Broken Boy (Atlanta Daddies #1) by Skyler Snow

 

Amazon Link - Available in KU 

Goodreads Link

Layne has the Daddy of his dreams. Hot, strong, loving, and possessive. At least some of the time. But when the doors are closed and they’re alone, everything changes. Layne can’t figure out how to fix his Daddy's problems and insecurities. He’s resigned himself to a life of fear when he meets the younger Branson. Smart, sweet, and endlessly patient, he’s drawn to him. But what does that mean for his current relationship?

Branson doesn’t have dating or dynamics on the brain. After a messy breakup with his boy, all he wants to do is work and meet some like-minded friends. Kintan and Layne could be that for him. However, after he finds out the dark, twisted secrets festering beneath the surface, he begins to realize that things aren’t what they seem.

Can Branson pull Layne out of the fire? And what happens when an arrangement as just friends turns into so much more?

Broken Boy contains triggers of domestic violence. Please do not read if you are sensitive to the subject.

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Holy shit! Broken Boy, the first book in the Atlanta Daddies series is a powerful book by Skyler Snow. From the first page to the last, I could barely breathe. The emotions, the pain, the hurt, and the agony all jump off the pages. 

When we meet Layne, he's being abused by his Daddy, Kintan. There's plenty of details and it's tough to read. 

Good god, the abuse is so well written. The author excels in demonstrating why an abused person stays in the relationship, as well as how being abused easily leads to hopelessness.

Lucky for Layne, his new boss is in the kink community and sees Layne's pain. Branson is wonderful to Layne. Honestly, he couldn't be any better. He accepts and loves Layne as he is. And damn, he's a fantastic daddy. 

I enjoy the way the two start as a BDSM Daddy arrangement. Branson is amazing, although he struggles a lot along the way. He truly wants what's best for his boy, even if he isn't sure what that is. 

This is a heavy read. The abuse scenes are heavy. The emotional effects are horrible. And the learning curve along the way to recovery is a tough pill to swallow at times. It's not an easy read, but it's amazing. 

And, on top of all of it, the fear of Kintan is present throughout. 

This is a tale with princess clothes, binkies, and lots of play time. I absolutely love the way Branson cherishes Layne's little side and loves to give him what he needs. It's easy to fall in love with this couple.

Broken Boy is a stellar read. This Skyler Snow book is one hell of a beautiful hurt/comfort read. I can't wait to see what else follows in this series. 

Deep Down (Crush #4) by Elouise East

Amazon Link - Available in KU
Goodreads Link

Trusting your instincts can have unexpected consequences...

Craig is a website designer. He spends much of his time happily chained to his desk and, as a boyfriend, he looks after the home while his partner works. It’s all about balance.

Alex is a workaholic doctor, often covering others’ shifts because a busy hospital is where he is most comfortable. He doesn’t have much of a social life even with his best friend dragging him out. He knows nothing about balance.

But Craig’s life is not as picture perfect as it appears… And when Alex has to patch him up, he realises something is amiss with Craig’s relationship. Craig is just another patient, but Alex can’t let him go back into a dangerous situation.

But when Alex reaches out, Craig’s boyfriend sees him as a threat and Craig’s carefully balanced life falls apart - under the fists of the man who has promised to love him.

As a doctor, Alex can heal Craig’s body, but it is up to Craig to learn to heal his own heart… and maybe, give love another chance.

*This book contains sensitive material that could be a trigger for some*

My Rating - 4.5 Stars!

Elouise East's Deep Down is way more than I was expecting. The fourth book in the Crush series, it is easily read as a standalone. 

Before you even consider reading this book, note that this book is about domestic abuse. If that is a trigger for you, just pass on by. 

Now, as for the story itself. I struggled with the writing at the very beginning. But it didn't take long for me to be sucked in by the storyline. 

This is the story of two men who meet under the worst of circumstances. Craig is injured and Alex is his doctor. Alex immediately suspects domestic abuse at play, and can't let this suspicion go. 

I have to admit that Alex definitely is a little creepy with the way he goes above and beyond to check on Craig. However, these incidences help guide the plot along the way, so just go with it. 

This is a powerful story, as the author tackles some serious issues. The author expertly explores that one can be a serious victim of abuse without ever thinking they are being abused. The author excels at illustrating the calculating ways of an abuser. And in the end, the author shows the reader the struggle one has to endure upon recovery. This part is enlightening for sure. 

Deep Down is a tough read, but this Elouise East story is a wonderful one of survival, healing, and hope. 

RELEASE BLITZ & REVIEW - Trusted (Until You #3) by Karrie Roman

Title: Trusted

Series: Until You, Book Three

Author: Karrie Roman

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: October 29, 2018

Heat Level: 3 - Some Sex

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 84,100

Genre: Contemporary, bodyguards, hurt-comfort, grief, men with children, rescue operation, kidnapping

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Synopsis

Zach Piper has escaped his father’s cult only to find himself in a world he doesn’t understand. Abused and neglected, he’s grown up an outcast among outcasts. He has no business trusting anybody after what he’s been through, but when Cameron Cronin takes him in and shows him a world he never knew, he willingly hands over his trust. In Cameron he finds honor and decency—someone who cares.

Cameron lives without love and he prefers it that way. He never wants to fall in love again. The last man he loved shattered Cameron’s heart as surely as his trust. When he takes in much-younger Zach, who recently emerged from his own hell, he hears the familiar whisper of long-dead feelings. But he doesn’t want to love. He cannot trust he won’t be broken again if he does.

As time passes and the two men get to know each other, Cameron’s feelings for Zach deepen whether he wants it or not. But just when Cameron decides to trust in Zach, and act on the love he knows is there, both of their pasts come storming back to threaten everything they’ve built. When their lives hang in the balance they must trust each other enough to get out alive.

Review 

My Rating - 5 Stars!

Wow, with Trusted, Karrie Roman once again treats us to a masterpiece.

I love a good story where two men not only fall in love, but have the type of love that can heal each other. And Trusted delivers just that!

In Trusted, we follow Zach, who's escaped from his father's commune. Life on the outside is fascinating as he sees and experiences so many things for the first time. Karrie Roman manages to capture and address this perfectly.

Told all his life that he was useless, Zach's now trying to re-build his life and his feeling of self worth. He's a refreshing and amazing character. As this story is so darn thought-provoking, you can't help but to wonder how the heck Zach survived his hell without being bitter.

And as for love, well Zach can't help but to feel attracted to Cameron, who's protecting him and helping him integrate into society. What follows is a beautiful tug of war between Cameron's physical desires and his closed off heart that's a result of a lot of past abuse.

They have to deal with mental issues, some danger, and more. We see them face fears, real danger, and a crazy person who means to harm them.

Trusted is an amazing book. It's completely riveting as you are taken on  an emotional journey that you will feel in your soul. I love Trusted and highly recommend it. Karrie Roman has quickly become one of my favorite authors.

Excerpt

Trusted
Karrie Roman © 2018
All Rights Reserved

Prologue
“Zach, stay there, honey.”

“But, Momma—”

“It’s okay. Momma’s, okay.”

Momma said she was okay and Momma didn’t lie to him, but there was so much yelling and he was scared. How could she be okay with all that yelling? He wanted to scream, but Momma told him to stay real quiet. He wanted to go see what was happening, but Momma told him to stay in the stream and finish washing. It sounded like Momma needed help. But he was just a little boy and Father always told him he was no good at anything, so what could he do to help anyway?

But she was his momma and she was the only one who loved him.

That shouting was getting louder, but he couldn’t hear Momma yelling back now; she was crying and making a funny noise. He was going to go help; he didn’t care if Father said he was a useless little shit. She was his momma. He looked down so he’d put his hand on the right rock to hoist himself out of the water, but something was wrong. The clear water of the stream was all red—the brightest red he’d ever seen.

Zach screamed.

Zach wasn’t sure if the scream in his nightmare carried over into the real world—he hoped not. He sat quietly for a moment, listening. He couldn’t hear anyone coming toward his room. Sweat danced trails down his back and plastered his hair to his head. His body was working through the last of the tremors as his breathing slowly calmed back to normal.

This wasn’t the first time he’d had this nightmare, and it wouldn’t be the last. But it seemed worse this time, and Zach couldn’t quite work out why. Perhaps it was the turmoil of the last few days.

Three days ago, Zach had fled his father’s religious cult with two young girls, one a maybe fourteen-year-old who’d been about to be forced into marriage with his father. The three of them had almost literally crashed into two men, Ben and Ethan, who had been searching for Ethan’s infant nieces. The little girls had been kidnapped by their father and taken to the cult. It had all been such a mess, made even worse by his father’s plans for the mass suicide of the cult members.

But he was safe; the girls were safe; everyone was safe. Ben and Ethan and the FBI—they’d saved everybody.

Right now he was sleeping in the house of Ben’s brother, Cameron. Cameron had also helped in their eventual rescue. Just thinking about Cameron woke up the butterflies in his belly, causing them to flutter around like crazy.

When he’d first encountered Ben out there in the wild, he’d thought him beautiful—and then he’d seen him kissing Ethan. Raised as he had been, secluded from the world in his father’s cult, Zach had no idea men could be together in the same way the men had been with the women of the cult. He hadn’t known such a thing was possible. Suddenly, the way Zach had always watched the men of the cult with such fascination and yearning had made sense. He finally made sense.

But all of that was nothing compared to how his body had reacted when he had seen Cameron for the first time. Beautiful hadn’t seemed a good enough word to describe Cameron. Zach didn’t even know of a word that could define the perfection he saw in Cameron Cronin. All he could think was how he wanted to press his lips to Cameron’s just like he’d seen Ben do to Ethan.

For now, the remnants of the nightmare clung to him, refusing to leave him in peace, so he knew he’d never get back to sleep. In the past, there’d never been anyone to comfort him, no one for him to go to for a few whispered words or a gentle touch to ease him through the lingering terror, but tonight Cameron’s face flashed in his mind, so he pushed the covers back to go in search of him. Everyone had been kind to him since his escape, but there was something about Cameron, something he didn’t understand but knew it made him feel good—safe—anyway.

As soon as he left his room, he noticed lights toward the end of the long hallway and heard soft voices coming from the same direction. Zach walked quietly, unsure of his welcome.

Four men sat in the room at the end of the hall: Cameron, Ben, Ethan and the FBI agent who’d been in charge of the raid on his father’s cult, Alec Banner. They were talking, and none of them seemed to notice his arrival.

“Cameron,” he called softly. His voice was so quiet he wasn’t even sure if Cameron would hear him from across the room, but he must have because he jumped up from his seat, immediately striding forward.

Zach’s tummy churned in that good way as Cameron came toward him. Everything about him was so perfect. He was tall and broad, thick muscles cording his arms and legs. He was so handsome. His face looked hard, as if it had been chiseled from stone, all angles, but it was stunning to look at. He had a bit of stubble covering his jaw, and Zach yearned to scrub his fingers over it just to see if it scratched his skin like he thought it would. Cameron’s pale-blue eyes never wavered as he watched Zach with concern.

“You okay, Zach?”

“Only a nightmare,” he replied, nodding his head.

“Do you want to sit with us for a while?” Cameron asked and Zach looked over his shoulder at the other men, shifting his gaze to each of them.

“No, that’s okay. I just…needed to know you were here.” His words sounded pathetic to his own ear, but he saw only concern in Cameron’s gaze.

Cameron reached out an arm as though he was going to touch him and then just as quickly pulled it back. “I’m right here, Zach. I’m not going anywhere…you’re not alone anymore.”

Zach nodded, suddenly embarrassed a dream had chased him out here to these men like a frightened child. He nodded and turned to walk back to his room.

When he got there, he pulled his blankets onto the floor, hoping the familiar hardness of the ground would help him sleep. Comfort wasn’t something he was used to.

Cameron had told him he wasn’t going anywhere. He’d also offered for Zach to stay here with him until he got himself sorted out. The rest of the cult members were staying together. They’d set up a campsite just outside of town until the FBI had interviewed them all, but Zach didn’t want to go with them. He’d always been invisible to most members of the cult—an outcast even among outcasts.

Zach had accepted Cameron’s offer because he’d need help learning how to live in this strange new world he’d been dumped in. He’d lived on the periphery growing up, knowing there was another world there but not really understanding it. Hushed and whispered conversations of the decadence and sinfulness of the world had often reached his ears. Awed stories about televisions and phones and other such evil inventions of mankind had often enthralled him. Regardless of the threads of knowledge he had, though, he really knew so little of this world he’d suddenly been thrust into since his escape. And with his father arrested and the cult disbanded, there was no going back behind the closed walls of their commune. He’d have to find his way in this world, and he’d have to find it alone—or perhaps not as alone as he’d thought, if Cameron was truthful with him.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet the Author

Karrie lives in Australia’s sunshine state with her husband and two sons, though she hates the sun with a passion. She dreams of one day living in the wettest and coldest habitable place she can find. She has been writing stories in her head for years but has finally managed to pull the words out of her head and share them with others. She spends her days trying to type her stories on the computer without disturbing her beloved cat Lu curled up on the keyboard. She probably reads far too much.

Website | Twitter | eMail

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Blackbird Fly Home (Doyle Global Securities #1) by Kendel Duncan

Amazon Link


Blurb


Sometimes life will surprise you
Sometimes it will disappoint you
Sometimes it will kick you in the balls
Sometimes it will make you so happy you feel like you can fly
And sometimes, just sometimes, it will do all of those things.
The kick in the balls, both literally and figuratively, happened to Noah Pierce a long time ago. Ten years to be exact, when, to cap off a brutal and horrendous four-year relationship with the man who claimed to love him, that man buried a butcher knife in his side. It was the final wound in a seemingly endless cycle of bruises, cuts, breaks, sprains and other things that sent him to the hospital. He thought he was going to die. But when he opened his eyes in that ER room and saw a stranger with kind yet determined eyes looking back at him and with his boyfriend nowhere in sight, Noah knew that life was going to change for him. And it did.
For ten years he was stronger, he was better, he was……hollow.
He didn’t realize that last part until he saw one man. One pair of haunting blue eyes beside the very man who had ruined Noah all those years ago. One pair of frightened eyes. One pair of hollow, hopeless eyes that Noah couldn’t have walked away from if he tried…..because someone else hadn’t walked away from him all those years ago.
Noah didn’t realize it at the time, but by saving Jesse Miller from the clutches of his ex, he was going to learn to fly…..

This is an adult M/M romance intended for readers over 18.
It has an HEA (happily ever after) for the main characters in this book with no cheating.
Trigger warning: This book contains mentions of past sexual abuse



REVIEWMy Rating - 5 Stars

Blackbird Fly Home is one of those books that just hits you in your heart, and leaves you thinking about it for a while. I am super impressed with this first book in the Doyle Global Securities series by Kendel Duncan.

Noah spent years with his ex, Jacob, with things being fine when they started dating. But Jacob soon starts controlling him, cutting him off from everyone else, and leaving him completely dependent on Jacob. 

When Noah finds Jessie, also under Jacob's control he is compelled to help him. As Noah gets Jessie away from Jacob, Jessie ends up asking Noah for help sexually.

Noah's been unable to trust any guy since Jacob, never even allowing himself to date anyone. But he finds himself insanely attracted to the broken Jessie. They are both so darn broken, completely wounded, but together they might be able to heal.

This story will have you smiling, cringing, and crying. It is full of action, suspense, tragedy, and an amazing journey towards healing.

I haven't read anything else by Kendel Duncan, but after reading Blackbird Fly Home, I hope to go back and read some of Kendel's other books, and I'm anxiously awaiting the next in this series!

No Shame (No Shame Series Book 4) by Nora Phoenix

Amazon Link


Blurb

Brad feels nothing but shame about himself. Shame about his sexual needs, about his reputation, about his medical problem no one knows about. No one, except his best friend Charlie, but no matter what feelings Brad may have for him, he’s not going there. Charlie deserves so much better, and Brad desperately needs something not even Charlie can provide.

Charlie has loved Brad forever, but he’s never acted on his feelings, unsure of where he stood. Plus, there was the complication of having a boyfriend. But when his boyfriend’s abuse gets too much for Charlie, it’s Brad who helps him escape and recover.

Miles ends up wounded in the line of duty as an FBI agent. He’s floored when the man he was protecting, Indy, opens his home to him so he can recover. Indy also sets him up with Brad, who turns out to be a perfect solution for Miles’ sexual issues…until Miles wants more than sex from him, and a developing friendship between Miles and Charlie complicates things even more.

Bit by bit Charlie and Miles break through Brad’s defenses until they come crumbling down. Miles will have to prove he can provide what Brad needs, and Charlie’s sweet love will be put to the test. But when Brad finally finds the courage to break free of his shame, will the fragile love that has blossomed between the three of them survive?

No Shame is a steamy M/M/M romance and the fourth book in the No Shame Series with a continuing storyline (it's not suitable to read as a stand alone). It ends with a happy ever after for all characters, including those from the previous books in the series. Please note the trigger warnings in the front of the book.



REVIEW
My Rating - 5 Stars!


No Shame is the 4th and final book in the No Shame series by Nora Phoenix.  And it is the perfect conclusion.

As with the prior books, No Shame, features all of the guys we've already met. Each guy continues to grow and it is just fantastic.

And the sex, oh the hot sex!

I cannot do justice to the strength and power of the relationship between Noah, Indy, Josh and Connor. It is truly remarkable the way Nora is able to construct the bond between these men.

And, let's not forget the inspiring relationship between Blake and Aaron, as well as the dynamic throuple of Charlie, Brad and Miles. Nora manages to far exceed my expectations with this entire series.

Did I mention the hot sex?

The only bad thing about No Shame is that it is the end of the series. It isn't everyday that I find a series that I absolutely love and devour so quickly. If you haven't read this series by Nora Phoenix, all I can ask is - What are you waiting for?

Easy Does it Twice by Gianna Holmes

Amazon Link

Blurb:

When Gordon’s wife dies, he has no intentions of getting involved with anyone. Then, in walks, Beau, the French teacher his daughter has a crush on, and all Gordon's good intentions fly out the window. For Beau, his number one rule is never to be romantically involved with students or their guardians. But, every rule has an exception— his is Gordon Mattis.

Gordon plans to come out to his family and friends slowly, but before he has the chance, a video of the two men locking lips goes viral. Is the town of Lacovia ready for Beau and Gordon's relationship? More importantly, would his homophobic teenage son and his daughter accept having two fathers? Or will Gordon be forced to give up the happiness he has found with Beau?

Easy Does It Twice is a 98k word contemporary gay romance novel, the first in the series "Till There Was You." It engages topics such as the discrimination of teachers in the LGBTQ community and coming out later in life. Warning: This book discusses abuse and mild violence, much of which is off the page. Themes include: Out For You, small town, and May-December romance.


REVIEW
My Rating - 5 stars

Easy Does It Twice is a great romantic story that's packed with a lot of themes.

Gordon has never been with a man. He might have wanted to, but he never acted on it. Now that his wife has died, and he meets Beau, he doesn't know if he can still hold back those feelings.

Unfortunately, Beau happens to be his daughter's French teacher, which will definitely complicate things. His kids are still reeling from the death of their mom, and how can he get involved with his kid's teacher?

Beau, meanwhile, has his own issues to deal with as a result of his manipulative and abusive ex.

Things will not be easy for Gordon and Beau.  Gordon, of course, will certainly hear that he shouldn't be dating so soon after his wife's death. He will also have to deal with homophobic friends, who will try to complicate things for both men.

The issues with Gordon's friend is heart-breaking and awful to witness.  Being gay does not change who a person is, but unfortunately, not everyone understands this. It is tragic to see the lengths someone will go to just because they are homophobic.

The scenes with Gordon's son, Ollie are also painful to read. They are so raw, real and tragic. And unfortunately, this happens way too often in life.

Gianna Holmes gracefully tackles a lot in Easy Does it Twice. It is a wonderfully written book, with many issues involved. In the end, it is a wonderful romance that I highly recommend.