Claiming Their Human by Eva Evans

Caleb hates the fact his small fishing town has turned into a tourist trap. After an alleged alien sighting near the marina, everyone is trying to make money off the spectacle. Overnight vendors and obtrusive billboards replace the beautiful views of the ocean. It isn't until two muscular men drag him to their spacecraft that he second guesses his beliefs.

Zane and Kross have traveled across the galaxy to find their human mate. They've been searching for years, so when they find Caleb, they're beyond thrilled. One thing they didn't plan on was his reluctance to their abduction. But they won't leave Earth without their human.

Caleb soon realizes he has nothing of value left on Earth. His gorgeous alien captors promise him love, excitement, and the best sex he's ever had. Somewhere along the way to their planet, he decides their new menage relationship is actually a blessing in disguise.

This was a good book though a bit short. Some of the parts seemed a bit rushed to fit the length. Caleb seems to accept being whisked off across the universe too easily. It was like one line he was resisting and then the next he had instantly reflected on his life and was like "OK Lets go!". I just wished there was a bit more content between the covers to round out the story a bit. Good story though and looking forward to more in the series.

4 Smooches for Claiming Their Human. You can find it here.

Bond of a Lycaon Concubine by Talon p.s. and Princess s.o.

"So you think you know the story of Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf? Think again..."

Raina grew up with the faint memories of her grandmother's fairytales. Tales that told her she was a part of something far greater than her lonely nomadic life gave existence to. But when she finds she's been among the one thing she desired most, can she let go of her more human-raising to submit to it?

Tristan has had a wild hunger for the saucy minx ever since she started working at the Hell hound Tavern. When a close call with a rival pack meant risking exposing the beast he was to Raina, he wasn't expecting her to submit to the beast as his mate. As the Beta to the pack Alpha, Tristan can't keep a mate to himself, but the secret she holds says otherwise.

But keeping a Lycaon Concubine might mean leaving the pack in order to protect his Alpha, who's status has kept a pack of 500 strong and safe for generations.




This was a good book,though some of the parts were a bit slow and the writing style took a bit to get used to with changing characters. However after that this was a good book and it almost felt that it had a bit more story to go over before the end. I wish there had been a bit more to round out the new relationship that blossoms near the end instead of just dropping off. Other than that, good book and good story.

4 Smooches for Bond of a Lycaon Concubine. You can find it here.

Fish and Ghosts by Rhys Ford

When his Uncle Mortimer died and left him Hoxne Grange, the family’s Gilded Age estate, Tristan Pryce knew he wasn't going to have an easy time of it. He was to be the second generation of Pryces to serve as a caretaker for the estate, a way station for spirits on their final steps to the afterlife. The ghosts were the simple part. He’d been seeing boo-wigglies since he was a child. No, the difficult part was his own family. Determined to establish Tristan’s insanity, his loving relatives hire Dr. Wolf Kincaid and his paranormal researchers, Hellsinger Investigations, to prove the Grange is not haunted.

Skeptic Wolf Kincaid has made it his life’s work to debunk the supernatural. After years of cons and fakes, he can’t wait to reveal the Grange’s ghostly activity is just badly leveled floorboards and a drafty old house. The Grange has more than a few surprises for him, including its prickly, reclusive owner.

Tristan Pryce is much less insane and much more attractive than Wolf wants to admit and when his Hellsinger team unwittingly release a ghostly serial killer on the Grange, Wolf is torn between his skepticism and protecting the man he’d been sent to discredit.

This was an awesome story with the perfect balance of the romance and action. Just the right amount to keep it interesting. Wolf and Tristan are both well written characters and they play off each other really well. Even though Wolf was hired to bring Tristan down, the sparks fly and Tristan has enough fire to keep Wolf on his toes. Over all, I would recommend this great book to everyone.

5 Smooches for Fish and Ghosts. Available as an e-book here or paperback here.

Written in Flesh Anthology

For many people, there's nothing hotter than a man with tattoos. He might get them to commemorate a lost loved one, celebrate an event, or just to look bad-ass, but there's no doubt the man enjoys showing off his ink. Tribal, classic black and white, or elaborate colored artwork spanning the entire back, each mark has a story, an indelible reminder of the past etched onto the human canvas with care and precision. We're showcasing four of those stories in Written in Flesh.

Key is Bound by Ink to a woman he does not—cannot—love. He runs to escape his fate, but finds Dax, another fugitive, and learns that some bonds go deeper than skin. In the heyday of the 1980's, Ian Grothe's club is about to discover the Next Big Thing, but Ian only has eyes for the lead singer. But as the band's star rises, Ian gets left behind, his hopes turning to Powder.

Then, in Helotry, Rontak is an escaped slave who wears the mark of his service beneath his skin. While on the run, he is sheltered by Tréy, an artist with a heavy secret of his own. Finally, Ellis comes to the Sui Generis Protection Agency bearing the Mark of the Familiar, magical animal tattoos granting him remarkable shapeshifting abilities. When he feels a True Bond to William, the Wardsman of the agency, he has to convince William of the truth or risk losing his sanctuary, and perhaps even his life.


All of these were great. Even Powder, which takes place in the 1980's, was a pleasant surprise.I had not expected it to be as good as it was. Ian and Arnold pull at the heartstrings as Arnold gets swept away by his success which makes the ending even better. However there were no favorites for this collection. All of these were awesome.


4½ Smooches for the Written in Flesh Anthology. You can find it here.

Carved in Flesh Anthology

People often say that the true perfection in the human form is in its imperfections. Scars are visceral reminders of a person's past, a sign of an event that can never fade. Whether it was gained in combat, a traumatic experience, or part of a ritual with a lover, scars are the ultimate labels. They leave a permanent mark on the body and spirit that, one way or another, change a person forever.

Veld is an Elf who has known for years that his mute friend Oren is spoken for; the design of scars spanning Oren's torso reminds him with every look. When Oren's vowed, Haram, is killed, Veld must not only help to prove his own innocence, but also tread carefully as he discovers Oren's Right and Haram's last request. Next, Tiocfaidh Ár Lá—"our day will come"—was the cry in Joe Colson's heart, even as he fled his beloved Ireland to hide from his sins in the States. He'd assumed his chances for love were long past when a much younger man rekindles something in him he'd thought long dead.

A near-fatal car accident leaves superstar model Ashley's face permanently scarred and his career into a tailspin. Only his lover, Will, can pull him out of his depression, provided his affection hasn't turned to Faded Love. Young Timothy has come to Larry for Scar Therapy. But Tim is seeking healing of a different kind, and Larry finds that he has his own wounds that need tending. Garvin's scars are a Gift of the Goddess, seared into his skin as a beacon to find his kidnapped love, Nyle. Rescuing him, though, may entail a deeper wound than even the Goddess would bestow. Finally, when Kanovan returns from his off-world tour, his lover Mirin finds a lover's mark he hadn't expected. Mirin must re-evaluate how much Kanovan means to him, and what he must do to make Kanovan always Sojourn Home to him.


A few of these were really romantic despite being so intense. The characters really care about each other even when taking a literal piece out of their lover when others around them might not understand. The favorites for this collection were Scar Therapy, Oren's Right, and Faded Love. These I would have liked to be longer and would have liked to read more about these pairs. There were a couple that I didn't care for all that much but over all, I enjoyed reading the stories put in this anthology.


4 Smooches for the Carved in Flesh Anthology. You can find it here.

Forgotten Menagerie Anthology

A shifter leads two lives: one as a human, and one as an animal. Sometimes these lives are intertwined, and sometimes they are not, but always the shifter has to find a way to reconcile one with the other. Forgotten Menagerie reminds us that not all shifters are werewolves or werecats, despite the preponderance of them in fiction. The stories in this anthology focus on shifters with animal forms other than canine and feline, building their own mythos for these non-traditional species.

In Nuts About You, Nathan's been crushing on one of his regular Bulk Mart customers for a while now. In squirrel form, he sits on Vince's bird feeders, munching on seeds and enjoying the eye candy. Until the day Vince notices him raiding the feeder... Then, in The Greatest of These, Daniel struggles to deal with his new-found sexuality and his Catholic faith. He's already overcome the question of how otter shifters fit into God's plans, but the next step is so much harder. After all, people don't picket about otters burning in Hell. Eber's shifting in Mirrors, the Moon, and the Boy is a curse carried by his family for nearly 500 years, but he's found a sexy side to it that makes him popular at the elite club "Conquistador" in Madrid. His legendary prowess inevitably leads to questions about why he's never there on the full moon. And when he begins to explore a budding connection with young American Miguel, the stakes get even higher if Eber's secret is ever revealed.

Dobson needs his Burdens Lightened, as he has a farm that's too big for one man and has to work construction to keep it paid for. The boss's nephew, Jim, is on the crew this summer—his father's idea to sweat the gay out of him. But Jim wants Dobson, and the feeling is mutual. To the point that Dobson is about to show a part of himself to Jim that no one has ever seen and that only the right person can see. Finally, Carter is eager to sever ties with the ignorant lout who married his sister and thereby owns half of the family ranch, but the only way to do that is to beat his brother-in-law to the cattle auction. That means a trip through Dangerous Territory full of hard terrain, venomous snakes, and flash floods. Fortunately, a deal with the local shifter tribe earns Carter a guide, the stern and humorless Rani, who has his own reasons for coming along.


All of these stories were really great. I really enjoyed most of them and I would read a couple of them again. If I had to pick favorites, it would be Nuts About You and Burdens Lightened. The reactions of Nathan and Dobson when they are found out adds to their stories and makes the endings that much sweeter. Over-all this is a great collection.


4½ Smooches for the Forgotten Menagerie anthology. You can find it here.

Like It Or Not Anthology

Be it forced seduction/dubious consent, non-violent intimidation, or pre-negotiated fantasy, there is something wickedly taboo about non-consensual sex, where consent is muddled. While rape is a crime of power, focusing on exerting physical control over another person, non-con is all about the gray area where verbal consent is either never given (not a 'yes', but not a 'no' either) or doesn't match the arousal and passion both parties share during the act. In Like It or Not, we push the boundaries of consent without fully breaking them.


When Connor's rent money is due and not even hooking can make up the shortfall, he really is Out of Options. So when playboy Jarrett makes him a very generous offer, he doesn't look too closely at the terms—and lives to regret it. Then, werewolf Trevor is subjected to Obedience Classes when his pack alpha becomes fed up with his rebellion. Dirk, the wolf charged with this task, though, seems more interested in claiming Trevor for himself, by any means necessary. Writer Ian Richards has to decide What It's Worth to get his story when his contact meets him in a private club. In fact, Vincenzo has no intention of letting his information go easily, if at all.


In Blindside, freshman Matt is tired of enduring the hazing by (admittedly gorgeous) upperclassman Dylan, when Dylan ups the ante significantly. And as much as Matt wants Dylan, he can't be sure the whole thing isn't one more bizarre prank. Confessor Isak must resort to Unnatural Means when he is charged with the task of forcing Sain to confess his sins of murder and witchcraft before inevitable execution. Torturing in the name of the Divine is difficult enough, but when Sain's seductive magic takes hold of him, he isn't sure it will be Sain who breaks under pressure to find release. Finally, Salting the Earth becomes Ronan's only choice when he suspects his sister has been taken by the fairies. However, this only draws the interest of ruthless King Finnbheara, who extracts a price for his cooperation that may be too high for Ronan to pay.


All of these stories were very good. The interactions between the characters were intense in all of them and even though they are pretty much non-consensual encounters, they still tug at the heart strings a bit with veiled caring. Very balanced. I can't really pick a favorite out of these six because they were all equally great. There were some slow points in Salting the Earth but it catches the reader up pretty quick. Overall, these are great stories.


4 ½ Smooches for Like It Or Not Anthology. You can find it here.

The Harvest: Taken by M.A. Church

In the year 2050, humanity finds out they are indeed not alone.

Massive space ships appear without warning above the capital cities of all major nations. The planet Tah'Nar is dying. Chemical warfare has reduced the once-intersexed warrior race to sterility. They need fresh DNA in order to reproduce and have an idea for a harvesting program... and so they turn to Earth.

Earth governments negotiate a lottery, and Dale Michael assumes he's safe since he's under the Harvest age limit. How wrong he is. He's illegally harvested and claimed by Tah'Narian starship captain Keyno Shou. From the moment Keyno sees Dale, he knows he must claim the spirited human male for his own. What he doesn't expect is a spitfire with a mind of his own—and a deadly disease that will require a risky procedure to cure.


This book was amazing. I really liked the entire concept of taken by aliens to help their dying race and the twist of betrayal that happens later in the book was totally unforeseen. Dale and Keyno are a great couple with passion and compatibility even though Dale fights it in the beginning. Excellent book and one that I would want to read again.


5 Smooches for The Harvest: Taken. You can find it here.

Turning the Tables Anthology

You know how the saying goes: turnabout is fair play. That means it's time for boyfriend to bend over. These four stories all feature women who might not wear the pants in the relationship, but who do take a turn wearing the cock. Whether it's the woman taking a turn receiving a blow job or otherwise taking charge in the bedroom, once you slide on a strap-on, power dynamics change. And that's just what these tales examine, with all the steamy consequences.


Zara's husband David, one of the twin heads of a premier biotech company, may not quite be what he seems. His violent history, long suppressed with a neural implant, is re-emerging in strange ways, and he—or his twin brother—may be Double Dealing with their identities. It will take cleverness, courage, and the services of a world class hacker to untangle the web of deception around the brothers Gemini. Then, is it happily ever after for William and Jenny... and her husband, Alex? Will knows he's loved, but he's still the third wheel in a married couple's household. It's up to Jenny and Alex to prove to him that his place in their hearts has the Permanency he desires.


Except for a couple of gems in the book, all together this anthology was so-so. The first story, Double Dealing, was confusing because it tried to incorporate both reality and cyberspace. The third story, Phallusy, was supposed to be like a fairy tale but to me it was a bit corny and cheesy. The second, Permanency, and last story, Your Most Humble and Obedient Servant, were the ones I liked. They had something a bit more and were totally romantic and all around enjoyable to read. The characters were believable and the stories themselves were easy to follow. I would totally read these two stories again.


3 ½ smooches for Turning the Tables Anthology. You can find it here.

All Wrapped Up Anthology

Tentacles are a taboo subject for most, something most people look at from between their fingers as they hide. But for a growing number of people, it's a subject that is fascinating and sexy! Tentacle erotica has been around for ages, fromThe Dream of the Fisherman's Wife to Demon Beast Invasion—it's a genre that is here to stay. All Wrapped Up explores this genre through the lens of gay erotic romance, offering four science-fiction and fantasy stories featuring tentacled heroes in all their wiggly glory.


The men in Ground Mission are podmates, a matched set: Simon Pollux, the lethal scout, and Adrian Lovasz, his willing and even more lethal combat specialist. In the midst of exploring an alien world, Simon is infected with an alien virus; to what lengths will Adrian go to ensure Simon's comfort? In the wood-locked town of Orm, ranger Koster meets the mysterious Irsing: the guardian of the forest. Is he the one letting the forest turn to wilds, or is the forest turning to wilds on its own? In Wildwood, Koster aims to do whatever it takes to set things right.


Eli exchanges his a life of poverty in Dark Covenant when tricked into signing a contract giving himself to the masters of the Academy. His body, his movement, his life is theirs to do with as they wish, until the enigmatic Eramus offers Eli his power—if Eli will join with him. Sebastian Reed lives on the legal limits in Situation Normal, barely scraping by in his hunk of junk ship until a Peace Officer, Ten, commandeers his ship... and his body. Not that Sebastian minds, except for wondering exactly where it is that Ten means to take him.


All in all a well put together anthology. The stories were really tasteful despite involving tentacles which for me is usually hit or miss. These for the most part, were all hits. There were a few moments in a couple of the story beginnings where I was lost but the writers brought me back to their world quickly with detail and explanations needed in a short story.

4 Smooches for the All Wrapped Up anthology. You can find it here.

A Hero in Their Eyes by Tracey Steinbach

Chase is an EMT and Phil is a fireman. To someone who didn't know better, they appear nothing more than best friends. To the people who know them, they’re so much more.

A major fire brings Rachel into their lives. Who knew one little art teacher could make such a big impression?

Chase and Phil find out Rachel’s up to something and vow to help her. The more they’re around her, the more ‘friendly’ they feel toward her. Do they pretend the opposite, invite her for play, attempt a relationship?

Sweet. The seduction is well written and the sex scenes are steamy. Also the steps that Rachel and the guys take to recover from the fire were awesome and brought everyone together to help. The author left me wanting more but the story was well rounded in the length the author chose. I think it’s a great addition to the series. 

4 ½ smooches for A Hero in Their Eyes. You can find it here.

Prodigal Wolf by LE Franks & Sara York

Carlo has a problem, after years away he's finally returned to his South Carolina roots - but instead of peace and quiet all he's found are nosy wolves, romancing twinks, an out of control roommate threatening to expose them all, and a demanding Alpha who just won't go away.

All his Alpha wants is to show Carlo who he really is, and where he belongs. But Carlo Montefiore is a man fighting his instincts, memories, and responsibilities. His beachside home was supposed to provide sanctuary, but pack politics, unruly roommates, and human neighbors at risk of discovering that shifters exist, are making life anything but peaceful. Twinks Kevin and Grady have their own problems. Two college freshmen are no match for a couple of hot wolves who like to play chase. If they don't stop playing games they'll miss the biggest thing to happen in their young lives---love.

The story was good but it lacked focus on a single couple and seemed to lose the focus all together part way in. I would like to have seen more about Carlo and Angelo since they were the main characters in the description. While the story between Grady and Kevin was sweet and super romantic, so much was happening at the same time that it was hard to keep characters straight. The secondary story was nice, but the main story line was overshadowed and got left behind. There were a lot of unresolved issues at the end leaving me wondering where the rest of the book was. 

3 ½ smooches for Prodigal Wolf. You can find it here.

Two Firemen and a Lady by Tracey Steinbach

Mac loves his wife, Grace and would do anything for her. Anything includes asking their best friend, Travis over so they can seduce her. After all, they’d done it before and they had all enjoyed it. But Travis’s true feelings for the couple come to light after their night of passion. Mac is then forced to confront his own feelings for Travis.

Grace gets some startling news that puts their new relationship to the test. Can they resolve everything and get back to being happy?

When a fire threatens to destroy part of their family, they learn what family is all about.

Enjoyable and fun. Tracey has created a “complete universe” feel with her characters which makes this book even better. Several heart stopping moments also gave the book that something special that had me on the edge of my seat. The length was perfect and the story as a whole was awesome. I really liked it and look forward to seeing more in this series.

Overall 4 ½ smooches for Two Firemen and a Lady. You can find it here.

Sacrificed Anthology

The allure of the beautiful young woman as a sacrifice is one that has long been a part of storytelling. From the virgin sacrifice given to calm the monsters/gods to the child who is tithe in fairy stories to a member of their party sacrificing themselves so that everyone else can continue their quest, there are all kinds of examples of women as sacrifices in fantasy fiction. Often, they are rescued by a dashing prince or a cunning wizard or some other male archetype furthering his own story. Not here. In Sacrificed, these young women's salvation comes in the form of other women, and together, they rewrite the end of the tale on their own terms.

With The Solstice Kiss, Lorena is marked by the pagan goddess Awilix and told she is to be prepared to sacrifice herself to the goddess on the night of the summer solstice, six months away. But as the date approaches, Lorena is plagued with doubt—Awilix could be what she claims, but she could also be a demon intending to devour her soul! In a village committed to Following the Old Ways, the young virgins are rounded up and a candidate selected to be sacrificed to a vengeful dragon. Kassandra is the unlucky selection this time, but she fears how the dragon will react when it learns she had shared a night of passion with her dearest friend Rebekah, and is no virgin after all. Song faces her Sacrificial Destiny when she is accepted as tribute by the dragon Farcloud, who deems her worthy of survival and allows her to serve. Song is reluctant at first, but when Farcloud reveals she also has a human form named Isaronel, Song's desires are kindled, and her service no longer seems a burden. The Spellbound servant Imogen is bound to the sorcerer Linn and charged to care for a captured rebel girl who is to be prepared for a sacrifice to an entity from the beyond. But when Imogen refuses and escapes with the girl, Linn focuses all his power on tracking them down, and now no longer cares which girl falls under his knife!

I thought these were good stories. However when I started to read a new story it felt like tuning into a drama when a few episodes were missed. It takes you a few pages to figure out what is going on. They definitely have potential but I feel as if there was more details needed and more back story for them or lead up to the main part of the story. Overall the stories were enjoyable.

3 1/2 Smooches for the Sacrificed Anthology. You can find it here.

Tuesday Apocalypse by Vicy Cross

In the war-weary year of 1940, just one rundown hospital survives London's collapse. Sister Barbara, a nun and volunteer nurse, inspires hope in her patients, but that faith is shaken when an unidentified aircraft explodes near the hospital. The half-eaten corpse beneath the mangled wreckage appears to corroborate the pilot's story that some sort of "tentacle-monster" attacked his plane. However, Sister Barbara pushes these dangers aside and plunges beyond the rubble when the man she loves disappears in the wastelands.

She discovers a bloodstained beauty in his place—but the girl's outward innocence hides a voracious sexual appetite, and an even more disturbing secret. One by one, the terrified patients vanish from their beds. Titillating tentacles lick the hospital walls at night. And the dreams, always the dreams, drawing Sister Barbara deeper into a well of madness. She suspects she and the other women at the hospital are transforming into something... unholy. Sister Barbara knows she must figure out what before the evil in their midst consumes them all.

Interesting is all I can really say. While stories involving tentacles are not necessarily everyone’s “cup of tea”, this book was surprisingly good. Written journal style, the feelings and experiences of Sister Barbara as the events take place are gripping and had me on the edge of my seat wanting to know what happened next. I was surprised when the story sucked me in and didn't let go until the end.

4 ½ Smooches for Tuesday Apocalypse. You can find it here.

Serve Me Anthology

For some people there's nothing more appealing than the idea of a man forced to serve against his will, as a second-class citizen: a slave. Despite the dark history surrounding forced servitude and slavery, there remains a growing desire for depictions of fetishized slavery fantasies. Like rape fantasy, the appeal for readers in slave fiction lies not in a desire for the actual act, but in the ability to explore such things in a safe space. Many people harbor a secret wish to be forced into certain acts that they know they want, but have been socially conditioned to abhor. Such is the core of the Serve Me anthology. Be warned: these are not stories of consensual, negotiated power exchange. The stories in this anthology focus on true sexualized, erotic slavery: stories of men forced, coerced, or otherwise bound into a second-class life servicing another in whatever ways their master sees fit.

Idris is part of The Spoils of war: the last surviving member of a barbarian clan, he is famed in the gladiatorial arena for his bloody ruthlessness and outside the arena for his carnal appetites. His inner beast is calmed by the presence of his slave and lover, Theo, but to be true to his heart, Idris may have to risk breaking it. Samuel has spent years striving toward the Viscount's circles, where rich and fantastical parties are given and elaborate slave auctions held. He thinks he wants a young lover, but when he buys an Adonis known as Apollo, he realizes what he was truly missing. Now Apollo gives the orders, and it is Samuel saying, As You Wish. Life is Unforgiving for Aidan and Aaron, criminals who have been doomed to live as slaves to vampire masters, whose appetites can be agony... or bliss. When Aidan is given a new lease on life with a benevolent Master, his relief is tainted by pain at leaving Aaron behind; pain which only his Master Ryce has the power to end. Yuta is a gentle giant who joins a local gang for the sense of family that they can provide, but when they leave him high and dry in the middle of a failed heist, it's his captor, Takashima, who shows him what family can really mean as the vicious gang enforcer tenderly turns him into Takashima's Pet.

This collection of short stories definitely explores the darker side of sexual slavery. None of the men are willing slaves and are used brutally by their masters as bodies instead of people. However there are some tender scenes as well that bring the humanity back to these tortured souls whether it’s a new tender master, a fellow slave turned lover, or being pulled from a miserable life all together. The scenes are intense and succeed in pulling powerful emotions from the reader. These are well written and each story left me wanting more.

5 Smooches for Serve Me. You can find it here.

Midnight's Jewel by J. Annas Walker

Sabrina Rivers, an orphaned half witch and magical misfit, has been hidden from the world for almost a century by her Aunt Eleanor. Her only possession is a mysterious dark crystalline pendant she can’t remove. She knows nothing about its powers or purpose.

When mercenaries attempt to steal the pendant in broad daylight, Eleanor has no choice but to entrust Sabrina’s safety to vampire Brandon Thorpe, kingpin of Atlanta’s supernatural underworld. While Eleanor hunts the would-be assassins, Sabrina learns what it means to finally be free to live and to love, but freedom has a cost. Her sheltered life left her with a heavy burden and no way to protect herself.

Is Brandon’s love real or a ploy to get Midnight’s Jewel? Will what she doesn't know about her past get both of them killed? Can he protect her from her enemies and his? What price will she have to pay for love?

I really this book. The story was addicting and pulled me inn until the end. While sad at parts, all of the events came together to shape Sabrina into a confidant and powerful woman and Brandon into a man a woman can love. My only complaint would be that there were few actual steamy scenes and the story abruptly changes pace from sex to story. Overall, very well done.

5 Smooches for Midnight’s Jewel. You can find it here as well as the sequel The Jewel of Darkness.

Stanley's Scent by Lacey Denair

Stanley Vargas is an accountant for the FBI. When he’s enlisted to go on assignment he jumps at the offer, tired of the stogy ordeal of office life. Stanley is a skunk shifter, with mad computer skills. This mission, however, could make his career or get him killed.

Mason Nichols, beta for alpha Andrei Kozlov’s werewolf pack, has reached his limit dealing with the man. After another particularly insane meeting, Mason snaps, challenging Andrei to become Alpha, and soon dispatching the wolf.

When the two men meet and learn they’re mates and that Stanley is an accountant, Mason thinks he has found the help he sorely needs.

His mate accepts his request and the two begin an adventure that gets them and their pack into dire straits with Stanley’s employers, the IRS, Russian Mob, and Columbian cartels.

Will Stanley be forced to do the FBI’s bidding?

Or will he finally do... what’s right for his beloved.

For me the book was really enjoyable but the writing was a bit confusing at times. At times, I had to reread a section to sort out which character the view point was from because the point of view jumps around a bit with no breaks in the story. However this didn't detract from the overall story between Stanley and Mason. The interactions between them are passionate and the time passing in the book as well which is a nice touch and rounds out the story. Except for the point of view jumping I loved the book and look forward to more with these characters.

Overall 4 Smooches for Stanley’s Scent by Lacey Denair

Serving Simon by Caitlin Ricci

Simon has an offer for his stressed out roommate, but is this stubborn sub already too far gone for Simon’s methods?

Max’s high pressure job as a surgeon is getting to him and he’s starting to suffer for it. His roommate Simon has a solution for him, but is Max ready to give up control or will this Dom have to work for it?

Simon’s not used to dealing with such stubborn subs, but he can’t sit back and let Max’s health and sanity continue to decline in the name of his work. Enough is enough already and if Max doesn’t accept what he’s offering, then Simon might just have to come up with something even more drastic.

But when a night of passion between these two strong willed men exposes Simon’s secrets, it might be he who has to learn to trust and let go of the control he so desperately seeks.

So we have our two hunky guys. Roomies who have been living together for a little over a year now without a whole lot of interaction between the two other then the usual banter and such they come to a breaking point. Max is waaaay stressed out, overwhelmed and not sure what to do about it. Simon however knows just what to do about it. Very hot sparks fly between the two of them as Simon sorts Max out. Great story, though we'd like to throw a big WTF on the ending? Caitlin is throwing sneaky things in there lol we like them but still got rather thrown off. Not going to tell you what it is, you have to go see!!

4 smooches for Serving Simon! You can find it here!

Making Ends Meet by S.L. Armstrong & K. Piet

Zach is just seventeen years old, but despite his youth, he has more than his fair share of responsibility. An experimental fling in high school has led him down the path of single fatherhood. Now, he holds down a job, takes his college classes online, and pays his own bills as best he can—all while juggling daycare and chores and play-dates for his four-month-old, Mae. It's a rough, 24/7 life, but to Zach, Mae is worth every penny spent and every minute of his day.

With no free time to speak of, it feels like a miracle when Zach meets Wil in the check-out line at his work. Handsome, grounded, from the proverbial "right side of the tracks", and—even better—good with kids, Wil is everything he could want in a boyfriend. But as interested as Wil is in Zach, he has his own life, his own family, his own job and college career to think about. All the various draws on their time means that it's hard just to find chances to be together. But Zach's no stranger to hard tasks, and believes he owes it to himself to try.

This was a very sweet story. Zach is a strong young man. He made a brave choice to decide he was going to keep his daughter, even at the expense of school, and of the things high school aged kids are usually dreaming about. Instead he's dealing with diapers and ear infections and working long hours and school all at the same time. By chance he meets Wil, who is willing to look past what most would avoid to see the man within. The two of them create a strong bond, despite time crunches and insecurities. I love how it was realistic, it wasn't sugar coated and made to seem like it was an easy path to take. The location was familiar too so that made it nice too. Overall this was a very well written story, loooooooved it. 

5 smooches for Making Ends Meet!! You can find it here!

Guardian Angel by Michael Mandrake

Calvin is looking to end it all because he feels his family won't accept him as a gay man. Unbeknownst to him, someone is watching, looking to pick him up and rescue him from his negative state. Can Calvin get help before it’s too late?

This is a story of coming out and accepting who you are. Remember, you are normal and you are not alone.

This is a short and straight to the point story about a young man who is torn. It's heart wrenching to feel his agony as he is so conflicted between telling the truth and wanting his family's support. It's a great reminder about how much we forget to think of how hard it is on individuals going through this struggle and how important it is to reach out to people. 

Would have loved for this to be a longer story, maybe get some more build up to breaking point or even a little more in depth on after things changed for Calvin. 

4 smooches for Guardian Angel for a really great topic and some heart felt emotion. You can find Guardian Angel here!!

 

Giveaway & Special Guest - Kendall McKenna!!

We are happy to have special guest Kendall McKenna on our blog today! We are super excited to hear about her hot marine shifters! Also we are pleased to host a giveaway for book 1 in her Strength of the Pack series. You have until Sunday to enter!

Hello! My name is Kendall McKenna, and I write M/M Erotic Romance novels and novellas. My stories feature characters who are authentically written U.S. Marines, and realistic combat scenes. With me, you get some action and intrigue along with your hot romance!

The lovely and generous Book Whores have allowed me to come visit, have a chat about my new book, and share some hot man-pics!

My new book will release on September 6^th. It’s called Strength of the Wolf and it’s the second book in my series, The Tameness of the Wolf. The second book picks up several months after the point where the first book, Strength of the Pack, left off. If the titles weren’t a dead giveaway, let me just clarify that this series of books are about werewolves who are U.S. Marines.

Or maybe it’s about U.S. Marines who are werewolves.

Oh well! Either way, it’s about hot, hard-bodied men who turn into wolves and the human men who fall in the love with them.

I wrote Strength of the Pack almost on a whim. I have read very, very few shifter stories. Not because I don’t like them, but I simply haven’t made a point to seek them out. I’ve enjoyed the very few I have read. It wasn’t until Strength of the Pack was released, that I became aware that the genre has many, many tropes, many ‘rules’, and certain patterns that appear in story after story. Because I’m unaware of most of these, they’re not in Strength of the Pack.

I was halfway through writing book #1 when I realized I had a supporting character on my hands who absolutely needed his own story written. I also realized that I had written certain themes that could easily be developed into overall, multi-story arcs. I sat down to write Strength of the Wolf, and nearly couldn’t stop. My characters took over and I ended up with 119,000 words! (No wonder my arthritis is acting up!)

What I have on my hands is a series, that was only supposed to be a single book, that features werewolves that are fully integrated with humans, are serving openly in the Marine Corps, and are respected to the point of reverence. Readers and reviewers tell me repeatedly that there’s nothing else out there like them, and that I broke a whole lotta rules.

I have to take their words for it, because I still don’t read shifter books!

Curious? Here’s the blurb for Strength of the Pack:

Lieutenant Lucas Young doesn’t know much about shifters. When Sergeant Noah Hammond is assigned to Lucas’ platoon, the Marine Corps’ True Alpha werewolf challenges the Lieutenant’s authority and his self-control. As Lucas learns to dominate and command Noah, he struggles against a strong attraction and deepening emotional bond.

During their combat deployment to Afghanistan, Lucas and Noah begin mirroring legendary partnerships. Their bond and their power grow as they survive dangerous combat and ambushes. When one of them is wounded in battle, they both must embrace the strength of their bond before they lose each other forever.

So, Lucas and Noah have a commanding officer named Tim Madison. Tim’s a smart, competent officer who takes good care of the Marines in his command. He’s strangely intuitive when it comes to understanding and dealing with werewolves. Tim has a dry sense of humor and frequently sees the irony in life. He’s easy to like, so it’s easy to cheer for him when he stumbles over his own werewolf in Strength of the Wolf:

Blurb:
After a fiery exit from Afghanistan, Tim Madison is promoted to major. Jeremy Wagner is a civilian, just beginning his Transition to True Alpha. As a lone wolf, he has no one to teach him the vital principles of strong leadership. After a volatile chance encounter, Tim and Jeremy form an intimate bond.

As Jeremy prepares to someday lead his own pack, Tim struggles with military werewolves being needlessly maimed in combat, as well as specifically targeted by hostile forces. Despite Tim and Jeremy’s feelings, werewolf and human politics or family conflict could prevent their mate-bond.

Excerpt:
The crowd of Marines backed away, forming a wide circle around Tim. To his left, Lucas dropped what he was carrying. Glass shattered on the wooden deck and dispelled the food it contained. To Tim’s right, Jeremy’s clawed hands wrapped around Terrell Hubbard’s throat. His lips pulled back in a ferocious snarl, revealing long, wickedly sharp fangs. Hubbard’s fingers were claws, as well. One gripped Jeremy’s bicep, the other was fisted in Jeremy’s shirt. Hubbard bared his fangs, barking and growling in Jeremy’s face.

Adrenaline surged into Tim’s bloodstream. His heart pounded, his mouth went dry. “Jeremy! Knock it the fuck off!” he shouted, reaching for the brat’s shoulders to pull him away from Hubbard. “Sergeant Hubbard! Stand down! Right the fuck now!” Tim’s skin tightened over his bones and his clothes were suddenly painful.

Tim hadn’t been this afraid in combat. Hubbard was inches taller and tens of pounds heavier than Jeremy. He was a trained Marine, battle hardened. Jeremy was outclassed and that scared the shit out of Tim.

“Submit, Terrell,” Noah shouted, voice rough and commanding. He sounded more wolf than human.

Just as Tim reached for Jeremy, strong hands grasped his wrists.

“Stay out of it,” Lucas said, trying to drag Tim away from the embattled werewolves. “You’ll only get hurt.”

“Jeremy’s no match for Hubbard,” Tim said angrily, trying to shake off Lucas.

“Yes, he is.” Lucas put himself between Tim and the shifters, giving a mighty shove. “Let Noah handle it.”

Tim stumbled, Lucas’ shove sending him off balance. He started back toward Jeremy, desperate to get him away from the larger, stronger Hubbard. Lucas blocked his path. Dawson was suddenly behind Lucas as silent reinforcement.

“Submit to him, Terrell,” Noah ordered again. He stood beside the two werewolves but didn’t touch. Tim wondered why the hell he didn’t break up the fight. “If you make him shift he’ll rip your throat out.”

In the blink of an eye, Hubbard gave up the fight and let himself be carried to the ground by Jeremy’s weight. Now on his back, Terrell let his arms go limp beside him. He tilted back his head so that both his throat and his belly were vulnerable to Jeremy’s attack.

A strange silence fell over the yard, save for Hubbard’s labored breathing as he struggled to get air past Jeremy’s grip on his throat. Jeremy crouched over Terrell’s supine form. He gripped Hubbard’s throat with only one clawed hand now. He leaned down until his open mouth hovered just above Terrell’s throat.

“My wolf has submitted, Jeremy,” Noah said calmly. He knelt next to the combatants, still not touching Jeremy. “You’re the victor. He submitted. Let him up.”

Jeremy continued to crouch over Hubbard. He snapped audibly at the vulnerable flesh of Terrell’s throat. Hubbard flinched. Tim clenched his jaw, silently begging Jeremy to accept Hubbard’s submission.

“You can’t filter this through any human or military standards,” Lucas said quietly. Tim had nearly forgotten he was there. “I know you think it’s too soon, but do you feel a connection to Jeremy?”

Tim swallowed hard, his throat tight. To his relief, Jeremy released Terrell, rising gracefully to his feet. “Yes,” Tim admitted, eyes following Jeremy as he stalked back and forth, glaring at the werewolves circled around them.

“Let him mark you, then,” said Lucas. “Right now, in front of the Pack.”

Tim realized everything had been leading him to this very moment, despite his efforts to deny and avoid it. “Yeah,” he sighed. He had feelings for the kid he knew weren’t mixed up with Jeremy’s, or tied to the full moon. Jeremy’s well-being mattered to Tim, but he was the reason Jeremy was angry and aggressive. Jeremy needed Tim to stop hiding.

“It’s got to be a visible mark,” Lucas reminded him. “He’s going to want to get his scent on you, too.”

None of that bothered Tim. Well, the visible marks made him apprehensive. He’d had such sympathy for Lucas, watching him struggle with werewolves making things public that humans usually kept private.

“The brat had better be worth all the drama,” Tim muttered darkly, decision made.

Lucas chuckled. “You wouldn’t like him if he wasn’t a challenge.”

Lucas and Dawson both stepped aside, leaving Tim free to approach to Jeremy. Or Jeremy to approach Tim. It wasn’t clear yet how this was going to go down. Terrell had rolled onto his side, but he still lay on the ground at Jeremy’s feet. The neck of his muscle shirt was darkened with blood. Jeremy’s claws had done some damage. Thankfully, it didn’t appear too severe.

Jeremy stopped pacing. Noah stood behind him, speaking quietly. Jeremy stood tall, shoulders squared, staring directly at Tim. His eyes were amber and those of a wolf. His chest heaved with each breath. At least his hands were no longer claws. Tim couldn’t tell if Jeremy still had fangs.

It didn’t matter if he did. Tim knew he was in no danger from Jeremy. Focusing all of his attention on Jeremy, Tim realized he should have done this before now. Jeremy’s need was a physical ache. His desire to mark Tim, and be marked in return had always been there. It lingered at the back of Tim’s mind like white noise, making it easy to ignore. Tim’s own regret poured through him, drowning out everything else. He hoped this effort would make up for his mistakes. Releasing a shaky breath, Tim silently acknowledged that he’d wanted this all along.

Tim saw the moment Jeremy sensed that their needs finally synced. He closed the distance between them in a few long strides. Tim clutched at Jeremy’s shirt as Jeremy wrapped his arms around Tim’s waist, pulling their bodies together roughly. Their open mouths collided and Tim felt the hard press of teeth. Jeremy did still have his fangs, their sharp tips drawing blood from Tim’s lips. A thrill ran down Tim’s spine, knowing Jeremy’s lethal strength was leashed, just for him.

Jeremy licked deep into Tim’s mouth, their tongues tangling wetly. Jeremy’s body was flame-hot, pressed to the length of Tim’s. His breath was scalding as it ghosted across Tim’s cheek.

Breaking the kiss, Jeremy buried his face in the join of Tim’s neck and shoulder. Tim shuddered. He pushed his hips against Jeremy’s, feeling Jeremy’s already hard cock. Tim tilted his head slightly, asking at the same time he gave consent.

Jeremy pried Tim’s fingers from his shirt. Tim gasped as Jeremy forced his arms to cross at the small of his back. The strength in Jeremy’s hand was surprising as he restrained Tim’s wrists. The arch in his back pushed Tim’s body hard against Jeremy’s. His own cock was completely hard now and he rubbed himself back and forth against Jeremy. Tim closed his eyes, letting his head fall back in silent pleading.

Jeremy kissed up the length of Tim’s throat, dragging the sharp tips of his teeth along the edge of Tim’s jaw. The slight sting sent a thrill down Tim’s spine and he wanted more. Jeremy nipped at Tim’s pulse where it throbbed just below his skin. Tim moaned when Jeremy soothed the spot with his tongue.

His body went rigid and Tim unleashed a decadent groan when Jeremy’s hot mouth latched onto the side of his neck. Tim’s blood rose to the surface as Jeremy sucked hard at the spot. Jeremy soothed the bruise with a swipe of his tongue. Tim relaxed into Jeremy’s hard body, moaning each time Jeremy sucked a bruise into his throat, or nipped sharply at his too-sensitive skin.

He wanted to touch. Tim struggled to free his hands from Jeremy’s grip. When Jeremy released his wrists, Tim buried his fingers in Jeremy’s hair, holding him close. Jeremy nosed at Tim’s ear, dragging his sharp teeth along the sensitive lobe. Tim shuddered again and moaned.

Lowering his head, Tim found Jeremy’s mouth. He chased Jeremy’s tongue with his own. Curling his fingers in Jeremy’s hair, Tim used it to tilt his head back. He skimmed his lips and nose over the pounding pulse in Jeremy’s throat. Tim pressed his open mouth to the same spot and drew heated blood to the surface. Jeremy panted. He cradled the back of Tim’s head, encouraging him. Tim sucked blood to the surface of Jeremy’s skin. He was deeply satisfied that Jeremy wore his mark. The werewolf pack that surrounded them would know that Jeremy was his, and only his.

Jeremy pulled back abruptly. “Okay, that’s enough,” he gasped. “Any more and we’re going to put on a much more revealing show than I’d planned.”

Tim blinked, struggling to understand Jeremy’s words. He watched Jeremy’s eyes roam over his throat, taking in the bruises Tim could feel darkening on his skin. Jeremy’s expression was satisfied, bordering on arrogant. Tim couldn’t help but chuckle. It was such an Alpha thing to do.

The world began to move around them. Dawson directed someone to clean up the shattered glass and spilled food. Noah tried to save the meat left forgotten on the grill. Mundane conversations swirled around them.

Tim and Jeremy stood alone, completely surrounded by Noah’s Pack, breathing heavily, looking only at one another.

“How long do we have to stay?” Desire was obvious in Jeremy’s still-amber eyes.

“It would be polite to eat something, then help clean up a little,” Tim replied, already calculating how he might maneuver them into an early departure.

“Stay with me tonight?” Jeremy asked.

Tim nodded emphatically. “Of course.” Everyone associated with a werewolf pack was excused from duty for the next two days for the full-moon run. He imagined the two of them had much to discuss over the course of the next twenty-four hours.

“Good,” Jeremy said. He turned toward the cluster of Marines who had begun to serve themselves food. “Now let’s go let them all know it’s time to keep their hands off of what’s mine.”

Jeremy’s possessive words should have angered Tim. Instead, it made him consider being rude and skipping out on food.

If anyone would understand, it would be Lucas and Noah.

If you’d like to find out more about my series, The Tameness of the Wolf, you can get more information on my website:  http://kendallmckenna.com/books/the-tameness-of-the-wolf/

I’d like to give an interested reader a chance to become acquainted with my beloved Marine werewolves!
Enter below for a chance to win The Tameness of the Wolf Book #1 – Strength of the Pack,
and be ready for the release of Book #2 – Strength of the Wolf on September 6^th!

a Rafflecopter giveaway