Keeper’s Pledge by JL Merrow

Title: Midwinter Manor, Book 2: Keeper’s Pledge
Author: JL Merrow
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 112
Characters: Danny and Phillip
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Historical, Romance, Series
Kisses: 4

Blurb:

Sequel to Poacher’s Fall

Landowner Philip Luccombe has been enjoying a passionate relationship with young poacher turned gamekeeper Danny Costessey for four years now. Danny’s love has brought him out of the shell he retreated into when his first lover died after the Great War. But this Christmas, visitors to the manor threaten their happiness. Philip’s young cousin Matthew is artistic, vivacious, and flirtatious: just the sort to remind him of his long-dead first love—and to emphasize the social gulf between Philip and Danny.

But the worst danger comes from much nearer home. An old flame of Danny’s is discovered in incriminating circumstances, forcing the lovers to keep their distance for fear of being tarred with the same brush. Meanwhile, Danny’s younger brother, Toby, has grown to resent the connection between his brother and the lord of the manor. Danny wants to do the right thing—but that could divide the lovers forever.

Review:

Keepers Pledge is a really great story, and wonderful addition to the first book, Poacher’s Fall. It picks up where Poacher’s Fall left off and believe me, Keeper’s Pledge does not disappoint! It was great to read about Phillip coming out of his shell, and to watch Danny grow into such a strong, confident man was wonderful!

I fell for Danny in the first book. He’s a hardworking man of the house and a father figure to his siblings despite his young age; I really thought that he pulled it off wonderfully.

Phillip was so stoic in the first book, it was great to see him let loose and enjoy himself a little bit. These two men complete each other, and they will have to learn to complement one another if they are to make it through their struggles in this book. When Danny’s brother leaves a girl in “a bad way” and refuses to do what is right for her, Danny steps in and is determined to do the right thing…but what will that mean for him and Phillip?

Keepers Pledge is a lovely story with wonderful characters. I highly enjoyed every minute I spent reading this book and recommend it to anyone who loves a well written romance.

Reviewed By: Jerry

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Light the Fire by JL Merrow

Title: Light the Fire
Author: JL Merrow
Publisher: JMS Books
Pages: 22
Characters: Kurt, Matt
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotic
Kisses: 4.5

Blurb:

Two years after the death of his lover at the hands of bigots, Kurt’s still not looking for another relationship, even though the big old house he bought with Raoul seems cold and empty these days. But there’s a perky kid at his gym who just won’t take no for an answer.

Matt can tell there’s more to Kurt than just a great set of pecs. He’s drawn to the big guy’s caring, protective attitude as much as to his muscles. But when push comes to shove, can Matt show Kurt he’s not just a big mouth in a small package?

Review:

Light the Fire is a sexy and heartwarming gem of a story. For a novella just under 22 pages, it really packs a lot of punch. I’ve read several stories by JL Merrow and I’ve enjoyed her descriptive storytelling ability as well as the way she seems to really get to the heart and soul of her characters.

At first glance, Matt and Kurt are total opposites of each other. Kurt lost his partner over two years ago and is still grieving from it. He lives in a large home he bought with his dead lover and really just seems to be going through the motions of life instead of living it. When he meets Matt at the gym, Kurt is a little overwhelmed by him. Matt is around five to ten years younger than Kurt and he has a bubbly disposition with a big sunny smile as well as a flirtatious flair about him.

Matt’s behavior makes Kurt nervous (read it and see why) and he does what he can to push the younger man away. What Kurt doesn’t count on is Matt’s persistence to be with him and Kurt’s sudden and surprising fascination of the younger man makes him want to stop existing and start living again. But will Kurt’s past fears keep him from taking a chance on love again?

This is a great short story. I wish it had been a full-length novel. I would have loved to have seen these two men really work at making their relationship work. I loved both of the heroes and wanted to read so much more about them.

Light The Fire is a perfect, quick read on a cold, rainy day. It’s gratifying story and likeable, interesting characters will warm your heart and leave you with a smile on your face. Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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Trick of Time by JL Merrow

Title: Trick of Time
Author: JL Merrow
Publisher: Carina Press
Pages: 110
Characters: Ted Ennis, Jem Pocket
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Historical, Time-Travel Romance
Kisses: 5

Blurb:

A lover from another time

When Ted Ennis steps out the doors of the Criterion Theatre for a cigarette and finds himself in Victorian London, he begins to doubt his sanity. At first he thinks it’s all a film set, and is sure that the strikingly handsome young man leaning against a lamppost must be the leading man…

What starts as a sordid transaction with a beautiful rent boy quickly turns into something much deeper, drawing him back again and again as he gets to know Jem and craves meaningful encounters with him.

But Ted doesn’t understand the exact conditions necessary for his trips through time–and for Jem, time may actually be running out. Now Ted has one last shot to get back to Jem and save their relationship, before it’s too late…

Review:

When I had the opportunity to read and review Trick of Time by JL Merrow, I immediately jumped at the chance to do it. There aren’t many time-travel themed books in the gay romance world, so I was anxious to read and review this book.

The blurb does an excellent job at describing the story, so I won’t rehash a lot of it. Since the death of his lover, Ted has been going through the motions in life. Through a favor of a friend, he’s managed to get a job at an old theatre, and even though he’s appreciative for the work, his heart isn’t really into it. One night during the middle of a performance, he decides to take a smoke break outside and finds himself in the middle of Victorian London. When he spots a very handsome man standing beside a lamp post, he suddenly decides to approach the man and see what’s up. What Ted doesn’t realize is he’s stepped into another time and that there is one man in the past who will bring light and love back into his dark lonely world he’s been existing in.

I loved this book! It was easy to feel sorry and empathize with Ted. He’s lonely and misses his partner terribly. When he meets Jem, I was happy to see Ted find his hope again. Watching Ted start to care for Jem and take another chance at finding love, was a beautiful thing to see. I thought he and Jem were very well matched and I enjoyed every moment they spent together. I also enjoyed watching the very modern Ted spend time with Jem in Victorian England. I thought Ms. Merrow did an excellent job at capturing the past, as well as Ted’s confusion and shock of suddenly being caught in another time.

My only gripe about this book was I wished it had been longer. I would have liked to see them really work at being in a relationship. I also would have loved to have seen how one of them really handled living in another time. But I did love the ending and I enjoyed the couple of hours of escapism the book gave to me. I also loved the cover! It reminds me of an old-school romance cover and since I adore romantic covers, this one is a favorite of mine.

Beautifully written with likeable characters that live and breathe off of the written page, Trick of Time is one of my favorite books that I’ve read this year. I loved the creative and heartfelt storyline and never wanted the book to come to an end. If you are looking for a well-written romance with a unique and romantic storyline, then Trick of Time is definitely the book for you! Highly Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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Poacher’s Fall by JL Merrow

Title: Midwinter Manor Book One: Poacher’s Fall
Author: JL Merrow
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Pages: 58
Characters: Danny Costessey, Phillip Luccombe
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Historical Romance, Series
Kisses: 4.5

Blurb:

One snowy night just before Christmas, 1922, poacher Danny Costessey rounds off a night trapping rabbits by climbing a tree to fetch some mistletoe for his mother—only to fall and break his leg. Taken to the manor house to recover from his injuries, Danny meets the reclusive owner, Philip Luccombe. Village gossip has it Luccombe went mad during the war, but Danny soon realizes he’s simply still mourning his late lover. As friendship grows between them, Danny starts to fall for handsome, shy Philip.

Danny’s lively nature, roguish good looks, and ready laughter enchant Philip, and he finds himself being drawn out of his shell whether he will it or not. But when Danny tries to move beyond friendship, Philip panics—and his rejection threatens not only their happiness, but Danny’s health.

Review:

I loved this book! There is so much pain and loss that these two men share, it just broke my heart! I adored Danny’s character. He was sweet and innocent, but in such a strong way that he made me fall for him. Philip was so deep in his own pain that he had hidden himself away from the world…that is until Danny came along and brought light into his dark world.

Poacher’s Fall is such a great story! I enjoyed it so much that I would have loved if there had been more of it because I hated to see it come to an end. I can only hope this author hurries up and writes more about these two in the future. I can’t wait to read the next book in the series! Highly Recommended!

Reviewed By: Jerry

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Pressure Head by JL Merrow

Title : Pressure Head
Author: J.L. Merrow
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 238
Characters: Tom, Phil
Sub genre: contemporary romance mystery
Kisses: 4.5

Blurb:

To most everyone, Tom Paretski is a plumber with a cheeky attitude and a limp from a car accident when he was 17 years old. There are a few-mainly law enforcement- who know about Tom’s hidden talent. He has the ability to find hidden things, whether they be bodies, secret stashes, drugs, or what-have-you.

When he get called upon to help find the body of a missing woman in a place called Nomansland Common, he runs into his high school crush Phil Morrison, a private investigator hired by the missing woman’s parents to help locate their daughter. Phil was the high school bully who was partially responsible for the accident that damaged Tom’s hip.
Phil is now openly gay and is returning the interest that Tom still feels for him but Tom finds himself highly suspicious of the reasons why.

As the clues and evidence concerning Melanie’s murder combine to form a complicated case, Tom and Phil find their attraction to each other heating up, but neither one is having an easy time dropping the walls that they have built around their hearts.

Review:

This book is an interesting and intriguing story from page one until the very end. It starts with Tom Paretski, a plumber with a hidden ability, to help find the body of a missing young woman named Melanie Porter. After the body is located, he runs into Phil Morrison, a private investigator with whom he has a complicated past. When they were both in high school, Tom had a big crush on Phil, who bullied him and was partially responsible for the accident that injured Tom’s hip at the age of 17.

Phil is now openly gay and is returning the interest that Tom still has for him, but it leaves Tom wondering if it’s for real or is Phil just wanting to use him for his abilities.

The list of suspects in the murder of Melanie Porter runs all the way from the most obvious one, her finance Graham Masters, to Robin East, her boss at her job, to Reverend Merriweather Lewis, vicar if the church where Melanie was the Parish Administrator, to Lionel Treadgood, the church treasurer.

As Tom and Phil work their way through the trail of clues and evidence that lead to the long suspect list, the attraction between them becomes stronger and and stronger but both of them must break through the walls that each one has around their hearts before the relationship to work.

J.L. Merrow has written a mystery that I love for the twists and turns that keep you guessing right up to the very last page.

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Reviewed by: Pat Nelson

By special request we had two reviewers who requested this title. So, I’ve decided to run them both. As you can see, they are both almost in sync with one another on their thoughts of the book.

Title: Pressure Head
Author: JL Merrow
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 253
Characters: Tom Paretski and Phil Morrison
Sub-Genre: Contemporary, Suspense/Mystery
Kissses: 5

Blurb:

Some secrets are better left hidden.

To most of the world, Tom Paretski is just a plumber with a cheeky attitude and a dodgy hip, souvenir of a schoolboy accident. The local police keep his number on file for a different reason—his sixth sense for finding hidden things.

When he’s called in to help locate the body of a missing woman up on Nomansland Common, he unexpectedly encounters someone who resurrects a host of complicated emotions. Phil Morrison, Tom’s old school crush, now a private investigator working the same case. And the former bully partly responsible for Tom’s injury.

The shocks keep coming. Phil is now openly gay, and shows unmistakable signs of interest. Tom’s attraction to the big, blond investigator hasn’t changed—in fact, he’s even more desirable all grown up. But is Phil’s interest genuine, or does he only want to use Tom’s talent?

As the pile of complicated evidence surrounding the woman’s murder grows higher, so does the heat between Tom and Phil. But opening himself to this degree exposes Tom’s heart in a way he’s not sure he’s ready for…while the murderer’s trigger finger is getting increasingly twitchy.

Review:

If you’re looking for a romance you won’t find it here, however, if you’re looking for a great mystery/suspense then Pressure Head is the perfect book to sit down with. From the first page the author will grab your attention.

Tom and Phil are old school classmates, ones without the usual history you would expect. Tom spent his school years being bullied by Phil and his friends. The torment Tom faced ends with tragic results, leaving both men scared. As the reader learns more about Phil, his actions during that time become more understandable, although not excusable. Because of their past history, the sexual tension that exists between the men is not something either man rushes to explore. They do, however, form a sort of working relationship using Tom’s special talents and Phil’s PI skills to solve a murder.

As the men try to find out who killed the fiancé of an old classmate, several secondary characters are introduced, each of whom at one time I thought was the guilty party. There are several twists and turns, some of which I did not see coming, that really keep you wondering what will happen next.

The author does a wonderful job wrapping up Pressure Head, leaving the reader with a story that they will be sure to read time and again. I hope the author has plans to bring these two back for many more mysteries as I would love to see more of them.

Reviewed By: Lydia

Blue Collar or White? A guest post by JL Merrow and Josephine Myles

A crisp, white cotton shirt, and a finely woven silk tie in a classic Windsor knot—or a tank top, stretched over sweat-sheened muscles? Both have their appeal. One is a symbol of fiscal, perhaps even political clout; the other showcases raw physical power. And power, in whatever form, attracts. Evolution has made us that way, whether we like it or not.

Bluntly, the more powerful your mate, the better it was likely to be, historically, for your children. Physically strong genes would give them a better chance of surviving into adulthood before the advent of modern medicine, and wealth meant they’d be better fed.

But in this day and age, it’s whatever floats your boat.

JL Merrow (Jamie): Personally, I’d have to admit I have a certain fascination with a bit of rough. There’s just something about a man who’s *ahem* good with his hands! Someone you know can take care of himself in a potentially dangerous situation and in the event of a nuclear winter, wouldn’t starve to death the minute Waitrose ran out of food stocks.

Then again, a man in a sharp suit gives off definite vibes of being astute and in charge. He’d be smart enough to avoid the danger in the first place, and would probably be the guy supervising the post-apocalyptic food rationing.

What do you think, Jo?

Josephine Myles: Oh, it’s a bit of rough for me every time. I’m not terribly interested in learning how to do all that DIY type stuff, so I always admire men who are good with their hands. And who have the brawn to do the heavy lifting, too.

Although I must admit, I do love fine tailoring so the sight of a man in a beautifully fitted suit, perhaps with a sumptuous coloured lining, is very appealing.

In Pressure Head you contrast your rough and ready plumber, Tom, with a man who’s usually found in cashmere. What made you want to pair up a blue and a white collar worker?

Jamie: Perhaps it’s my Cambridge education (the state school I went to wasn’t exactly renowned for sending pupils to top universities), but I’ve always loved playing with the idea of social class. Unless you’re actual aristocracy, there’s a certain amount of social mobility between classes. Phil wears cashmere because he can – and because he couldn’t afford to when he was growing up. Tom, on the other hand, was better off in childhood but has for more than one reason become a tradesman rather than something more traditionally middle-class–his sister and brother are a barrister and an oncologist.

But more generally, I just like to play with a pairing who are from different sides of the divide. Particularly when I get to show the varying reactions of their friends!

Jo: Agreed. The British class system gives us a huge amount to work with, but I wonder how easy it is for readers in the rest of the world to pick up on all those little class giveaways a born and bred Brit would notice? While we might get a good idea of someone’s class from their speech patterns, shopping habits and which TV channels they watch, the meaning of these sorts of cultural references doesn’t necessarily pass intact across the Atlantic. While we might instantly know the difference between shopping for food at Waitrose or M&S, versus Asda or Lidl, it isn’t going to be so obvious to those from other countries.

That’s why I find the type of job a character has to be so telling. While I love to play with characters who have moved between classes like Tom and Phil, for The Hot Floor I ended up giving my three MCs jobs that very much fit their class. Middle class Rai is an academic, whereas his salt of the earth boyfriend is a humble plumber. Josh is somewhere in the middle as his job as a glassblower makes him an artisan, which these days tends to be the preserve of the arty middle classes, but it also means he comes home hot, sweaty and smeared in ash. Rawr.

What do you reckon, Jamie: should men smell of fresh sweat or fancy aftershave?

Jamie: Good point re subtleties being lost in translation, Jo. Although I like to think we’re giving our non-Brit fans a bit of an education in these important matters (whether they want it or not!).

And I think perfume’s great—on girls! I’m not a fan of men smelling of anything other than, well, man. Sexist of me? Maybe, but I know what I like!

So readers, who gets you hot under the collar? Rufty-tufty manual workers—or slick, smooth men in suits?

Comment to win! Jo and Jamie are both offering a choice of a book from their backlist to one lucky commenter on this post, and all commenters will also be entered into a draw for the grand prize (details here), to be announced on 8^th October.

About the books:

Pressure Head

Some secrets are better left hidden.

When Tom, a plumber with a talent for finding hidden things, is called in to help the police locate the body of a missing woman, he unexpectedly encounters a familiar face. Phil, Tom’s old school crush, now a private investigator working the same case.

Tom’s attraction to the big, blond investigator hasn’t changed—in fact, he’s even more desirable all grown up. But is Phil’s interest genuine, or does he only want to use Tom’s talent? Meanwhile, the evidence around the woman’s murder piles up…while the murderer’s trigger finger is getting increasingly twitchy.

Pressure Head on Amazon.com

The Hot Floor

Two plus one equals scorching hot fun.

Every time Josh overhears his sexy downstairs neighbors, Rai and Evan, having loud and obviously kinky sex, Josh is overwhelmed with lust…and a longing for a fraction of the love he’s never managed to find. On the night a naked Josh falls—quite literally—into the middle one of Rai and Evan’s marathon sex sessions, the force of their mutual attraction takes control. But just as Josh dares to hope, he senses a change. Leaving him to wonder if the winds of love are about to blow his way at last…or if history is about to repeat itself.

The Hot Floor on Amazon.com

About the authors:

JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.

She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour.

Find JL Merrow online at: www.jlmerrow.com/

English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. Jo blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She’s beginning to suspect he enjoys it.

For more information about Jo’s published stories, regular blog posts and saucy free reads, visit JosephineMyles.com

Worker images courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

JL Merrow and Ginger

Is it Because I is Ginger?

Red, auburn, ginger, strawberry blonde… call it what you will, it’s a colour of hair I’m rather partial to. Red hair runs in my family—although sadly, when it saw me, it ran the other way. I have a ginger character in Hard Tail—actually, two, if you count Wolverine, the cat. And okay, Adam’s main purpose is to complicate Tim’s life and provide comic relief—but he’s still dear to my heart, with his gangling limbs and indecipherable speech.

Why is it that guys with ginger hair are so often treated like, well, a red-headed step-child? What does the world have against red hair?

How can some people look at this:

And see this:

It seems the prejudice against people with red hair is deep-seated. Apparently in medieval times, red-heads were seen as having “a beastly sexual desire and moral degeneration”—sounds to me like they might be fun guys to get to know!

It’s good to see, though, that there’s been something of a backlash in popular culture against this insidious gingerism of late:

The Doctor: Am I…ginger?
Rose: No, you’re just sort of…brown.
The Doctor: [disappointed] Aw, I wanted to be ginger! I’ve never been ginger!
 Doctor Who, 2.1

Nanny Ogg’s (newly human) cat Greebo [taking a ginger cat mask]: Aaalwaaays waanted to bee ginger.
Butler (nervously): On you it looks good, sir!
 Witches Abroad, Terry Pratchett

And if ginger looks like this, who could possibly say it’s a bad thing?

Defence rests, m’lud.

***

What do you think? Have you ever been bullied for being ginger, or known someone who has? Have you ever experimented with hair dye to bring out a fierier side of your personality? Were you surprised by people’s reactions?

***

JL Merrow is that rare beast, an English person who refuses to drink tea. She read Natural Sciences at Cambridge, where she learned many things, chief amongst which was that she never wanted to see the inside of a lab ever again. Her one regret is that she never mastered the ability of punting one-handed whilst holding a glass of champagne.

She writes across genres, with a preference for contemporary gay romance and the paranormal, and is frequently accused of humour.

Find JL Merrow online at: http://www.jlmerrow.com

All commenters will be entered into a draw for winner’s choice of an e-book from my backlist, PLUS a gift certificate for $25 from Amazon (or the e-book retailer of your choice). The more blog tour posts you comment on, the more chances you get! See my website here for full itinerary. Contest ends Weds May 23rd. The winner will be picked around noon, GMT.

Finding love can be a bumpy ride.

His job: downsized out of existence. His marriage: dead in the water. It doesn’t take a lot of arm twisting for Tim Knight to agree to get out of London and take over his injured brother’s mountain bike shop for a while. A few weeks in Southampton is a welcome break from the wreck his life has become, even though he feels like a fish out of water in this brave new world of outdoor sports and unfamiliar technical jargon.

The young man who falls—literally—through the door of the shop brings everything into sharp, unexpected focus. Tim barely accepts he’s even in the closet until his attraction to Matt Berridge pulls him close enough to touch the doorknob.

There’s only one problem with the loveable klutz: his bullying boyfriend. Tim is convinced Steve is the cause of the bruises that Matt blows off as part of his risky sport. But rising to the defense of the man he’s beginning to love means coming to terms with who he is—in public—in a battle not even his black belt prepared him to fight. Until now.

Product Warnings: Contains an out-and-proud klutz, a closeted, karate-loving accountant—and a cat who thinks it’s all about him. Watch for a cameo appearance from the Pricks and Pragmatism lovers. May inspire yearnings for fresh air, exercise, and a fit, tanned bike mechanic of your very own.

Hard Tail is available from Samhain Publishing at a reduced price for a limited time only.

Links: my website: http://www.jlmerrow.com/
Blog tour itinerary: http://www.jlmerrow.com/index.html
Hard Tail: http://store.samhainpublishing.com/hard-tail-p-6805.html

Hard Tail by JL Merrow

Title: Hard Tail
Author: JL Merrow
Publisher: Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
Pages: 259
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Gay Contemporary
Kisses: 4

Blurb:

Finding love can be a bumpy ride.

His job: downsized out of existence. His marriage: dead in the water. It doesn’t take a lot of arm twisting for Tim Knight to agree to get out of London and take over his injured brother’s mountain bike shop for a while. A few weeks in Southampton is a welcome break from the wreck his life has become, even though he feels like a fish out of water in this brave new world of outdoor sports and unfamiliar technical jargon.

The young man who falls—literally—through the door of the shop brings everything into sharp, unexpected focus. Tim barely accepts he’s even in the closet until his attraction to Matt Berridge pulls him close enough to touch the doorknob.

There’s only one problem with the loveable klutz: his bullying boyfriend. Tim is convinced Steve is the cause of the bruises that Matt blows off as part of his risky sport. But rising to the defense of the man he’s beginning to love means coming to terms with who he is—in public—in a battle not even his black belt prepared him to fight. Until now.

Review:

Matt Berridge, a lovable klutz, who fixes bikes. Tim Knight, a karate-loving accountant, who takes over his brothers’ bike shop and Wolverine, a mysterious cat with a big appetite for tuna fish. These three characters take you on a journey to the outskirts of the city and into the beauty of wildlife that seems to have been forgotten by man.

Tim Knight, who recently got dumped by his wife, has to go and take over his brothers’ bike shop (named Knight Rides) since his brother, Jay, got into an accident. Upon arriving, he meets Matt, an out of the closet klutz who is an awesome bike mechanic. Tim and Matt hit it off really well and as they get to know each other, Tim opens up to his sexual preference, which have been long buried in the past, and goes to explore.

Hard Tail was an enjoyable book from beginning to end. Cheerful, funny and heartwarming, these characters showed how strong love can be. Matt was an adorable character with his klutziness and Tim with his strong sense of justice for Matt. Although they had to pass through rough encounters, mostly Tim, which you will find out when you read the story (>.<), they surpass it with unexpected results. I highly recommend this book for anyone who loves romance and karate.

Reviewed By: Jen

Look Who’s Stopping By To Warm Us Up, Just In Time For The Holidays

Winter Warmers, just what are they, exactly? According to our good and trusted friend Wikipedia: “Winter warmer is a traditional malty-sweet English Strong Ale that is brewed in the winter months. It is usually quite dark, but not as dark as a stout, with a big malt presence. Sometimes, winter warmers have a few spices, especially in the United States, although spices are not necessarily a required ingredient in a Winter Warmer. The primary characteristic is strength; the average alcohol content by volume ranges from 6.0% to 8.0% ABV and some Winter Warmers reach 10% ABV or more.”

But how many of us really choose a mug of Ale to warm us up after a day spent out in the snow and cold? Here are some other warming options from the authors of Winter Warmers. A seasonal anthology from Lou Harper, Clare London, JL Merrow, Chrissy Munder, and Josephine Myles. Five stories of winter romance from Britain and the USA that are guaranteed to raise your temperature and soften your heart in time for the Holidays.

Josephine Myles: Sweet, dark, and with a bit of a kick, a Brandy Alexander is the perfect warm-me-up beverage for a chilly night.

Brandy Alexander
1 1/3 msr brandy
1 1/3 msr darke creme de cacao
1 1/3 msr double cream

Shake with ice and strain into a champagne saucer. Garnish with grated dark chocolate. Incredibly quick and easy to make, but it tastes absolutely delicious!

Chrissy Munder: The characters in Butterscotch Kisses, my story in the Winter Warmers anthology, mix together hot cocoa and butterscotch schnapps for a quick and wonderfully tasty beverage. Try it the next time you come in after sledding with the kids and make some hot cocoa. But to truly experience a Butterscotch Kiss, you need a few other ingredients:

Butterscotch Kiss
2 oz Everclear® alcohol
2 oz butterscotch schnapps
4 oz club soda

Pour all ingredients into a cocktail shaker half-filled with ice cubes. Shake well, strain into a collins glass half-filled with ice cubes, and serve.

Lou Harper: Cold and windy outside makes me reach for something warm and soothing inside. Try my favorite:

Hot Apple Cider
2 quarts of apple cider
10 whole cloves
1 orange, thinly sliced
1/3 cup of brown sugar packed
6 whole allspice
pinch of grated nutmeg
1 cup dark rum (can also use spiced rum)
4 cinnamon sticks

Combine ingredient in a large nonreactive pot. Bring to a gentle simmer over low heat. To really bring the flavors together, allow to simmer for at least half an hour before serving. Garnish with a slice of orange or a cinnamon stick.

It’s okay to keep the pot warm for hours – a crockpot is perfect for this purpose.

Clare London: I’m pitching in with Mulled Wine as it plays such an important role in “Lucky Dip” in Andy and Greg’s reconciliation!

As famous British chef Jamie Oliver says, “This is dead easy to make and tastes like Christmas in a glass. It’s a lovely celebration of those traditional festive spices like cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg. If you’ve got your own favourite spices, then feel free to add those to the pot too. Let everything cook away and warm up gently so the flavours have time to mingle with the wine. I like to leave my mulled wine ticking over on a really low heat and just ladle some into glasses as and when guests pop in.” Jamie, I agree!

2 clementines
peel of 1 lemon
peel of 1 lime
250g caster sugar
6 whole cloves
1 cinnamon stick
3 fresh bay leaves
1 whole nutmeg
1 whole vanilla pod, halved
2 star anise
2 bottles of Chianti, or other Italian red wine

Peel large sections of peel from the clementines, lemon and lime.
Put the sugar in a large saucepan over a medium heat, add the pieces of peel and squeeze in the clementine juice. Add the cloves, cinnamon stick, bay leaves and about 10 to 12 gratings of nutmeg. Throw in the halved vanilla pod and stir in just enough red wine to cover the sugar.

Let this simmer until the sugar has completely dissolved into the red wine and then bring to the boil. Keep on a rolling boil for about 4 to 5 minutes, or until you’ve got a beautiful thick syrup. This creates a wonderful flavour base by really getting the sugar and spices to infuse and blend well with the wine. It’s important to make a syrup base first because the mixture needs to be quite hot, and if you do this with both bottles of wine in there you’ll burn off the alcohol.

When the syrup is ready, turn the heat down to low and add the star anise and both bottles of wine. Gently heat the wine and after around 5 minutes, when it’s warm and delicious, ladle it into glasses and serve.

JL Merrow: My favorite Winter Warmer has, without question, to be Glühwein. This is very similar to English mulled wine, but often has an extra kick, due to a dash of brandy or port. I have fond memories of a long winter’s weekend in Vienna, when the temperature fell to -15 degrees Celsius, snow was thick on the ground – and Glühwein was available everywhere. There’s nothing quite like it for giving you a wonderful, Christmassy glow…

Glühwein:
1 bottle of red wine. A good general rule is to use something full-bodied, but inexpensive – and if it’s really rough, just use more honey!
2 cinnamon sticks, broken into pieces 1 – 2 inches each
12-16 whole cloves
1 orange
2 tablespoons clear honey
1 heaped teaspoon allspice
1 glass of water

Method
1. Put water in large pan and place over medium heat.
2. Add cinnamon, honey and allspice.
3. While honey is dissolving cut the orange into slices. Push cloves into each slice and add to the pan.
4. Pour in all the wine. Yes, all of it. You’ll get to drink it later…
5. Turn up the heat. DO NOT ALLOW TO BOIL – do you want to waste all that lovely alcohol? Let the spices infuse for 30 minutes (if you’re impatient) or an hour (if you’re a purist). I know, it’s a long time to wait. It’ll be worth it, trust me!
6. Taste it. If it’s not sweet enough, add some more honey or sugar. Now is the time to slosh in a dash of brandy or port, if you think it needs a little extra kick.
7. Spoon out into a heatproof glass or mug, leaving the oranges and cinnamon behind.
8. Enjoy!
9. Repeat as necessary. And yes, it’s necessary.

And, in honor of our publisher, Pink Squirrel Press, here’s an extra warmer for us all to try:

Pink Squirrel
1 1/2 msr white creme de cacao (dark will do, which makes a Dirty Squirrel)
1 1/2 msr amaretto
1 msr double cream
1/4 msr grenadine

Rim a champagne saucer with lemon and sugar. Shake with ice and strain into glass. Garnish with a cocktail cherry and flaked almonds sprinkled on top. Mmm… tasty and sophisticated looking!

What’s your favorite Winter Warmer? Alcoholic or otherwise? Raise your glass and pick up your copy of Winter Warmers: http://pinksquirrelpress.wordpress.com/winter-warmers/

Mulled wine. Butterscotch kisses. Hideous sweaters. Candy at the beach, or a trip to a sex shop in Amsterdam. And the man of your dreams, wrapped around you…

Winter warmers come in many shapes and sizes, from the tongue-in-cheek to the hot-as-hell. Enjoy a quintet of heart-warming tales of men loving men from Clare London, Chrissy Munder, JL Merrow, Josephine Myles, and Lou Harper that are guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face.

One thing’s for sure—it’s going to be a red-hot Christmas!

Lucky Dip by Clare London
Andy Jackson always knew that class 2C’s help in preparing for the annual Christmas Fair would be a mixed blessing. Then he’s paired up on the Lucky Dip with Greg, the man who dumped him but now can’t keep away, the pupils are either lecturing him on his lovelife or losing bladder control, and no one’s fixed the broken handle on the storage room. It may all be one whoopee cushion too far for him.

Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder
Matthew Morrison is determined to conquer his fear of heights and achieve a winning outcome. At least, that’s what the best-selling, self-help book he’s listening to promises. Being stuck on a three-story tower in the middle of a snowstorm wasn’t part of the plan. With no St. Bernard in sight, it’s Cute Ticket Guy Adam to the rescue, and an outcome Matthew never anticipated.

Wintertide by Lou Harper
May meets December when Jem and Oscar chance on each other at the Santa Monica Pier, only weeks before Christmas. The two men are separated by age, social status, and their taste in candy, yet if they are both naughty and nice, they might just find holiday cheer together.

When in Amsterdam… by Josephine Myles
Brandon is on his first visit to new boyfriend Jos’s home country, just in time for their Sinterklaas celebrations. But an unexpected detour into a sex shop leads Brandon to new discoveries about himself, and a whole new dynamic to their relationship. The weather may be cold and damp, but Brandon and Jos soon heat things up!

A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou by JL Merrow
What’s the best gift a young man could get for Christmas? Mohawked saxophonist Liam wouldn’t have picked the hideous collection of knitwear he’s presented with by his mum and his aunties. He’d rather have the gorgeous older man he sees every day while busking at King’s Cross. But with a little Christmas magic in the air, maybe those garish garments are just the thing for attracting a silver fox…

Winter Warmers – Now available at your favorite eRetailer including:
Amazon.com / Amazon.co.uk / Smashwords / All Romance Ebooks

Winter Warmers an Anthology from Pink Squirrel Press

Title: Winter Warmers
Author: Clare London, Chrissy Munder, Lou Harper, Josephine Myles, JL Merrow
Publisher: Pink Squirrel Press
Pages: 126
Sub-Genre: Anthology/ Contemporary Romance/Holiday Romance
Kisses: 4.5






Blurb:

Baby, it’s cold outside! Beat the chill with Winter Warmers – a seasonal anthology

Mulled wine. Butterscotch kisses. Hideous sweaters. Candy at the beach, or a trip to a sex shop in Amsterdam. And the man of your dreams, wrapped around you…
Winter warmers come in many shapes and sizes, from the tongue-in-cheek to the hot-as-hell. Enjoy a quintet of heart-warming tales of men loving men from Clare London, Chrissy Munder, JL Merrow, Josephine Myles, and Lou Harper that are guaranteed to leave you with a smile on your face.
One thing’s for sure—it’s going to be a red-hot Christmas!

Review:

If there’s a time of year to allow oneself to believe in the promise of love and romance, it’s the holiday season, and these five contributing authors deliver that magic beautifully in Winter Warmers, a collection of short stories that range from poignant to comical to sexy to just a little bit kinky, but will surely make you believe there’s something special about this time of year.

Clare London delivers a “the one that got away” story in Lucky Dip, in which Greg must seek forgiveness from Andy, the man he so abruptly dumped. When a fortuitous accident throws the two men together, Greg learns that the true gift during this holiday season is the gift of a second chance.

Butterscotch Kisses by Chrissy Munder is the story of a man, Matthew, who tries valiantly to overcome his fear of heights but finds that his true conquest might just be Adam, the cute ticket guy at the toboggan run who wears the squirrely hats and comes to Matthew’s rescue.

Lou Harper’s Wintertide is the supremely touching story of a May/December romance between Oscar and Jem, a man who finds healing and redemption in the arms of a near perfect stranger, and discovers that letting go and moving on does not mean forgetting.

Josephine Myles delivers an oh-so-sexy story that leaves no doubt as to whether it’s possible to be both naughty and nice at Christmastime and still get everything you want. On holiday in Amsterdam to meet his boyfriend’s family, Brandon quickly learns that where Jos is concerned, taking charge and dominating his boy is better than anything Sinterklaas could leave in his stocking. After all, When in Amsterdam…

Rounding out the collection is JL Merrow’s A Pint of Beer, a Bag of Chips, and Thou, a wonderfully clever story told by Liam, a mohawked punk with more charm and wit than anyone has a right to have. He’s had his eye on the older man he sees every day at King’s Cross station, but can’t seem to catch the man’s eye. That is, until his well meaning mum and aunts decide to brew up a strategy guaranteed to add a little bit of color to his plumage. When he finally catches Neil’s eye, Liam learns the anticipation of unwrapping a gift is half the fun of the holidays.

If you’re in the mood for a yummy yuletide collection, Winter Warmers just might be the perfect holiday treat.

Reviewed By: Lisa

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