Hey peeps, today we have Toni Griffin popping in with her newest re-release Forbidden Mate from the Holland Brothers series, Toni chats briefly about finding a new home for the series and lets us have a peek at an excerpt from this extended re-release. We also have that all important giveaway where there’s three prizes on offer and we have Lisa’s review you can enjoy, so enjoy and good luck <3 ~Pixie~
Forbidden Mate
(Holland Brothers 04)
by
Toni Griffin
Finding his mate should have been Patrick Holland’s greatest day, instead it turned into a nightmare with one phone call. His mate didn’t want him. His heart broke, but at sixteen he was too young to do anything. The next ten years—ten long years— of Patrick’s life are spent at odds with his mate. Split by forces he can’t comprehend and a long line of misunderstandings, Patrick doubts he’ll ever get the man he’s both loved and hated.
Jake Richmond never expected to come home from Uni to find the youngest Holland brother was his mate. Knowing the news might uplift his still grieving father, Jake shares the news only to have his young mate threatened. Jake does the only thing he can think of, protect Patrick. The next ten years are nothing but torture for Jake as he watches his mate grow into a remarkable young man.
They say time heals all wounds, but how much time?
Mischief Corner Books – Forbidden Mate
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Excerpt
Jake got in his car and drove to the pack running grounds. He had excess energy to burn, and his wolf was demanding to be let out. His was the only car in the car park as he pulled up and got out. Jake stripped where he was, as there was no one else around, and walked into the bush. He shifted, then ran. Several hours later, his thoughts were still stuck on the fact that Patrick Holland was his mate, his very young and inexperienced mate.
The idea of being Patrick’s only lover brought forth a howl of possessiveness. He loved the fact that no other man would ever get the opportunity to touch his mate. Now that he knew exactly who Patrick was to him, it was going to kill Jake not to be near him. Jake had to talk to his father and let him know he’d found his mate, even if he couldn’t claim Patrick yet.
Exhausted after his run, Jake took his time making his way back to his dad’s house.
His mum had died several years before, which had just left Jake and his dad. Jake had never been especially close to his dad, his mum being the one that had held the family together. His parents had been a mated pair. Jake knew his father had loved his mother deeply, they had been very happy together.
Jake unlocked the door and made his way through the house to his old room. He didn’t see the point of having his own place when he was only here for a couple of weeks. He was thankful now that he was staying with his father, even if they didn’t get along great, because if he had his own space, the temptation to have Patrick with him would be great.
He stripped his clothes once again and headed for the bathroom. Jake stopped to look in the mirror. He knew it was silly, but if Patrick liked him with stubble, then he would keep it. He would have to buy a shaver to keep it to the length he wanted as he didn’t want to be sporting a full beard. That look wouldn’t suit him at all, he didn’t think.
Turning the water on to heat up, Jake palmed his still hard cock and watched as a bead of precum appeared at the tip. Jake stepped into the water and hissed as the hard spray hit his aching shaft. Now he could finally do something about it.
He grabbed the conditioner from the shelf and squirted a generous amount in his hand, then wrapped his fist around his dick and squeezed hard. Jake moaned as lightning bolts of arousal shot through his body. His thoughts were firmly back on Patrick wrapped around his body as their mouths met in a spine-melting kiss.
Jake increased his speed, knowing he wouldn’t last long. He had been on edge for hours. Remembering the feeling of Patrick’s hard shaft rubbing against his own sent Jake careening over the edge. His mate’s name escaped his lips at the exact moment of ecstasy as his prick erupted with streams of cum. Jake placed his palm against the wall as he attempted to keep his legs from buckling beneath him as the last shudders of his orgasm left his body.
Once Jake was sure he could stand without his legs giving way, he quickly washed his body and stepped out of the shower. He dried himself, then made his way back to his room. Jake collapsed facedown on his bed and succumbed to the exhaustion that swept through his body.
Jake startled awake several hours later as the front door slammed shut. His dad was home, and it didn’t sound like he was in a good mood. Every time Jake came home from school, his father had more and more mood swings. Jake wondered how his father would take the news that he had a male mate.
He hoped the news would bring his father some joy; after all, the man knew exactly what it was like to be mated. It might be a bit of a shock who Jake’s mate was, however, Alex had come out several years ago and his dad had told him to each his own. This gave Jake hope his father would be fine with his own sexuality. He had never really thought about coming out himself as Jake enjoyed a well-rounded sex life.
Patrick had agreed not to mention their mating to anyone, but Jake wanted to ask his father to keep an eye on his mate until he could finish uni and get back here permanently.
Jake dressed in silence and made his way down the hall, looking for his dad.
He found him in the living room sitting in his favourite chair watching the news. “Hey, Dad, bad day at the office?”
“Yeah, you could say that. Pizza for dinner okay?” Arthur Richmond was a large man, with thick black hair and wide shoulders. He had sharp cheekbones, and his five o’clock shadow was as dark as the hair on his head. He was also one of the more powerful wolves in their pack.
“That’s fine, you want me to order?” Jake took the nod as assent and went to get the phone. He placed their order for pizza and then joined his father. He wanted to give his dad time to relax, so Jake decided to wait until after they’d eaten to bring up his new discovery.
Jake watched the television with his dad until the doorbell rang. He paid for their dinner, grabbed a couple of plates and went back to the living room. They ate in silence until the entire pizza was gone.
Once Jake was sure his dad had relaxed enough, he gathered his courage and turned to face his father. “Dad, can we talk?”
His father muted the television before he adjusted his position in his seat to face Jake. They were catty-corner to each other with Jake sitting on the couch. “How’s school going?” About the only thing his father was proud of Jake for was becoming a lawyer.
“Fine, Dad, school’s good. It’s a lot of information to take in, but I’m doing well.” Jake looked his father in the eye. “That’s not what I want to talk to you about, though.” He really hoped this went well. Jake wanted to be able to ask his father to keep an eye on Patrick when he had to go back to classes.
His dad looked a little shocked, but his expression still showed love and acceptance of whatever Jake wanted to talk about. “Okay, then, what is it?”
Jake sucked in a deep breath, then let it out. It was like ripping off a Band-Aid. “I found my mate.” Okay, so maybe not quite like ripping off a Band-Aid.
His dad’s expression showed nothing but joy. “That’s great! Where is she? Why didn’t you bring her home with you?” He was looking around as if he expected someone else to walk out from around a corner.
Jake winced at his dad’s assumption about the sex of his mate. “It’s a little more complicated than that, Dad.”
“What’s complicated? You claim her and bring her home to meet me.”
“Dad, my mate is Patrick Holland, and he’s only sixteen. That’s why it’s complicated.” Jake watched as the love and joy on his father’s face changed instantly to anger and hatred. Jake was startled at his father’s expression.
“Dad?” he queried when his father had failed to say anything for a minute or two.
“Your mate is who?” his dad screamed at him. Jake sat there shocked, not only at the sudden burst of sound in the quiet room, but also the vehemence he heard in his dad’s voice, a sound he’d never thought to hear from the man who had raised him.
“Patrick Holland, the Alpha’s youngest son.” Jake hoped that the mention of their Alpha might calm his father down, but he was mistaken.
Arthur Richmond seemed to get even angrier. “I forbid you to claim him!” his father roared as he leapt to his feet.
Shock coursed through Jake’s body as he jerked back quickly. God, he hoped he had misunderstood what his father had said. “Dad, Patrick’s only sixteen. I’ve already told him I won’t claim him, at least until after I finish school.”
All Jake’s hopes died when his father’s next words registered. “I don’t care how old the kid is,” his father answered, practically biting off each word through clenched teeth. “You. Are. Not. Going. To. Claim. Him! I. Forbid. It.”
Toni chats with MM Good Book Reviews
Finding a new home for HB & experience with new publishing family.
Thanks for having me today. As many of you are aware I’ve been slowly rereleasing my Holland Brothers series. Forbidden Mate marks the fourth book with only A Very Holland Christmas to go.
When things started to go south with my previous publisher, Silver Publishing, I tried to hang in there as long as I could in the hope they could turn things around. I know, pretty naïve, but sometimes hope is all we have. They owed me a great deal in royalties and I hoped I would eventually get to see them. When it became obvious that wasn’t going to happen, I pulled my books as soon as their contracts were up, and started the fight for the remainder of my works. This meant I was able to get all four of my Holland Brothers books back with very little fuss. I cannot tell you how relieved I was to get the rights back to these works. As much as I hated having them off the shelves I knew it was for the best.
When it came time to shop them out to a new publisher, I had already had discussions with some friends of mine about expanding the stories and filling in a few of the plot holes, I had left as a newbie author. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine that I would be expanding the stories by as much as I did. Unexpected Mate grew by 17K, Determined Mate by 19K, Protective Mate by 25K and Forbidden Mate by a massive 50K.
I needed a publisher that would be willing to work with me and the challenge I had set for myself. With all that in mind, it was an easy choice for me in publishing houses.
Mischief Corner Books is a small publishing house run by a collective of authors, and that gives them a great insight into what’s required to succeed. They have recently opened their doors to general submissions for LGBTQ short stories in their MCB Quarterly, and I hope to see big things for them in the future.
In addition to my Holland Brothers, I’ve participated in four MCB anthologies, rereleased a Christmas story, and will shortly be releasing my Atherton Pack series with them as well. I wanted to keep my wolves together and MCB supported me through this process and continues to do so. They’re also rereleasing other Silver Publishing refugee works. I love the fact these books have been given a new home, when it can be difficult to place previously published works and the authors know we’ll get paid this time.
Freddy Mackay is the resident cover designer and she’s made me some beautiful covers for my works, as well as other authors from MCB, and I look forward to seeing what she creates for me next. As a result of participating in the anthologies, I’ve managed to start three new series. Smokey Mountain Bears (my only series set outside Australia), Hounds of Hell & The Borillian Twist (my most recent and only Sci-Fi series). I can’t wait to see what all three series along with my Atherton Pack and Holland Brothers has in store in the future.
As harrowing as it is when a publisher you’ve put your faith and livelihood in the hands of betrays you, it’s nice to see there are still good, honest publishers out there, who care about their authors.
Thanks again for having me, it’s been a pleasure.
About Toni
Toni Griffin lives in Darwin, the smallest of Australia’s capital cities. Born and raised in the state, she’s a Territorian through and through. Growing up Toni hated English with a passion (as her editors can probably attest to) and found her strength lies with numbers.
Now, though, she loves escaping to the worlds she creates and hopes to continue to do so for many years to come. She’s a single mother of one and works full time. When she’s not writing you can just about guarantee that she will be reading one of the many MM authors she loves.
Feel free to drop her a line at info@tonigriffin.net anytime.
Author Links: info@tonigriffin.net
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/toni.griffin.author
Giveaway!
1 winner E-copy of Forbidden Mate, 2 winners $10 Amazon Gift Cards
Toni Griffin Rafflecopter giveaway!
(Ends 15th July 2014)
Review
Title: Forbidden Mate
Series: Holland Brothers 04
Author: Toni Griffin
Genre: Gay Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Werewolves, Shape-shifters
Length: Novel (212 Pages)
ISNB: 9781310750878
Publisher: Mischief Books (July 5, 2014)
Heat: Low
Heart: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: Finding his mate should have been Patrick Holland’s greatest day, instead it turned into a nightmare with one phone call. His mate didn’t want him. His heart broke, but at sixteen he was too young to do anything. The next ten years—ten long years— of Patrick’s life are spent at odds with his mate. Split by forces he can’t comprehend and a long line of misunderstandings, Patrick doubts he’ll ever get the man he’s both loved and hated.
Jake Richmond never expected to come home from Uni to find the youngest Holland brother was his mate. Knowing the news might uplift his still grieving father, Jake shares the news only to have his young mate threatened. Jake does the only thing he can think of, protect Patrick. The next ten years are nothing but torture for Jake as he watches his mate grow into a remarkable young man.
They say time heals all wounds, but how much time?
Purchase Link: Mischief Corner Books – Forbidden Mate
Review: This story has been reedited and expanded by about fifty thousand words. It is book four in this series and they should be read in order. It not only keeps you from getting lost but an insight into their world. A world that is exciting and full of fire. I have loved this series from the very first book to the last, then Toni re-edites them adding in more and I love them even more. There is just so much description of their lives from the moment they realize they are mates to the ending. At first I get so mad at Jake for the way he went around protecting Patrick but then I realize that he did what he could to the best of his knowledge and his age.
Patrick was sixteen when Jake comes home to see them. As soon as he opens the door he realizes that Jake is his mate. He has probably loved Jake from the moment he met him, but now that they are mates he is just so happy. Jake seemed to be just as ecstatic at first that is till he goes home. Then Jakes late night phone call telling him that he doesn’t want to be mates and that he is going back to Uni. Patrick is thrown at first then heart broken. He is sixteen and just had his heart ripped out by Jakes cruel words. Then a few years later he goes to the University to see Jake and what he sees is Jake with a woman. His life is destroyed in his mind.
Jake had went home to tell his father about his mate, only to have his dad tell him that he will in no way mate with that boy. His dad might be ok with others mating with males but there was no way his son would. He shows his true homophobic nature in more ways then one. He knew that he breaks Patricks heart when he calls him to tell him they can’t be mates. It is the only way he knew how to protect the man he loves. During the years he has done things that he knows will make Patrick hate him. One time in wolf form he makes Patrick submit, it was an accident but his wolf wants his mate right then and there. Even though the women are for show, his mate does not know it. He knows what Patrick thinks.
Now ten years later they are being forced to go to Ireland to find out about one of Patrick’s brother’s mate’s pregnancy. They had never heard that they could get pregnant. When they get to Ireland one of the Alpha’s beta’s starts flirting with Patrick and Jake just about goes nuts. Liam knows that these two are mates, and doesn’t understand why they have not gone ahead and mated so he figures to push it. It will have you rolling on the ground laughing at Liam’s antics, but you can see the way Jake reacts that it is working. Patrick however is confused by the mixed signals from Jake. He had thought after Jake’s rejection that Jake never wanted him the way he had always wanted Jake. Now he is not so sure.
Jake knew mating with Patrick will put Patrick in danger. His father would kill Patrick at the first chance he gets, but Jake will do everything to protect the one man he loves more than anyone in the world. Jake knew that in the beginning he was not strong enough to protect his mate, but now as beta he could and would beat any one who hurt his mate. A mate that he loves and you can just see it with the way he is always thinking of him and looks at him.
This is one amazing story that will draw you in. It captured my attention from the moment I opened the book and kept it all the way to the end. It gives you wonderful characters that you will fall in love with. The way Jake goes to protect the one man he loves will just bring you to tears. I am amazed at the way they not only love one another but seem to compliment each other. This story has everything you want in it. It gives you sexy men, wolf shifters, angst, pain, anger, betrayal, passion, fire and a love that is deeply felt. It also gives you excitement and danger. I love it and can not wait to read more from Toni.
Visit the other blogs on the tour
July 7: Two Men Are Better Than One, Hearts on Fire, Night Owl Reviews, The Hat Party
July 8: Prism Book Alliance, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Renee George, Decadent Delights, My Fiction Nook
July 9: Rainbow Gold Reviews, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, The Blogger Girls, Fallen Angel Reviews, Redz World
July 10: Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Amanda C. Stone, Jade Crystal, MM Good Books
July 11: Top2Bottom, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Iyana Jenna, Parker Williams
Filed under: Author Giveaway, Blog Tour, Book Review, MM Romance Book Review Tagged: GLBT Paranormal romance, Holland Brothers series, Lisa's Reviews, Mischief Corner Books, Toni Griffin