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Friday, March 17, 2017

Cleansing Flame by: Andrew Grey w/ Creative Post & Giveaway



Title: Cleansing Flame   
Author: Andrew Grey
Series: Rekindled Flame Series Book 2  
Genre:  M/M Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Release Date: Mar 10 2017
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print
Blurb/Synopsis:
Life has been grinding Dayne Mills down almost for as long as he can remember. First he lost the love of his life in an accident that also left him with a permanent injury, and then his mother passed away a year later. When his house burns to the ground, it’s the last straw. He can’t take any more, and if it wasn’t for kind and handsome firefighter Lawson Martin offering him a hand up and a place to stay, he doesn’t know what he’d do. Dayne would love for his relationship with Lawson to evolve into something beyond charity, but he knows going after a man so far out of his league will only lead to yet more heartache. It’s best to just keep his mind on his research.

It’s that research that leads Dayne to an old student journal that not only provides clues to the Native American heritage Lawson has been searching for, but chronicles a century-old love story. The tale that unfolds might be just what Dayne and Lawson need to remember that no matter how dark life becomes, love can find a way to shine through.


Lawson had no idea what time it was or why he was awake, but something wasn’t right. He sat up, listening, and heard a cry. He shoved back the covers and followed the whimpers and cries to Dayne’s room. Hearing a “No!” Lawson peered inside.
Dayne had kicked off the covers, his eyes still closed, and was lying on his side, kicking his legs repeatedly. Lawson was about to turn to leave when Dayne cried out once move and lurched toward the edge of the bed. Lawson raced forward and caught him as he came off the mattress. Dayne struggled and fought, squirming and thrashing.
“Dayne, it’s all right.” He laid Dayne back on the bed and gently tried to wake him.
“Lawson?” Dayne asked, instantly calming and looking up at him with startled blue eyes. “What are you doing here?” He grabbed for the covers at the end of the bed and yanked them up to cover himself. Then Dayne looked back at him, and even in the light from the hall, Lawson saw Dayne blush beet red and then turn away.
“You were thrashing, and I caught you as you fell off the bed.” Lawson took a step back so he didn’t cause Dayne any more distress. “I heard you yelling in your sleep and wanted to make sure you were okay.” God, did Dayne think he was attacking him or something?
“Oh.” Dayne relaxed a little and lowered the covers he’d been using like a shield. “I guess I’m a little jumpy.”
“Ya think?” Lawson teased, giving Dayne a wink. Thankfully Dayne understood and smiled slightly. Lawson sat on the edge of the bed. “Do you want to talk about what happened?”
“It’s the middle of the night and….” Dayne’s eyes darted around the room, settling on him for a few seconds and then moving away. “You’re nearly naked,” he finally squeaked out, and Lawson realized he was only wearing a pair of old boxer shorts.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. I was just concerned when I heard you calling out.” As he went to stand, Dayne touched his arm. Lawson stilled when Dayne didn’t move his hand or pull away.
“You’re stunning,” Dayne breathed, then turned away, pulling his hand back. “Sorry. That was a dumb thing to say.” He rose the shield of covers again. “Just let me die of embarrassment here. You’ve been nice enough to let me stay here. You don’t need some twiggy doofus perving on you.”
Lawson reached for Dayne, touching his chin with just the tips of his fingers. “How about I go back to bed, and we both try to get some more sleep? I understand if you don’t want to talk about what’s happening, but try to sleep and not fall off the bed. I don’t want you to hurt yourself.” Dayne’s lips, red and pulled slightly with worry, screamed irresistible, and his eyes were filled with such pain that Lawson wanted to kiss it all away. He knew it wasn’t that simple—pain and loss rarely were, especially with as much as Dayne had endured lately—but he wanted to try.
Dayne gazed at him, and Lawson saw Dayne’s hands and arms relax, the covers lowering enough to reveal where his nipples poked slightly at the fabric of his T-shirt. Damn, Lawson wanted to tug away that cotton and reveal what was underneath. Heat built in his groin, and he needed to cool it or things were going to get awkward, and he wasn’t wearing enough to keep his dick from making a full-on appearance. Not that he was ashamed of what he had in any way, but he didn’t need to scare Dayne or have Dayne think he was trying to push himself on him. “Good night,” Lawson rasped, lightly caressing Dayne’s cheek before standing and leaving the room.
As Lawson returned to his room, Tati came up the stairs. She sat, blinking at him the way cats did, and Lawson looked back. At some point in the night, she usually paid him a visit. Lawson expected her to stroll over, but instead she slinked across the hall, peeked into Dayne’s room, and went inside. He watched, and she didn’t come out. Sneaking back, he peered through the open door. Dayne lay on his side facing away from the door with Tati curled in the crook of his legs, her back pressed to Dayne’s backside. Lawson shook his head, returned to his room, and went back to bed, trying not to think of Dayne.







Sunday, March 5, 2017

Jack on the Rocks by: H. L. LeRoy w/ Review


Title: Jack on the Rocks
Author: H.L. LeRoy
Series: A LT. Jack Daniels Mystery (A loosely tied together series. But any of the stories can be read as a standalone.)
Genre: Thriller/Mystery
Publisher: Kindle Worlds (the World of J.A. Konrath)
Release Date: Dec 11, 2016
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook/Kindle ONLY
Rating: 
Blurb/Synopsis:
LIEUTENANT JACK DANIELS should have seen the avalanche of trouble headed her way but events had dulled her edge and crumbled her foundation of toughness. With the press and politicians all coming for her, Jack begins to question whether she is really a cold blooded murderer or simply losing her mind. Was it an officer involved shooting gone wrong? An honest mistake? Or, something much, much worse?
There's one thing for sure, it has turned the Chicago Police Department upside down, and Lieutenant Jack Daniels' life along with it.


On the way in, I called Herb and told him what happened, and he said he'd take care of Tina's car. I knew that the state's attorney wasn't going to bring me good news, and the word 'indictment' kept running through my mind.
When I got in, Banes told me the state's attorney was going to be late. Anger started to eat at me as I sat in my office cooling my heels.
A few minutes later, I saw Lieutenant Cavanaugh weave his way through the bullpen carrying a pink box of pastries.
"Donut call."
The few detectives who were in each grabbed a donut as he passed.
"Where's Herb?"
"He's following up on Tina Mills."
Cavanaugh stood at Herb's desk for a moment and then laid two chocolate éclairs on a napkin. "He never could eat just one," he said.
Coming into my office he plopped the box on my side table. "Donut, Lieutenant?"
"Later."
"Buzz in the halls is that the State's Attorney's on his way over. The Becky Walsh thing." He paused for a second. "I'm not surprised. They're slime. I just wanted to tell you how sorry I am about what happened. And more importantly to let you know that we're all on your side."
"I'm damaged goods around here, if I were you, I'd avoid me."
"Here's the thing. If it wasn't you, it would have been one of us. You did what any good cop would have done."
"How long have you been in Narco?'
"Sixteen years."
"Is there the same bullshit up there that we face down here?"
"I'd say it's worse but it's probably just as shitty.
"Well, I appreciate your kind words.
My first opinion of Cavanaugh had been dead wrong. He was a good guy and a good cop.
We sat and talked for a little bit longer and as Cavanaugh stood to leave, a suit walked into my office.
Medium height, with dark, perfectly quaffed news anchor hair, and wearing a tailored suit dropped a card on my desk.
I pushed it around with a pencil so it was turned the right way.
DOUGLAS ABBOTT
ASSISTANT STATE'S ATTORNEY (ASA)
SPECIAL PROSECUTIONS BUREAU
COOK COUNTY STATE'S ATTORNEY'S OFFICE
"Very impressive," I said and flicked the card away. "So tell me, ASA Douglas Abbott, why do you want to see me?"
"ASA Abbott is an asshole. He busts cops for a living." Cavanaugh gave Abbott a look and then made his way out of my office and through the bullpen.
"That true?"
"Like the man said, I bust cops."
"I'm sure your mother must be very proud."
He ignored my little dig.
"States Attorney Turner has assigned me to your case. He did so because I've never lost."
He seemed disappointed that I didn't respond.
"You have two files. One four-inches-thick and another almost seven inches thick, and you always seem to skate. Funny how that is."
"You're implying that I've been guilty and gotten away with it."
He shrugged.
"And that I'm not going to skate now."
He smiled. "You did shoot her after all."
"What happened to Internal Affairs? They're supposed to handle this stuff."
"Nepotism. They're working on it, but Mayor Walsh says I get first crack."
"Lucky me." My future wearing an orange jumpsuit flashed before my eyes.
"We'll be going for at least second degree murder." He smiled. "Four to twenty in prison."
"I know what murder two is."
"Maybe we'll discuss a plea," he said over his shoulder as he walked out. "How does that sound?"
"It sounds like Cavanaugh was right, you're an asshole."