Reviewed by Christian

TITLE: Once in a Lifetime

SERIES: 2018 Advent Calendar – Warmest Wishes

AUTHOR: Cassie Decker

PUBLISHER: Dreamspinner Press

LENGTH: 34 Pages

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All his life, astrophysicist Peter has dreamed of seeing the comet that last appeared on his birthday—and won’t be seen for another thirty-eight years. Since it could be his only chance, he travels to New Zealand. But his dream might be quashed after all when his rental car breaks down on the way to the observatory. He doesn’t even have a place to stay.

Fortunately a New Zealand native with a heart of gold offers assistance. But is kindness the only thing drawing the two men together?  Rangi can’t leave Peter stranded so close to Christmas, and his family has plenty of room—and love—to share. While Rangi is attracted to Peter, he’s seen too many of his friends get their hearts broken by tourists. Will they manage to see the comet on its decades-long journey across the sky… and take advantage of a rare opportunity that might never come again?

A story from the Dreamspinner Press 2018 Advent Calendar “Warmest Wishes.”

Reviewed by Kimberley

TITLE: Boystown

SERIES: Boystown Season 9

AUTHOR: Jake Biondi

PUBLISHER: Self Publishing

LENGTH: 291 pages

RELEASE DATE: December 14, 2018

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“Logan looked in the kitchen for Dustin or Max, while Keith walked deeper into the main room. Looking down, Keith noticed a small blood stain on the floor. ‘What the hell?’ Logan rushed over to his side and the two immediately noticed a trail of blood, which seemed to get bigger as it reached the bedroom. Logan yelled out again, ‘Max?’ Keith and Logan rushed toward the bedroom where they found a bloody handprint on the wall and doorway. Looking into the bedroom, Logan gasped as Keith cried out, ‘Oh, my God!’” –BOYSTOWN Season Eight
The horrific discovery in the apartment of Max Taylor and Dustin Alexander leaves a life hanging in the balance and begins a mystery that involves many of Boystown’s prominent residents. And with Marco Ciancio’s killer still on the loose, no one in Boystown is safe.
Members of the Ciancio and Mancini families continue to live in fear as the murderer manages to stay one step ahead of Commander Michael Martinez and Detective Jack Kramer. Meanwhile, Franco Armani’s twisted plan for revenge against Patrick Provenzano reaches a fatal finale, Justin and Emmett Mancini rush their brother Derek to the hospital, Gino Ciancio responds to Victor DelVecchio’s marriage proposal, and a snowstorm strands Cole Mancini and Jensen Stone in Boston where they make a decision that will impact the lives of those they love.
Later, when the suave Massoud Ahmed arrives in Chicago seeking investors in the River Pointe project, the Ciancios and Mancinis quickly become ensnared in a devious scheme masquerading as a business opportunity. In the process, some relationships are ruined while others are revisited, Jesse Morgan turns on those who love him most, and Marco’s murderer strikes again…and again.
It all leads up to a wedding the likes of which Chicago has never seen and BOYSTOWN readers will never see coming.
There’s no place like BOYSTOWN!

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Blue Christmas

AUTHOR: Viva Gold

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 151 pages

RELEASE DATE: November 24, 2018

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Kent Village Outlet Mall sits in the heart of Oxford. It is a lively, busy, exciting place to be particularly if you are the young, talented manager of Zapato – a trendy and popular shoe store. Elvis Smith owns that title and boy does he wear it loud and proud. Not everyone loves Elvis, least of all, Mall Manager Vera Kingsley. However, she is soon to learn to her cost, that the owner of the Village, its names sake, Jonah Kent, finds Elvis distinctly appealing.
Jonah is a wealthy, self-made millionaire. He owns retail outlet malls in the UK and the USA where he now lives, having escaped the disapproval of his lifestyle, from his parents. Their upper-class background cares not for his homosexuality; hence his self-imposed exile to New York.
Elvis is young, free and single. He’s career oriented and ambitious. He also sports blue hair, black eyeliner and on most days, a worrying amount of bling.
Somehow, by the magic of Christmas, Elvis and Jonah are thrown together through a series of events, including a charity drive for an LGBTQ+ charity funded by the Woolf-Cohen foundation. When Jonah comes to visit to ensure all the arrangements for the event are running smoothly, he becomes enthralled with a blue haired, blue eyed boy. Elvis in return falls arse over tit for the handsome, over bearing, Jonah Kent.
It seems an unlikely coupling – yet with a back drop of tinsel, mistletoe and yule tide shenanigans, the possibility for love emerges, like the first drop of snow on Christmas Day.

Reviewed by Roberta

TITLE: Zenko

SERIES: Tags of Honor, Book 1

AUTHOR: Annabella Stone

PUBLISHER: Self-Published

LENGTH: 241 pgs

RELEASE DATE: November 19, 2018

BLURB:

Finding an American civilian in a cave in Syria was not part of his mission brief. Zenko Marks, former Navy SEAL and member of the JSOC Task Force, has no idea who the mysterious man is, but he knows one thing for sure: he’s never left a man behind and he’s not about to start now—particularly one who looks at him with those stunning eyes.

Shaun Jacobson thought his number was up. Getting captured while undercover was never supposed to happen but getting rescued was a statistical impossibility, especially when he technically doesn’t exist on paper. The last thing he expected was a knight in shining Kevlar to ride in to save the day. Zenko is like no one he’s ever met before and while Shaun knows he should keep his distance he can’t help but want the man who rescued him from hell.

Can covert agents from two of the United States’ most secret teams allow their hearts to rule or will a joint mission between the teams cost them everything, their brothers and, worst of all, each other?

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: Gargoyle’s Embrace

SERIES: Polar Nights #3

AUTHOR: Siryn Sueng

PUBLISHER: Deep Desires Press

LENGTH: 75 pages

RELEASE DATE: November 20, 2018

BLURB:

As the owner of a high-profile exotics bar for the supernatural, Krystalf is used to attention. Being the son of wealthy and powerful parents and a formidable second-tier mage himself, Krystalf is also used to being the target of petty humans looking for a healthy ransom. Luckily, his life in Tromsø, Norway is usually quite peaceful.
Then…the fae arrived. After a brutal attack, Krystalf is left shaken as he witnesses for the first time how powerful they are. And at how helpless he truly is against them.
For the devilishly-handsome Auren, a gargoyle from Cara, Egypt, finding his mate was the last thing on his mind. He’s been painstakingly hunting the host of fae who attacked his home. That hunt leads him straight to the arms—and heart—of the mysterious mage, Krystalf. Yet, more questions than answers arise once Auren sets foot in Tromsø. Questions regarding how Auren knows a certain incubus—and perhaps the reason why the fae have come so far north…

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: His Baby to Cherish

SERIES: The Den mpreg #4

AUTHOR: Kiki Burrelli

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 246 pages

RELEASE DATE: September 13, 2017

BLURB:

Max lives in the shadows. Hiding in plain sight, he has been a part of the wolf pack at The Den since before it was called The Den. As an alpha wolf and ex-hit man, he’s hiding from his violent past, while watching his life pass him by. But living this way is necessary if he wants to be able to stay calm, stay stead and stay in control.
Until, he meets a young man that makes him lose control.
Berlin cares about one thing, providing for his mother and sister. When his father died and his little sister was diagnosed, Berlin knew that they would need money and lots of it. He thought he was lucky when Pete, an old friend of his father’s, came into his life with an interesting proposition. For two years, Berlin has acted as a prostitute, serving who ever can pay so he can take care of his family. Then he meets Max, mysterious, sexy and all consuming. Max wants to take care of him, the worst part? Berlin wants to let him.

His Baby to Cherish is the fourth and final Mpreg romance in The Den series. It can be read as a standalone, contains mentions to prostitution, abuse and cancer but has a happily ever after.

Reviewed by Becca

TITLE: The Christmas Lights Battle

AUTHOR: Skylar M. Cates

PUBLISHER: self-published

LENGTH: 212 pages

RELEASE DATE: December 5, 2018

BLURB:

A Shelby Beach Romance.

For a single dad and his neighbor, the Christmas competition is on!
Julian Moss wants to give his children a happy Christmas. Since his divorce, Julian has no time for a social life; he’s been doing the tiring work of two parents while his cheating ex-husband dodges his responsibilities. If that isn’t stressful enough, he has to deal with his new—and ridiculously good-looking—neighbor and his noisy dogs. Christmas used to be Julian’s favorite holiday, but lately all he sees is the cost. Then Julian’s young son tells him about a Christmas lights competition with a much-needed prize.
Leo Adams is going to be alone for Christmas…again. All he’s ever wanted is to be accepted by his family, but he knows that will never happen. Deciding to focus on his career as a personal trainer, Leo develops a boot camp program on the beach, but he needs publicity. The lights competition offers Leo a way to get some free press, and if it annoys his snooty neighbor Julian—all the better.
The battle is on, and both Julian and Leo want to win. The stakes are high, the reward is great, and the neighbors are in it to win it. There’s nothing like a little competition to make Christmas at Shelby Beach extra merry and bright.