Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn Launch Day Blitz

About MASQUERADE

After his father is put in prison for murder leaving his mother suicidal, Maddox Cross has always put his sister, Laney, first.  Now living in Brenton, Virginia, Maddox has no idea what to do with his life, especially since Laney no longer needs him.  One thing he does know is for the first time since losing football, he's found something else that's just for him--tattooing.  When he meets a feisty young woman in the club where he works security, he has no idea that she has the ability to change his life forever.

Bee Malone has just moved to Brenton to open up her first tattoo parlor, Masquerade.  Despite her young success, nothing is ever as it seems. After being kidnapped at a young age, Bee has difficulty being the daughter her parents lost and letting go of the "parents" she was raised with.  When she meets Maddox, she's immediately attracted to him and what starts out as a one night stand leaves Bee wanting to connect with him in more ways than one.

Once Maddox finds out about Masquerade, he wants nothing more than to join Bee.  But letting him in means trying to figure out who she is and she's not ready for that.  And yet, as the two get closer, they find themselves leaning on each other more than they are comfortable with.  Will their stubborn nature tear them apart?  Or push them closer together? 

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About Nyrae Dawn

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn's passion. Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing. And yes, she's a total romantic at heart and proud.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she's not with her family, you can be pretty sure you'll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her. Nyrae also writes adult romance under the name Kelley Vitollo.

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Excerpt:

What gives me an ache in my chest is the fact that she has what I want. I haven’t cared enough about anything to feel jealous in a long-ass time, but that’s exactly what comes to mind when I look at her.

            “You coming to the party?” I ask her.

            “I’m here to see you.”

            She doesn’t give me a chance to reply as she pushes her way around me and inside. What I would give to kick her out of this room just because I can, but since I don’t really know if she’s giving me shit or if she came for the party, I hold back. It’s not like Trevor to let someone in here for no reason.

            Right on her heels, I follow her until she rounds the corner and pulls to a stop once she can see inside. Not having enough time to go around her, my body lines right up against hers, Bee’s nice little ass tucked right against me. On reflex I reach out, my hand grabbing her slender waist to make sure she doesn’t stumble forward. Damn it if that doesn’t bring up all sorts of thoughts about how it felt to strip her naked and touch her everywhere.

            “You have your hands on me.” There’s a sexy huskiness in her voice that tells me she’s turned on too. It should make me rip my hand away from her as fast as I can, but I’m so pissed at her about Masquerade that I can’t stop myself from being a dick.

            “If I remember correctly, you liked the feel of my hands on you. You were very enthusiastic about how much you liked it.”

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Rush by Nyrae Dawn

* * * * 

This new adult, male/male romance will capture the audience who fell in love with Nyrae Dawn's Games Trilogy.

For the love of the game.

Brandon Chase has always defined himself by one thing: football. Tough and athletic, he is a great college player who enjoys the hard hits and the sweaty grind of the gridiron. But when Brandon is injured, only one person can help him get back on track-a forbidden love he's desperately tried to put behind him. 

Alec Andrews has never quite forgiven Brandon for walking away when their friendship turned into something more. But he can't deny help to one of his closest friends. As the two spend the long, hot summer working together, their old attraction comes flooding back.

Now as Alec thinks about coming out to his conservative family and Brandon considers revealing he's a gay football player, the two men must be strong to fight for a love that could be the greatest rush of their lives. 

Review:

My love of m/m romance is no secret.  Considering how much I enjoyed Nyrae Dawn’s (and Jolene Perry’s) Out of Play I was pretty excited to see her put her superb romance writing abilities to a story about two young men.  I was NOT disappointed.  I found myself fortunate enough to meet Nyrae Dawn at the Romantic Times Convention this year and when I told her that this fan of m/m romance absolutely loved Brandon and Alec’s story, she admitted that it was her favorite book she has written so far.  I have to say that her love of these two characters is apparent in every page of this book.

Sadly, I have yet to review The Locker Room by Amy Lane for our blog - which is absolutely ridiculous since I’ve read it three times.   But, even though I haven’t reviewed it here yet, I have to compare it to Rush.  Because the world has changed significantly in the 3 years since The Locker Room was published.  The Locker Room is about two NBA stars that have been in love for years and go through ridiculous pain to hide their relationship because coming out would mean the end of their careers.  Since then we have seen professional athletes from so many major sports take a stand and come out to the world.  The most recent being Michael Sam who was drafted to the St. Louis Rams AFTER publicly coming out.

In light of how our world is changing (finally!), Rush was released at a perfect time.  Yes there is angst.  Yes, there is pain.  (Cheese and crackers!  What is wrong with me?  Why do I love so much angst?)  And yes, part of the story is about these two boys deciding if they can handle their reality of coming out.  But the story is mainly about Brandon’s insecurities.  And those insecurities mainly stem from his fear of disappointing his parents.  Football is the only thing he feels he is good at and his parents are the kind of parents that expect their kids to excel on the things they are good at.  If Brandon fails at football (which could happen if he came out), what will be left but his parents’ disappointment?

Then there is Alec.  Brandon and Alec have been best friends since they were teenagers and slowly fell in love.   Brandon allowed his insecurities and fears to get in the way and he broke off their romantic relationship (and in turn their friendship) before it could ever really get off the ground.  One and a half years later, an accident brings Alec to Brandon’s side.  Right at a time that Alec is beginning to seriously consider moving on and letting the world know who he is.   

But before long Alec and Brandon are spending a summer re-discovering what they gave up.  It’s a summer of discovery and change for both of them.  The final test being if they can handle the possible fall out of making their relationship known the rest of the world.   But maybe, just maybe, the fall out won’t be as bad as they are expecting.

Like I said, this was a great m/m romance.  If you enjoy an angsty read with the absolute promise of a happy ever after, I can’t recommend this enough.

Nat

Rush by Nyrae Dawn Launch Day Blitz and Giveaway

 
Today we are thrilled to be a part of the Launch Day Blitz for Nyrae Dawn's new sports romance Rush!

Rush by Nyrae Dawn (May 6, 2014; Forever Yours Digital Original; $4.99)

Brandon Chase has always defined himself by one thing: football.  Tough and thletic, he is a great college player who enjoys the hard hits and the sweaty grind of the gridiron.  But when Brandon is injured, only one person can help him get back on track - a forbidden love he's desperately tried to put behind him.

Alec Andrews has never quite forgiven Brandon for walking away when their friendship turned into something more.  But he can't deny help to one of his closest friends.  As the two spend the long, hot summer working together, their old attraction comes flooding back.

Now as Alec thinks about coming out to his conservative family and Brandson considers revealing he's a gay football player, the two men must be strong to fight for a love that could be the greatest rush of their lives.  

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About the author: 

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn's passion.  Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories.  She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing.  And yes, she's a total romantic at heart and proud.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she's not with her family, you can be pretty sure you'll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her.  Nyrae also writes adult romance under the name Kelley Vitollo.  

Website   Twitter   Facebook

Check out the excerpt here:

Brandon was the one who acted first on what we felt. He was the one who touched me first, and kissed me first and told me that he was falling for me. He'd been scared as hell but he'd done it. That piece of him seems to be lost now. 

As if he knows we're talking about him, Brand looks up, his eyes landing right on me. His hair is messy and even though he's not standing, I know his shorts are baggy enough that the top of his boxer-briefs sticks out, and that even though he's not in the same shape he was, his abs are so fucking nice.

He has the body of a running back—lithe, strong and fast.

He nods his head at me, a half-smirk tilting his lips. Right now, he looks like the Brandon I used to know. He holds up the ball and I know he's asking me if I want to play.




And if that's not enough to entice you, check out the Q & A with Nyrae here – we applaud the inclusion of Snow Patrol in the Rush Soundtrack! J

1. A la Twitter style, can you describe your book (or series) in 140 characters or less.
   A love story about two men who want nothing more than to love each other, and to figure out, and be okay with who they are. 
2. Tell us about your new book. It's a love story. It's probably more of a love story, rather than a romance, than anything I've ever written. It's about two people who are in love with each other when the book starts. All they've ever wanted is to love each other. They just have to find a way to do that, and to be okay with who they are. Alec and Brandon spent four summers together, in secret and now that they're older, they've been brought back together. This time, they can't walk away.
3. What's one characteristic that you like to give all your heroes?       Big-hearts. Some of my boys may be bad boys, but they all have big hearts. 
4. What would be the soundtrack to RUSH? This Years Love by David Gray, New York by Snow Patrol, Outlaws of Love by Adam Lambert, Please Forgive me by Bryan Adams, to name a few.
   
5. What's one book you read in the last 6 months that has left a lasting impression and why? The Vast Fields of Ordinary by Nick Burd. It was real, honest and gritty. Even though things didn't go exactly how I wanted, I understood why they didn't.
   

 
~Shel

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Forever Young Blog Tour

Happy Tuesday everyone! It's an especially happy day because not only are we featuring four fantastic authors, you also have the chance to participate in another great giveaway thanks to our friends at Forever Romance! 

So grab a warm beverage and get cozy.  Enjoy and good luck!

~ Shel, Bel & Nat

MASQUERADE by Nyrae Dawn (January 7, 2014; Forever E-Book; 9781455576333; $3.99)

A biker. A tattoo artist. A love to last a lifetime.  

Maddox Cross has always had to be tough. When his father went to jail for murder, the teenager took care of his sister and mother. Now on his own and working security at a night club, Maddox wants to become a tattoo artist-a dream that comes closer to reality when he falls for the hottest, most tatted woman he's ever seen. She's wild and beautiful, and Maddox will do anything to be with her.

Bee Malone came to town to open up her new tattoo parlor, Masquerade. Since being kidnapped as a young girl, Bee has had trouble getting close to anyone. But when she meets Maddox, she sees that under his hard biker's body is the sensitive soul of an artist. What starts out as a sizzling one-night stand soon becomes so much more.

Bee wants Maddox to join her tattoo business, but letting him into her life means revealing all her most intimate secrets. And as the past begins to intertwine with her present, Bee fears their love may not be as permanent as their ink . . .

Bio:

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn's passion. Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing. And yes, she's a total romantic at heart and proud.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she's not with her family, you can be pretty sure you'll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her. Nyrae also writes adult romance under the name Kelley Vitollo.

Visit Nyrae:

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Where you can buy her book:

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THE DESTINY OF VIOLET & LUKE by Jessica Sorensen (January 7, 2014; Forever E-Book; 9781455576524; $2.99)

Luke Price's life has always been about order, control, and acting tough on the outside. For Luke, meaningless relationships are a distraction-a way to tune out the twisted memories of his childhood. He desperately wishes he could forget his past, but it haunts him no matter what he does.

Violet Hayes has had a rough life. When she was young, she was left with no family and the memory of her parents' unsolved murders. She grew up in foster homes, living with irresponsible parents, drugs, and neglect, and trying to fight the painful memories of the night her parents were taken from her. But it's hard to forget when she never got closure-and she can't stop dreaming about what happened that tragic night. To make it through life, she keeps her distance from everyone and never allows herself to feel anything.

Then Violet meets Luke. The two clash instantly, yet they can't seem to stay away from each other. Although they fight it, they both start to open up and feel things they've never felt before. They discover just how similar they are. But they also discover something else: The past always catches up with you . . .

Bio: The New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Jessica Sorensen, lives with her husband and three kids. When she's not writing, she spends her time reading and hanging out with her family.

Visit Jessica:

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SONG OF THE FIREFLIES by J.A. Redmerski (February 4, 2014; Forever E-Book; 9781455555048; $3.99)

THE TRUTH WILL SET THEM FREE  

Brayelle Bates has always been a force of nature. Even as a child, Bray's wild and carefree spirit intimidated everyone around her. The only person who's ever truly understood her is her best friend, Elias Kline. Though every fiber of her being wants to stay with Elias forever, Bray can't bear the thought of him discovering her agonizing history. She's done everything she can to keep him at arm's length, including moving away. But their undying bond was too strong a pull to deny, and Bray couldn't survive without him. Now she's back home with Elias, and things have never felt more right-until one night changes everything.

Elias vowed never to be separated from Bray again. So when she decides to flee in a desperate attempt to escape her fate, Elias knows he must go with her. As the two try to make the most of their circumstance, taking up with a reckless group of new friends, Elias soon realizes there's a darkness driving Bray he can't ignore. Now in order to save her, he'll have to convince Bray to accept the consequences of their reality-even if it means losing her.

Bio:

J.A. Redmerski, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her three children, two cats and a Maltese. She is a lover of television and books that push boundaries and is a huge fan of AMC's The Walking Dead.

Visit J.A. Redmerski:

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UNDONE by Shannon Richard (February 25, 2014; Forever Mass Market; 9781455544691; $6.00)

Things Paige Morrison will never understand about Mirabelle, Florida:  

Why wearing red shoes makes a girl a harlot

Why a shop would ever sell something called "buck urine"

Why everywhere she goes, she runs into sexy-and infuriating-Brendan King

After losing her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, Paige has no choice but to leave Philadelphia and move in with her retired parents. For an artsy outsider like Paige, finding her place in the tightly knit town isn't easy-until she meets Brendan, the hot mechanic who's interested in much more than Paige's car. In no time at all, Brendan helps Paige find a new job, new friends, and a happiness she wasn't sure she'd ever feel again. With Brendan by her side, Paige finally feels like she can call Mirabelle home. But when a new bombshell drops, will the couple survive, or will their love come undone?

Bio:

Shannon Richard grew up in the Florida Panhandle as the baby sister of two overly protective but loving brothers. She was raised by a more than somewhat eccentric mother, a self-proclaimed vocabularist who showed her how to get lost in a book and a father who passed on his love for coffee and really loud music. She graduated from Florida State University with a BA in English Literature and still lives in Tallahassee where she battles everyday life with writing, reading, and a rant every once in a while. Okay, so the rants might happen on a regular basis. She's still waiting for her Southern, scruffy, Mr. Darcy, and in the meantime writes love stories to indulge her overactive imagination. Oh, and she's a pretty big fan of the whimsy.

Visit Shannon:

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Where you can buy her book:

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IndieBound

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Out of Play by Nyrae Dawn and Jolene Perry

* * * 1/2

Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn't have a drug problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—just need a little help taking the edge off sometimes. After downing a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.　

Hockey player Penny Jones can't imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers to all the best schools, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who'll take care of her absentminded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered to come home from work, let alone deal with their new tenants next door. 

Penny’s not interested in dealing with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps and begins to see what he’s been missing. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time.



Review:

The story starts out with a very anxious Bishop Riley (think Adam Wilde from Where She Went – that kind of extreme anxiousness) returning home after a concert only to be met by an on again/off again girlfriend and a party that he never planned.  He bypasses the party and heads for his bedroom where the lovely girlfriend hands him some booze and a bottle of pills.  Bishop loses all sense of reality and proceeds to down the bottle of pills like candy.  Next thing he knows, he is in the hospital and his band manager is making plans for him to detox in Alaska.  

Penny is am accomplished hockey player with college offers pouring in from all over the country.  The problem is that she doesn’t want to leave home.  She wants to go to school in Alaska where she can keep an eye on her mentally ailing grandfather and where she can play hockey on the men’s team.

It is not instant chemistry when Bishop and Penny meet.  Sure, they are attracted to one another but Bishop acts like a bit of a jerk and Penny isn’t one to put up with his crap.  Through alternating views we see first hand Bishop’s struggle to realize he truly does have a problem while also witnessing Penny’s attempt to juggle her grandfather’s deteriorating health, training for state championships and a transfer of affections that she never anticipated.

We always learn things about ourselves when we read books.  While reading Out of Play, I learned that I have a real aversion to stories about addiction.  Too much of that has touched people that are close to me so reading about it makes me a little nauseous.  But nausea or not I can’t deny that that this was a very good story.   Bishop’s actions as an addict were spot on.  I particularly appreciated how we are shown his continuous denials that he has a problem and how after admitting he has a problem it isn’t all puppies and rainbows.   It was very realistic in that aspect.  I also loved Penny’s character.  She’s tough.  Emotionally and physically.  Not to say she can’t be hurt.  She can and she does.  But she shoulders a lot of crap in this story and continues to be the spunky “Lucky Penny” that her family and friends love so much.

When Bishop and Penny do finally come together it is both sexy and bittersweet.  Sexy because – well – come one!?!  Hot drummer and gorgeous hockey player?  What isn’t sexy about that?  But it’s bittersweet because even as these two are admitting their feelings for each other, Bishop is still keeping his secrets about who he is and why he is in Alaska.  What happens when the s*#$ hits the fan?  Well I can’t tell you that because I want you to go out and grab this book and find out for yourself.  Even though I had some personal issues with the subject matter, I still enjoyed it immensely and believe you will too.


Nat

A Peek in the Biblio-Bin (33)

Welcome to our Stacking the Shelves post! Stacking the Shelves (or as we like to call it, A Peek in the Biblio-Bin) has been created by the lovely ladies at Tynga Reviews.

Stacking the Shelves is a way for bloggers to share what books they have won, received for review, bought from the bookstore, borrowed from the library or friend, etc.

This is what we have in our bin this week. Tell us what's in your Biblio-bin!

For Review

Fifty Shames of Earl Grey by Fanny Merkin (aka Andrew Shaffer)
They City's Son by Tom Pollock


Bought/Borrowed

What a Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn
The Misfits by James Howe