Open Ice Hit (The Sin Bin #1) by E.M. Lindsey & Marina Vivancos

 

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Vicki and Tommy aren't just enemies on the ice—they're explosive off it too...in more ways than one.

Noah Viklund doesn’t play hockey in order to make friends. That’s not what the game means to him. And he especially can’t stand the Sea Dog’s new rookie, Tommy Tremblay. After all, Tommy’s the sort of player that gets under Vicki's skin.

He’s reckless.
He’s wild.
And he won’t take anything seriously.

But when a chance meeting during the offseason shows Vicki what a good boy Tommy can be for him, it becomes increasingly difficult to keep seeing him as the bad guy. After all, how can he hate the only man who has ever made him feel worthy?

Tommy is tired of Vicki’s stuck-up, holier-than-thou attitude. He’s fought hard to get where he is, and he’s not going to let some tightly wound guy make him feel like he doesn’t deserve his hard-won success.

So, he can’t explain why they keep falling into bed together, or why he’s starting to fall for the man he’s supposed to hate.

They both know this shouldn’t work, but the more they try to push each other away, the more their souls seem to connect. The question is, will they find a way for their hearts to be vulnerable and let love in?

Open Ice Hit is a steamy MM romance set between the fictional NHL teams of the Brooklyn Phantoms and the Queens Sea Dogs. It contains hate that might not quite be hate, team as found family, sick goals from soft hands, some really stinky marine animals, praise kink a mile wide, and an unexpected journey that might just be worth taking.

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Open Ice Hit is the first book in The Sin Bin series. This EM Lindsey and Marina Vivancos tale is a delightful enemies to lovers romance. 

Being an avid fan of sports romances, I was super excited for this book. And, damn, it's everything I hoped it would be. 

Noah/Vicki and Tommy are the perfect combination of animosity, hatred, chemistry, and love. Their hatred leads to a D/s relationship they never saw coming. It's hate sex and more hate sex, with plenty of light kink involved. 

And then the feelings come. Seeing these two let their walls down and start melting for one another is fabulous. 

From the start, everything between these two is complicated. The sex isn't cut and dry, they are stuck sneaking around, and they have plenty of outside problems. And of course they're rivals. 

This is a story with a controlling father who causes plenty of pain and unresolved feelings. Ugh, I both hated this as it made me so angry. But it certaintly adds tremendously to the character's layers. 

There's a lot going on in this book. And I enjoy it all. The sports moments are enjoyable. The obstacles in their way are great. And the issue of coming out to anyone is well done. There's an age gap that also adds plenty to this tale. And, omg god, I adore the ending. 

Open Ice Hit is a riveting book. This EM Lindsey and Marina Vivancos collab is enjoyable from the start. I couldn't put it down. Definitely pick up this book the next time you're in the mood for hate sex, some D/s, and sports. You won't regret it. 

Honeythorn by Marina Vivancos

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

Omega Milan Pryor knows his duty. He must travel North through the continent towards the snow, the cold, and his new betrothed. They say that Lord Alpha Raphael Ledford, the man he is to marry, is as artic as the weather of his land. But Milan has always been an optimist. Perhaps he might find friendship in the arranged marriage. Even love.

It doesn’t take long for Milan to realize that all the rumours about Lord Raphael are true. Reclusive, distant, frigid. Milan finds himself unwelcome in what he must now call his new home. He’s used to fighting for what he wants—but can he survive a husband as cruel as Lord Raphael?

Being bonded to one who rejects you is a painful thing. Will Milan be able to win his husband’s regard? What terrible secret is Lord Raphael keeping, and will Milan be able to discover it before it’s too late?
Or will Milan perish along with his heart?

My Rating - 4 Stars!

Marina Vivancos' Honeythorn is a sweet historical romance. 

An omegaverse read, Milan and Lord Raphael certainly don't get along at the start. Milan is dealing with being in a strange place and is faced with a bethrothed who doesn't seem to want him around. 

His is a story of new customs, mistakes, and fears. It's a combination of arranged marriage, and being tossed into a world full of unknowns. The thing I love most about Milan is the way he treats the servants as his equal. 

But damn, the emotions. The author takes us on Milan's journey, with his emotions front and center every step of the way. The writing is well done, with a nice, pleasant tone. All told from Milan's pov, it takes the reader a while to warm up to Raphael. He is rude and stand-offish at first, and isn't a man of many words. 

Raphael's background is horrible, with all of his behavior making sense. Unfortunately, it takes the reader a long time to understand him. It probably would have been better if we got his pov also. 

But damn, the bond aspect is amazingly well written. Now only are they hot together, but the emotions around the bond is mesmerizing. Outside of sex, it's the sweetness between the two that had me hooked. There are plenty of sweet and tender moments that just make you smile. 

This is a book of different halves. The first is a standoffish enemies to lovers tale. The second is a romantic and beautiful tale. 

Overall, Honeythorn is a great choice when you're in the mood for an omegaverse historical read, Marina Vivancos has built a world that will interest you and leave you happy to have visited. And if you enjoy reading about the strength of alpha/omega bonds, this is a must read. 

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - Rat Park by Marina Vivancos

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 71,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Dominic has lived with an empty ache inside him for as long as he could remember. Maybe it started when he was six, hiding beneath his blankets as the wild animal noises of one of mom’s parties echoed in his head. Maybe it began the first time an adult plied him with drinks just to watch him stumble about.

Or, maybe, it was that he couldn’t even imagine what being loved should feel like. 

Drugs washed all that away. It didn’t cure the ache, but it made him forget it for a while. Anything was better than being conscious. Than being himself. But life had another hard lesson for him: With drugs, the only way is down. 

Dominic hits rock bottom when he’s twenty-three. Turns out, rock bottom looks a lot like the bars of a jail cell. With little left but his own thoughts, Dominic has to decide: Is this what I want for the rest of my life? 

The world has never been kind to Dominic, but when he meets the Romeros, he wonders if that is about to change. Officer Catalina Romero seems to see something in Dominic that he is sure isn’t there. The more she pulls him towards her family, however, the harder it is not to go. 

All his resistance disappears under the force that is Flor Romero. Spitfire, stubborn Flor—even at sixteen, he refuses to be taken lightly. As he grows older, putting a stop to what Flor obviously wants to happen between them is harder than Dominic would ever want to admit. 

Dominic knows that he has too many demons to let anybody get too close. But life doesn’t prepare him for Flor, who just might be ready to fight tooth and nail for a place in Dominic’s life—and his heart. 

The question is, will Dominic’s past keep him from his future?

Review

My Stars - 5 Stars!

Marina Vivancos' Rat Park is an absolutely amazing book. From page one, I was sucked in, and couldn't put it down. 

It's a powerful story of drugs, self loathing, homelessness, and violence.

It's a exquisite tale of growing up too soon, seeing things a kid shouldn't see, and doing things a kid shouldn't be doing. It's about falling a victim to your circumstances.

The author dives into the downward spiral that happens when you have no self worth. She expertly writes what happens when you believe you don't deserve anything good; when you believe you are always meant to be a junkie. 

I love how Marina Vivancos expertly conveys the strength required to believe in yourself; to believe in your worth. Most impressive though may be the title and the meaning behind it. This was perfectly chosen. 

I love Rat Park. I wish I could give it 10 stars. Yes, it's that good. Seriously, just read it! It's exquisite and stunning. Marina Vivancos doesn't shy away from all the struggles that stem from the dangerous power that addiction has over one's life. The never-ending belief that being an addict defines you. The strength that comes with a feeling of self worth.

Author Bio

When Marina was a child she couldn’t sleep. Night after dissolving night she just couldn’t sleep. Nothing much worked – until she started making up stories in her head. Suddenly, the transition into unconsciousness was a smooth dive into calm waters.

Marina is currently in a period of sleepless upheaval, and she hopes writing down the stories in her head will cast the same spell it did decades ago. 

Marina hopes to write in a variety of romance sub-genres, from contemporary to supernatural to sci-fi. Her style, however, tends to focus on character-centred stories that explore different facets of the human experience, such as mental health. She also enjoys writing explicit, drawn-out sex scenes, so expect those to be a prominent feature of her stories.

Marina tends to keep to herself unless prompted, so don’t be shy in approaching her!

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COVER REVEAL - Rat Pack by Marina Vivancos

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Release Date: January 28 2019

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Length: 71,000 words approx.

Blurb

Dominic has lived with an empty ache inside him for as long as he could remember. Maybe it started when he was six, hiding beneath his blankets as the wild animal noises of one of mom’s parties echoed in his head. Maybe it began the first time an adult plied him with drinks just to watch him stumble about.

Or, maybe, it was that he couldn’t even imagine what being loved should feel like.

Drugs washed all that away. It didn’t cure the ache, but it made him forget it for a while. Anything was better than being conscious. Than being himself. But life had another hard lesson for him: With drugs, the only way is down.

Dominic hits rock bottom when he’s twenty-three. Turns out, rock bottom looks a lot like the bars of a jail cell. With little left but his own thoughts, Dominic has to decide: Is this what I want for the rest of my life?

The world has never been kind to Dominic, but when he meets the Romeros, he wonders if that is about to change. Officer Catalina Romero seems to see something in Dominic that he is sure isn’t there. The more she pulls him towards her family, however, the harder it is not to go.

All his resistance disappears under the force that is Flor Romero. Spitfire, stubborn Flor—even at sixteen, he refuses to be taken lightly. As he grows older, putting a stop to what Flor obviously wants to happen between them is harder than Dominic would ever want to admit.

Dominic knows that he has too many demons to let anybody get too close. But life doesn’t prepare him for Flor, who just might be ready to fight tooth and nail for a place in Dominic’s life—and his heart.

The question is, will Dominic’s past keep him from his future?

Author Bio

When Marina was a child she couldn’t sleep. Night after dissolving night she just couldn’t sleep. Nothing much worked – until she started making up stories in her head. Suddenly, the transition into unconsciousness was a smooth dive into calm waters.

Marina is currently in a period of sleepless upheaval, and she hopes writing down the stories in her head will cast the same spell it did decades ago.

Marina hopes to write in a variety of romance sub-genres, from contemporary to supernatural to sci-fi. Her style, however, tends to focus on character-centred stories that explore different facets of the human experience, such as mental health. She also enjoys writing explicit, drawn-out sex scenes, so expect those to be a prominent feature of her stories.

Marina tends to keep to herself unless prompted, so don’t be shy in approaching her!

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RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - I've Been Careless With A Delicate Thing by Marina Vivancos

Buy Links: Amazon US 

Amazon UK  - Available exclusive to Amazon and on Kindle Unlimited

Length: 27,000 words approx.

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Goodreads Link

Blurb

Silas meets gorgeous, grumpy-looking Oscar at a bar. He’s never had sex with a guy, and what better place is there to find someone to pop that particular cherry?

He knows what he’s getting with the broad-shouldered, I-can-pummel-you-with-one-look Oscar: getting bent over a hard surface and satisfied until he’s blaspheming. Turns out, though, there’s a lot more to Oscar that meets the eyes. Needs that you’d never guess just by looking at him. Needs that Silas turns out to perfectly meet.

One night turns into two, turns into three, turns into a dozen. It’s just a little friends-with-benefits relationship with a dollop of kink on the side. No feelings involved, right?

Right. Because Silas is just so good at keeping his heart in check.

This is an erotic ~27,000 word novella. Expect plentiful sex scenes with a friends-with-benefits (yeah, right), soft Dom/sub relationship.

Review 

My Rating - 4 Stars!

I've Been Careless With A Delicate Thing is a hot and steamy novella by Marina Vivancos.

What starts as a hot one night stand leads to so much more for Oscar and Silas. The story is quick, full of some hot sex scenes and has a decent basic plot. We don't get in depth with the characters, but we get enough to make this erotic story worth the quick read. 

This story contains first time gay sex and some fun BDSM scenes. It's good, but know going in that you aren't reading it for a long, detailed plot.

Excerpt

“You look like you’re having fun,” Silas said, peering at Oscar whilst the other two leaned towards each other, falling into conversation. Oscar raised his eyebrows a little, and the clear sarcasm in the move made Silas grin.


Maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.


“Let me guess. You dragged Johnny here to get your dance on, didn’t you? ‘I need to shake my thang’, you wailed, and now here you are, crying on the inside because they’re playing a Madonna remix and this is your jam.” He perched his chin on the palm of his hand, looking at Oscar through his eyelashes.


“My thang,” Oscar repeated, not bothering with a question mark. His voice was deep and everything you would want to come out of a face that looked like it could be used as a cornerstone for a gothic church.


“Yeah, your thang. Your badonkadonk. Your caboose. Your derriere. Your full moon rising. Your juicy double.”


“Are you done?”


“Your all that junk inside your trunk.”


“What are you drinking, exactly?”


“Why? You wanna buy me another?”


“I was actually planning on telling the bartender to cut you off.”


Silas grinned at him for a moment before knocking back his drink. “Let’s dance,” he ordered.


“I don’t dance.”


“Sure you do, big guy.”

Author Bio

When Marina was a child she couldn’t sleep. Night after dissolving night she just couldn’t sleep. Nothing much worked – until she started making up stories in her head. Suddenly, the transition into unconsciousness was a smooth dive into calm waters.

Marina is currently in a period of sleepless upheaval, and she hopes writing down the stories in her head will cast the same spell it did decades ago.

Marina hopes to write in a variety of romance sub-genres, from contemporary to supernatural to sci-fi. Her style, however, tends to focus on character-centred stories that explore different facets of the human experience, such as mental health. She also enjoys writing explicit, drawn-out sex scenes, so expect those to be a prominent feature of her stories.

Marina tends to keep to herself unless prompted, so don’t be shy in approaching her!

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RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - Nights Without Nights by Marina Vivancos

Title:  Nights Without Night Series: Fox Lake Series #2 Author: Marina Vivancos Publisher:  Self-published Release Date: 18th June 2018 Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex Pairing: Male/Male Length: 60,000 words Genre: Romance, Contemporary, Childhood Friends, Mental Health

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Synopsis

Isadoro and Iván have known each other since before memories were memories, when they were just the imprint of shape and sound pressed inside your head. They were raised together in La Portera, between the orange trees and water reservoirs, under an endless blue sky. Where they grew up is where Iván’s love for Isadoro grew, too. There, from the earth and the water, organic and helpless.

Iván had grown used to this love. He’d grown used to absence, too.
Isadoro left for the military when they were both eighteen and took a piece of Iván with him. It was as inevitable as the baking sun and sandy winds of those lands. Iván didn't know how to fight it.

A thread between them remained. Phone calls, Skype sessions, rests between tours. But it was never quite enough.

After eight years, Isadoro comes back. At his core, he is the same man Iván has always known. But life has transformed them both from the malleable shapes of childhood and into the stiffer skin of adults. The situation is complicated further when they rekindle the ‘benefits’ portion of their fr

In the beginning, all seems well. But there are creatures under calm water. When they breach the surface, both Isadoro and Iván must learn how to help each other, but also to save themselves. 

Please note: This story contains themes of affected mental health following the return from military combat. However, the ultimate focus of the story is on hope and recovery.
This story also contains very explicit scenes of a sexual nature.
iendship. The heat between them has always been undeniable, and now it scorches through them.

REVIEW

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Isadoro and Ivan grew up together and spent their youth together. When Isadoro returns after leaving the military, Isadoro is not the same.  The changes in him are to be expected after serving in the war, but it still rattles Ivan. Over the years, they would see each other from time to time. And each time, Ivan saw Isadoro changing more and more. At one point, during the years, Ivan was actually expecting to see none of the old Isadoro eventually.  He actually feared that even is his body came back, his soul wouldn't.

When he does come home, the changes are drastic. It is clear to Ivan that whatever trauma Isadoro has suffered is quiet and deep.  And, unfortunately, he is correct.

As Isadoro and Ivan rekindle the sexual side of their relationship, it is to help Isadoro start to find the sexual side of himself again, with someone he trusts. Of course, neither one bothers to confess their true feelings to the other. Neither confesses that they feel alone when the other isn't around.

One beautiful side part of this story is the artwork. The descriptions of the artwork are poetic. And it is during this part that Ivan is told to know his '"worth and charge accordingly.'" This line just stuck with me. What a wonderful piece of advice.

As for the art show itself, wow, just wow! I don't want to spoil this for anyone, but it is just wonderful, touching and emotional.

One of the main themes in this story is the effects of war and PTSD.  It is definitely not easy to read any of these parts. The author does a fantastic job of writing Isadoro's PTSD in a raw and realistic manner.

I absolutely love this book and highly recommend it!

Excerpt

The summer before Isadoro was finally deployed had run on borrowed time. I hadn’t applied to college but had gotten a summer job in La Portera while I figured out what to do with my life. After work, I would go to the beach with Isadoro, pretending this was any other summer and that adulthood wasn’t looming in September for both of us.

One night, we went down to the beach when it was late and dark. The sea was a pool of ink, the sound of it washing in and out a secret call. On Isadoro’s dare, we’d stripped our clothes and ran into the water, the coolness a relief from the thick summer air.

The half-moon had been a bowl of rice perched on the black. We’d swam around, free in the salt and the waves, pulling each other under in a familiar game. We’d been our child selves, free of the ties that tugged at us beyond the water.

When we tired and let ourselves drift, I remember Isadoro swimming close to me. Remember the moon in his eyes. The way his wet skin had felt against mine. It had almost been a kiss. Almost. But I couldn’t do that to myself. Not again. Not when he was leaving and he wasn’t in love with me back.

Who would have thought that I would be able to resist the pull of the moon at eighteen, and cave so many years later, caught completely in its tide.

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Meet the Author

When Marina was a child she couldn’t sleep. Night after dissolving night she just couldn’t sleep. Nothing much worked – until she started making up stories in her head. Suddenly, the transition into unconsciousness was a smooth dive into calm waters.

Marina is currently in a period of sleepless upheaval, and she hopes writing down the stories in her head will cast the same spell it did decades ago.

Marina hopes to write in a variety of romance sub-genres, from contemporary to supernatural to sci-fi. Her style, however, tends to focus on character-centred stories that explore different facets of the human experience, such as mental health. She also enjoys writing explicit, drawn-out sex scenes, so expect those to be a prominent feature of her stories.

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Giveaway

Win an ebook copy of both books in the Fox Lake Series!

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