HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!

WISHING EVERYONE A VERY HAPPY 2013!!!!!

Review for Swim Partner by Ariela Vaughn

When Maggie Taylor’s swim partner abandons her in the pool, a handsome university swim team member steps up to fill the position. As Paul Fisher’s attraction to Maggie grows, so does his admiration for her determination to overcome the physical challenges she faces due to an auto accident. Will their attraction for each other be enough to keep them together, or will Paul’s athleticism extinguish Maggie’s hope for love?

********************

As a disabled person I'm always on the lookout for books featuring characters with physical impairments. Upon reading this synopsis I had high hopes for this story but was ultimately left wanting more.  Maggie is still trying to recover from an accident that has left her with a limp and debilitating back spasms. Swimming becomes her best form of therapy and it's by random chance that she meets handsome swimmer, Paul.  They immediately hit it off and what follows is a sweet romance that ends with a kiss and a HEA.  

While the heroine dealt with her physical impairments admirably it would've been nice to have a deeper understanding of her travails.  The view we get is a very superficial one that didn't arose much empathy in me. Maggie is supposed to be in college but I found her to be very naive.  Her interactions with Paul felt like two teenagers dating so their kissing and hand holding seemed very appropriate.  A misunderstanding late in the story came out of nowhere and felt silly, as did Maggie's juvenile reaction to it.

Peter acted more his age thankfully.  He was the perfect gentleman who looked past her scars and impairment to see her kindhearted nature.  Where I saw her as immature he was clearly more adultlike with a believable personality for a college student.

Once the final page was turned, I was left feeling disappointed.  I was hoping for a more realistic view of a disabled person and got Pollyanna.  The heroine was too young at heart to be believable and therefore how she dealt with her impairment never rang true for me or left any impact on the reader.

My rating for this is a C.

*I bought this book with my own money for my personal library.

Book Spotlight for Wise Men Say by Wendy Burke (Review & GIVEAWAY)

More than twenty years ago, Emmy Patterson kissed her fiancé for the last time. Despite bad news from U.S. military services, to this day she has reasons to hold on to hope he's alive and celebrates his life every chance she gets.

Her family, however, thinks her partly crazed, unable to grasp the reasoning behind her perpetual optimism.

Called on a business trip to promote her glass artwork, she spends the winter holidays in Las Vegas. Is this chance travel to the The Castillo in Vegas a coincidence, or does the wise Madame Eve know ‘some things’ were meant to be?

********************

The 1Night Stand series of books from Decadent Publishing can always be counted on to entertain and delight.  Wise Men Say by Wendy Burke adds to that reputation with its heartwarming storyline about the unending power of love.  

For over twenty years, and despite what she's told, Emmy Patterson has been hoping the love of her life returns from the war.  Her loyalty and memories of a lost love keep her going and while this might seem crazy to some, deep down we all wish we had someone who affects us that deeply.  So this part of the story worked for me and made the story even more heartwarming once all the events played out.  While in Vegas for work she gets an unexpected surprise that is her dream come true and gives her a night she'll never forget that changes her future forever.

Nick's never forgotten Emmy but isn't without scars, inside and out. He's a strong and proud man and wants to put the past behind him and move forward with her, but some flashes of the past still remain that are lightly touched upon.  The sexual chemistry between them is still hot and their connection is both comfortable and satisfying.  These romantically-charged sexual interludes lead to a fairytale ending, that while a bit rushed, will leave readers misty-eyed.

Wise Men Say is a feel good story that reminds us of the power of love. With its fantasy-like feel it becomes every little girl's dream wrapped in an adult package. Those wanting an entertaining start to the New Year will find it with Wendy Burke's newest release!

My rating for this is a B.

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

**********GIVEAWAY**********

Wendy is giving away a digital copy of Wise Men Say along with a Christmas ornament.

-Giveaway is OPEN TO US/CAN ONLY.

-To be entered, leave a comment, along with your email addy.

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST on 1/5/13.

Book Tour for Candy From Strangers by Joey Jameson (Review & GIVEAWAY)

As a fan of books in the m/m genre I'm always on the lookout for ones featuring unique storylines.  With Joey Jameson's Candy From Strangers there's not only steamy sexual interludes but a tension-filled story with a surprising twist ending that actually surprised me and had me applauding.  So let's learn more about Joey's new release by reading on as well as visiting the other blogs hosting this tour.  Don't forget your chance to win a copy of this book by filling out the form at the end of this post.  Please welcome Joey Jameson......

I think I had the title to Candy from Strangers in mind before I even wrote the first page. It was just how the idea built itself from the ground up; slowly developing and snow-balling from a mere hobby into an addiction that spiralled out of control and into the novel that you see before you. This is how I write. Ideas are like little seeds in my mind that when given the right amount of attention and nourishment, flourish into beautiful and complicated flowers that smell of my passion and aim to stun the reader into submission with their detail. Writing is power. And it’s this power that I crave.

This is my first novel. When writing “Candy”, I wanted to go straight for the jugular. I wanted to take my mother’s wise warning about ‘never talking to strangers’, and modify and exploit it for the people of my generation. I wanted to plant a little seed of doubt in the mind of other unsuspecting young men, such asmyself; those innocently looking for companionship and love, and force them to think twice about who they invite into their beds. Do we every really truly know the men we meet when looking for love? Do we give trust away too easily? Do we open up our hearts as easily as we unbutton our trousers? And what happens when the ones we thought we knew, turn out to be someone else? Someone darker. Someone dangerous.

I wanted the relationship between Dylan and Darien to be relatable. I wanted the reader to be able to sympathise with both men and see sides ofthemselves in each of their personalities. Dylan and Darien are polar opposites. Day and night, Yin and Yang, and I created them using both the light and dark sides of myself. Dylan is sweet, caring and hopeful, while Darien is enigmatic, sexy and secretive. What starts out as the perfect relationship, quickly unravels when cracks begin to show in Darien’s story, leaving Dylan to question everything he thought he knew. It’s this idea of betrayal that we most fear when we give ourselves away. But sometimes even the most powerful passion, stems from something much darker.

I enjoyed exploring different themes in the book; attraction, desire, lust,sex, infatuation, paranoia, delusion. It is these themes that drive the book forward and capture the reader in their grip.

This is a story of obsession and lust that will hook you till the very last page, when the truth comes crashing down and shatters everything you thought was true. A cautionary tale for the 21st Century.

Dylan, a 20-something English lad who’s successful, charming and beautiful, thinks he has everything, until one day his world is turned upside down when hot new neighbor, Darien, moves in across the road. The two begin a steamy affair that leaves Dylan breathless and thinking he may have finally found Mr. Right. But as time passes, cracks start to show in Darien’s story forcing Dylan to question everything he thought he knew about this dark stranger.

Candy from Strangers is a lustful tale of romance, intrigue and mystery that poses the question of how well do we ever know the ones we let into our lives.

EXCERPT:

This is one of those moments. You know the ones, that moment where you find yourself floating above your body staring down at yourself…thinking that there’s no way this could possibly be happening. There’s no way I could have allowed my life to take such a turn… There’s no way I could have fucked up so badly… This has got to be a dream…But no matter how many times I shake my head and grit my teeth, I don’t wake up from this apparent nightmare… The sound of muffled voices outside the padlocked door brings me back to where I am, and I shudder and peer around the small white room.
I look down at the blood underneath my finger nails, and I begin to shake all over. My eyes sting and the throbbing in my head is so loud I can’t focus on anything else. I put my hand up to my forehead instinctually, and then retract it to inspect the dried blood that’s caked itself to my head. All of a sudden a face flashes in my mind, almost like a jolt of electricity shooting through my brain; him…The one with the face of an angel…This is all because of him. I shake my head again trying to force the image of his face away, but it’s as if he’s standing right in front of me, taunting me with his gaze, his eyes burning a hole right through my skull.
A moan bubbles up from deep in my belly, but fizzles out before it reaches my mouth. I drop my head into my shackled hands and feel the familiar sting of tears from behind my eyes.
How did I get here? How did this happen to me?
Before I know it my thoughts are interrupted by the sound of a key cutting its way through the lock. The padlock is pulled back and the heavy door scrapes open. A man wearing a white coat and holding a clipboard walks in trepidatiously, accompanied by two other men. My breath hitches in my throat as the men walk slowly towards me, regarding me carefully as if they expect me to pounce on them like a hungry tiger. As they approach they begin to blur and fade around the edges. In their place, appears him again…his dark hair just as perfect as the day I met him. His eyes the same shade of green, welcoming and kind, yet mysterious. He holds out his hand and whispers something I can’t understand. The last thing I feel is an odd sense of comfort as everything goes black and I feel my body relax… But not before a puff of air from deep inside my lungs escapes from between my cracked lips, taking the shape of a word I hoped never to have to utter again…
Darien…

HERE ARE MY IMPRESSIONS OF THE STORY:

This story grabbed me from the start and kept me on the edge of my seat until the unexpected twist ending that had me applauding its geniusness.  With a storyline that flashes back and forth to show the unexpected path a love affair takes, I found myself fully immersed in the action and couldn't believe I arrived at the end so quickly.  For a short story it was surprisingly well-paced with a storyline that didn't skimp on the details which allowed for fully fleshed-out characters that evolved before my very eyes.  

Dylan's a hardworking young man good to his friends who's looking for something beyond work.  He thinks he's found that something special when he lays eyes on new neighbor, Darien.  Their relationship starts out sweetly and then evolves into one erotic encounter after the other that practically sets the pages on fire.  Dylan soon finds himself becoming lost in Darien.  But when jealousy rears its ugly head another side of Darien emerges that completely changes things and catches both Dylan and the reader by surprise.

This story is told from Dylan's viewpoint so we get great insight into him and how he perceives the relationship. Darien is very much a mystery though.  Beyond being good looking, charming, and good in bed, we never get a real understanding of who he is.  But once his jealousy arises we see chinks in his charming armor that don't bode well for a HEA.

Candy From Strangers starts out as a love story but quickly becomes an unexpectedly suspenseful story with a cleverly twisted ending.  It's not my usual kind of reading fare but Joey Jameson completely won me over and if this is any hint into what we can expect in the future then this author could well become an auto-buy for me!

My rating for this is an A.

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

BUY AT:   BN  |  AMAZON

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Joey Jameson is Canadian born and bred, but currently living in Brighton, UK. He can usually be found either on the beach walking his two gorgeous dogs, or sipping swanky cocktails in his local haunt. Ever the fan of all things decadent and naughty, Candy From Strangers is his first delve into erotic fiction, but watch out for more titillating and tantalizing stories from Joey in the very near future.

For an insight into his daily life, you can follow him on twitter @joeyjameson or contact him via email on misterjoeyjameson@gmail.com. You can also visit his facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/joeyjamesonauthor for a sneak-peak of new work to come.

**********GIVEAWAY**********

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review for The First Real Thing by Cat Grant

My name's Cameron. And I'm a male escort. I'm the best, and most expensive, at what I do. I have one rule-never let anyone in.

In five years of hooking I've never picked up the wrong guy. But when I met Toronto ad man Trevor Barclay in a Manhattan bar, his soft green eyes and shy smile drew me right in. When I discovered the error I had made, I should have written it off as a mistake and moved on. But memories of the steamy encounter we shared in his hotel room continued to haunt me.

I never should have agreed to see him again, but from that very first night he worked his way under my skin and into my heart. I can't stop thinking about him. But how can I tell him the first man he's been with in sixteen years sells himself for a living?

********************

Early on in this story Cameron claims that his life of being an escort is nothing like Pretty Woman, there's no silver lining or HEA.  Once he meets Trevor though, that initial statement proves to be wrong.  From that first mistaken meeting what follows is an intensely emotional story where Cameron tries desperately to leave his old life behind as he sees nothing but loneliness ahead if he keeps going down his chosen path.  The death of a close friend really hits home the need for having someone in your life and the person he wants is Trevor, as long as he can keep the truth about his past hidden.

This story is loosely written as blog entries which gives great insight into Cameron's life and career.  It gives honest insight into both the good and bad moments of what he does and why he started in the business.  His reasons were both believable and understandable and had me feeling sympathetic towards him as well as admiring his ability to do what he does and remain truly likable.  He sees life passing him by and wants the things that other people have like love and the support of another.  He's tired of living a lie.

Trevor too got tired of living a lie and has finally come out of the closet.  Cam's the first man he's been with since he was a young man and he's excited to have Cam as his guide into gay life.  Trevor's a breath of fresh air to Cam's cynicism.  Sex and seeing the sights of New York are all new when experiencing it with Trevor and seeing them together put a smile on my face.  We don't get to see into Trevor's soul as much as Cam's but I still found him to be a fully fleshed-out and delightfully sweet and sexy character.  Their times together ooze sexual tension as well as a deep connection that I found heartwarming.  Also hot were their sexual interludes.  The differences between these scenes and the times Cam's with a client are quite obvious.  With Trevor it's all fireworks and life-altering kisses, whereas it's a sweaty race to the finish with clients.  At one point Cameron mentions he feels just as much of a virgin as Trevor in their relationship and it's quite true.  That's what happens when you fall in love.

The secondary characters were just as wonderful as the two leads.  Mike/Michelle was a delightfully colorful and supportive friend and I enjoyed every minute he was on the scene.  His magnetism is undeniable and I'd love to see more of him.  Cam's pimp Charles was equally intriguing and though he appeared heartless at times he still showed an unexpected kindheartedness at the end. Then there's Ryan, who's a younger version of Cam, who he tries to help by teaching him the ropes and is there to help when Ryan needs him most.

From start to finish I found myself fully invested in Cam's life and his attempt to get his HEA.  I was rooting for him every step of the way and applauded at the conclusion.  With its memorable cast of characters, steamy erotic encounters, and unexpected heartwarming moments this story is a wonderful beginning to a series I'm now very excited to read. With this book Cat Grant once again proves why she's a talent in the m/m genre!

My rating for this is an A.

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Feature & Follow Friday......

Hello all, it's that day of the week where we learn new things about each other and discover new blogs along the way.  We also help each other by becoming followers of one another.  Normally that following would be through GFC (which would be great if you'd still take a few seconds to do), but with that being eliminated for certain blogs (a big boo-hiss to that) I now ask that you follow through a RSS Feed (or Twitter, FB, or email) which you can find to the right.  I want to thank all of you ahead of time who choose to become a follower and make sure to let me know in the comments if you're new so I doubly make sure to follow you back.  And now for this weeks get to know me question....

Q: What book do you think everyone should read? If you could gift the entire population with one book?

A:  Wow, that's a great question!  There are a lot of books I love for various reasons that I could recommend.  If I have to choose just one, I choose The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins.  It shows in a dramatic and gutwrenching way how little value people place on a life, especially in this skewed view of reality TV.  The class distinctions are also eye-opening.  This is YA not for the faint of heart that opens doors for intriguing discussions.

Review for Once a Marine by Cat Grant

"Love is a battlefield."

Discharged under Don't Ask Don't Tell, former Marine major Cole Hammond is struggling to find a new identity. But PTSD casts a pall on everything, and his hard-nosed, homophobic father can t even bear to look him in the eye. To top it all off, he 's pretty sure he 's flunking out of law school.

Marc Sullivan is a kind, sensitive romance author-slash-waiter with a thing for men in uniform. Cole 's not wearing his anymore, but there 's no mistaking the warrior Marc meets in the diner one rainy afternoon. Cole 's sexy smile and Carolina drawl prove irresistible, but Marc 's played this game before, and he always loses. Once a Marine, always a Marine, and if there 's one thing Marc knows about such men, it 's that they all leave him in the end. It doesn t help that Cole 's practically closeted in public, or that he refuses to seek treatment for his PTSD.

But like any good Marine, Cole 's willing to fight for what matters. And like the characters in Marc 's stories, he 's certain that if they try just hard enough, together they can find their own happily ever after.

********************

The former Don't Ask Don't Tell policy is the catalyst for a tough Marine to change his life completely after meeting a waiter/romance writer in this intensely emotional story full of angst and steamy sexual interludes.  What starts out as casual for both of them soon evolves into something unexpectedly intense that leads them both down a rocky road to their HEA.

After being forced out of the Marines for admitting his sexuality Cole feels adrift.  Being a Marine took up over half his life and he's having trouble adjusting to civilian life.  Unacceptance from his parents, and the rest of his hometown, along with bouts of PTSD has made his life one endless abyss of meaningless sexual encounters and a lack of faith in his ability to get through school. Meeting Marc steadies him and gives him a reason to succeed and talk through his issues, he wants Marc to be proud of him and not leave him.  But Marc has been hurt before by Marines who love him and leave him and keeps thinking the same will happen with Cole.  At times it felt like he was purposely pushing Cole to leave him.  If Cole didn't act the way Marc thought he should about their relationship then he thought Cole was getting ready to leave him.  These acts were juvenile and added unnecessary stress to a man already carrying more than enough stress.  I could forgive him though as he brought true happiness to Cole and encouraged him in many ways to better himself.  

Cole was the perfect boyfriend, sweet yet sexy and charming.  Marc didn't give me those same kind of warm feelings but I still admired that he wanted only the best for Cole and tried in many ways to ease his pain.  Their sexual interludes were fraught with sexual tension and yet showed a playful side.  These scenes were numerous, but that's the same for all new relationships, but nicely spaced throughout the story. An emotional upheaval for Cole late in the book comes out of nowhere to again put their newfound love in jeopardy but thankfully this issue is quickly resolved and an immensely satisfying conclusion quickly follows.

From two mostly likable main characters, to a colorful female sidekick, to its numerous sexy scenes Once a Marine left me fully satisfied and wanting a Marine of my very own.  This is another winner in the career of Cat Grant who writes heart wrenching stories so well and has me clamoring for her next new release.

My rating for this is a B+

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review for By Chance by Cat Grant

A life of wealth and privilege doesn’t equal happiness—just ask Eric Courtland. Growing up with a cold, unfeeling father and unstable mother has taught him exactly what he doesn’t want out of life or love. The troubled young man prefers a solitary life and is content to keep it that way until a campus emergency saddles him with an unwanted roommate.

Popular, wholesome, straight Nick Thompson is far more temptation than Eric’s prepared for, but Nick’s warm, easygoing manner gradually cracks through Eric’s prickly protective shell

After Eric suffers a traumatic attack, their friendship gives way to an intense passion. Eric’s no stranger to casual sex, but what he feels for Nick is something deeper, and more fragile.

Independent Eric doesn't know the first thing about being in a relationship, much less with a lover who can't even admit he's gay. But conservative Nick can't seem to find his way out of his own personal closet. 

Rock, meet hard place.

********************

In this re-worked, newly re-published start to the Courtland Chronicles, the drama is just beginning for two collegians from different economic backgrounds thrown together as a modern-day Oscar and Felix.  Eric comes from a family who hides their emotions and hurt others before they let themselves get hurt which has led to him keeping to himself. He tries to keep his surroundings in order since his family life is so out of control until the day a naked football player comes out of his shower.  Nick is a farmer's boy used to hard work who's outgoing but keeps a bit of himself hidden from the public.  He's turned-off by the sullen Eric at first but a slow bond builds between them that becomes a turn-on to him and has them entering into a relationship that has a profound effect on both of them.

Eric's been out of the closet for many years but Nick doesn't want to deal with the repercussions resulting from this relationship.  This becomes a big issue to their happiness.  Another issue is Eric's jealousy and fear of admitting his true feelings.  This leads to a big speed bump to their happiness that only their mutual friend Ally can fix.  This leads to a sweetly satisfying conclusion that feels like the perfect ending.....for now.

The emotional issues in this story are believable and heart wrenching. Eric's home life is sad and I can understand why he's closed himself off. That's why Nick becomes so important to him, he brings peace to his life.  He's sturdy and reliable and a breath of fresh air and I love the two of them together.  Their relationship built slowly and steadily and culminates in some very sexy sexual interludes that aren't overly erotic, sweetly sensual is how they connect.

Along with these two likable main characters comes their mutual sidekick Ally.  She used to date Nick and still has feelings for him but is willing to remain his best friend as she knows how wonderful he and Eric are together.  She's outspoken but supportive and sweet and always on the periphery.  I get the feeling her story isn't yet done either and I look forward to it being told.

As I never read the original story, this new version feels fresh and is well-written.  It's melodramatic yet earthy feeling in its emotions. There's a definite ending with this story but also a sense of a beginning and I for one look forward to Eric and Nick's journey!

My rating for this is an A.

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

Review for Fearless by Cat Grant

How can you plan for the future when escaping the past seems impossible?

After over a year together, Connor Morrison and Wes Martin decide to tie the knot. But an ethics complaint regarding their deeply non-traditional relationship threatens Connor’s job and Wes’s Ph.D. The fact that Connor tried to keep it from Wes—even with the best of intentions—makes the situation even worse and casts a pall over their plans for a Christmas wedding in New York. 

It doesn’t help that Connor still treats Wes like glass, though Wes insists he’s recovered from the brutal assault he suffered a year and a half earlier. Wes may be okay, but Connor isn’t. Memories of taking a battered, terrified Wes to the emergency room that night still haunt him, and he can’t let go of the need to protect Wes from any and everything life might throw at him. 

But Wes has had enough. Between the specter of the ethics complaint and Connor’s overprotectiveness, he’s already beginning to question their plans. Add in a family ashamed of and angered by his choices, and Wes might just leave Connor standing at the altar.

********************

This story is a pleasant and well-written sequel to Priceless and picks up shortly after the end of that book.  There's a lot of drama and internal strife for Wes and Connor, both inside and outside their relationship, as they travel to New York to get married.  These issues are both believable and handled in a mature way that reiterates the connection between these two.

The outside world invades the idyllic life Wes and Connor forged which puts their futures in jeopardy and in trying to protect Wes, Connor has again made Wes feel like the younger man he is.  Wes just wants to be considered a partner to Connor and is tired of being treated with kid's gloves.  He doesn't want to live in the past, he's all about moving forward and he wants to move forward with Connor.  Connor's still stuck in the past though as he can't get over the trauma Wes went through.  It's led him to be overprotective of Wes to the point of smothering.  He keeps anything stressful away from Wes which almost puts an end to their happiness. Thankfully these issues are dealt with quickly and in a mature way through talking.  

This was just a small speed bump in an otherwise joyous story with love scenes that were emotional but not too overtly sexual.  Along with the two main characters we got a return visit from Steve, who was given his own book in this series, as well as being the catalyst to Wes and Connor meeting.  We also get a visit from a family member of Wes' whose background story is shrouded in mystery but is surrounded by pain that has me intrigued.  This is an immensely satisfying story with a likable cast of characters working hard for their HEA.  It's a wonderfully heartwarming addition to the Irresistable Attraction series and I look forward to these continuing glimpses into the world of these science geeks.

My rating for this is a B+

*I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest opinion.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas with lots of food, fun, and family!

Cat Grant Week (Guest Post & GIVEAWAY)

We're doing something different this week at my blog by showcasing one author.  And that author is the wonderful Cat Grant who has two books being released this month!  We're starting off the week with a visit from Cat talking about her new releases as well as letting us know about the awesome giveaway she has going on in honor of these book's being released. Starting tomorrow and through the rest of the week will be reviews of her two new releases as well as two classics.  So let's get the fun started and give a big welcome to Cat Grant.......

Hi! Thanks for joining me on my double-duty blog tour! I’ve got two books coming out this month – By Chance, the first book in my rewritten, re-edited, self-published Courtland Chronicles series, and Fearless, Book Three in my Irresistible Attraction series from Riptide Publishing.

It’s been a whirlwind month, with the holidays and two books coming out. A big thank you to Jody for hosting me here all week!

So, now that 2012 is drawing to a close, what are your plans for the new year? Any resolutions?

I plan to release six books next year—and with the next two Courtland Chronicles books (Strictly Business and Complications) and the last installment in my Irresistible Attraction series (Flawless) in the pipeline, I’m already halfway there. I’ve also got the last two Courtland books (The Arrangement and Triad) to revise and re-edit, which means I need another project.

So what’ll it be? An instructor/cadet romance set at Annapolis, or a three-guy ménage with two MMA fighters and their coach?

Got a preference? Sing out!

My current releases are By Chance …

A life of wealth and privilege doesn’t equal happiness—just ask Eric Courtland. Growing up with a cold, unfeeling father and unstable mother has taught him exactly what he doesn’t want out of life or love. The troubled young man prefers a solitary life and is content to keep it that way until a campus emergency saddles him with an unwanted roommate.
Popular, wholesome, straight Nick Thompson is far more temptation than Eric’s prepared for, but Nick’s warm, easygoing manner gradually cracks through Eric’s prickly protective shell.
After Eric suffers a traumatic attack, their friendship gives way to an intense passion. Eric’s no stranger to casual sex, but what he feels for Nick is something deeper, and more fragile.
Independent Eric doesn't know the first thing about being in a relationship, much less with a lover who can't even admit he's gay. But conservative Nick can't seem to find his way out of his own personal closet.
Rock, meet hard place.

Available at All Romance eBooks here.

Available for Kindle and Nook starting December 1st, 2012

And Fearless …

How can you plan for the future when escaping the past seems impossible?

After over a year together, Connor Morrison and Wes Martin decide to tie the knot. But an ethics complaint regarding their deeply non-traditional relationship threatens Connor’s job and Wes’s Ph.D. The fact that Connor tried to keep it from Wes—even with the best of intentions—makes the situation even worse and casts a pall over their plans for a Christmas wedding in New York.

It doesn’t help that Connor still treats Wes like glass, though Wes insists he’s recovered from the brutal assault he suffered a year and a half earlier. Wes may be okay, but Connor isn’t. Memories of taking a battered, terrified Wes to the emergency room that night still haunt him, and he can’t let go of the need to protect Wes from any and everything life might throw at him.

But Wes has had enough. Between the specter of the ethics complaint and Connor’s overprotectiveness, he’s already beginning to question their plans. Add in a family ashamed of and angered by his choices, and Wes might just leave Connor standing at the altar.

AVAILABLE FROM RIPTIDE PUBLISHING here.

Available for Kindle & Nook starting December 10th, 2012.

Here’s Cat’s various hideouts on the Internet:

WEBSITE  |  TWITTER  |  FACEBOOK  |  GOODREADS  | AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

You can contact her directly at: cat@catgrant.com

*********GIVEAWAY**********

Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook from my backlist! I’ll also be giving away some special prizes – a brand new Kindle Fire HD to one lucky commenter drawn from all the tour stops, so follow along and party with me at each--you can earn an entry at every stop! Winners will be announced December 31st.

-To be entered, leave a comment ALONG WITH YOUR EMAIL ADDY.

-Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST. ON DEC 30.