The Remaking of Corbin Wale by Roan Parrish - Blog Tour

About The Remaking of Corbin Wale

Last month, Alex Barrow’s whole life imploded—partner, home, job, all gone in forty-eight hours. But sometimes when everything falls apart, better things appear almost like magic. Now, he’s back in his Michigan hometown, finally opening the bakery he’s always dreamed of. But the pleasure of opening day is nothing compared to the lonely and beautiful man who bewitches Alex before he even orders.

Corbin Wale is a weirdo. At least, that’s what he’s heard his whole life. He knows he’s often in a fantasy world, but the things he feels are very real. And so is the reason why he can never, ever be with Alex Barrow. Even if Alex is everything he’s always fantasized about. Even if maybe, just maybe, Corbin is Alex’s fantasy too.

When Corbin begins working at the bakery, he and Alex can’t deny their connection any longer. As the holiday season works its magic, Alex yearns for the man who seems out of reach. But to be with Alex, Corbin will have to challenge every truth he’s ever known. If his holiday risk pays off, two men from different worlds will get the love they’ve always longed for.

Available now from Riptide Publishing!

About the 2017 Holiday Charity Collection

20% of all proceeds from this title will be donated to the Russian LGBT Network.

Each year, Riptide Publishing releases a holiday collection in support of an LGBTQ charity. Twenty percent of the proceeds from this year’s collection will be donated to the Russian LGBT Network.

The Russian LGBT network was founded in April 2006. It is an interregional, non-governmental human rights organization that promotes equal rights and respect for human dignity, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity. They unite and develop regional initiatives, advocacy groups (at both national and international levels), and provide social and legal services.

To learn more about this charity or to donate directly, please visit their website: https://lgbtnet.org/en.

This collection would not be possible without the talent and generosity of its authors, who have brought us the following holiday stories:

• Cecilia Tan, Watch Point
• Roan Parrish, The Remaking of Corbin Wale
• Katie Porter, Came Upon a Midnight Clear

Buy all three in the collection and save!f

About Roan Parrish

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.

Connect with Roan:

Website Newsletter FB group Twitter Instagram Bookbub Amazon Goodreads

Review

Otherworldly.

Intense.

Magical.

Consuming.

That’s all I’m capable of right now because I’m having a hard time putting my feelings about this book into coherent sentences. 

Otherworldly…Corbin is so fey-like in both looks and demeanor that there is no other way to describe him.  He’s eerily beautiful.  And his complete oneness with nature is mesmerizing.  He made me want to disappear into the woods and never come back.

Intense…Alex’s instant attraction to Corbin (but not instant love which made this book even more beautiful) is like a punch in the gut. And Corbin’s single minded attention to Alex was overwhelming and had me holding my breath more than once.  Particularly since Corbin’s attention isn’t easily.

Magical…Just that.  Magical.  If I say more I’ll give away too much.

Consuming….Alex and Corbin’s attraction and growing love is full of so much energy that there is no middle ground.  Neither one of these men do anything halfway.

I’m still reeling from this amazing holiday book.  The way the celebration of Chanukah helps Corbin realize the possibilities in life was absolutely beautiful.  And the (I think) promise of a future story featuring two secondary characters in the book has me hopeful.  Hopefully I’ll have time to emotionally recover from The Remaking of Corbin Whale before my next holiday read.

Seriously, though.  Buy this book.  What an excellent and beautiful addition to your holiday romance collection.

Nat

Bad Boy's Bard by E.J. Russell

***

From Riptide Publishing:

As far as rock star Gareth Kendrick, the last true bard in Faerie, is concerned, the only good Unseelie is . . . well . . . there’s no such thing. Two centuries ago, an Unseelie lord abducted Gareth’s human lover, Niall, and Gareth has neither forgotten nor forgiven.

Niall O’Tierney, half-human son of the Unseelie King, had never lost a wager until the day he swore to rid the Seelie court of its bard. That bet cost him everything: his freedom, his family—and his heart. When he’s suddenly face-to-face with Gareth at the ceremony to join the Seelie and Unseelie realms, Niall does the only thing inhumanly possible: he fakes amnesia. Not his finest hour, perhaps, but he never revealed his Unseelie heritage, and to tell the truth now would be to risk Gareth’s revulsion—far harder to bear than two hundred years of imprisonment.

Then a new threat to Gareth’s life arises, and he and Niall stage a mad escape into the Outer World, only to discover the fate of all fae resting on their shoulders. But before they can save the realm, they have to tackle something really tough: mending their own broken relationship.

Source: An electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.  

The Bad:  

Bard is my least favorite book of this series.  Because I think Gareth is the least likeable of the Kendrick brothers.  He's a sanctimonous, racist, prick.  He's a complete ass to his brothers, his Queen, and his brothers' significant others.  Really, he's an ass to everyone.  Granted, he has spent the last two hundred years mourning the loss of his lover and blaming himself for Niall's kidnapping and what he imagines happened to Niall after being kidnapped (rape and torture being chief among them), but he really channels those feelings all the wrong ways.  Even once he learns Niall is alive, he's still a jerk to Bryce and David.  

The Good:

Bard brings everything from Cutie and the Beast and The Druid Next Door and stitches them all together to weave a great story that, in the end, has little to do with Gareth and Niall.  The Seelie Queen and the Unseelie King agree to marry and perform a unification spell to unite all of fairy, and save them all.  During the ceremony, Gareth sees Niall for the first time and believing Niall to be human, takes off to get him out of fairy before the ceremony kills Niall.  Only Niall is not human, he's an Unseelie Prince.  When he sees someone threaten Gareth, he agrees to run away with the Bard, pretending not to remember who Gareth is and their history.  

Leaving fairy before the ceremony completes has consequences neither man stopped to consider - they really are very short-sighted and selfish beings.  Unfortunately, their actions may destroy all of fairy, which would in turn destroy the human world.  With Alun and Mal trapped in fairy, Bryce and David are freaked and more than a little pissed at Gareth for causing the problems.  As they all try to figure out how to move forward, Niall's secrets come out.  And then all hell breaks loose.  In the end, they must all work together to save the world and stop those who seek to control it.  

The Bottom Line:

I'll say it again, this series is a sweet, sexy, supernatural thrill ride.  Gareth and Niall are my least favorite of the couples, but David and Bryce play large roles in the story, so it helped me get over that.  I don't feel like Gareth ever really redeems himself, but that's just me.  If you like supernatural adventures, you will love the Fae Out of Water Series.  

~ Shel

The Druid Next Door by E.J. Russell

***1/2

From Riptide:

Professor Bryce MacLeod has devoted his entire life to environmentalism. But how effective can he be in saving the planet when he can’t even get his surly neighbor to separate his recycling?

Former Queen’s Enforcer Mal Kendrick doesn’t think his life could get any worse: he’s been exiled from Faerie with a cursed and useless right hand. When he’s not dodging random fae assassins in the Outer World, he’s going toe-to-toe with his tree-hugging neighbor. And when he discovers that the tree hugger is really a druid, he’s certain the gods have it in for him—after all, there’s always a catch with druids. Then he’s magically shackled to the man and expected to instruct him in Supernatural 101.

All right, now things couldn’t possibly get worse.

Until a mysterious stranger offers a drunken Mal the chance to gain back all he’s lost—for a price. After Mal accepts, he discovers the real catch: an ancient secret that will change his and Bryce’s life forever.

Ah, what the hells. Odds are they won’t survive the week anyway.

Source:  An electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.  

The Bad:  

I don't love Mal and Bryce as much as I loved David and Alun from Book 1, Cutie and the Beast.  I mean, I like Mal and Bryce, but I LOVE David and Alun.  Especially David.  

The Good:

David, Alun, and Gareth all make appearances in Druid.  This makes me so very happy!  

I'm a big paranormal fan, so I love the supernatural elements to this series.  A world where the fae, shifters, druids, etc. all exist and are just as messed up as the rest of us.  

Someone recently asked me for recommendations on a sweet read and this and Cutie were among the first books to come to mind.  This entire series should come with a sweetness warning.  And while the stories are sweet, there are also elements of prejudice and racism faced by the couples.  In Druid, Bryce has no idea he's a powerful Druid until Mal tells him and sics David and his grandmother on him.  But fae hate druids.  And many fae won't take kindly to a fae dating a druid.  More importantly there's an old legend that a druid can make a fae a slave through mind control.  

Mal as a middle child, Mal has always felt invisible and just picking up the scraps from his older brother, who is the Queen's enforcer (a job Mal took over when Alun was banished), and his younger brother, who is the last true bard.  Mal likes how Bryce makes him feel special and let's him relinquish control.  Bryce is horrified that he sometimes feels tempted to control Mal, but knows he never actually would, especially as his feelings grow deeper.

So Mal and Bryce are trying to figure out who they are separately, and together, all while Mal ropes Bryce into helping him complete quests in order to end his curse.  What they get in to is much bigger than Mal's curse and could be deadly to, not just them, but all of the fae.    

Bottom Line:  Read this series.  Start with Cutie and the Beast.  Next is The Druid Next Door.  And then Bad Boy's Bard.  You won't be sorry.  It's sweet romance, paranormal fun, and throw in some mystery to complete the recipe for a thorougly enjoyable read!  

~ Shel  

House of Cards by Garrett Leigh

****

Calum Hardy’s life has unravelled. Reeling from the betrayal of a man he once loved, he boards a train heading south, with no real idea where he’s going except a world away from London.

Brix Lusmoore can hardly believe his eyes when he spots one of his oldest friends outside Truro station. He hasn’t seen Calum since he fled the capital himself four years ago, harbouring a life-changing secret. But despite the years of silence, their old bond remains, warm and true—and layered with simmering heat they’ve never forgotten.

Calum takes refuge with Brix and a job at his Porthkennack tattoo shop. Bit by bit, he rebuilds his life, but both men carry the ghosts of the past, and it will take more than a rekindled friendship and the magic of the Cornish coast to chase them away.

Source:  An advance electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Bad:

The book ended.  

The Good:

Porthennack is whack.  Seriously, this is one messed up town and I totally want to go there.  The people are just... crazy, in all the best ways.  Brix's family.  Oh my god.  Just.  Yeah, hilarious.  Brix himself is awesome.  He's sensitive, intelligent, funny...  He rescues chickens and protects his crazy criminal relatives, and takes in broken friends.  Which is fitting because Brix's pretty broken himself.  

Calum is definitely lost and broken and escaping a terrible relationship.  Once he starts getting back to himself he's also sweet and funny.  He finds himself falling for Brix, but Brix keeps a distance between them and he doesn't trust himself anyway.  

When these two finally take the leap to be together it's beautiful  They find love and hope for the future neither really thought was possible.  House of Cards is my first Garrett Leigh book, but it definitely won't be my last.  

~ Shel

Five Dares by Eli Easton

****

Andy Tyler has been the class daredevil since middle school. Over the years, he’s convinced his best friend, Jake Masterson, to perform some dangerous-looking stunts with him. But the dare they attempt on the night of their college graduation goes sideways. The firecrackers explode too soon and both of them end up with badly burned palms.

But hey, nothing gets the “terrible duo” down for long, and they recuperate in style at Andy’s family cottage in Nantucket. As the weeks go by, both Andy and Jake grow frustrated over the inability to use their hands for all sorts of daily activities—including getting off. So Andy begins a new series of dares that don’t just cross the friendship line, they obliterate it.

But what might be mere sexual relief to Andy is serious business to Jake, who only recently got over years of secret pining for his straight best friend. Inevitably, the burns heal, summer ends, and hearts are broken. To fix things, Andy will have to face the greatest dare of all.


Source:  An advance electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.  

Five Dates is a story of BFFs that are graduating from college and trying to figure out the rest of their lives.  Andy is the daredevil and Jake, his sidekick.  Andy convinces Jake to do a stunt at their graduation party with fireworks that leaves them both with terrible burns on their hands.  They spend their last summer recupperating and falling in love, but Andy feels like he has to live up to his father's expectations and Jake knows he has to move on.

Andy is an idiot who has always been in love with Jake, but didn't realize it was love he was feeling.  Jake's always known he was in love with Andy, but Andy's straight, so he swallowed his feelings.  

Five Dares is sweet, sappy, and funny.  I really love this book.  It's in my top two Eli Easton books (with Mr. Miggles.  If you haven't read Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles, go get it now!).  I hope you love these guys as much as I did.  Five Dares is now on my comfort read list - it's just that lovely.

~ Shel

Chief's Mess by L.A. Witt

***

From Riptide:

Anthony Talbot is in Anchor Point to visit family, but after two days of strife, he needs a break. A local gay bar is calling his name.

When Chief Noah Jackson sees that red head stroll into the club, he immediately wants him. They’re perfectly matched, and before long, they’re burning up the sheets. Noah can’t get enough. Anthony can’t stay in Oregon for long, but as soon as he leaves, he’s counting down the days until he can fly back for more. And between his increasingly frequent visits, there’s always phone sex, sexting, webcams . . . anything they can get.

But Noah’s got a carefully crafted façade, and Anthony can’t help noticing the slowly forming cracks. The scent of alcohol in the middle of the day. The extra drinks at dinner. The hint of red in his eyes. Anthony knows what it means. He doesn’t want to believe it, but he’s seen this before, and there’s no denying it. If Noah doesn’t get his downward spiral under control, he’s going to lose both his career and the first man he’s ever really loved.

Source:  Advance electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.  

When the story starts, you think Anthony is going to be the one to bring the angst, but once he gets over his anger at Clint (yes!  You get to visit with Clint and Travis from Afraid to Fly!), it's Noah and his addiction that makes you feel all the feelings - the whole emotional spectrum.  

L.A. Witt writes amazing stories of addicts and recovery.  They are often difficult to read, but amazing stories.  In Afraid to Fly, Witt dealt with Clint's recovery as an alcoholic, in Chief's Mess, she writes Noah's life as a functioning alcoholic and his path to acknowledging his problem and seeking help.  Despite Anthony's problems with Clint, he goes to Clint for help and advice on how to help Noah.  It's touch and go for a while, but I promise, you will be smiling by the end of the book.  

Don't worry, you only have to wait until September for Book 4, Rank & File!  

~Shel

Making It by Christine d'Abo

****

From Riptide:

Devan knows exactly what he wants from life: a good career, a husband who loves him, and a child to call his own. He’s working at the perfect job, and has found the man of his dreams in Eli. That only leaves one box left to tick. When his friend offers to be a surrogate mother for Devan and Eli, he’s convinced all his dreams have come true.

Eli has been fighting his entire life. Fighting to keep his sick mother safe, fighting his frustration, and fighting daily as an up-and-coming MMA star. The one thing he can’t fight is the feeling that he’s made a terrible mistake agreeing to be a father with Devan. On the worst night of their lives, Eli knows Devan is better off without him, and leaves.

When Eli returns three years later, he comes face-to-face with Devan and a son who might be his. Devan has moved on with his life, but seeing Eli once again reignites forgotten passion. Yet if Eli wants to make it work with Devan, he must decide if he’s ready for the biggest fight of his life.

Source:  Advance electronic copy in exchange for an honest review.

Eli's a messed up dude.  His past has completely wrecked him, leaving him no ability to deal with emotions.  Couple that with living deep in the closet as an MMA fighter and he is just a mess.  Devan's actually got his life together, but sometimes ignores what others want or need when he's focused on his goals.  When Eli leaves him without warning, he's devastated.  When Eli suddenly comes back to town, he's conflicted.  

Devan has to figure out if he can move on from the past and Eli has to figure out what he's willing to do for love and family.  Making It has d'Abo's signature smoking hot sex, a sexy fighter, and a baby!  What more could you ask for?

Making It is the third in the Ringside Romance series, each featuring a different friend - Zack, Max, and Eli grew up together training at Ringside.  Now they are re-opening Ringside and finding love.  Book 1, Working It, is my favorite of the series, but all three are well worth the read.  

~Shel

Making It by Christine d'Abo Blog Tour

We are so thrilled to have Christine d'Abo here celebrating the release of her third Ringside Romance book, Making It!  This series is serious fun.  Don't forget to enter the giveaway!

Hello, my name is Christine d’Abo and I’m so happy to be here today.

When I initially came up with the idea for the Ringside Romance series, I wanted to try and hit as many of the traditional romance tropes as possible. This was as much of a personal challenge as it was my desire to see more of these tropes appearing in LGBTQ romance.

So when I thought, hey, why not do a secret baby book, I got both giddy and terrified. How was I going to pull this off without it coming across as too unrealistic? Because a same sex couple needs to plan for a baby, right? Exactly!

I decided that in order for Devan and Eli’s story to work, this also needed to be a reunion romance. A couple that loved one another once, but due to circumstances, parted ways. With hearts broken, these two men had to find their way back to one another, had to deal with their past problems, while making room for a baby in their future.

Can they do it? Well, this is a romance…

The real question is, what will they have to sacrifice for their happily ever after?

I hope you enjoy the book and the trailer that I made!

[Trailer:  https://youtu.be/VXJKbHwL7co]

About Making It

Devan knows exactly what he wants from life: a good career, a husband who loves him, and a child to call his own. He’s working at the perfect job, and has found the man of his dreams in Eli. That only leaves one box left to tick. When his friend offers to be a surrogate mother for Devan and Eli, he’s convinced all his dreams have come true.

Eli has been fighting his entire life. Fighting to keep his sick mother safe, fighting his frustration, and fighting daily as an up-and-coming MMA star. The one thing he can’t fight is the feeling that he’s made a terrible mistake agreeing to be a father with Devan. On the worst night of their lives, Eli knows Devan is better off without him, and leaves.

When Eli returns three years later, he comes face-to-face with Devan and a son who might be his. Devan has moved on with his life, but seeing Eli once again reignites forgotten passion. Yet if Eli wants to make it work with Devan, he must decide if he’s ready for the biggest fight of his life.

Available now at Riptide Publishing. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/making-it

About the Ringside Romance Universe

Deep in the heart of Toronto lies Ringside Gym. Once a safe haven for troubled teens, Ringside has gone derelict, a forgotten memory of past days. Until a group of friends set out to do what they can to bring life back to the ring and create a new home for LGBT youths.

But when their lives threaten to pull down their dreams, each man must turn to others to help make it a reality. Winners take all—but there are no losers in love.

Check out Ringside Romance! http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/universe/ringside-romance

About Christine d’Abo

A romance novelist and short story writer, Christine has over thirty publications to her name. She loves to exercise and stops writing just long enough to keep her body in motion too. When she’s not pretending to be a ninja in her basement, she’s most likely spending time with her family and two dogs.

You can visit Christine at her website www.christinedabo.com, and chat with her on Facebook and Twitter. Want to keep up with Christine’s new releases? Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free book!

• Website: christinedabo.com
• Blog: christinedabo.blogspot.ca
• Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorChristinedAbo
• Twitter: @Christine_dAbo
• Tumblr: christinedabo.tumblr.com
• Pintrest: pintrest.com/christinedabo
• Goodreads: goodreads.com/christine_d_abo

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Making It, one lucky winner will receive a $25 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on August 12, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Cutie and the Beast by E.J. Russell

***1/2

From Riptide:

Temp worker David Evans has been dreaming of Dr. Alun Kendrick ever since that one transcription job for him, because holy cats, that voice. Swoon. So when his agency offers him a position as Dr. Kendrick’s temporary office manager, David neglects to mention that he’s been permanently banished from offices. Because, forgiveness? Way easier than permission.

Alun Kendrick, former Queen’s Champion of Faerie’s Seelie Court, takes his job as a psychologist for Portland’s supernatural population extremely seriously. Secrecy is paramount: no non-supe can know of their existence. So when a gods-bedamned human shows up to replace his office manager, he intends to send the man packing. It shouldn’t be difficult—in the two hundred years since he was cursed, no human has ever failed to run screaming from his hideous face.

But cheeky David isn’t intimidated, and despite himself, Alun is drawn to David in a way that can only spell disaster: when fae consort with humans, it never ends well. And if the human has secrets of his own? The disaster might be greater than either of them could ever imagine.

Source:  Electronic advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book is hella cute.  It's sweet and lovely.  Perfect for your end of summer enjoyment.  

Incidents, riots, and other mysterious happenings follow David, so he's been banned from working in offices and does medical transcription from home to support himself and the Aunt who took him in after his parents died.  When he gets the call to work with Alun, he's thrilled.  Alun is not so thrilled to have David working for him, but David is stubborn to the core.  Which is exactly what makes this story so fun - Alun doesn't really stand a chance.  😉

Cutie is a fun take the paranormal, with fairies, druids, shifters, and dragons, living unknown to the humans.  It's a fascinating world that I can't wait to explore further!  Book 2, The Druid Next Door releases August 21, 2017.  Check out the series info here.  

~ Shel

Afraid to Fly by L.A. Witt

***

Once a fearless fighter pilot, Commander Travis Wilson is now confined to a desk. It’s been eight years since the near-fatal crash that grounded him, and it still rules his life thanks to relentless back pain.

Lieutenant Commander Clint Fraser almost drowned in a bottle after a highly classified catastrophe while piloting a drone. His downward spiral cost him his marriage and kids, but he’s sober now and getting his life back on track. He’s traded drones for a desk, and he’s determined to reconcile with his kids and navigate the choppy waters of PTSD.

Clint has been on Travis’s radar ever since he transferred to Anchor Point. When Clint comes out to his colleagues, it’s a disaster, but there’s a silver lining: now that Travis knows Clint is into men, the chemistry between them explodes.

It’s all fun and games until emotions get involved. Clint’s never been in love with a man before. Travis has, and a decade later, that tragic ending still haunts him. Clint needs to coax him past his fear of crashing and burning again, or their love will be grounded before takeoff.

Source:  Advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

Clint and Travis have each been through a lot.  Both are struggling.  Struggling through each day to make it to the next.  When each finds out the other bi-sexual their appreciation for the other turns into something more.  But neither really thinks the relationship can be more than sex given their respective issues. 

What Afraid to Fly really comes down to is two messed up guys who struggle a little less together, but who are afraid to make the leap, and end up getting in their own way.  This one has a lot of angst and feels y'all, so read at your own risk.  If you dig the angsty feels, you will love Clint and Travis.

~ Shel