quotes from the author about the book:

Pre-Release Day Review ~ Something's Brewing at Joe's By SJD Peterson

Release Day Review ~ Something's Brewing at Joe's By SJD Peterson

Title: Something's Brewing at Joe's

Author: SJD Peterson

Release Date: June 30, 2017

Category: Contemporary

Pages: 200

Dreamspinner  Amazon  Goodreads

The promise of a dream job lures Murphy to Tampa, but he arrives to the rude awakening that the offer is on hold. Now he’s got two choices: slink back to Michigan with his tail between his legs or stay and look for work. Things perk up when he goes into a coffee shop and learns the owner is looking for someone to renovate the apartment above it. He happily takes the job, only later realizing he’s met Joe Sterling, Kaffeinate’s proprietor, before… when they hooked up at a club Murphy’s first night in Tampa.

Murphy and Joe are both proud, passionate, and outspoken. Neither is looking for a relationship, though they can’t deny they go together as well as coffee and doughnuts, in spite of their tempers. But that’s before Joe learns Murphy will be working for the corporation he believes is harming local businesses and the environment—and if Murphy will be supporting it, Joe will want nothing to do with him, dooming any possibility of an unexpected happy ending.

Cover Reveal: The Darkest Sunrise Duet by Aly Martinez

Today we are sharing the incredible covers for The Darkest Sunrise Duet by Aly Martinez. Check them out below, along with the blurbs for each title. The first book in this contemporary romance duet will be released on July 13th! Be sure to follow Aly's newsletter to be notified when the books are up for pre-order.

     

The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise Duet, #1)

Coming July 13

AotM: Zack's Mulligan by Ann Lister (Review+Giveaway)

Zac’s Mulligan

Guarding The Gods: Book One

By Ann Lister

BLURB

Zac Mulligan is a former Marine now providing personal security for the infamous rock band, Black Ice. Seeing all the guys around him in committed relationships reminds him of his childhood best friend . . . the only person Zac has never managed to get out of his head or his heart.

Ben Holland is an artist. Falling deeply in love with his best friend in his teens, Ben is left alone when Zac leaves him for the military. Ben heads off to college and lives his life “out and proud” as a gay man and creates a brand name for himself with his artwork. Throughout all the years that pass, Ben never forgets his childhood friend, Zac, or the feelings they once shared.

Zac realizes a decade is too long for Ben not to have a presence in his life and finds Ben living on Cape Cod where they spent their summers as kids. Meeting each other as adults stirs up a lot of memories for both of them.

Zac is looking for a mulligan, a “do over,” with his childhood best friend. The question is: Can Ben find a way to put aside his old hurts and fully open his heart to Zac for a second time? Or maybe the past is something better left buried on the beach where it all began.