Monday, 7 August 2017

RELEASE SPOTLIGHT: Permanent Ink by Avon Gale & Piper Vaughn



Permanent Ink by Avon Gale and Piper Vaughn
Series: Art & Soul, #1
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Release Date (Print & Ebook): August 7, 2017
Length (Print & Ebook): 68K
Subgenre: Contemporary

This book includes: Daddy kink and an age gap

Buy links:
Publisher
Amazon



Book Blurb: 

At twenty-three, Poe Montgomery is going nowhere. He still lives in his father’s basement and spends most of his time tagging with his friends. When an arrest lands him in debt, Poe accepts the front desk job at Permanent Ink, the tattoo shop owned by his father’s best friend, Jericho McAslan. Jericho is nearly twice Poe’s age, but with his ink and prematurely graying hair, he quickly takes the starring role in Poe’s hottest fantasies.

Jericho is known for his ability to transform poorly designed tattoos into works of art, but he was once as aimless and misdirected as Poe. Wanting to pay it forward the way someone once did for him, Jericho makes Poe his apprentice and is determined to keep things strictly professional. Easier said than done when Poe makes his interest—and his daddy kink—abundantly clear.
Jericho can’t resist Poe or their intense chemistry for long. But between the age gap, tension with Poe’s father, and Poe’s best friend calling him a sellout, they’ll need to ensure they’re both on the same page before they can rewrite their rocky start into something permanent.
Piper Vaughn and Avon Gale have this to say: we hope people enjoy spending time with our characters as much as we do!


Quotes about the book:


After reading Permanent Ink, I wanted to get tattooed and go on a graffiti mural tour, but not before rereading the sex scenes. This writing duo is dynamite, and the chemistry between the characters becomes explosive the further you read. Not to be missed!

-Santino Hassell, RITA nominated author of the Five Boroughs and Cyberlove series


Review:


RATING:


Just to get this out of the way… that cover!!!!!!!!!!!!! Please let us just take a moment to savor the beauty of that cover... teehee...

And moving on...

Although I have some of Piper’s older books, this is a first Piper read for me. As for Avon, well, I’m a fan. Although not good for my TBR shelf and my purse, this is why I love collabs in general b/w writers because then you get exposed to more writers in a single shot.

And because I am an Avon fan, I may have inadvertently miss the itty-bitty part in the blurb about this being about ‘daddy kink’. I’m usually not a fan. I don’t go in blind with this theme and when I do, it’s usually from writers I’m familiar with and even then, there’s still trepidation.  Luckily, Avon is familiar. And really, having said all that, if you’re like me, and not quite into this theme, I’d say you’d wanna give this a go anyway.

Poe had no aim and Jericho happened to be the right person to provide him one, in every sense of the word… teehee…Jericho simply wanted to pay it forward, initially... It’s a delicious May-December affair between Poe and Jericho. There’s a 17-year difference between them; 2 very different people, 2 different generation, 2 different stages in life, but of course, ultimately, none of that matters. 

I really love seeing the individual growth with these 2, and consequently, how the relationship progressed. As a reader who is closer to Jericho's age, Poe provided just as much education to me. It really was like learning the language of the youth. Having said that, it was quite easy to relate to Poe, his doubts and his convictions.

Jericho is simply delish! From the ashes of misguided youth came out a beautiful man on the other side. Love his no-bs attitude, but more importantly his take-charge attitude. *giggles*

Poe and Jericho together as it turned out was a match made in heaven, both in and out of the bedroom. In each other, they found what they're searching for, inadvertently or not. Poe has a specific taste in the bedroom and it suited Jericho just fine. What you get is something combustible, whoosh!*g*

More than that, the story itself has so much heart. The emotions are real, and will resonate quite effortlessly, I'm sure. As the development of these 2 MC's unfolded, it was delectable to witness. And knowing now that there will be more collabs with these 2 authors as part of this series, I cannot be more ecstatic. Definitely looking forward to that.        



Excerpt:

I stepped into the room, shoving my hands into the pockets of my hoodie, and stared appreciatively at the way Jericho’s thin black T-shirt clung to the well-defined muscles of his shoulders. We’d only crossed paths a handful of times during the years he and Landon had been friends, but I’d always thought Jericho was f*cking hot. He had to lift weights. His biceps were clearly defined under all the ink, and judging by his ass and thighs, this was not a man who skipped leg day at the gym.
F*ck, I should not be looking.
“Um.” I tore my eyes away from his ass and sucked my lower lip into my mouth, briefly catching the stainless steel hoop that pierced it between my teeth. “My dad told me to come by to see you. Said you need someone to work the front desk.”
“I do.” Jericho poured water into the coffeemaker and shoved the carafe into place before jabbing at the power button. He pivoted to face me, arms crossed over his chest. “Are you interested?”
I lifted a shoulder. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
Jericho’s dark eyebrows drew down over his hazel eyes. Despite his youthful face, silver liberally threaded his short beard and hair, the close-cropped sides revealing more gray than black. Somehow it intensified his appeal instead of aging him prematurely. I knew he couldn’t be much more than forty—younger than Landon for sure—and I loved the fact that he clearly didn’t give a f*ck about the gray. He was all natural, not trying to cover it up with that cheesy ass “Just For Men” shit. “If this is how you talk to your prospective employers, I’m surprised that gas station hired you.”
I started to reply, but Jericho held up a tattooed hand.
“This is how it’s going to be,” he said. “If you show up on time and do your work, you’ll get paid. If you do a good enough job, we can discuss an apprenticeship once I find a decent replacement.”
I tried to protest the apprenticeship thing, but he kept right on talking.
“Don’t steal anything. Don’t be rude to my customers. And don’t think I won’t send your ass packing the second you step out of line with me.” Jericho backed his words with a hard-eyed glare. “I’m giving you a chance because I like your father, and because someone helped me when I was doing my damned best to ruin my life. I’d like to pay it forward, but I won’t tolerate your bullshit. Got me?”
I tipped my chin. “Yeah, I got you.”



Author Bio:



Avon Gale was once the mayor on Foursquare of Jazzercise and Lollicup, which should tell you all you need to know about her as a person. She likes road trips, rock concerts, drinking Kentucky bourbon and yelling at hockey. She’s a displaced southerner living in a liberal midwestern college town, and she never gets tired of people and their stories—either real or the ones she makes up in her head.


Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan at Handspun Literary Agency.


Connect with Avon: Twitter | Facebook  | Newsletter | Instagram Website


***

Piper Vaughn wrote her first love story at eleven and never looked back. Since then, she’s known that writing in some form was exactly what she wanted to do. A reader at the core, Piper loves nothing more than getting lost in a great book—fantasy, young adult, romance, sci-fi, she loves them all (and has a three-thousand-book library to prove it!).
As a bisexual and Latinx person, Piper takes great pride in her heritage. She grew up in an ethnically diverse neighborhood and strives to put faces and characters of every ethnicity in her stories, so her fictional worlds are as colorful as the real one. Above all, she believes that everyone needs a little true love in their life … even if it’s only in a book.
Connect with Piper: Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | Instagram | Website | Blog


Giveaway: Win 2 e-copies of PERMANENT INK!

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Thanks for dropping by!

~Leftie


Tuesday, 11 July 2017

PROMO TOUR: Heart of the Steal by Avon Gale & Roan Parrish



Heart of the Steal
Publisher: Philtre Press
Release Date (Print & Ebook): July 11th, 2017
Length (Print & Ebook): about 80K words
Subgenre: Contemporary queer romance


Links on author sites:


Purchase Links:


Book Blurb:

Responsible, disciplined William Fox channeled his love for art and his faith in the rules into being an FBI Art Crimes agent. Right and wrong, justice and injustice—the differences are clear, and Will has spent his career drawing a line between them. Maybe his convictions have cost him relationships, but he’s not willing to compromise what he knows is right. Until the night he meets Amory Vaughn.
As the head of his family’s philanthropic foundation, Vaughn knows very well that being rich and powerful can get him almost anything he wants. And when he meets endearingly grumpy and slightly awkward William Fox, he wants him more than he’s wanted anything. Vaughn is used to being desired for his name and his money, but Will doesn’t care about either.
When Vaughn falls back on old habits and attempts to impress Will by stealing a painting Will admires, their nascent bond blows up in his face. But Vaughn isn’t willing to give up on the glimpse of passion he saw the night he took Will apart. Before Will knows it, he’s falling for the man he should have arrested, and Vaughn has to realize that some things can’t be bought or stolen. Love has to be given freely. But can a man who lives by the rules, and a man who thinks the rules don’t apply to him, ever see eye to eye?
Heart of the Steal is a standalone romance with a happy ending. It features a Southern gentleman who thinks he’s always right, a buttoned-up FBI agent who secretly likes his buttons unbuttoned, and wall sex. And desk sex. And picnic blanket sex.
Quotes from the authors  about the book:
“Writing this book with Roan was so much fun! It was a joy to create these characters and take them on a journey to their hard-earned HEA. Even if we had to suffer some pretty bad hotel breakfasts of our own.” --Avon Gale


“I adored writing with Avon. It felt like I got to crack open her skull and peek at her brain. Which is my idea of heaven :)” --Roan Parrish
Excerpt:


Will shook his head in frustration, his irritation clear. I could work with irritation. One strong emotion would do just as well as another. “Don’t act like we’re close. Like you know me. Like you know what things I like and who I am. Because you don’t.”
“But I’d like to. I’d like to know who you are inside and out. I wanted to see you again.”
I’d banked on the same spark that had flared to life in my study after Val’s wedding reigniting, if I could just get William close to me again.
I let go of the check then and it fluttered to the floor at our feet. Will glared at me, eyes wide, cheeks flushing. He stooped and snatched the check up, slapping it down on the desk and whirling back around to face me.
“You think that you can do anything, get away with anything, because you’re rich and privileged and handsome,” he spat out, though his lip twitched at “handsome,” suggesting he hadn’t meant to include it in his list of offenses. “But it doesn’t work that way. Eventually, things catch up with you. Eventually, you make a mistake and give the game away. Eventually, you get caught. And I’m going to be there when you do.”
He’d closed the distance between us and I could smell him: inexpensive aftershave and soap, and a hint of stale, after-work sweat clinging to his clothes. It was the smell I imagined was associated with the first kiss after a lover walked in the door. The kiss that said, I’m so happy to be done with work and home, here, with you. The kiss that said, I’ll go change and then we can start our evening together. The kisses I’d thought about enough that they felt real, but never actually had.
“You’re here now,” I murmured, mostly to myself. I’d lost the thread of the conversation a bit, distracted by thinking about William coming home to…me. I wasn’t sure where the thought had come from. I wasn’t the coming-home-to type, or so I’d been told by enough lovers I assumed they must be onto something.
But William’s eyes were narrowed and his color was high and his breath was audible. Either he was about to hit me, or—
The kiss hit me like a fist, and I had to grab him around the shoulders to keep from pitching backward under the onslaught. I allowed myself the briefest moment of victory that my plan had worked, and then I sank into the kiss. His mouth had the slightly sharp bite of coffee, but that gave way almost immediately to the warm caramel taste that was Will’s alone. It was sugar and heat and richly turning leaves and I opened my mouth, desperate for more of it.


Review:


RATING:



Well, well, is this delightful or what!
I've been a fan of Avon since the start of her Scoring Chances series and I'm a new fan of Roan. So to read this was a real treat
Here we have Amory, a trust fund baby with a heart of gold. He's also an art thief. William is an FBI agent for the Art Crime Division. Put them together and you get one scrumptious mix.


(via Google images)

You get a bit of Thomas Crown Affair feel in the beginning (even though Amory doesn't think so... hehe) but the focus here really is how the relationship built between these 2. How Amory decided to get into William's radar, past the initial sexy interlude, somewhat complicated matters. How do you move things forward then when ethics are intermingled with feelings? And does ethics really factor in? Hmmm... When does compromise stop being a compromise?
William is as straight shooter as straight shooter goes. On a personal level, I can relate with him well; which ironically enough is why I think he frustrated me to a degree. It's like looking on a mirror somewhat.
Amory is just one divine creature. There is something in the formality of his words that's beyond endearing. (Call me crazy but I almost wanted to put a British accent on him... hehe). That kind of confidence afforded byf his status was apparent right from the start and doubt you'll find anything grating about it. It just is what it is. The vulnerability to his thoughts and actions are heartfelt.
These 2 together, I have to say...



They're sarcastic, they're funny, they're sweet, they're caring, they're sincere, they're witty... 
And their smexy times...



!!!
Don't ask my why but I dove in thinking this will be some kind of romantic suspense. Instead, to my pleasant surprise, it ended up being more emotional than I anticipated. The dual POV provided insight to these 2 very different people from different strata of society, a fact that didn't matter in the end when it comes to matters of the heart.
What mattered is that each one learnt and grew individually and as a couple. That each one learnt the value of other person. That each one learnt what truly matters.



About the authors:


Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.
When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.
She is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.





Avon Gale wrote her first story at the age of seven, about a “Space Hat” hanging on a rack and waiting for that special person to come along and purchase it — even if it was a bit weirder than the other, more normal hats. Like all of Avon’s characters, the space hat did get its happily ever after — though she’s pretty sure it was with a unicorn. She likes to think her vocabulary has improved since then, but the theme of quirky people waiting for their perfect match is still one of her favorites.
Avon grew up in the southern United States, and now lives with her very patient husband in a liberal midwestern college town. When she’s not writing, she’s either doing some kind of craft project that makes a huge mess, reading, watching horror movies, listening to music or yelling at her favorite hockey team to get it together, already. Avon is always up for a road trip, adores Kentucky bourbon, thinks nothing is as stress relieving as a good rock concert and will never say no to candy.
At one point, Avon was the mayor of both Jazzercise and Lollicup on Foursquare. This tells you basically all you need to know about her as a person.
Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.
Connect with Avon: Website | Twitter | Facebook | FB Group | Newsletter | Goodreads



Thanks for dropping by!

~Leftie


Sunday, 2 July 2017

PROMO TOUR: Coach's Challenge (Scoring Chances, Book 5) by Avon Gale


Coach’s Challenge by Avon Gale

Series: Scoring Chances Book #5

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): June 26, 2017

Length: Ebook: ~70K (181 pages)

Subgenre: Sports romance, LGBTQ+ romance

Buy Links:

Book Blurb:

It’s been decades since blackmail forced Troy Callahan to retire from playing professional hockey, and he’s built a successful career behind the bench. When he’s offered the opportunity to coach the Asheville Ravens—the most hated team in the ECHL—he’s convinced that his no-nonsense attitude is just what the team needs to put their focus back on hockey. But Troy is disheartened when he finds that the Ravens have signed Shane North, a player known for his aggression—especially when Shane’s rough good looks give Troy inappropriate thoughts about a player, even if Shane’s set to retire at the end of the season.
Shane’s career in the majors never quite took off. Wanting to quit on his own terms, Shane agrees to a one-year contract with the Ravens and finds himself playing for a coach who thinks he’s an aging goon and with a team that doesn’t trust him, the coach, or each other. Despite his determination to not get involved, Shane unwillingly becomes part of the team… and is just as unwillingly drawn to the gruff, out-and-proud coach. As the Ravens struggle to build a new identity, Shane and Troy succumb to the passion that might cost them everything.

Quotes from the author about the book:
Troy and Shane’s story was a joy to write – I loved writing about two characters who were so confident in what they wanted and determined to get it no matter what. These are two stubborn, opinionated and passionate men and their interactions were so much fun to write.

Quotes from other authors about the book:
"I hope this series continues forever. I always have time for more of Avon Gale's quirky, impeccably written hockey players. Shane is the perfect smartass, and watching him fall for Troy is terrific fun." - Sarina Bowen, USA Today bestselling author of Him

Excerpt:

“I didn’t think you liked me very much, Shane.”
It was such an unCallahan thing to say, it was almost cute. “I don’t really need to like you to want you to f*ck me, do I?”
Troy’s pale eyes flashed. “Goddammit.”
They stared at each other, the music a low throb in the bar, lights dancing merrily on the slick floor. “I could like you just fine,” Shane murmured and then deliberately dropped his gaze to Troy’s belt. “If you just showed a little effort, Coach.”
Shane knew the “coach” thing would piss Troy off—what didn’t?—but he had a hunch that wasn’t all it would do. He stood up very slowly and angled so they faced each other in the small space between the barstools. Troy was taller than Shane by a few inches, though leaner and lanky like a runner. They weren’t quite touching, but it reminded Shane of those games where you lined up across from a guy for the faceoff and just knew you were going to throw the gloves off as soon as the whistle blew.
All they needed was someone to blow the whistle. God.

Review:

RATING:




I guess it’s fitting that I wrote this on Canada Day (our 150th btw). This is about hockey and love after all. I didn’t intend for it to work this way. As a matter of fact, this was slightly overdue… oops!

This 5th installment of the Scoring Chances by Avon is another delish addition to the series. It’s a standalone, I would know as I haven’t gotten to bks 3 and 4, so no worries. Troy is the new coach hired to turn the team around. Shane is the new player in town. So for starter, they definitely bring a shift to the team dynamics and culture, especially considering what the team recently went thru’. Then there’s the attraction that caught each other off guard. It’s a delicate situation they find themselves in. Troy is Shane’s coach after all. There’s so many ways things can go sideways really fast. But the pants want what the pants want, right? Hehe… More importantly though, it was beautiful to see how each came to mean so much more to each other. And it couldn’t be more apparent especially at the end when one realized that his decision no longer just affects him and seeing that trust they have for each other… awww…

Troy has got to be one of my fave alphaholes and he’s funny to boot! He’s older (translation, in my age group LOL), a fact I love! He knows he’s not with the times and he embraces that, another fact I love! He’s unapologetic, even with his hobbies, teehee, and he may talk like an a$$ but underneath all that gruffness, he’s a good person, and I love that! And I love how Shane unsettles him! And what a dirty talker, this Troy! Oomph!

Shane is the perfect match to Troy’s personality. He’s just as funny as Troy. I love how he doesn’t balk at Troy’s roughness and calls him out on it. Although he’s younger than Troy, he’s also no spring chicken, a fact I love! I love how he is with the team, and I love how a good friend he is. He has his one big “hang-up” but I totally understood. And I love how he unsettles Troy!

These 2 together, you guys! They sizzzzzzled!!! There’s such bite to their interaction that it actually fueled the fire, I’m telling ya! *giggles* And because they’re such on fire in the bedroom, had Avon added more smexy times, I probably would’ve been happier… just sayin…:p

If you’re a hockey fan, you will definitely enjoy this sports romance. If you have no clue about hockey, I’d say you’d still wanna pick this up and hey, you get to learn some hockey along the way while fanning yourself. Not only will you get to see how the game is played, you also pick up some terminology, and see how the camaraderie builds and plays out both in and out of the locker room. All these, while you also see a relationship blossom from an attraction and watch how Troy and Shane develop and grow as a couple. Delish!!*g*

Author Bio:


Avon Gale wrote her first story at the age of seven, about a “Space Hat” hanging on a rack and waiting for that special person to come along and purchase it — even if it was a bit weirder than the other, more normal hats. Like all of Avon’s characters, the space hat did get its happily ever after — though she’s pretty sure it was with a unicorn. She likes to think her vocabulary has improved since then, but the theme of quirky people waiting for their perfect match is still one of her favorites.
Avon grew up in the southern United States, and now lives with her very patient husband in a liberal midwestern college town. When she’s not writing, she’s either doing some kind of craft project that makes a huge mess, reading, watching horror movies, listening to music or yelling at her favorite hockey team to get it together, already. Avon is always up for a road trip, adores Kentucky bourbon, thinks nothing is as stress relieving as a good rock concert and will never say no to candy.
At one point, Avon was the mayor of both Jazzercise and Lollicup on Foursquare. This tells you basically all you need to know about her as a person.
Avon is represented by Courtney Miller-Callihan of Handspun Literary Agency.


Connect with Avon: Website | Twitter | Facebook | FB Group | Newsletter | Goodreads
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