Pimp It! Author Promo Day.

Never Again by Edward Kendrick

https://spsilverpublishing.com/never-again-ebook-p-1444.html

Blurb:

During the Civil War Joseph Moncure, shifter and newspaper owner, lost the only man he ever loved and he vowed it wouldn’t happen again.

Cal Gilbert, a homeless veteran of the Iraq War, found a purpose in life when he created ‘Rebuild NOLA’, an organization which refurbishes derelict houses for the homeless.
Joseph, tired of purveying the news, decides it’s time to find somewhere else to channel his time and energy. When he learns about ‘Rebuild’ he joins the organization, despite the instant antipathy between him and Cal.

Antipathy turns to grudging respect then friendship between the two men. Now Joseph must decide if he can once again allow love into his life after swearing ‘Never Again’.

Excerpt:

“Joseph, you cannot continue like this. For one thing it is quite unhealthy and…”

Joseph rounded on his sister, eyes blazing in anger. “You do not tell me what I can and cannot do.” He returned his gaze to the wooden coffin that held the remains of the man he had loved with all his heart and soul.

“I warned you. Didn’t I warn you? Never fall in love with a human. It can only end one way. They are fragile. They die. Naturally or unnaturally, they die and leave us behind to grieve.”

Now, his look baleful, he returned his attention to her. “How does one stop one’s heart from loving, Elizabeth?”

Seeing the pain he was in even though she couldn’t understand it, she said gently, “You don’t place yourself in the position to meet anyone who is not”—she spread her hands, searching for the right words—”who would not be right for you.”

He scrubbed a hand over his face to wipe away the tears. “Would you have me live in seclusion? I doubt that is possible with the war being waged around us. The humans are everywhere. Besides, my job…”—he ran his fingers over the coffin—”my job requires me to interact with the humans.”

“By all that’s holy, Joseph, sell the damned paper. There are more than enough people who would love to own it, to use it to follow their own agendas for reporting the war.”

“Precisely. Their own agendas. I make certain it tells the whole story, the true story of the war.” He bowed his head over the coffin, whispering, “I promised him I would, just as he promised he’d…”—a sob wracked Joseph’s body—”he promised he’d return. I should never have allowed him to cover that battle. I should have… have sent someone else. Anyone else but him.”

Elizabeth stepped behind him and wrapped her arms around his shoulders. “He would have hated you for doing that—for trying to protect him.” She pressed a kiss to the crown of his head. “For a human, he was insanely daring.”

“He was,” Joseph whispered. “It was one of the reasons I loved him. He would dare anything. He dared to be with me, to love me, in spite of what I am.”

http://edwardkendrick.blogspot.com/
http://rainingmenamen.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/edward.kendrick.5

Title: Araton’s Destiny (Celestial Justice 1) by Serena Yates

Blurb:

What if you’re a guardian angel and fail to do your job?

Araton has been a guardian angel for less than a century when a moment of distraction causes his human charge to be hit by a car. He expects to be punished – and is surprised to find out there is room for leniency – and even a new job. Will he be any better at being a Christmas angel?

Jake is a former pro-football player whose knee injury has prevented him from fulfilling a lifelong dream. He turns his attention to extreme sports instead. When he falls into an ice cave during a solitary trip just before Christmas he believes it is the end of the road for him. Nothing short of a miracle will save him…

NOTE: This book has been previously released in December 2010. No changes have been made to the story, it is identical to the previous version.

Buy links:
http://diversitynovels.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=21&product_id=17
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-araton039sdestiny-1169752-143.html
http://www.rainbowebooks.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=10724

Unforgettable by Lee Brazil

Pulp Friction Presents

A Sweet Exchange Erotic Short

Unforgettable

By

Lee Brazil

Ian Kerr dreams of the blue-eyed gaze that met his in a strange, still moment on the field of battle. Brodick MacFarland, young and inexperienced, yet old enough to fight for his clansmen, saves a wounded man left for dead by his kin. Now, five years later, Brodick is a trained physician and an adult who knows his own mind. Fortunately for Ian, the clash between the clans still rages on, leaving Brodick fair game. Will Brodick come with Ian of his own accord or will this educated warrior continue to evade capture?

EXCERPT

Thunder awoke Ian Kerr from a restless sleep haunted by troubled blue eyes. He wanted to reach out to the owner of those eyes, tell the man that it would be all right. “All right,” he mumbled, forcing heavy lids up. His head felt thick and his vision blurred.

Lying still, he forced himself to assimilate his surroundings as his head and vision slowly cleared. The floor beneath him was earth, the wall he lay against as well. A fire crackled nearby, providing warmth and a dim flickering light. His belly rumbled loudly, echoing the thunder.

Last he’d known, his brother Andrew, and Agnes MacFarland had left him to cover their retreat. How had he come to lie in an abandoned shepherd’s bothy? Still, it was out of the storm that raged outside, and for that he was grateful. A savory scent lingered in the air, and Ian shifted upright to find the source of that enticing odor.

“Ahh…” Agony seared his chest, and he clutched at it, marveling as his fingers found a neat row of stitches. The pain jolted his muddled brain and memories fought slowly to the surface. “The battle…” The damned MacFarlands had left him to die on the roadside when one of their untrained whelps landed a lucky blow with sword he’d been scarce able to lift.

“Aye, easy there.” The soft burr drew his gaze to a thin man in a MacFarland tartan kneeling near the small fire. The youth filled a bowl with pottage and crossed the small space between them. The voice was familiar, the figure strange.

“Where am I?”

“Boden’s old place. I couldna get ye any further from the road. Wasna safe to take ye to the farm.” When the youth knelt and offered him the bowl, Ian was struck by deep blue eyes, the steely blue of the sky before sunset, set in a fine boned face, beardless, thin, fragile nearly, and very familiar.

“Ye’re a MacFarland.” He reached automatically for his blade, though the stripling was hardly threatening in his appearance. Memories stirred of the recently fought battle. Those were the eyes from his dream… “I remember ye from the fight. Ye were in Andrew’s bride’s guard.”

Laughter lurked in the blue eyes before the youth ducked his head. “I’m Brodick MacFarland. Agnes is my sister.” His cheeks flushed slightly, though it could have been a trick of the flickering fire.

Brodick returned to the fire and filled another bowl of pottage for himself. Ian surveyed him cautiously. His instinct said the other man was no threat…but their families were at war. “Ye fetched the doctor for me?” Silently, he ate a few bites of pottage, studying the slim figure, the thin chest and wiry arms. This was no warrior, though he could plainly see the man wasn’t as young as he’d first thought.

Brodick met his gaze again. “I sewed ye up meself. I’m a student at Aberdeen. I’m sorry if ’tis no’ perfectly done. But I didna dare let anyone know you lived.”

Ian nodded. “Why?” This youth hadn’t participated in the mild battle; Ian’s injury had been caused by a startled looking stripling who’d vomited into the heather and thistle at the roadside immediately afterward. Ian’s clansmen had left him, their need to escort Andrew’s bride to safety most urgent. He caught a sidelong glance from Brodick, and something in the darkening gaze sent a flicker of heat to his groin. Clan MacFarland was known for beauty in a land where brawn was prized, Ian wouldn’t have been so smitten with the sainted Agnes, but this one was different…special. Where the other MacFarlands shared his creamy pale skin and plump rosy lips, instead of the deep auburn hair the rest of the MacFarlands sported, this one had been graced with a wild mane of black curls, cropped at the shoulder. Ian’s fingers itched to bury themselves in those curls, to test their silky appearance with his fingertips.

BUY LINKS :

https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-unforgettable-1162502-145.html

http://www.amazon.com/Unforgettable-ebook/dp/B00CFRQEQ0/

 

Surrounded by Crimson by Lexi Ander

Blurb: 

The day is drawing close for the birth of heirs of the Wolf Throne but Tristan and Ushna have to leave the safety of their ranch and travel back to Georgia and Tribe Enkidu to attend the trial of Craig Stoler’s followers. Tristan claims his birthright before the Council of Five and demonstrates he power before the elders. An attempt on Ushna’s life makes Tristan reevaluate his stance on claiming and they plan to leave for home sooner than anticipated for the longer they stay in Bahbelle, Georgia, the more danger gathers around the royal couple. There are those plotting and planning how to kill Tristan and steal his family. The assistance of a Goddess might even safe him.

 

The Park at Sunrise by Lee Brazil

Title: The Park at Sunrise
Author: Lee Brazil
Publisher: Lime Time Press
Pages: 52
Characters: Jason, Morgan
POV: 1st
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 5

Blurb:

First they were three, now there are two. Can Jason and Morgan make a relationship work without Paul?

For years the three of them had been inseparable, first as friends, then lovers. It’s been ten years since they parted for what was supposed to be a year apart to pursue their dreams. This isn’t the reunion they planned then. It’s nine years too late for one thing, and they are one man short for another.

In the years since Paul’s death, Morgan hasn’t exactly been waiting for Jason to reach out to him. He’s been too busy trying to forget, to move on. Until Jason sends the right message. Is the painting just an excuse to see his ex again?

Review:

I’ve read several books by Lee Brazil and I’ve liked them all. Lee writes emotionally driven stories that often live with me long after I finish reading the story, so I had a feeling after I read the blurb to The Park at Sunrise, this was going to be another example of the author’s amazing storytelling ability.

The blurb does an excellent job at describing the story, so I won’t rehash it. I will say that ever since Paul’s untimely death, both Morgan and Jason have been going through the motions of life. Each man has been mourning for years and although they are successful within their own right, they are very restless and unhappy. Not only do they miss Paul, but they miss each other. I thought the author did an outstanding job at describing the grief and loss these two men went through. I also enjoyed how Morgan and Jason worked their way through a lot of emotional baggage to they can be together. In all honesty, even though this book is under 55 pages, it is so well-written it reads more like a full length novel.

Beautifully written with an emotionally driven storyline and well-written characters, The Park at Sunrise is a book not to be missed! I’m looking forward to reading more books by Lee Brazil and highly recommend this book.

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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Truth Deeper Than Logic by Lee Brazil

Title: Truth Deeper Than Logic
Author: Lee Brazil
Publisher: Breathless Press
Pages: 83
Characters: Nathan Hawthorn, Seth Greenwood
POV: 3rd
Sub genre: paranormal
Kisses: 4

Blurb:

His lover’s death filled Nate Hawthorn with rage. From that time were born legends of bloodthirsty cats and killer bears, of humans entering the woods and never leaving.

Legend exaggerated, and he had calmed down and accepted the transiency of human life. Fragile, defenseless, but curious, brave, and loving. He’d allowed their presence in his valley in the beginning because they intrigued him with their resourceful cleverness in turning their fragile bodies into a strength rather than the weakness he’d taken them for.

When Daniel died, he’d chosen to live among them for simple reasons. He felt closer to his lover walking among his descendents. He took a warped pride in the growth and the progress of the town Daniel had started, in the prosperity of Daniel’s people even as their growth and progress had overtaken his woods. Perhaps some fatalistic part of him believed that the circle of life would one day claim him, had known that they would one day kill him.

When Seth Greenwood, a junior architect with a local firm who dreamed of bigger things, pinned his hopes for career advancement on a project that required the use of Nate’s land, Nate realized how much he wanted to live. And how very much he wanted Seth.

Review:

Nathan Hawthorn is the owner of a nursery and a hundred acre section of woods that has been in his family for many generations. The city has served him a notice that they want to use the right of eminent domain to take 35 acres of his property to build a new high school.

Seth Greenwood is the architect who is hoping that building the new high school will lead to him getting a job at a architecture firm in a big city like LA or New York, anywhere besides the small town where everyone knows him and no one takes him seriously.

Three months before, Seth and his friend Gerry had been in the woods with a couple of acquaintances doing a film project for Gerry’s college class. Seth gets separated from the others and he sees a large cat with red eyes staring at him from the bushes. He freaks out and runs into the front door of a isolated cabin that he had noticed earlier and finds a very large, very sexy man inside. They are instantly attracted to each other and proceed to have a brief but passionate encounter.

When Nate goes to the meeting to challenge the city’s right to seize his land, he provides them with proof that the founder of the town is buried on his property and so they can’t take it as it is a historical place. He also recognizes one of the men at the meeting as the young man he had the brief but very passionate encounter with in his cabin.

Nate and Seth proceed to have a passionate relationship, but both know that Seth is going to leave eventually to take a job in another town. He asks Nate to go with him but Mate refuses. When Seth asks him why, Nate reveals that he is a hawthorn tree spirit and can’t get too far from his tree or he’ll die. Seth isn’t scared off by what Nate has told him and even comes up with a potential way for Nate to be able to leave the valley.

This short story by Lee Brazil is not your average “man vs the bureaucracy.” I love how he is able to combine nature, history, passion, and modern problems into a seamlessly entertaining tale that kept me entertained from beginning to end.

Reviewed by: Pat

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Silver Author Lee Brazil is here today!!

Hello, Lee, it’s so nice to see you. Can you tell us a little bit about your background?

I’m a former teacher of English grammar and composition. I retired a few years ago.

What was your first book and how long did it take to get it published?

My first book is a self pub, A Beautiful Silence. My first book through a publisher, Keeping House, was accepted by Breathless Press within weeks of being finished.

When did you start writing m/m romance? What about this genre interested you the most?

I started in October of 2010. I chose this genre because I believe that romance is for everyone, and that we can show that through fiction more easily than logic.

How long did it take you to get published? How many books have you written thus far?

A few months, I happily stumbled upon my first publisher fairly quickly. Um…I think maybe that I have written 14 books, but keep in mind that they are all novella length.

Do you write full time?

No. I could, I suppose, since I don’t work, but I’d say I write about 20 hours a week.

Looking back was there something in particular that helped you to decide to become a writer? Did you choose it or did the profession choose you?

I have always written, it seems, in one form or another. I guess it chose me.

On a typical writing day, how would you spend your time?

Drinking coffee, staring at a blank page, changing the music, sprinting.

Do you write right through or do you revise as you go along?

I write straight through, but if a major change needs to be made, I edit that. Minor things I leave until the end.

When it comes to plotting, do you write freely or plan everything in advance?

I’ve done both.

What kind of research do you do before and during a new book?

I utilize available resources at any point when a questions comes up- sometimes before writing, sometimes during writing, and even during editing.

How much of yourself and the people you know manifest into your characters?

I think it’s probably impossible not to put some of yourself into all of your characters. Every little thing is based on your own experience and knowledge to a certain extent.

What kind of books do you like to read?

I like gritty mysteries like John Sandford and erotic romance of course.

If you weren’t a writer what would you be?

When I wasn’t a writer I was a teacher, and it is a very fulfilling career.

Where did you get the idea for the stories you write?

They come from all over. Overheard bits of conversations, pictures, what if’s….

When it comes to the covers of your books, what do you like or dislike about them?

I like light, beautiful covers and Reese Dante does beautiful work. The dreamy, sensual aspect of her cover for Less Than All really appeals to me.

Aside from writing, what else do you enjoy doing?

Reading, gardening, walking, nature, cooking, music….

Any special projects coming out soon we should watch for?

In October I have several projects that are releasing. My new self published short story collection, Encounter will release on the first. It has a gorgeous cover designed by Startled Monkeys Media. Then later in the month Freaky Flashes, an anthology of Flash fiction is out.

New writers are always trying to glean advice from those with more experience. What suggestions do you have for new writers?

Don’t give up. Keep trying.

Can you please tell us where we can find you on the Internet?

I’m on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/lee.brazil and I keep a blog over at http://leebrazilauthor.blogspot.com/

Could you please share your favorite excerpt(s) from one of more of your stories with us?

Here’s one of my favorite bits from Less Than All, a regency mm romance. Er…I should ask, I suppose, is risqué is okay?

EXCERPT

The flickering candle light in the study and the murmur of masculine voices drew him to the doorway. A husky note of laughter sent a frisson of jealous rage down his spine. While he languished in another’s bed, Danville had come to his home, his visit coinciding with Peter’s arrival.

Furious, Victor flung the oak door open to crash against the wall. Crystal rattled and a fragile white and blue Chinese vase teetered, caught by a delicate white hand. Four pairs of startled eyes turned in his direction.

Victor took in the scene sneering with disdain. A lanky young man he vaguely recalled being introduced to at some soiree or card party leaned against the Adams fireplace mantle. The man appeared to be attempting to wear as many colors as the rainbow could spare. He obviously considered himself a dandy, from the lace at his cuffs and the uncomfortably knotted cravat he wore. Seeing himself observed, the man quickly adopted a bored expression, but the white knuckled grip he had on his glass belied his calm. He raised a dismissive brow. The coxcomb should take a leaf or two from Brummel’s book.

Less offensive to the eye was a nondescript young man whose brown waistcoat and brown hair matched his brown eyes perfectly. His evening slippers were scuffed and his cravat askew. This drunken nonentity beamed vacantly at Victor, calling out, “Ho, there! Here’s the master of the house!”

Victor’s brow shot up. He wasn’t pleased to discover his brother’s friends inebriated in his parlor just before dawn, but what truly set fire to his ire was the sight of Peter lounging on the sofa in a disgraceful state of undress, his bootless feet propped on the cherry wood Queen Anne table that held his mother’s prized Dresden shepherdesses. Adding insult to injury was the fact that young Danville had stretched the length of the sofa and rested his head in Peter’s lap.

What struck Victor most, what seared straight to the heart of his anger, was the sensual picture Danville presented. He reeked of sin and sex and all the wicked things that Victor wanted. The luminous glow of Nicky’s blue eyes, the slick gleam of swollen lips that had so clearly been recently kissed, even the sated sprawl of his lithe limbs teased Victor’s appetites.

No one in the room seemed to notice the way Peter’s hands sifted through Danville’s curly mass of hair. No one noticed the way Danville shifted, raising a buff silk breeched knee to hide where his cock stirred. No one seemed to notice the entirely inappropriate tableau they created.

“Peter!” Victor barked. Peter jerked, the warm smile fading from his thin face. Danville turned a searing gaze of contempt on Victor as Peter pushed him away. Peter jumped immediately to his stockinged feet, but Danville moved with lethargic slowness, disposing himself in the opposite corner of the couch, staring defiantly at Victor.

Victor met his gaze dispassionately, hiding his own ire behind icy disdain. Danville licked his lips again, slender hand falling to his lap, drawing Victor’s gaze to the evidence of his arousal. Victor narrowed his eyes. “Peter, I’d like to speak to you in my study, now.”

Danville’s lips pursed in a little moue of distaste. “Hurry back, Peter. We’ve got so much to catch up on.”
Furious, Victor spun on his heel and stalked across the marble foyer to his study. He poured a measure of whiskey from the crystal decanter that warmed near the fireplace and stood with his back to the door.

Peter had evidently taken the time to pull his glossy Hessians back on because Victor had swallowed half the glass before he heard the door click behind him. Lifting the glass to study the amber liquid in the firelight, he spoke without turning around. “I pay you an adequate allowance to cover your own establishment Peter, exactly because I do not wish to find my home invaded by hordes of drunken revelers.”

“I’m glad for Peter’s sake that you’re a generous man, My Lord Ware. But I’d hardly call our little gathering a horde.”
Victor whirled about to find Danville lounging in altogether too close a proximity. A single lingering glance impressed upon Victor the slender lithe frame, lovingly outlined by tight buff colored breeches, fine white linen shirt open at the neck. Both his discreetly embroidered waist coat and his black tailcoat hung open as well. Danville’s dishabille was inappropriate, and enticing as hell. He held up a hand as though to ward off the smaller man, but Danville stepped impossibly closer, and Victor groaned as his blood thrummed and his head swam.

Strong arms wrapped around his neck, tugging his head down, and soft wet lips pressed lightly against his mouth. “I’ve waited years for this moment, Ware.”

Then Victor gave up listening, gave up fighting the response of his body as an agile tongue probed the seam of his lips, seeking entrance. He accepted Nicky’s kiss, opened his mouth to suck at the questing tongue. He chased Nicky’s tongue for what seemed like ages, his body hardening and heating with lust.

His arms closed around Nicky’s slender waist, hauling the man close so he could seek solace for the ache of his prick by grinding against the silk of Nicky’s evening breeches. The shattering of his whiskey glass on the hearth broke the mood, and Nicky pulled away, retreating to the door.

“I’m going now.” He paused, hand on the door knob. A strangely earnest expression crossed his face as he tilted his head to glance back at the stunned Victor. “Shall I return? Or do you forbid Peter’s friends the run of your home?”

He slipped from the room while Victor struggled to frame a coherent response.

Less Than All by Lee Brazil

Title: Less Than All
Author: Lee Brazil
Publisher: Silver Publishing
Pages: 126
Characters: Lord Victor Ware, Nicholas Danville
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Historical Romance
Kisses: 5

Blurb:

A youthful indiscretion leads to a humiliating encounter between Nicholas Danville and Lord Victor Ware. Nicholas is sent home in disgrace, and Victor returns to life in the Ton.

Years later Nicholas’s reproving parents have sent him to town to attain a degree of polish before he begins his preparations for a life as a member of the clergy.

A chance encounter with an old friend leads to a new confrontation between Nicholas and Victor. This time, the attraction between them burns brighter, Nicholas is old enough to know his own mind, and Victor is done with self-denial.

From ballrooms to gardens and opera houses, Victor sets about proving to his dubious young lover that a passionate liaison between two men is possible even under the narrow gaze of the Ton.

Review:

When Lord Victor Ware catches his brother and his brother’s best friend, Nicholas, in a compromising situation, he sends the teenaged Nicholas back home in a disgrace. Years later, Victor cannot get the young man off of his mind, as well as the forbidden attraction and feelings he has for the younger Nicholas. When he sees the young man’s return to the ton, Victor knows he must make amends and somehow keep Nicholas in his life and bed.

Soon, the men find themselves within each other’s company, and both are swept up in the intense feelings and attraction they have for each other. But duty calls, and Victor knows he must someday find a wife and have an heir for his title and fortune it threatens to pull the lovers apart before they’ve really begun. Will Victor and Nicholas be able to continue their relationship under the watchful eye of the ton, or with duty and self-sacrifice break them apart forever?

I loved this book! Lee Brazil has a way of writing interesting, well-written characters that live and breathe off of the written page. I was immediately swept up into the lives of these two heroes from the first page until the last word. Writing a gay historical romance has to be tricky because of the forbidden and illegal aspect of homosexuality set during this time, but the author did an outstanding job of tackling this subject matter and making it work for the story itself. Between Lee’s descriptive storytelling ability and the fast-paced storyline, I was captivated by these heroes’ complicated lives and found myself easily rooting for them to find a way for them to live happily together.

Less Than All is one of the best gay historical romances I’ve read this year and I’m looking forward to reading more books written by this author in the future. Highly Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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It’s Simple, Simon by Lee Brazil

Title: It’s Simple, Simon
Author: Lee Brazil
Publisher: Breathless Press
Pages: 67 pages
Characters: Simon and Chase
POV: Third Person
SubGenre: GLBT: contemporary erotic romance
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Blurb:

Simon Carter has achieved unimaginable success and he owes it all to a man from his past whose scorn set fire to his ambition.

“It’s Simple, Simon. You lack ambition.”

Chase Garvin’s jibe had sent Simon Carter on unexpected paths and brought him unimaginable success. No longer a penniless musician, the highly paid investment banker is going home for the first time in years. He plans to rest, relax, and spend a little time rubbing his ex-lover’s nose in his success. A visit to the Renaissance Fair brings this not-quite-so-simple- Simon nose to nose with his past and somehow revenge doesn’t seem quite so attractive.

Chase Garvin, Denver, Colorado’s very own Pie Man, is still incredibly handsome. What’s more, the more mature Chase is very appreciative of Simon’s talents.

When the old attraction flares between them, Simon and the Pie Man get caught up in tasting the wares, and neither counts the pennies.

Review:

It’s Simple, Simon by Lee Brazil is premised on a clever idea of using the nursery rhyme, in this case Simple Simon, as motivation for a story. This is part of a Naughty Nursery Rhymes collection through Breathless Press and the first m/m in the collection.

The first two chapters introduce the reader to Simon and then Chase. Simon comes off as a bitter man who wants to exact revenge on Chasse, the man who pushed him away many years ago. He’s the kind of guy you think, what a brat. But then you meet Chase.

Chase is well-established in Denver owning several pastry shops. When he sees Simon, he makes a number of assumptions about his ex, assumptions which kind of justify Simon’s hurt feelings from all those years ago.

As soon as the two spend their first day together, old flames are fanned and each wonders whether they made a huge mistake. Simon wondering if seeking revenge was truly what he wanted and Chase wondering if his reasons for breaking things off with Simon had actually been valid.

The two men enjoy a physical reunion filled with passionate sex. But this reunion wasn’t just about sex for either of them. Each quickly realized they had made mistakes in the past which broke them apart and were continuing to make mistakes in the present which threatened to keep them apart.

When secrets are revealed, tension hits, but even when the initial round of tension is resolved, a new, even more stressful turn of events takes place and it kept me on the edge of my seat until the end.

I was drawn into this story from the first page. Mr. Brazil’s has a talent at establishing full, rich characters with depth and flavor. As I experienced their journey in alternating POVs (Simon’s then Chase’s) I was able to enjoy the angst and uncertainty they spiraled closer and closer together. As each page turned, my desire to see these two work out increased until I was tearing through the last portion of the story.

As with any short story, this one being about 65 pages, I had to suspend belief here. But overall, the journey was exquisite. It was a lovely balance of yearning and confidence, independence and compromise, love and hate. Through their experiences, we come to appreciate how love doesn’t always come easy, but if it’s right, the challenges are worth it in the end. Mr. Brazil also deftly portrays the message that compromise doesn’t mean changing who you are for someone else, but making choices so you can be who you are and allow someone else to be who they are, even if the obstacles seem impossible to overcome.

In keeping with the level of heat and emotionality of the Truth of Dare series (a must read if you haven’t yet), Mr. Brazil has knocked another one out of the park.

Reviewed By: Doug

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Saint’s Curse: Luke by Lee Brazil

Title: Saint’s Curse: Luke
Author: Lee Brazil
Publisher: Breathless Press
Pages: 72
Characters: Luke Leveraux, Jeremy St. James
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Paranormal Romance
Kisses: 4




Blurb:

Luke Leveraux hates seeing suspicion darken Jeremy St. James’s eyes when he leaves for his monthly hunting trip, but some secrets just can’t be shared
On the surface artist Luke Leveraux has it all: money, a fantastic historical home, talent. When his boyfriend Jeremy moves in, his life should have been perfect. But Luke’s hunting expeditions are a cover for something much darker, and he doesn’t dare expose his lover to this unpredictable side of his life.
Art teacher Jeremy St. James has always known about his lover’s hunting trips. He just expected that they would stop when he moved in with Luke. Or, at the very least, that he might be included in the monthly excursions.
Someone else knows Luke’s secret, though. Someone determined to put an end to the situation.

Review:

I’ve read several books by Lee Brazil and I’ve enjoyed every one of them. Lee has a knack of writing interesting characters with fast moving storylines that really keep this reader’s attention. In Saint’s Curse: Luke, I found myself quickly intrigued with these two heroes lives and the interesting story they told.

Since the blurb does an excellent job at describing the story, I won’t rehash it. But I will say in the past few years, I’ve read many paranormal/shifter books. What I really liked about this book was: it has an interesting, freshness to the storyline and with the characters’ situation itself that kept me interested in the book from the very first page to the last word.

I also liked that Luke and Jeremy are an established couple. Now, normally I prefer to read the beginnings of a romance between the two heroes. This is simply because I like watching them get to know each other while they fall in love. I think sometimes when a book starts off with a couple that’s already together, I personally feel like I’ve lost out of something, and that I’ve missed huge parts of their life together. But in this book, I didn’t feel this way. Although they two heroes really love each other, there is still a lot of mystery and things they do not know about each other. They are still in the ‘honeymoon’ phase of their life together and are still learning there is a lot more to each other than meets the eye. Lucky for us, we’re able to discover these things along with the heroes, so it made it a really enjoyable read.

Both heroes were interesting and definitely made for each other. At first, the mystery of Luke’s disappearance each month and lack of openness about what he really is to Jeremy troubled me a little, so I wondered if they really belonged together. But as the story progressed, I really began to see the connection they have together and I found myself wrapped up in the interesting world that Luke lives in and hoped he somehow be able to come clean about who he really was with Jeremy. I liked how Luke’s wolf-side wasn’t glamourized like so many shifter books are, and I enjoyed watching these two men really overcome the fears and find a way to become a strong pair together.

My only gripe about the book is: I wish the book had been longer because just when I really started getting into the story, it ended. But since this is the first book in a series, I’m looking forward to reading more about these characters and definitely more by this author. If you are looking for a romance with a unique spin on the everyday shifter story, Saint’s Curse: Luke is definitely the book for you! Recommended.

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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The Librarian by Lee Brazil

Title: The Librarian
Author: Lee Brazil
Publisher: Breathless Press
Pages: novella
Characters: Adrian Grey, Val Michaels
POV: Third Person
Sub-Genre: mm romance/BDSM
Kisses: 3.5

Blurb:

Valentine Michaels has just taken a vow of celibacy. Adrian Grey intends to take full advantage of that vow to re-create his relationship with Val.

Val is at a crossroads in his life. A college dropout, he’s gone as far as he can in his career as a cosmetologist, owning his own style salon. He no longer finds satisfaction in it, though he’s put years into proving to his bigoted parents that a college degree and the veneer of straightness aren’t the only roads to success. They’d turned their backs on him, and he proved he didn’t need them to make it.

His love life is no better than his working life. His relationships always start with a bang and fizzle into boredom, or worse, anger.

Adrian has his own agenda for helping Val: he’s been in love with Val since they were freshmen. The intervening years of listening to Val’s gossip about his lovers and relationships have taught Adrian just what it was he did wrong all those years ago, and he thinks this time around he now knows exactly how to get—and keep—his man

Review:

The Librarian is a story of unrequited love. Adrian Grey and Val Michaels were dorm mates during their freshman year at university, and although they briefly played with each other sexually, it quickly became clear to Adrian that Val had no real interest in him. Val went for the jock types, and Adrian was more of an intellectual. Adrian was studying library science and had a personality that was more focused, serious, and studious. Val wanted adventure and carefree lovers who would tower over him and dominate him sexually.

For the better part of a decade, Adrian pined over Val, and during this time he continued to fantasize about one day forging a meaningful relationship. Adrian became a librarian and Val bought a hair salon. Adrian was one of Val’s regular customers, showing up every Friday morning for his weekly haircut, never once varying his routine. Adrian learned of all Val’s sexual exploits, and Val shared the details of his love life while cutting Adrian’s hair. Adrian just listened, took it all in, and waited…patiently.

When Val broke up with his college jock boyfriend, he was heartbroken and swore a vow of celibacy. This happened to be on the very day that Adrian was scheduled for an appointment, and as Val confessed to Adrian the frustration he felt over yet another failed relationship, Adrian realized it was time to put in motion a plan to finally capture Val’s heart.

Adrian began scheming, setting a trap, so to speak, to ensnare Val. He sensed that Val yearned for a dominant man to control him and fantasized about being Val’s master. He toyed with Val, playing a game of cat and mouse, until he got Val to a point where he was eating out of his hand. Then at last he trapped him…or so he thought.

I found the story very interesting and loved the author’s writing style. Of course I related to Adrian and the way he’d secretly harbored this crush for so many years. This type of unrequited love is a theme dear to my heart. What I did not like was the way that Adrian was so conniving and deceitful. I suppose it was necessary and was actually the whole point of the story, but when it comes to Dom/sub romances, I prefer to see the Master as being an assertive, confident character who lays claim to his sub and does so decisively and swiftly. I can’t really see a true Dom as ever being this patient.

Val was sweet but I felt like he just needed someone to take control of him. I wanted Adrian to be this person. In the end I was left wondering if either of them really wanted to embrace the D/s lifestyle. They both were headstrong and cocky, and I didn’t feel like Val would ever be able to give up his ego in order to embrace his sub nature.

If you like stories where the Dom and sub are portrayed more as equal partners, this would be a perfect read. The Librarian is a story that is mainly about a chase. The Dom goes after the sub and attempts to ensnare him. It contains very hot love scenes and humorous dialogue, and overall it is an entertaining read. I would not, however, categorize it as a realistic D/s love story.

Reviewed By: Jeff

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Lee Brazil and Christmas Eve Traditions

Christmas Eve Traditions

Hi, thanks for having me here at Top to Bottom Reviews! *blows kisses* I’m Lee Brazil, author of m/m romance from Breathless Press and member of the Story Orgy. I’m here today to do some promotional stuff for Story Orgy’s anthology from Breathless Press, Word Play.

When I was a kid, we had a whole lot of holiday traditions. A lot of them centered around Christmas Eve. The BIG night. We all gathered with my mom in the kitchen and baked brownies and chocolate chip cookies to leave out for Santa, we hung our stockings by the chimney with care, and we watched the Grinch, and Scrooge, and White Christmas. Or whatever Christmas cartoon or movie was on that night. There was always at least one. My Dad would read T’was the Night Before Christmas, we’d sing Silent Night, drink cocoa and eat the brownies and cookies that were not on Santa’s plate.

My Dad always tried to keep us up as late as possible, because he really didn’t like getting up at the crack of dawn. Silly man thought if he kept us up late, he’d get to sleep in late. Never happened. My eldest sibling was up and about and waking the rest of us up before five every holiday. (Even when she was well past the age of thinking there was any magic involved.)

Today, my SO and I have merged his family traditions with mine, and we still bake, watch It’s a Wonderful Life, and enjoy Christmas music.

This brownie recipe is our current favorite,

Ingredients
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons water
1 1/2 cups semisweet chocolate chips
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

Directions
1. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease an 8×8 inch square pan.
2. In a medium saucepan, combine the sugar, butter and water. Cook over medium heat until boiling. Remove from heat and stir in chocolate chips until melted and smooth. Mix in the eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into the chocolate mixture. Spread evenly into the prepared pan.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes in the preheated oven, until brownies set up. Do not over bake! Cool in pan and cut into squares.

To make caramel nut brownies, stir 1/2 cup caramel bits and 1/2 cup of nuts – we like walnuts- into the batter before baking. Top the cooled brownies with more nuts and drizzle with caramel sauce before serving.

Sounds great, huh? How about a little nibble of Story Orgy’s latest release?

Word Play
By
Story Orgy
From Breathless Press

Havan Fellows
Harlan’s Ryde

Ryder made a mistake Harlan can’t forgive. Will Ryder cross a line no man should cross to obtain a second chance?

Ryder Halloway made a life changing decision about his relationship with Harlan when he was young and stupid. Thanks to one rash moment, he lost it all. He lost the only man he would ever love, his drive to even try to finish college and his zest for life.

Seven years later finds him in front of Harlan’s house preparing to take back what he lost with a vengeance. He’s prepared to use all the tricks in his arsenal to plow through every wall, protest and excuse Harlan might come up with.

Of course, he never expected Harlan to put him in the hospital …

Harlan Mychels had his heart broken in college by the popular Ryder. He learned his lesson about love and since then hasn’t allowed anyone even remotely close to his heart. Then one morning he turns and sees the one person able to tear his walls down and destroy what is left of it.

He uses every defensive tactic in his possession to keep Ryder at arm’s length, but Ryder is persistent. Harlan’s not sure if he can stay safe from heartache … and he starts wondering what the real heartache is – letting Ryder in again … or letting him go for good.

Em Woods
Harper’s Discovery

When Harper finally sees the light and dumps his cheating boyfriend, can Pitt convince Harper to trust him enough to let it all go?

When Harper Evans discovers his boyfriend in yet another bar with yet another Joe, he makes the final break and kicks him out. More relieved than heart-broke, Harper turns his attention to the letter burning a hole in his pocket that could mean a fresh start across the country.
Pitt Mullen has been looking for just such an opportunity and pounces on it – and Harper – when it shows up. But not everything is as it appears. When Pitt gets a late night call and rushes to another, will Harper understand or cut his ties before he listens to the truth?

Hank Edwards
Wicked Reflection

A sexy, bad boy neighbor, a handsome detective investigating an unsolved murder, and ghostly warnings help Kirk uncover the deadly secret within his new house.

Kirk Stanford’s realtor never mentioned certain features of his new home during the walk through, such as mysterious rooms and brutal secrets. All Kirk knows is he has a lot of unpacking to do and a handsome, bad boy neighbor seems to have taken an interest in him.

But then the warnings begin to appear, written in steam on the bathroom mirror. At first, Kirk dismisses the messages, but when a prowler attempts to break into his house, and a handsome private detective shows up asking questions about the murder, Kirk realizes how much danger he is in. He’s invested too much money in his new house to just walk away, so his only choice now is to figure out for himself who the murderer is and what he still wants out of his house.

Dark secrets come to light and Kirk is forced to put his trust in a supernatural presence as he fights to survive.

Lee Brazil
The Park at Sunrise

First they were three, now there are two.
Can Jason and Morgan make a relationship work without Paul?

For years the three of them had been inseparable, first as friends, then lovers. It’s been ten years since they parted for what was supposed to be a year apart to pursue their dreams. This isn’t the reunion they planned then. It’s nine years too late for one thing, and they are one man short for another.
In the years since Paul’s death, Morgan hasn’t exactly been waiting for Jason to reach out to him. He’s been too busy trying to forget, to move on. Until Jason sends the right message. Is the painting just an excuse to see his ex again?

JR Boyd
Off the Beaten Path

Best Friends and landscaping entrepreneurs, Mitch Sterling and Colby Merritt, enjoy their comradeship. Can scouting country roads for business opportunities unveil a lifetime of passion?

Best friends, Mitch Sterling and Colby Merritt have spent their whole lives together in a small town in the Hill Country of Texas. At twenty-four, the two entrepreneurs run a small landscaping company. Mitch works out in the field, leading the landscaping crews and getting his hands dirty. Colby uses his college education to handle the business aspect of the company from their office.

Outside work, the two can always be found together. A Saturday morning drive leads them to a dirt road that neither has ever traveled. With the help of a few beers, the hot Texas sun, and a secluded country pond, Mitch and Colby find themselves exploring new territory Off the Beaten Path.

Telling the Truth (Truth or Dare #2) by Lee Brazil

Title: Telling the Truth (Truth or Dare #2)
Author: Lee Brazil
Publisher: Breathless Press
Pages: 79
Characters: Terry Blake, Dex & Trick
POV: 3rd person
Setting: Hollywood, California
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance/Ménage à trois (M/M/M)
Cover Rating: 4
Kisses: 4.5

Blurb:

The Blake brothers have upped the ante in their weekly poker game. The week Terry loses, he finds that paying his debt of telling the truth sets him free to pursue a fantasy he never dreamed could be reality.

Terry has lived his life according to the guidelines, by studying accounting, getting an MBA, and working for the family business. And while his work has its own rewards, something has been missing, and his eyes have only just been opened to what–or rather who–that could be.

Terry can handle any dare his brothers dish out, but the demand for Truth is a different matter. Unable to hide behind his pristine reputation and fancy business suit, Terry is honor bound to divulge secrets he’s been ashamed to admit even to himself in the privacy of his own bedroom.

Twins Dex and Trick have finally found acceptance for their relationship in the homes of their friends. They would never do anything to jeopardize that newfound sense of belonging. Fooling around with Mischa’s prissy, domineering, oh-so-sexy older brother is risky. A one night stand might be okay, and the boys happily indulge, but then close ranks afterward, pushing Terry aside.

Terry isn’t going to back down without a fight. He’s convinced that Dex and Trick are meant to be his, and he’ll do whatever it takes to make them realize all the safety and protection they need can be found in his arms.

Review:

Lee Brazil set the bar high when introducing twins Dex and Trick in Keeping House, the first installment in the Truth or Dare series that follows the lives of the Blake brothers, members of the successful Blake family production empire in Hollywood.

The series began with black sheep Mischa Blake, as he fought to pave his own way in life, in spite of his overprotective but loving brothers’ wishes. He succeeded in finding the love of his life in Donovan Holloway, and they then went on to create a family of their own with the adoption of their son, Matthew.

Telling the Truth, the latest book in the series, continues the tradition of truth or dare poker games with the five Blake boys, and this time it’s Terry who’s in the hot seat, when he finally confesses his sexuality to his four siblings. In typical Blake brother fashion, the fact that Terry comes out as being gay after years of living straight is a complete non-issue. It’s the following confession that raises a few eyebrows around the poker table and sets tempers on edge.

Terry’s fascination with the beautiful twins, Dex and Trick—names that serve to conceal their true identities in order to outrun the past scandal that continues to threaten them—comes to the forefront in this installment as the trio of men fight for a chance at love and for the right to create a family of their own.

Life has been a struggle for Dex and Trick, who grew to rely upon each other out of sheer necessity at a very young age. Abandoned by their parents, outcasts because of the nature of their close bond, it wasn’t until they found their friends Bella and Mischa that they found a safe place in the world; they found unconditional friendship and acceptance. Trusting isn’t easy, letting Terry in and loving him is a risk, one they’re willing to take. But it’s one that doesn’t come easily, especially when the loving, well-meaning, overbearing and controlling Brandon Blake interferes.

The subject of twincest is a delicate one and might not be to everyone’s taste, but I will say that Lee Brazil has written this story just beautifully, creating believable and ultimately, sympathetic characters in Dex and Trick. Their love for each other, in spite of foregoing convention, is honest and pure, and their acceptance of Terry into that relationship was touching, as he’s now given the twins the loving family they’ve never had.

The truth about this series is that I just can’t get enough.

Reviewed By: Lisa

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