Review: Road Trip by A.F. Henley

For as long as Boyd can remember, he's been pushing pins into a map. Carson City, Las Vegas, Albuquerque—all places he wants to see, for a dozen different reasons that wouldn't mean a thing to anyone else. When he finally gets a chance to purchase the '69 Road Runner of his dreams, at a price that even he can manage, Boyd jumps at the opportunity.

Oliver seems like just another kid with a broken dream when their paths cross in Vegas. Against Boyd's better judgment, he offers to let Oliver hitch along for the ride when Oliver confides the need to get out and get gone.

But it's not long before Boyd realizes Oliver's reasons for running are more complicated—and more dangerous—than Oliver let on. But Boyd doesn't like people who play hardball, and he definitely doesn't like people messing with a ma
n who's managed to light a fuse that Boyd forgot he had.


Boyd finally gets the car. The car he's been waiting for so he can go on the road trip he's always wanted.

Right away it was obvious how important this trip was to Boyd. How much he wants it and how longs he's wanted it.

One of his first stops is Las Vegas. There he sees a man who's obviously running from something. What he's running from, Boyd doesn't know. But he does know that he wants to help the kid out. Oliver jumps in, along for the ride with Boyd.

Boyd knows where he wants to go and what he wants to see. He's not going for the touristy sights, he wants to do things he saw in a movie or read in a book or heard about as a kid. Small, random things, but for him, they mean everything. It added a little quirkiness to Boyd's somewhat serious character. Oliver was fully supportive (although he didn't really have a choice, did he?), but he added some fun to Boyd's otherwise kind of dull trip. Boyd was going to see what he set out to see and nothing else. Oliver made sure Boyd had fun. He made sure that Boyd had no regrets on this trip he'd been always hoping for.

I never got a complete grasp on either character. A lot was left to the reader and I would have liked to know more about each of them, especially Boyd. I felt like I was missing something. He wanted this trip so bad, he wanted to do weird things like turn left in New Mexico. But why? Why are such small things so important to him? A bit more information here would have made his character more real to me.

There was a nice slow burn development of their relationship. One that started as only physical, but of course, moved to more.

Road Trip was an enjoyable, angst free romance. More from the characters would have been nice, but this story is highly recommended, nonetheless.



A copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more info on Goodreads.

Review: Free Men series by Kate Aaron



OMG...aren't they gorgeous?! I could stare at those covers all day, but I told people I'd share my thoughts on the stories, too, so...

The Slave:
At twenty-seven, Tamelik has been a slave more than half his life, having witnessed his family being murdered in front of him when he was just a child. Naturally submissive, although with a petulant streak, he can’t help but fall in love with the master who treats him kindly.

Tam's dreams come true when his mistress walks out, leaving her husband behind. For six glorious months, he and his master get to be together. Then Tam is ordered to purchase another slave.

He wants to hate Kai for being unruly and ungrateful. For being of the same race as the men who murdered his family. For being his eventual replacement in their master’s bed. But it’s hard to hate a man who cries himself to sleep, flinches at the slightest touch, and blushes beautifully when he’s kissed.

Seducing Kai has suddenly become more challenge than chore, and with his master’s encouragement, Tam finds himself falling for his new companion. Except... nobody can be in love with two people at once, can they?  

My thoughts:
A wonderfully erotic story. Tam's sweet neediness, Kai's developing feelings and growing desire, and Master's delightful ideas all combined into the most deliciously steamy scenes *shivers*

And so much beautiful showing...
Kai's struggle with his new position in life, Master's patience and affection, and Tam's reactions to both men...all made clear through their actions.

Some of my favorite scenes reminded me of ones with Sec and Demetrie from Lia Black's 'Worthy' and ones with Tristan, Jared and Rolex from Witt & Voinov's Market Garden series. If you've read those books, you'll know what I mean. *nods*

The AU story had a historical feel to it, so a few more modern comments and thoughts were a little jarring, but other than that, the writing flowed well for me, keeping me engaged until the end.

The Soldier:
Three months. That’s all it took for Kai to forsake freedom and learn to love his new life as pleasureslave to a wealthy Thirskan Underlord.

Finding himself surrounded by his own people once more, Kai should have been happy: relieved to be rescued from slavery, and out of the clutches of a man who was the sworn enemy of his people. Yet his people are not how he remembers them. Distrustful of Kai, and disgusted by his relationship with not one man but two, they make it abundantly clear he no longer fits in.

Beaten, starved, and tortured, when the chance comes to escape, Kai is barely strong enough to make the journey. Even if he succeeds, how could anybody ever love the thing he’s become in order to survive?

My thoughts:
The first book introduced the characters and set the stage, showing us the attraction and affection between the MCs. This book added a compelling storyline with intense, action packed scenes that hooked me in. It also added an interesting history to the series; a history of the kingdom and of Lysander's family.

The bulk of the story, though, was focused on Kai. Told from his point of view, the story reveals memories from his childhood and the current treatment from his fellow countrymen, including torture that left him questioning his value and place with Tam and Master. It all broke my heart. Poor, sweet Kai. He needed so many hugs.

The pages were full of vivid imagery, words perfectly chosen to describe the scenes and set the mood. There wasn't as much heat as in the first book, but there was sweet emotion and tender feelings as relationships developed and strengthened. A perfect continuation from the first book of the series.

PLUS! A unicorn banner! Could this get any better? I don't think so.

The Master:
Being rescued was only the start.

Otiz lies in ruins. As underlord of the region, Lysander knows where his responsibilities lie. He has an obligation to the survivors to rebuild their homes and their lives. But what about his home, his life?

Kai needs help. The damage inflicted on him goes beyond the marks left when he was tortured, but healing him might require more from Lysander than he’s capable of giving. Of one thing he’s certain: Tam and Kai will never be endangered again because of who he is, even if saving them means setting them free.

All Lysander wants is to be left in peace. To recover from the horrors of his experience at the hands of his enemies. But with pressure piling up from every angle, peace is the last thing he’s likely to find. Suffocated by guilt, Lysander begins to spiral. How can he hold everything together, when inside he’s falling apart?

My thoughts:

While I wanted Lysander's point of view, this story suffered from his conflicted feelings which led to too many internal monologues, reflecting his determination to do one thing even though he desperately wanted to do another.  As he struggled between the two,  he kept deciding on one course of action and then doing the opposite.

The constant back and forth sent mixed messages to Kai and Tam and it made me so angry; one of my MCs was breaking my number one rule, DON'T HURT MY MCs! It makes me crazy when an MC does stupid stuff for someone else's 'own good'. Also, the self-sacrifice got old fast; I had no patience for the martyrdom.

It all dragged on way too long.

Then, finally, it got better. Thanks to Kai. *nods* Kai knew what was what. And eventually the whole story came out and even made sense, kind of. But I was still irritated we had to go through all the nonsense first, and for so long.

All that, and a few minor editing issues I didn't notice in the first two books, and this last story of the series just barely got the four hearts from me, and that mostly because I loved the other two books so much and I wanted my HEA.

As a whole, though, the series is definitely a new favorite of mine.

Find more info on Goodreads.


Review: Rabbit Season (Lost Shifters #2) by Megan Derr

Sidney has quietly loved twin brothers Brook and Colby for years, watching and pining as they came to his house for the summer every year. Painfully aware that they have each other, have no reason to notice the unremarkable duck they grew up babysitting.

Then the twins and their mother are attacked days before an important meeting that will change the shifter world forever. When the twins come to stay with Sidney's family until the attackers are caught, Sidney learns that all things have their season, and even violent protests will not keep two rabbits from the man for whom they've been patiently waiting…

Warning: Story contains incest.







Let’s talk about bunny brocest and menages shall we?

Turns out, I’m a fan.

Now those things can be deal breakers for some, but I have to say, in this story, neither thing was that big of a deal, so don’t let either tag turn your away. Besides, you know how it is in shifter-ville stories. RL rules do not apply and bros can boink like bunnies and also find a duck to fuck.

When I picked up this one up to review and realized it was second in the series I quick bought and read Backwoods Asylum. I really liked that one too. I wouldn’t say you have to read it first, but it certainly helped. There is a lot going on in the second book about pack politics and you’ll want the background that you get in book 1. One thing about Backwoods is that the politics was more focused while in the second it was more overall pack business. I found it to be a little much for a shorter story. It felt like the pack dynamic drama overshadowed the relationship a bit as the story was trying to tell me a lot of things in a little space. I would have liked it to be a little longer with more relationship centered scenes.

Brook and Colby, the twin brothers, were great, likable characters. They had distinct personalities that really complemented each other. Colby was mouthy with an attitude and a heart of gold while Brook had a quiet strength and dominance to him that was pretty swoony. The fact that they were brothers was totally fine by me. They didn’t make a huge production out of it, it just was and they owned it which is why I think I liked it so much. Plus, they’re rabbits and it’s not completely out of the realm of rabbit shifter relationships apparently. So, all good.

During a particular badass Colby moment he says:

If you ever come near any of us again, for any reason at all, I’ll slit your fucking throat. I’m a nasty incestuous rabbit. You should better appreciate that means most rules mean jack shit to me.


I liked that.

Sidney the duck was also really likable. He didn’t have the natural confidence that Brook and Colby had, but he had snark and attitude which I’m always a fan of. He was protected pretty fiercely by his dads and that made him seem more immature than the other two to me. I didn’t quite feel his deeper love for Brook and Colby at least not as much as I wanted to. I think that’s why I needed a few extra scenes with just the three of them developing a relationship so that I could completely buy into Sidney loving these two for life.

The Lost Shifters series is really the kind of shifter stories I like. They are unique (not everyone is a wolf!), snarky and sweet. I’ll definitely be reading the next in the series.


For more info on Rabbit Season (Lost Shifters #2) check it out over at Goodreads.


**a copy of this story was provided for an honest review**

Guest Review: Inheritance (Dominion, #1)

Seiran Rou's life is complicated—he's the only male in the world allowed to take magic classes in a female-dominant society, his vampire boyfriend, Gabe, is hinting that he wants more, and his mother is demanding a grandchild. But when a co-worker turns up dead on his doorstep, Seiran realizes his problems are only beginning.

With the police dogging his steps, a stalker-like bartender watching his every move, and a magic groupie following him around, Seiran is finding it hard to hide his power—a power that if revealed could get him killed. The Dominion, the ruling body of elemental magic, seems to have started a deadly game to control the rare magic he possesses. 

Someone is pulling strings, murdering witches, and gathering power. When Seiran finds himself next on the hit list, he doesn’t know whether to run and hide or prove himself to be the powerful witch he is. If he stands up and fights, he’ll have to decide what is more important—hiding his power or protecting the ones he loves.

Guest Reviewed by Vivian

Peace and quiet is underrated.

Took a minute to get use to the first person point of view, not bad, but unexpected. It worked well at keeping the focus narrow and the action contained to Seiran. The reversed power structure with females dominating in the witch world made for a quick twist. Also allowed for more violence since males are physically hardier than females; the repression could be both psychological and physical.

Gabe is a big, softy vampire, He is also Seiran's boss at the local vamp bar, and his occasional fuck buddy. Seiran doesn't do relationships. Bam! And move on. Which for a student isn't that unreasonable, but it's more than his focus being other places--he has baggage. Oh, mommie dearest.

Jamie is Gabe's trusted employee and friend. He also HOT. A big wall of a guy with a kind heart and oddly invested in Seiran. Seiran seems to attract creepy, stalker-like people, a magnet.

The comet of destruction in Seiran's life is his mother. Mother is a high ranked politician and demanding. When Seiran needs help, she negotiates that he provide an heir for her assistance. Thanks, ma.

The pace is fast moving with bodies, mishaps, and traumas around every corner. I found it entertaining and the hot/cold relationship of Gabe and Seiran amusing. Quick and fun read.

Overall, it's underdog to the rescue.

Favorite quote:
“You are so beautiful.” I started to say, “Fucked up,” but he stopped me with a finger to my lips.

For more information on Goodreads or Booklikes!

Review: Sight and Sinners by Susan Mac Nicol

THE MEN OF LONDON
From Charing Cross to Waterloo, there’s no escaping love.
SEEING THROUGH…
28-year-old Draven Samuels has a tragic past, but as an investigator with a high-profile London company he now gets what he wants. Tough, sarcastic, and sceptical, he has no patience for lies and even less for people who waste his time. Even if they’re as beautiful as the wild and dark-haired Taylor Abelard. Especially when they’re talking over the body of a murder victim.

THE DARKNESS
Psychic Taylor Abelard is used to people calling him a freak. He can see past events and feel the ghostly vibrations of people close to him who've passed on. It’s why he doesn't get too close to the living. But this time, against his better judgment, despite Draven’s mocking rejoinders, Taylor will get closer than ever before. The mystery surrounding a dead friend will lead the two men down a dark and seedy trail of blackmail and lies. Add in the heartbreak of a family tragedy, and events lead them straight into each other’s arms. By the end of this night, all their demons will have risen—and been banished with the dawn.



Sight and Sinners is sweet, fluffy and light for the most part. It does have a bittersweet ending that nudged another half star out of me, cold-hearted wench that I am. I was hoping for a bit more of an edge to this enemies to lovers story. I thought perhaps they would wend up working together on a case, but that didn't go far nor did the Jude connection. So, there are no unforeseen plot twists that are disagreeable; the plot's fairly transparent.

We were introduced to Taylor in book one, and his psychic abilities. Taylor wasn't in book one extensively, but I had a different sense of him and his personality than what appeared on the page here. He's much more of a hot head than I envisioned and he sure does pass out a lot. He meets Draven and they're instantly attracted to one another but have a history that puts them at odds. I dearly hoped this was going to lead to some angry sex. 
Sadly, there was only a tease of angry sex. 




They aren't even that rough with each other! I wanted their springing cocks and aching balls put to good use, but the steam was only in the mediocre range for me. There are several mentions of Draven "dominating" Taylor and "playing" that felt awkward and tacked on. I'm quite certain my perspective is somewhat skewed. For reasons. So, by all means, judge for yourselves. Mostly their relationship consists of arguing, temper tantrums then make-up sex, so I think I missed where the "love" took place or maybe that is their definition? 

Sight and Sinners was an easy read with some dramatics that weren't too heavy handed. I'm desperate at this point for Leslie's story. Leslie's story will be chock-a-block with dramatics and cross-dressing. I'm so ready you could stick a fork in me. 

I do hope this got a final edit prior to releasing because it certainly needed it. Everyone needs a little sweetness in their lives periodically and this will be satisfying for most in that regard.

Recommend for beach reading.



An ARC was provided in exchange for an honest review.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Blog Tour & Giveaway: Sight and Sinners by Susan Mac Nicol


Susan Mac Nicol stopped by to promote Sight and Sinners, the second in her Men of London series!





We unicorns wanted to know why London? So we asked.




I’ll give you a little bit of background about why I set my stories in the UK and specifically, why this series is set in London.

When I first moved to the UK in December 2000, it rained when we landed at Heathrow. My friend John looked at me and grinned. “It isn’t always like this, I promise” he said as we loaded his Renault Scenic with our meagre belongings. Thankfully, he was right. I live in the South East in Essex and we have the best weather pattern here…

I was born during one of the worst snow periods of the 1960’s, 1962/63 and as a baby, I didn’t really go out anyway the first three months as the snow was too high and we were stuck indoors.

It actually snowed on my birthday that first year we were here- on December 28th. I felt like the UK was welcoming me home. It just felt right. Then I started working in central London and I just knew I loved this country and this city. It was vibrant, cosmopolitan, a throbbing mecca of scent, sight and sound, fast, furious, a mix of modern and history, with its own unique secrets. I didn’t know then I’d write a whole series of books around it but the seed was planted and when the Men of London was suggested by my publisher (clever woman that) I ran with it. So the idea wasn’t actually mine…

I spend a lot of time in London. I have a daughter who goes to Kingston University in Surrey, on the outskirts so I travel regularly through and on the boundaries of the city. I attend book signings and events. I go to the theatre and to watch pole dancing at the Burlesque venues. I worked in Piccadilly Circus in the heart of the West End for seven months recently. If the train service hadn’t been so terrible, and incredibly expensive, I might still be there. I loved working right above Jamie Oliver’s Diner…the aromas were wonderful. And having a McDonalds opposite was great too. I have a ‘thing’ – every place I write about in my books- I’ve been there. I’ve visited on a day trip, or stayed over there, and absorbed the atmosphere because I think it adds to the flavour of my stories. (And it gives me an excuse to spend my money in the name of ‘research’. It’s amazing what you can get away with in the name of research *winks*)

So writing about men living in London and falling in love, and bringing them all together one by one in the beautiful and plush setting of Gideon Kent’s Soho restaurant, Galileo’s, was no hardship at all. If you’re ever in London, you can check out the actual restaurant that inspired Galileo’s – it’s called Bob Bob Ricard… absolutely stunning and the food is incredible. Sheer hedonistic indulgence.


http://www.bobbobricard.com/photos.html

THE MEN OF LONDON
From Charing Cross to Waterloo, there’s no escaping love.
SEEING THROUGH…
28-year-old Draven Samuels has a tragic past, but as an investigator with a high-profile London company he now gets what he wants. Tough, sarcastic, and sceptical, he has no patience for lies and even less for people who waste his time. Even if they’re as beautiful as the wild and dark-haired Taylor Abelard. Especially when they’re talking over the body of a murder victim.

THE DARKNESS
Psychic Taylor Abelard is used to people calling him a freak. He can see past events and feel the ghostly vibrations of people close to him who've passed on. It’s why he doesn't get too close to the living. But this time, against his better judgment, despite Draven’s mocking rejoinders, Taylor will get closer than ever before. The mystery surrounding a dead friend will lead the two men down a dark and seedy trail of blackmail and lies. Add in the heartbreak of a family tragedy, and events lead them straight into each other’s arms. By the end of this night, all their demons will have risen—and been banished with the dawn.

Find out more on Goodreads.

Author Bio: 
Susan Mac Nicol is a self confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, self confessed geek and nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called ‘the boyfriend’ by her long suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there’d be no need for him. Susan hasn’t had the heart to tell him there’s an app for that…

She is never happier than when sitting in the confines of her living room/study/on a cold station platform scribbling down words and making two men fall in love. She is a romantic at heart and believes that everything happens (for the most part) for a reason.  She likes to think of herself as a ‘half full’ kinda gal, although sometimes that philosophy is sorely tested.

Lover of walks in the forest, theatre productions, dabbling her toes in the cold North Sea and the vibrant city of London where you can experience all four seasons in a day , she is a hater of pantomime (so please don’t tar and feather her), duplicitous people, bigotry and self righteous idiots. 

In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that’s never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.


Where to find the author:
website: www.susanmacnicol.com
blog: susanmacnicol.wordpress.com
facebook: www.facebook.com/susiemax77
twitter: www.twitter.com/SusanMacNicol7
pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/susiemax777/pins/
linkedin: http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/susanmacnicol/48/a44/602
tumblr: http://www.susanmacnicol.com/my-tumblr-blog/

Publisher: Borough’s Publishing Group

Cover Artist: Art Department of Borough’s Publishing Group


Rafflecopter Prize: 2 copies of Double Alchemy and Double Alchemy: Climax 




Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Author Interview and Giveaway: Suki Fleet


Last year, a book I'd marked as like-to-read on Goodreads was on offer at Amazon. I can't remember the price but I decided to get it - and I swear it's one of the best purchases I've ever made. This Is Not A Love Story absolutely blew me away. It really did - I'd have paid three times it's original price (if not more) if I'd have known before I started reading what I knew after. And what I knew after was that author Suki Fleet moved straight onto my must read list. 

With this in mind, I will say that this is an unashamed fan-girl interview. Authors like Suki are the reason I fell in love with reading. TINALS will be one of my favourites for all time and I would highly recommend it to everyone. It's a really great story. Innocence, has also made it onto my all time favourites list, see my review earlier as to why and read on to find out more from the author. Plus there is a chance to win an e-copy of any of Suki's books at the end of the interview.

The Book:

At eighteen Christopher is restless and longs for something he cannot name. His mother vanished when he was very small and after spending more than ten years travelling on the rivers and canals, drifting between towns and schools, with mostly only his dad and brother, Jay, for company, he is desperate to escape that claustrophobic existence.
When they return to settle in Arlow, a town they haven’t been back to in over a decade, everything changes.

Malachi has given up on love. He lost his heart when he lost his innocence. Now at twenty nine he just exists--getting drunk, fixing cars and playing the music he loves.

When their paths cross one night at a gypsy camp, Christopher thinks he's found what he's been looking for, but Malachi is afraid. He is afraid their love will destroy everything Christopher has ever known. They are both ghosts from one another's past, and if Malachi's secrets are revealed more than just innocence will be lost in their wake.
 

The Interview:
With a huge grin on my face I've stuck the kettle on, got out the cakes and welcomed Suki into the clubhouse.....

BMBR: I'm just gonna jump right in there and ask about the settings and characters for your contemporary novels. Both This Is Not a Love Story and Innocence have characters whose lives are far from ideal. I think they are flawlessly written, but what draws you to writing about characters such as Romeo, Julian, Chris and Kai? And how hard is it to write authentically about the lives these characters experience?
Thanks for having me here today, Lori <3
And thank you - I guess some of my reasons for writing characters in disadvantaged/unusual settings come from my own experiences growing up. My childhood living on a boat was unconventional and when we were shipwrecked we lost everything including our home, so I identify quite strongly with characters in those sorts of difficult situations. I also really wanted to give voice (especially with TINALS) to people ,kids, who so many ignore and don’t see, because it’s easier. We all love, we all get scared, whatever our circumstances. I hope people can connect even though their lives are different.

BMBR: I have endless admiration for your knack of taking a tough - really tough - storyline and managing to tear a reader’s soul in two without overindulging in angst for angst's sake. There are some heart-breaking moments in your books, truly, but it all fits into the story and is not added for effect. How hard a balance is that to strike?
<3
Ah, you know, this isn’t a cop out I promise, but all I do is write, I can’t plan, my subconscious takes over and slots all the pieces together. It amazes me every time. I write what moves me. I definitely do write over indulgent angst sometimes but hopefully those are the parts that end up in my extras file.

BMBR: I believe I read somewhere that though you'd been writing for years it's only been recently that you've been putting your work out there...why is this?
Okay, weirdly/not weirdly this has a lot to do with me coping with grief. I’ve always written, ever since I was small—poetry, short scenes. I was the weird kid at school who told ghost stories and made stuff up.
When my friend was killed in a car accident, I started to write more seriously to cope with my feelings. I posted stuff on livejournal—longer scenes, 100 word stories, poems. I talked to other writers.
But it wasn’t until my father in law was sick and then died quite suddenly that I wrote a romance and actually finished something (it was a kind of depressing romance called Wildflowers about saving someone from death). But it was like a eureka moment. I wasn’t running from my grief I was writing it out.
I published that story on fictionpress. And I wrote another romance (Siren) and another (This is Not a Love Story—the first part). Everything I wrote for two years I published on fictionpress.
But I started to get restless (frustrated). I wanted to be published, I just wasn’t sure how to be good enough. I wasn’t sure I could write anything better than I already had.
I self-published TINALS in December 2013 (as the characters were too young for any publisher I’d looked at)—same day, a friend of mine from fictionpress, HT Pantu, told me she’d got a contract for her story I Hate Summer with Dreamspinner Press. I took a look at their site, saw with a burst of joy that they had a YA imprint, had faith that if Hannah could do it I could give it a shot too. So I sent TINALS off to Harmony Ink. The rest is history J

BMBR: Do you have a favourite among your own characters?
For a long time it was Sam (a character from Wildflowers, the first romance I wrote—I wrote about his character for years before I finished his story). Now, I’m not sure.
I love Remee, always—his character came to me easier than any other I’ve ever written. Angus and Sasha too (from Falling and The Glass House). Jay from Innocence. Summer (from Wild Summer).

BMBR: Who do you enjoy reading? Do you have a favourite novel (favourite top 5?) - I know, this is the worst question!
Top five, okay. Hard. Can’t rank them.
Eratses- Junction X
Thorn Kief Hillsbury- What We Do Is Secret
Clive Barker- Imajica
Joan Aiken- The Wolves of Willoughby Chase
Jeff Noon- Vurt
Poppy Z Brite- Drawing Blood
(that’s six I know :P) and I do love David Levithan too (lots of his stories)… and Harper Fox (Midwinter Prince and Salisbury Key). Yep, impossible :P
Any story that can make me cry has a place in my heart (proper ugly cry).

BMBR: Material? Explain!
Material? As in what I do for my day job? I’m obsessed with material. My dad used to work for Liberty before we lived on a boat, and I guess I grew up surrounded by Liberty fabric and now I sell it and lots of other fabric I like.

BMBR: I love how you write about the humanity of a character regardless of their circumstances. Innocence is about a Romany gypsy family and a travellers community. Here in Britain these are often seen as outsiders, how do you write so empathetically about these characters and not turn them into stereotypical bad guys?
They’re outsiders and I can identify with that. And without romanticizing, I do always root for the underdog. I guess stereotypes annoy me and I want to show how wrong they can be a lot of the time. Plan B says it well in ‘Ill Manors’.

BMBR: Tea or coffee?
Tea, always. Love the smell of coffee but can’t stand the taste.

BMBR: Digestive, rich-tea or hob-nob? And do you dunk? (Hey, these are important questions!)
Ah, I’d rather have cake…or brownie. Brownies are my favourite. No dunking though!

BMBR: What 5 items would you take to a desert island with you?
My phone, laptop, kindle, a sunshade and a tea machine (also known as a kettle).

BMBR: What 10 people (dead or alive) would you invite to a dinner party if you could? And why?
Umm, I really don’t know. I’ve been wracking my brains about this one. It’d be interesting to get all my favourite authors around one table, (though I’d have to narrow it down of course:P)

BMBR: Anything else you'd like to add?
Thank you, Lori!!!! XD

No - thank you Suki, it has been a real pleasure having you in the clubhouse. I cannot wait for your next release.

Buy Links



Okay folks, as previously mentioned, Suki is offering any book of hers in e-book fo0rmat (mobi, e-pub or PDF) to one lucky commenter. You lucky, lucky people! Just comment below, not forgetting to leave a means of contacting you (e-mail, facebook, twitter etc). A winner will be randomly drawn a week from today. Good luck.




Review: Innocence by Suki Fleet.

At eighteen Christopher is restless and longs for something he cannot name. His mother vanished when he was very small and after spending more than ten years travelling on the rivers and canals, drifting between towns and schools, with mostly only his dad and brother, Jay, for company, he is desperate to escape that claustrophobic existence.
When they return to settle in Arlow, a town they haven’t been back to in over a decade, everything changes.

Malachi has given up on love. He lost his heart when he lost his innocence. Now at twenty nine he just exists--getting drunk, fixing cars and playing the music he loves.

When their paths cross one night at a gypsy camp, Christopher thinks he's found what he's been looking for, but Malachi is afraid. He is afraid their love will destroy everything Christopher has ever known. They are both ghosts from one another's past, and if Malachi's secrets are revealed more than just innocence will be lost in their wake.
 



THIS REVIEW MAY CONTAIN FANGIRLING

Suki Fleet does it again. She has written a most wonderful story that is on one hand hard and gritty, and on the other heart warming and romantic. 

Suki first came on to my radar last year with This Is Not a Love Story (actually, that's a lie, the first story I loved of hers was her short for last years MM groups DRitC event, but I didn't make the connection for a little while), so the story that made me sit up and notice was TINALS. It was the book I annoyed my friends about until they read it. I was happy to provide the hankies as long as they read this amazing book...I suspect I'll be doing the same with this story.

Innocence is the perfect title for this book. Christopher is innocent, in so many, many ways - yet by the very nature of his family and lifestyle he is probably labelled as anything but.  I absolutely fell in love with Christopher in this book. He is a hard working young man trying to the best for his brother whilst living with the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future.

He is my favourite kind of character, not perfect, but perfect for the story. Flawed but brave and trying so hard. Strong and in need of love, oh boy did I yearn for him to find it. I loved the relationship with his brother Jay. I think seeing the dynamics between characters other than the two MC's really helps understand the fullness of the character on the page. I felt as if I knew Christopher, as if I understood him, as if I could feel what he was feeling. the confusion of the past, trying to grow up and never sure if the choices he was making were right. Every single one of us understand that, even if we're not in the same situation as Christopher.

Suki Fleet has this inimitable talent of taking characters and lifestyles that are far from glamorous, ones that are gritty and painful, and making the reader need to keep turning the pages, need to find out more. Her style is so...frank and honest. It draws me in and, as I'm reading, I'm not even wishing for fairy tale castles and princes to the rescue, I'm just wishing for the heroes of the story to get what they want. 

And they are heroes. Malachi...what a confused, guilt ridden persona he is. I adored him. His hesitancy, the way he denied his feelings, denied his own happiness because the past is always lurking in the shadows. Trying not to let emotions win. Trying to be the better man...
Confused, conflicted, trying to deal with his own pain - I felt so much for him, again for the decisions he made, the consequences they caused. 

The knowing that we are all, always, possibly just a decision away from pain. That morbid bit of us that hears the news and thanks the deity's that it wasn't us. That we didn't get on the flight/go to the party/drive in the snow etc. Decisions can be the devil's work, too many times it feels like you're damned if you do and damned if you don't. I felt for Malachi - could he have made better choices? Possibly. Had he spent enough time trying to make up those choices? I think so, with all my heart.

I loved that Suki Fleet doesn't shy away from gritty story lines, scenarios that aren't quite so palatable. How many stories are written about travellers? There are romanticised Romany gypsy stories, but not many about the travelling community, often seen here in Britain as the scum of the earth (didds, pikies..sound familiar?) I adore how Suki shows we are all human first and foremost and where or how you live doesn't change that.

I would urge anyone who hasn't read this author to do so...I swear picking up TINALS was the best choices I ever made book-wise. And, because she is so fab, Suki Fleet is dropping by later for an interview and she will be offering up an e-copy of any one of her books. ANY of them. Wow. So pop back later and see what she has to say - in the meantime check out Suki's stuff. I hope you love it as much as I do.

Find out more about Suki and Innocence on Goodreads.




Review: The Rules of Love (Hampton Road Club #2) by Morticia Knight

Master Saul is captivated by the beautifully submissive Kenneth and the boy’s love of pain. Unfortunately, Kenneth belongs to Master Preston.

It’s 1926 and as one of the founding members of the Hampton Road Club, Master Saul Liebowitz has enjoyed the charms of many willing submissives over the years. One of the newer submissives to the club has captured his attention more than anyone has in a long time. Kenneth is tall, muscular and also seems to have a greater love of pain than most. If only Kenneth didn’t already belong to another Master.

After Kenneth’s Master died years before, he allowed himself to be taken in by the promises of Master Preston. As time has gone by, Preston has become increasingly crueler to the point where Kenneth fears for his life. They’ve recently joined a sadomasochism club and Kenneth can’t help but yearn for the handsome Master the other boys speak so highly of—Master Saul.

Preston takes things too far one night, and when Saul and his good friend, Master Aaron, do some investigating, they realize that Kenneth might be in real danger. Amidst turmoil at the club over whether there should be rules to keep the boys safe and Preston’s play for power, Saul searches for a way to save Kenneth from what he’s sure is a deadly situation.

Both men fight for what they believe to be the right thing. When they find their way to one another, a wonderful new world opens up to them. But there’s one man out there who refuses to let go of the old ways. Kenneth is his property and Master Preston won’t give him up.



 Oh, Kenneth. *gathers him in a big hug*

*pinches his sweet butt*

Poor, sweet Kenneth was left alone when his first Master died. He was taken in by Master Preston, who he thought was a good choice, only to find out that he's an evil sonovabitch.  

Master Saul picked up on this and did himself some investigating. During this he finds that he might want to keep Kenneth all to himself. 

Saul and Kenneth had great chemistry. They were wonderful together and Saul was perfect for Kenneth. I loved how Saul was sensitive to Kenneth's wants and comforts when taking him in. Instead of forcing him to come out of the shell he encased over himself, Saul let Kenneth take his time getting used to a more equal relationship.

I love me some historical and I have a particular soft spot for any era that's not regency. There's a feel and a tone to this book that is very distinctive to the twenties. The setting and world building is probably my favorite part of this series, as well as her Gin & Jazz series.

The dynamics of the club were interesting to me. The men wanted rules to keep the subs safe, but what would they do if they were found out? The fear of being caught for not only being gay, but also for being involved with BDSM, was very real for these men. When reading contemp BDSM the clubs are always 100% on board with rules, but Hampton Road Club's lack of rules added to the historical atmosphere.

There were some intense scenes when Kenneth was with Preston, but overall, The Rules of Love is a very sweet romance. I was rooting for Kenneth right from the beginning and was so happy to see him get all he deserved from Saul.

Find out more info on Goodreads!

A copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.