Spirit Sanguine by Lou Harper

Title: Spirit Sanguine
Author: Lou Harper
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 290
Characters: Harvey Feng and Gabe Vadas
POV: 3rd Person
Sub-Genre: Contemporary
Kisses: 5

Blurb:

Is that a wooden stake in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?

After five years in Eastern Europe using his unique, inborn skills to slay bloodsuckers, Gabe is back in his hometown Chicago and feeling adrift. Until he’s kidnapped by a young, sexy vampire who seems more interested in getting into his pants than biting into his neck.

Harvey Feng is one-half Chinese, one-hundred-percent vampire. He warns Gabe to stay out of the Windy City, but somehow he isn’t surprised when the young slayer winds up on his doorstep. And why shouldn’t Gabe be curious? A vegetarian vampire isn’t something one sees every day.

Against their better judgment, slayer and vampire succumb to temptation. But their affair attracts unexpected attention.

When Chicago’s Vampire Boss makes Gabe an offer he can’t refuse, the unlikely lovers are thrust into peril and mystery in the dark heart of the Windy City. Together they hunt for kidnappers, a killer preying on young humans, and vicious vampire junkies.

However, dealing with murderous humans and vampires alike is easy compared to figuring out if there’s more to their relationship than hot, kinky sex.`

Review:

I loved this vampire story by Lou Harper and will state right from the start that I hope she plans to bring these two back for more. The characters, main as well as secondary, along with the story itself, are well written. I found myself pulled into their story from the beginning and could not put the book down. The main characters, Gabe and Harvey, are total opposites. Gabe is on the large size while Harvey is smaller. Harvey is more outgoing and book smart, while Gabe is street smart and tough. The biggest difference between the two though is the fact that Harvey is a vampire while Gabe is a hunter. With all their differences the attraction that pops up between them should not exist, but it does. The way that these two met had me laughing and I could not help but feel bad for Gabe. The laughs don’t end there as Harvey has a habit of being very snarky, so much so that Gabe has a hard time keeping up with him at times. I love the way their relationship builds as each man learns to trust the other. There seems to be a bit of cluelessness around the two, especially Gabe, as they start to feel possessive about the other and I could not wait for them to realize what was happening. The author does a great job showing the men’s relationship change and while the men may be clueless the readers know this is a relationship that will last.

It is not only the men that kept me tied to Spirit Sanguine though. I love how the author has given the readers a fresh spin on the vampire mythology. Not only are the vampires in this story different but so are their weaknesses and strengths. These changes are just one of the things that helped keep the story from feeling like a rehash of what is already out there. Another wonderful aspect of this story was the plot, or should I say plots, that the story revolved around. Both men have a bit of mystery surrounding them which plays an important role in the story. There are also a variety of secondary characters that have a big impact on the story and some will leave you wanting to stake them. There are many twists and turns not all of which I expected but all of which kept be tied to the story.

As I stated earlier, Spirit Sanguine is a wonderful story and those who love the vampire genre should make an effort to get it. I hope we will see more of Harvey and Gabe in the future.

Reviewed By: Lydia

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Bound for Keeps by SE Jakes

Title: Men of Honor, Book 5: Bound for Keeps
Author: SE Jakes
Publisher: Samhain Publishing Ltd.
Pages: 233
Characters: Keith Masters, Johnny Lou Reed, Shane Wills
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Menage, Erotic Romance, Series
Kisses: 5

Blurb:

Since losing their beloved third to cancer, Keith Masters and Johnny Lou Reed haven’t thought about filling the void in their lives with anyone else. Until a stormy Christmas Eve, when a half-frozen, newly discharged Army Ranger shows up on their doorstep—with no memory of who he is or how he got there.

The former Marine in Keith is suspicious that he can’t turn up any information about Shane anywhere, not even an address. Direct questioning will have to wait until they’ve gotten the boy well.

Shane knows it’s only a matter of time before Keith and Reed figure out his past. And when they learn the depth and the darkness of the secrets he holds, he could get them all killed.

In the heat of the dark winter nights, the three men discover a passion that heals the gaping wounds in their hearts. And Shane wonders, despite the danger hot on his heels, how he will ever bear to leave…

Review:

Bound For Keeps is by far my favorite in the Men of Honor series. The characters are mesmerizing and the love between Keith and Johnny is so amazing it makes you want to be a part of it! Once they added Shane to the mix, this book becomes a powerful love story of how three men can not only be in a functional relationship, but how they can be exactly what the other needs at any given time.

The S&M scenes were so hot I thought I was going to need the air conditioner! The way SE Jakes described the scenes in great detail AND it went into the feelings the men were having during the scenes was fantastic. Bound for Keeps is a keeper! The Men of Honor series is a Great series about Great characters and all around Fantastic books! Highly Recommended!

The Men of Honor Series in book order are:

Bound by Honor
Bound by Law
Ties that Bind
Bound by Danger
Bound for Keeps

Reviewed by: Jerry

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Bad Attitude by KA Mitchell

Title: Bad in Baltimore, Book 3: Bad Attitude
Author: K.A. Mitchell
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 265
Characters: Gavin Montgomery and Jamie Donnigan
POV: 3rd Person
Sub-Genre: Contemporary, Series
Kissses: 4.5

Blurb:

As the openly gay middle son of the most powerful family between Manhattan and Miami, Gavin Montgomery knows his role—look good in a tuxedo and don’t make waves.

Waves are the least of his worries when he tries and fails to keep a friend from jumping off a high bridge. His last thought as he falls in too is that someone else will have to take over as family disappointment…until he’s pulled from the water by a man with an iron grip, a sexy mouth and a chip on his shoulder the size of the national deficit.

Police rescue diver Jamie Donnigan finally has life the way he wants it. Okay, he could have done without losing his father, quitting smoking and watching his friends drift into couple hood. At least he’s managed to escape that particular trap.

When Gavin’s father turns Jamie’s routine rescue into a media circus, he figures if he’s going to suffer for his good deed, he might as well enjoy a roll in the sack. But Jamie’s not immune to Gavin’s cultivated charm…and all the risks that come along with giving in to it.

Review:

Bad Attitude, the third book in the Bad in Baltimore series, gives the reader Jamie Donnigan’s story. In this story his character is flushed out a little more, giving the reader a chance to see what makes this cop tick. Even with all his little issues I really liked this guy. The fact that he knows just who he is, and doesn’t make any excuses not even on the job, is a refreshing change from what we usually see in other police characters.

As for the other main character in Bad Attitude, Gavin Montgomery is a bit on the wild side. His introduction into the story is over the top and different from anything else I have read before. In some ways Gavin is not the type of character I would have paired Jamie with, but he does balance the cop out nicely. The men are total opposites and you would not think they would have much in common, yet in the end you see they really do. These guys are strong, take charge, and know what they want, kind of men so it only goes to say that their first physical contact is not what you would expect. Be aware that the scene is hot and burns the pages. Because of the differences in personality these two run into a lot of conflict that will at times leave the reader wondering about the future of their relationship. When Gavin and Jamie do get around to expressing their feelings for each other, I had to laugh, because not even this could be done like a normal couple.

Many of the secondary characters are ones we have met in the previous books. It was fun to catch up with the other couples and some of the help they give Jamie will make you laugh. I am hoping to see more of books in this series, and hope Silver will be the next to have his story told.

The Bad in Baltimore books in series order are:

Bad Company
Bad Boyfriend
Bad Attitude

Reviewed By: Lydia

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Cost of Repairs by AM Arthur

Title: Cost of Repairs
Author: AM Arthur
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 317
Characters: Samuel Briggs, Rey King
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance, Series
Kisses: 5

Blurb:

“Fixing the home can heal the heart-if you can find all the pieces. “

Police officer Samuel Briggs is getting to know the people on his new, third-shift beat, but he’d prefer they not know too much about him-or the painful past that drove him away from New Mexico to start fresh in small-town Stratton, PA.

All he wants is peace, a manageable routine, and time to fix up his project home. There’s no room in his broken heart for a new relationship. It’s crowded with too many memories. But there’s something about the Dixie’s Cup short-order cook, who’s flirty one minute, distracted the next, that piques Sam’s interest.

Part-time cook, part-time hardware salesman and full-time handyman Rey King lives to work-but not because he loves it. Relationships? No time. Until one glance at Sam’s haunted eyes sends a plumb line straight to his wary heart.

One afternoon of impulsive, no-strings sex begins to grow into a cautious friendship. But when Rey is seriously injured protecting a friend, the cracks in their already shaky foundation begin to show. Falling in love wasn’t in either man’s recovery plan…and this time, the risk could be too great.

Warning: Contains one emotionally wrecked cop, one angsty short-order cook, a few too many secrets, some meddling small-town folk, and plenty of hot man-on-man action.

Review:

There is so much I can say about this book. I did a big no-no and actually read this series out of order. When I read and reviewed, Color of Grace, I knew it was a second book in the series. After I read it, I fell in love with the characters and the amazing storytelling ability Ms. Arthur has, and knew I had to go back and read and review this book. I’m very glad I did! Although the second book can definitely be read as a stand-alone in the series, after I read Cost of Repairs it made the characters become even more lifelike, and soon I became more emotionally involved with them and the interesting lives they lead.

Cost of Repairs is an emotionally driven, well-written book filled with the ups and downs of life. Both heroes, Sam and Ray, have many past hurts and grievances they must deal with before they can become trusting enough to allow the other man into their lives. When they meet, they are immediately drawn to each other, but because of their past issues, they are both leery of the intense attraction they have for one another. One of the things I really liked about this book was…how they took each step of their relationship day by day. They become friends, learn to trust in both themselves and each other and eventually start believing in the love they have between them. As a reader, I appreciated this slow build-up between them. I thoroughly enjoyed watching their relationship grow and nourish as time went by and I found myself really hoping they would find a way to work through their differences and their own demons and try to build a happy life together.

Although there is some angst in this book, it’s not overdone. Yes, there are some very intense and sad moments that each hero shares, but there were also enough lighthearted, fun moments in their story that really balanced the storyline out quite nicely. I found myself crying, laughing and cheering these two amazing men on and relished in the tender, loving and trusting moments they had together. It’s truly a beautifully written love story from start to finish and I hated to see it come to an end.

Another thing I really liked about this book was the importance of the secondary characters in the storyline. Each character really brought something to the story and into the heroes lives and I enjoyed watching all of the relationships play out as the book continued. I’m very glad that this is a series because I want to read more about these people and hope that some of the unanswered questions I had at the end will eventually be answered.

Cost of Repairs is a stunningly written book with passionate love scenes and enough friendship and romance to satisfy even the pickiest of readers. It’s earned a permanent place on my keeper shelf where I know I’ll re-read and revisit these amazing characters again and again. I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there will be many more books in this series and will be actively be looking for more books written by this author. Highly Recommended!

The Cost of Repairs books in series order are:

Cost of Repairs
Color of Grace

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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Malachi’s Word by Lissa Matthews

Title: Malachi’s Word
Author: Lissa Matthews
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 66
Characters: Malachi, Daniel
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Cowboys, Contemporary Romance
Kisses: 4.5


Blurb:

Drunken confessions. Sobering friendship. And two cowboys gambling on love…

The Bar Next Door, Book 1

Could he love me? Malachi has wanted to know the answer since his best friend, Daniel, confessed to being gay. He has never forgotten that long-ago conversation, or the secret hope that another confession would follow: that Daniel is in love with him.

Daniel is—and always has been—in love with Malachi. But how is he supposed to share that information without risking the only friendship that has ever mattered to him? He couldn’t handle it if he were kicked out of Malachi’s life. The best Daniel could do was move home to Texas, buy a little rundown ranch to work outside Austin, and visit the watering hole where Malachi tends bar.

Malachi knows that something heavy is riding his friend and he’s tired of watching Daniel’s downward spiral of too much beer and too many meaningless flings. Enough is enough.

Except, when he gets Daniel home and some strong coffee down his gullet, the truth comes pouring out. A truth that nearly knocks Malachi out of his boots.

Courage like that doesn’t come easy…and Malachi can only pray his answer is enough to turn lifelong friends into forever lovers.

Product Warnings:

This little tale tries to contain a gay bar, a lot of beer, a hot cowboy with a pitchfork, another one with a serious addiction to boots and coffee, and a secret yearning between the two for hot blooded, can’t wait to get naked, just leave your boots on sex. Oh, and there are doughnuts…

Review:

This is the first book I’ve read by Lissa Matthews and it definitely won’t be my last. I really liked her easy-style of writing and her ability to write sexy, interesting characters that seemed to live and breathe off of the written page. I admit I’m a sucker for a sexy cowboy…throw in two and I’m hooked, so I knew I’d probably enjoy reading about two men who don’t always see what’s in front of their faces. Between the lack of communication in the beginning and the excitement of them finally figuring out their feelings and attraction to each other, I was enthralled with these two heroes and the situation they found themselves in.

Both heroes are very likeable men. They’ve been best friends forever and although they’re close, they’ve always been afraid to tell each other that they’ve been in love with each other for years. I loved watching Malachi and Daniel finally come to terms with their feelings and really liked the camaraderie between them. Malachi’s Word really deals with the lack of communication between the two men and overcoming the fears of taking that first step of having something special with the person you love.

Another thing I loved about these two men was the intense chemistry they had for each other. Both are humanly flawed men who I have a feeling will be an amazing couple once they work through taking the steps of allowing others to know of their budding relationship. I’m definitely looking forward to the next book in the series and can’t wait to read more from Ms. Matthews in the future. Recommended!

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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Conduct Unbecoming by LA Witt

Title: Conduct Unbecoming
Author: LA Witt
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 350
Characters: Eric, Shane
POV: Alternating 1st Person
Sub-Genre: Contemporary, Military Romance
Kisses: 5

Blurb:

As long as no one asks and they don’t tell…

First class petty officer Eric Randall is less than thrilled about taking orders to Okinawa. Three long, lonely years on a crappy island that’s thousands of miles from his daughter? Oh. Yeah. Sign him up. But as long as he’s stuck here, he might as well make the best of it, so he discreetly checks out the local gay scene.

Shane nearly drops his drink when the gorgeous, cocky-looking guy strolls into Palace Habu. He buys him a drink, and before long, they’re making out in a booth. Eric is a straight-to-the-point kind of guy and doesn’t want to play games. Since Eric’s idea of not playing games is getting the hell out of there and going back to one of their apartments, Shane is more than happy to go along with it.

What starts as a scorching hot one night stand leaves both of them wanting more…until Eric finds out Shane doesn’t just outrank him, he’s an officer. DADT may be repealed, but an enlisted man getting involved with an officer falls under conduct unbecoming.

Still, they can’t resist their mutual desire. There’s no reason anyone has to find out. But secrets have a way of outing themselves.

Warning: Contains two military boys who keep forgetting they’re not supposed to be together. Probably because they never have their uniforms on for any length of time…

Review:

There is something truly special about LA Witt’s writing. She has a descriptive, almost lyrical way of writing a story that I really appreciate as a reader. Not only does she seem to really get to the heart and soul of her characters, she has a way of gripping this reader’s attention and somehow getting me emotionally involved with her heroes and the story they tell.

The blurb does an outstanding job at describing the story, but what it doesn’t tell you is how well paced and beautiful the slow buildup between her two heroes, Eric and Shane’s relationship is. Not only do they have physical chemistry that was sizzling hot, I enjoyed watching their relationship develop into something truly special. Both Eric and Shane are wonderfully flawed and very likeable men who I thought lived and breathed off of the written page. I liked how, although their relationship is forbidden, they still cannot keep away from each other. I loved the camaraderie between the two heroes and loved watching them go through a range of emotions and hard decisions to be together.

I also enjoyed the secondary characters in this book. Each person really brought something special to the story and in all honesty, even though this was a pretty long read, I couldn’t stop reading it until I finished it in one sitting. Even the setting, Okinawa, was told in such descriptive detail that I literally felt like at times I was there with them.

I thought the book itself was very evenly paced and well told. Between Ms. Witt’s descriptive words and wonderfully flawed, but sexy heroes, I really enjoyed every minute of it and hated to see it come to an end. I’m looking forward to reading more books by Ms. Witt and recommend this book to those who love a slow-building, sizzling hot romance.

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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Color of Grace by AM Arthur

Title: Cost of Repairs Book 2: Color of Grace
Author: AM Arthur
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 221
Characters: Schuyler Rhodes, Barrett McCall
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Contemporary Romance, Series
Kisses: 5

Blurb:

Looking to the future begins with forgiving the past.

Barrett McCall once lived like there was no tomorrow. Now the reformed party animal savors each day as a gift. His short order cook job at Dixie’s Cup pays the rent, and he’s content with his sober—if solitary—life.

When a fire leaves him homeless, Dixie’s offer to let him move into her basement apartment puts him on a collision course with her nephew, art teacher Schuyler Rhodes. The heat between them crackles, but in Schuyler’s eyes Barrett recognizes the same demons he exorcised long ago.

Dixie’s kind-hearted offer couldn’t come at a worse time for Schuyler. It’s the anniversary of his teenage cousin Matty’s drowning. Everyone believes it was an accident, but Schuyler knows the truth—and so does the culprit. For fifteen years that truth has burned a hole in his soul…and now it keeps Barrett at arm’s length.

One lingering kiss melts away the barriers between them, but when the other witness to Matty’s death shows up in town, Schuyler is forced into a confrontation that could cost him Barrett’s love—and possibly his own life.

Product Warnings:
Contains a hot man-on-man romance between a slightly uptight art teacher and a free-spirited tattoo-artist-turned-line-cook, a bucket of guilt sprinkled on top of past regrets, and the improper use of bamboo kabob skewers.

Review:

Wow! I loved this book! I’ve read a couple of books by AM Arthur and this one by far is my favorite book this author has written. Fast-paced and smoothly written, I was immediately swept up into the characters’ lives and before I knew it, I had read the entire book in one sitting.

The blurb does an excellent job at describing what the novel is about. Both heroes have their own baggage and issues they are going through. I also liked how the relationship between the two men built as the novel progressed. There was a kinship and an actual friendship that developed between them, and before they knew it (and me as well) they had fallen deeply in love with each other.

Both Barrett and Skylar are likeable men. They are both humanly flawed, realistically written heroes that lived and breathed off of the written page. At first glance, I wondered how compatible these two men would be for each other, but as the story continued, I soon saw that they were clearly meant to for each other. I also loved the intense, passionate chemistry between them and each love scene practically smoked up my computer screen. I loved these two men together, and hated to see their story come to an end. Another thing I really appreciated about this book was the role the secondary characters played in the story itself. Each character really brought something special to the novel and each of them were as well written at the two heroes.

If you are looking for a fast-paced, beautifully written book that has plenty of drama and romance, Color of Grace is definitely worth checking out. It’s the second book in the Cost of Repairs series and definitely can be read as a stand-alone book. Unfortunately, I haven’t read the first book in the series, but I plan on remedying that very quickly. Color of Grace has earned a top spot on my keeper shelf and I’m looking forward to reading more books by Ms. Arthur in the future. Highly Recommended!

The Cost of Repairs books in series order are:

Cost of Repairs
Color of Grace

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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My Regelence Rake by JL Langley

Title: My Regelence Rake
Author: JL Langley
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Pages: 374
Characters: Sebastian Hastings, Colton Townsend
POV: 3rd
Sub-Genre: Gay Alternate Worlds, Romance, Series
Kisses: 5

Blurb:

Before you find your prince, you have to kiss your share of rakes.

With his days occupied with duties as Captain of the Guard, and nights consumed with upholding his reputation as a rake, Lord Sebastian Hastings’s schedule is filled. There’s no extra time to be anyone’s bodyguard, but the royal family’s safety is a task he sees to personally.

Prince Colton Townsend has loved Sebastian for as long as he can remember, but he’s done pining for a man who has vowed never to remarry. So he consoles himself with the second love of his life—horses. Stable building and horse racing consume his every thought, at least until he’s stuck with Sebastian dogging his every step.

While looking over the prospects at an auction, Colton is trying to ignore his sexy, pesky bodyguard when he feels compelled to take on a bully to protect an abused horse. Sebastian is dragged into the fray, and their good deed sparks a string of nasty rumors.

There’s only one way to quell the political storm: marry. But instead of solving everything, Colton realizes his new husband is a bundle of secrets, none of which he’ll give up easily. Unless Colton makes one, last-ditch effort that could break his heart for good.

Product Warnings
Contains an obnoxious filly, a love-struck prince, a meddling king, a matchmaking duke, vicious rumors and hunky ex Special Forces soldiers.

Review:

I’m a huge fan of JL Langley’s books. I’m one of those readers who anxiously await her next release and once I get it, immediately read it cover to cover with as little interruption as possible. I love the way Ms. Langley gets to the heart and soul of her characters. Between her descriptive writing and addictive storytelling ability, I’m always hooked by her novels and eagerly wait for the next book in the series to be released. In My Regelence Rake, Ms. Langley gave me many hours of sheer enjoyment as I was swept up into the lives of her characters. The romance between Colton and Sebastian was truly a beautiful thing to see unfold within the pages of her story. I loved every minute I spent reading this book and it’s one of my favorite books in the Sci-Regency series.

Prince Colton has been in love with Lord Sebastian Hastings since the moment he laid eyes on him. No matter what Colton does, Sebastian doesn’t take him seriously, much less return his love, and when Colton catches Sebastian in the arms of another man, he decides to give up on his hope of being together with the rake and pursue his own dream…working with champion horses.

As soon as Colton starts ignoring Sebastian, the Lord starts to really take notice of him. When Sebastian is assigned to be Colton’s bodyguard, things start to really heat up between them and soon both men are swept up into a whirlwind of romance and mystery. Someone is determined to destroy everything Colton has worked for, and suddenly Colton and Sebastian are caught up in a scandal and are practically forced to be married. Together they must find out who is behind the ongoing danger to Colton’s family and horses and learn to trust in each other.

I LOVED this book! I enjoyed every minute I spent reading it and thoroughly loved seeing almost all of the past characters in the other books in the series play an important role in this book. I thought the friendship and sizzling chemistry between Colton and Sebastian was really the driving force behind the story itself. I loved watching their relationship grow and develop between them and thought they were truly meant to be together. Both Colton and Sebastian go through a lot of self-growth throughout the novel and each becomes a better man and a true partner for each other.

Honestly, I can’t rave about this series enough and if you haven’t read this book or the other two books in the series, I highly recommend it. Each book is phenomenal within their own right, and all three of them have a permanent spot on my keeper shelf. My Regelence Rake could probably be read as a stand-alone book, but to fully understand the dynamics of this amazing family, I HIGHLY recommend reading the books in series order. Believe me, once you start reading them, you won’t regret it!

Here are the Sci-Regency books in series order:

My Fair Captain

The Englor Affair

My Regelence Rake

Reviewed By: Gabbi

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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

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.

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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?

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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