Friday, February 20, 2015

A RESTORED MAN by Jaime Reese




       

     We sisters were lucky enough last month to be part of the cover reveal for Jaime Reese's book A Restored Man, book 3 of her The Men of Halfway House series.  It was released on February 17th, and as part of the release blitz we wanted to share again with you a bit about the book and where you can find this and other release's by Jaime. Let us get acquainted with the men of Halfway House.


Book 1





Matthew Doner is starting over. After a five-year prison term that alters every aspect of his life, he receives a bequest from his aunt with the stipulation that he use the money to make things right. Breaking free of the long-standing role he’s played and inspired by the few who support him, he decides to create a safe place where people like him can find purpose and start a new life.

Julian Capeletti likes challenges. He is confident, brash, stubborn, and just what Matt needs. Desperate for work after a downturn of luck, he accepts the job to renovate Matt’s crumbling building.


Over the course of a year, romance simmers between them as they restore the house. But there’s a bigger renovation that must take place in their hearts. To become better men, they need to learn to trust each other even with secrets and painful memories they fear may rip them apart.






 Book 2






After surviving ten years in prison, Cameron Pierce is attempting to put the past behind him. He tries to adjust to his newfound freedom with a place at the halfway house and a job. But one lesson he learned in prison keeps him guarded: hope is a dangerous thing.

Hunter Donovan, Assistant State Attorney, is a man of justice who loves a challenge. After a lifetime of putting his career first, a milestone brings him to a harsh realization—he's lonely.

Hunter's world changes when he meets Cam. The wary young man intrigues him and awakens a desire unlike anything he's ever experienced. When Cam's past resurfaces and threatens to rip them apart, their budding relationship is challenged and Cam's hope for a future begins to dim.

These outside forces hunting Cam will stop at nothing to send him back to prison. But they'll have to get past Hunter first. 






Book 3





Cole Renzo thinks his greatest challenge is to behave for the remainder of his term at Halfway House. Until he meets his new boss, Ty Calloway, a man who ticks off every box on Cole’s list of interests.

A sought-after restorer and customizer of exotic and collectible cars, Ty had enough confidence to command what he wanted in life, until one fateful night changed everything. Almost two years later, he’s slowly rebuilding his life with great control. He’s defied the odds and works tirelessly to be the man he once was—but he still feels broken.

Cole’s candor and unfiltered personality awaken Ty’s barely-remembered desire to greet each new day with a smile, while Ty’s unwavering acceptance of Cole’s quirks and brash humor makes Cole feel as if he fits in for the first time in far too long. When a nemesis threatens Ty’s personal restoration and the things he holds dear, Cole is determined to protect their relationship, even if that means sacrificing everything he’s worked so hard to achieve.

But Ty will have to let his guard down, surrender control, and admit he needs Cole first, even if that puts himself at risk of breaking beyond repair.









 Chapter 1

The music reverberated off the walls and filtered back through Cole's body. The sounds of Pitbull's"Timber" had him gyrating in the kitchen as he reached into the refrigerator. He grabbed the mozzarella then did exactly as the song commanded after shutting the door. He spun his body around repeatedly, holding the bag of cheese above his head while his hips arched up and down, completely seduced by the pounding beat of the song. 

He closed his eyes. His heart thumped in unison with the beat, guiding his thick, compact, toned body in the fast-paced thrust of his hips as if he were pushing into the welcoming heat of a lover.

The pace slowed and so did his body, in complete sync with the rhythm. His hips rounded deeply, seductively, giving a show that would always excite more than the traditional foreplay.
Cole Renzo had some moves and he knew it.

The song sped up again and he glided barefoot across the tiled kitchen floor to reach the garlic cloves from the basket in the corner.

"Hey, you," Matt said, entering the kitchen, speaking loud enough for his voice to travel above the music.

Cole looked over at Matthew Doner, owner of the halfway house where he stayed, and smiled as his body moved to the rhythm of the song, not faltering a single beat with the interruption. He knew Matt loved to dance and had caught him doing his own version of a solo when he thought no one was watching. He dropped the garlic cloves on the counter and bent his finger in a come here motion, swinging his hips in a fluid Salsa-like move as he walked toward Matt slowly. Matt laughed and took two steps forward. Cole pulled him closer, spun him once then wrapped his arm around Matt's waist and started to dance to the faster thump of the song. 

The laughter echoed in the kitchen as they moved in perfect time with the fast-paced rhythm nearing the end of the tune. Matt held up his arm and Cole circled with the expert elegance of a seasoned dancer, then pulled Matt close, stepped to the side and spun Matt in the same fashion. 

"What the fuck!" Julian thundered when he entered the kitchen.

They froze at the sound of Julian's tone, just as the song ended. Cole's hand still rested on Matt's waist as they tried to settle their breathing, the absence of music magnifyingthe harsh puff of each exhale.

"Hey!" Cole responded cheerfully. "Matt and I were getting it on in here. Matt's got some hip action that would make a—"

Matt's hand came up around the back of Cole's head to cover his mouth, stopping him midsentence. What the hell?He was just going to compliment Matt on his seductive dance moves.

Cole glanced at Julian.His golden skin glowed, and he looked as if he had actually swelled an inch or two while standing there. His nostrils flared like a bull's. His usual intimidating green-eyed glare was more vicious than usual. 

"What. The. Fuck," Julian said in that controlled tone that couldn't hide the undercurrent of his bubbling rage. He looked like he wanted to murder someone. Correction. Based on the white-knuckled fists he held at his sides, he was probably going to beat the shit out of some poor soul.

Murder would show mercy.

Matt's hand couldn't hide the smile Cole imagined was plastered on his face. Poor sorry ass idiot who dared piss off Julian Capeletti. He looked up at the green-eyed guy who towered over Cole's five-nine stature.

"J, calm down," Matt said to his partner in his usual calming tone.
Yeah, good luck with that. Julian was about to go ape shit on someone and Cole was going to have a front row seat to that show. Cole's stomach fluttered and he started shifting his weight from foot to foot. He couldn't wait to see Julian actually lose it for once.
Julian's jaw clenched and his fists tightened.

Wait a minute. Cole looked back and forth between Julian and Matt. Julian's not pissed at Matt—he never was. They had one of those sickly sweet, always romantic I love you lick fest 
relationships you secretly want but would never openly admit. Why was Julian so mad? And who the hell was he mad at? There was no one else in the kitchen.

Shit. Cole slowly registered how his actions or words may have been received. He instantly released Matt as if his fingers were singed and put his hands behind his back. Matt removed his hand from Cole's mouth. Cole took a few steps back and raised his hands in a surrender-like fashion, hoping to calm the golden beast that seemed to be growing in width with each passing second.

"We were just dancing," Cole said calmly. He knew better than to joke with Julian while he was in this state of mind. Stick to the facts."I was making dinner…your favorite actually." He walked over slowly toward the stovetop like someone stepping away from a wild animal. He kept his focus trained on Julian as he lifted the pot tops on the stove. 

Matt neared Julian and placed his hands on the stretched black T-shirt covering his broad chest. "J, I heard the music and came in here. You know I can't resist a dance," he said teasingly as he stroked Julian's chest. He then smiled and placed a kiss on Julian's neck.

Julian's focus shifted quickly from Cole to Matt and back to Cole. Within a second, his glare had changed. Matt kissed him again and Julian's eyes partially closed but snapped open, re-focusing on Cole as his target.

Matt's hand reached up Julian's neck to the back of his shaved head.
Julian's eyes closed and his head lolled to the side, seeking Matt's kisses up his neck then along his jawline. In a flash, he grabbed Matt by the hand and pulled him out the kitchen. Matt quickly glanced back to Cole with a huge grin on his face.

Cole sighed with relief as his entire body relaxed.

Crisis averted.

He always seemed to get a rise out of Julian but it was never intentional. Not really. He wouldn't deny he occasionally had some fun at Julian's expense. He just had the worst case of foot in mouth syndrome. It seemed his mouth worked much faster than his brain. He would never say or do anything to intentionally hurt someone, his mother had taught him better than that. But with a thousand different thoughts racing in his mind at any given moment, picking the right thing to say didn't always work out in his favor.
Or as Julian said, he had no social filter between his brain and mouth. 

Cole returned his focus to the dinner he was preparing. Food. God, he loved to cook and was thankful as hell Matt and Julian allowed him to tinker in the kitchen. He didn't want to stir anything up—aside from the sauce he was preparing—but he needed to burn off the nervous energy that thrummed through his body on a constant basis. He pressed the button on the iPod docking station to jump to the next playlist and lowered the volume. The smooth sounds of Maroon 5 streamed through the speakers and eased his nerves as he continued to stir the sauce. Visions of Adam Levine singing and dancing came to mind. Mmm. The things he'd love to do to that man.

He was placing the garlic rolls in the oven some time later when Julian walked into the kitchen and opened the refrigerator to grab a bottled water. Cole closed the oven and stilled, hoping for some magic superpower that would render him invisible. He couldn't abandon dinner and risk it getting ruined or, even worse, messing up Halfway House, the place he had called his home for the last two months. Shit.

Cole turned, feeling as if he should say something, but shut his mouth almost as quickly to avoid aggravating the situation. He sucked at apologies and usually ended up shoving his other foot into his mouth as well.

Julian glared at him just as Matt entered the kitchen with flushed cheeks, a dreamy smile, and swollen lips. Matt hummed as he tugged his shirt to straighten it. When he looked up and saw both Cole and Julian looking at him, his eyes rounded and he quickly turned and exited the kitchen.

Midday booty call. Busted.

A slow smile began to spread across Cole's face. He glanced over at Julian who still had a death glare focused on him.

Julian pointed a finger at him. "Don't you dare go there," he said before turning away. "And pull up your pants. I can see your damn Spider-Man underwear."

"Hey, don't rag on the superheroes. Oh, and by the way…"
Julian turned and gave Cole a pointed glare.

Cole did a chin up gesture toward the door where Matt had been only moments ago. "You can thank me later."

The muscles in Julian's jaw flexed. He inhaled sharply, shook his head, and left the kitchen without saying another word.












Jaime Reese is the alter ego of an artist who loves the creative process of writing, just not about herself. Fiction is far more interesting. She has a weakness for broken, misunderstood heroes and feels everyone deserves a chance at love and life. An avid fan of a happy ending, she believes those endings acquired with a little difficulty are more cherished.













Black Coach tote + signed copy of A Restored Man + Calloway's keychain. US ONLY
Coach umbrella + signed copy of A Restored Man + Calloway's keychain. (International)
(5 winners) Signed copies of A Restored Man  + Calloway's keychain (International)
(3 winners) ONE eBook of either A Better Man or A Hunted Man (gifted via Amazon)


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Thursday, February 19, 2015

STAND BY by Kim Fielding

















Who’d have thought being stranded at the airport could possibly have some long term benefits?

Certainly not Tom.

But then he hadn’t bargained on meeting Rafael…









Rafael’s hand was very warm and his handshake firm.

“Where are you headed?” Rafael asked.

“Iowa. If I can. I’ve been on standby forever.”

Sadness flitted across Rafael’s face. “I know how that is.”

“Oh, you too? Where are you trying to go?”

“Nowhere.” Rafael sighed. “I just come here to watch the airplanes.”

Considering Tom’s admission about magic in flight and cell phones, he was in no position to judge. “Are you into planes? As a hobby, I mean?” He was vaguely aware that just as some people were obsessive about cars or trains, some had a thing for aircraft. Freud would likely have a good explanation for that.

Rafael gazed out into the darkness. Tom could see Rafael’s reflection in the window. He looked very far away.

“I used to fly,” Rafael said quietly. “But I... I made mistakes. I was grounded. Now I can only watch.”

“Doesn’t that make it worse? Like being on a diet and visiting a bakery?”

After considering this for a few moments, Rafael shook his head. “No. It’s a reminder. A small consolation. Is there something you truly long for, Tom? With all your heart?”

Tom’s chest tightened. He stared down at his shoes and gave a small nod. “Yeah.”

“And do you avoid any mention of it? Or do you seek it out because even a shadow, even a tiny taste is better than nothing?”

Fine. Tom might have spilled about his magic hypothesis, but no way was he going to admit to this stranger that he regularly sniffled over the kinds of movies where the main couple ended up clinging tearfully to one another. Usually in the rain, for some reason. Sometimes one of them was dying or had to go to war, or some other tragic circumstances intervened, but it didn’t matter because they’d found True Love. Tom would further not admit that his Kindle was filled with books whose covers generally featured two naked male torsos floating over a landscape, books in which an HEA—or at least an HFN—was guaranteed.

“I don’t avoid it,” Tom admitted to his shoes.

For five, maybe ten minutes, they sat silently beside each other in the empty concourse, looking at the motionless planes outside. Tom imagined they looked like a scene in a film. Not a rom-com, but something moody and artsy. Coen brothers. Kubrick. Sofia Coppola? Maybe even something French.

Finally, Tom had a question. “To get this close to the planes, don’t you need a boarding pass to get through security?”

Rafael laughed gently. “It’s not a problem for me.”

Perhaps he still had his old ID, or else the security people knew him from his pilot days and let him through.

Tom scratched the stubble on his cheek. “Um, I hope you don’t mind me asking, but... are you grounded permanently? Or just for a while?”

“I’m not sure. I keep hoping my superiors will reconsider, but it’s been a long time.”

“I’m sorry,” Tom said sincerely.


“Thanks. I guess I’m sort of on standby too.” Rafael patted Tom’s shoulder and a very strange thing happened. Right through the stupid sport jacket that had been all wrong for the interview and the pale blue button-down that had been even worse, Tom felt a jolt where Rafael touched him. It was a little like getting zapped by static electricity, but it was more painful and more pleasant. Way more pleasant, actually, in a way that made Tom’s khakis (also totally wrong) immediately feel far too tight.




























Kim Fielding is the bestselling author of numerous m/m romance novels, novellas, and short stories. Like Kim herself, her work is eclectic, spanning genres such as contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and historical. Her stories are set in alternate worlds, in 15th century Bosnia, in modern-day Oregon. Her heroes are hipster architect werewolves, housekeepers, maimed giants, and conflicted graduate students. They’re usually flawed, they often encounter terrible obstacles, but they always find love.

After having migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States, Kim calls the boring part of California home. She lives there with her husband, her two daughters, and her day job as a university professor, but escapes as often as possible via car, train, plane, or boat. This may explain why her characters often seem to be in transit as well. She dreams of traveling and writing full-time.













Tuesday, February 17, 2015

Author Spotlight: Candi Fox










Candi Fox, co-host of the wildly popular radio show Candi and Company with over 770 thousand listeners bean her venture in the paranormal at the tender age of two, when she witnessed her first apparition. From that moment on the paranormal seemed to follow her. No matter where she moved, the house she lived in, the house next door, or the house down the street always seemed to be haunted. 

She often wondered if she drew the spirits to her. Little did she know that she was indeed a magnet of sorts. It wasn't until she was in her late twenties that she found people who could not only explain her gifts, but would also help her hone them. Armed with this new knowledge she began to openly explore hauntings and other paranormal phenomena. 

Growing up in Indiana lent her the opportunity to explore many famous haunted places including the Hannah House, which was once part of the Underground Railroad. A little over two years ago she moved to Tulsa, OK and has began to explore the haunted landscape in a new state.

Candi lives with her husband, and the oldest of her two non-furry children in Tulsa. She is passionate about the occult, saving and rehabilitating horses, horseback riding, magick, all things mystical, and has her Reiki Mastery.

She uses her own paranormal experiences as well as her own life traumas to write from a grounded and realistic perspective about subjects that are hard to talk about and even harder to feel for yourself. 




Released January 20th 2015









Emmaline Blackwell's life has been surrounded by death since she was a little girl. Now death in the form of a man is stalking her. The man who tried to kill her once is still trying to take her life from her. Because of him she is always looking over her shoulder. She has been running from him for years but now must take drastic measures to hide from the lunatic. She moves across country to a smaller city to hide amongst the populace. Emma has to change everything, including her name in order to hide her past from everyone. 

Cord Masterson is the sheriff of Stillwater OK, who hides a deep secret of his own. Sparks fly the moment the two meet but it appears that even sparks can't keep her past at bay. When young women are found murdered in Stillwater, can Cord keep Emma safe from her past and still manage to be a part of her future?








“Last night all the pendulum would do was go in circles. No matter what question I asked or how much energy I poured forth, it just continued to go in circles.

“The spirit world is either uncertain, which could mean she is being moved. It could also mean that she is recently deceased and is in the process of transitioning.” ©Candi Fox 2015





https://www.facebook.com/CandiFoxAuthor

www.theravensrepose.tumblr.com

www.author.candifox.com

https://twitter.com/CandiFox







Wednesday, February 4, 2015

Cover Reveal for Give Me All of You by FL Jacob





Welcome one and all, we Sister's are excited to be part of the cover reveal for FL Jacob's upcoming book, Give Me All of You. This book is the 3rd in the Black Hollywood series. It can also be read as a stand alone.







Beth Emmons would not allow herself fall in love.  She’d been burned in the worst way possible, leaving her with a secret that made her the black sheep of the family.

Jake Martin wasn’t looking for love.  After his ‘true love’ married another, he kept to himself and lived the life of a bachelor. 

When their paths crossed in Mexico, they couldn’t get enough of each other.  Beth kept to her ‘friends with benefits’ plan, while Jake wanted more.  A pregnancy scare caused Beth to run from Jake.  Jake gave Beth the space she needed even if it was going to kill him. Christmas at the Black Hollywood Club reunited them and made them stronger. 

Now, the family Beth wanted to forget pops back into her life needing her full attention.  All the while, Beth’s secret is busting at the seams causing her to once again distance herself from Jake.  Jake decides enough is enough and vows to fight for the love of his life, his real true love.

Will Beth be able to give herself to Jake?  Can Jake’s love give Beth the strength she needs, or will her secrets cause them to fall apart again, leaving them shattered . . . unable to pick up the pieces.








 Haven't read the first two books yet? Well let's get you started...




                                                Book 1: Have I told you









                                       Book 2:  I Won't Give Up on You








                      Novella: A Very Merry Black Hollywood Christmas











 I am a mommy of two, wife to an amazing man, and full time employee. Life is crazy and busy! I started writing again during a darker time in my life in a group write in a Facebook group. They brought back my passion for writing that I haven’t felt since high school and helped me through hard times. 

Starting this process was tedious and nerve-wracking, but my amazing ladies and my fabulous husband have inspired me to take my love for writing to the next step.

My current books are Have I Told You, I Won't Give Up on You, A Very Merry Black Hollywood Christmas, all part of the Black Hollywood Series. Coming Soon will be Give Me All of You, book 3 in the BH Series. 

Coming later 2015, One in a Million. New Characters, New story, Standalone! More information coming soon.





 TSU






 



Sunday, February 1, 2015

300 Likes Giveaway!!!

Good Sunday morning to you all. My sister, SgtTibbs and I would like to invite you to enter our “300 Likes” giveway. You will get a chance to win a swag bag with lots of goodies including a signed copy of Tainted by the one and only Julie Kenner/JK Beck. We will announce the winner on February 14.

This is our way of saying Thank You for liking us on Facebook and taking the time out of your day to stop by our blog. Good Luck and as always thank you.

~~SuperTatee



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