Hi guys, we have the wonderful Toni Griffin stopping by today with her brand new release A Very Holland Valentine, Toni wrote this sweet little number as a surprise for us fans as a Valentine gift for us and now there’s a chance with this book blast to win your very own copy! So check out the excellent excerpt, Lisa’s review and then click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
A Very Holland Valentine
(Holland Brothers 06)
by
Toni Griffin
Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and with it the completion of the renovations to their home. None could be happier about this then Zack who can’t wait to get away from Maryanne and all her fussing.
Plans are being finalised for all four couples for the happy day. However, sleezy tradies, an over protective mother-in-law and unexpected complications throw spanners in the works.
Categories: Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00TM9IVGK/
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-averyhollandvalentinehollandbrothers6-1747061-145.html
Barnes and Noble: http://m.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-very-holland-valentine-toni-griffin/1121221088?ean=2940150099609
Bookstrand: http://www.bookstrand.com/a-very-holland-valentine-holland-brothers-6
Mischief Corner Books: http://mischiefcornerbooks.weebly.com/store/p75/A_Very_Holland_Valentine%3A_Holland_Brothers_6.html
Excerpt
Zack sighed. He loved his mother-in-law, really he did. However, living with her for the last few months was starting to wear a little thin.
Since their house was currently undergoing major reconstruction, Zack, along with his mate and their daughter, and Brian, Marcus and their boys had all moved in with Maryanne and Joe.
Zack couldn’t believe how lucky that had turned out to be. There was no way he would have been able to stay home and hide himself away from all the construction workers while pregnant. He shuddered to think of what would happen if one of them should see him.
“Are you sure I can’t get you anything?” Maryanne asked him for what seemed like the thousandth time that morning.
Zack reached down and placed a hand on his swollen belly. “I’m sure. We’re just fine,” he replied.
Simon and Zack had been completely surprised by this little bundle of joy. They’d been trying for nearly six months when Hayley had sat them down and asked for a brother or sister.
After the first couple of new moons with Zack not falling pregnant, he had started to get a little worried that there might be something wrong. He and Simon had decided to keep their attempts to themselves so they could surprise the family when and if he fell pregnant, and if it didn’t happen, then he wouldn’t have to share their disappointment with everyone.
The realisation that Zack was indeed expecting came as a complete shock. Zack hadn’t been like Jason, Brian and Rick. He hadn’t had an ounce of morning sickness. He’d woken up one morning, in the room he and Simon were sharing at Maryanne and Joe’s. It was the last week of school for the year, less than two weeks till Christmas, and Zack was looking forward to the holidays. He’d started to get dressed, only to find out his favourite pair of jeans were extremely tight. Zack turned to Simon, who was also getting dressed for his day at the office.
“Do I look fat to you?” he asked.
Simon stared at him, wide-eyed. “Is that supposed to be some sort of trick question?” Simon asked him, looking Zack over warily.
Zack giggled at how careful his mate was being. “No, you smarty, my pants aren’t fitting. Do I look like I’ve put on some weight?”
Zack lifted his shirt so Simon could take in his body and twisted this way and that. Simon sucked in a breath, walked up to him and dropped to his knees. Holding Zack still, Simon leaned forward and placed a kiss against his belly. “Yes, love. It looks like you’ve put on some weight.”
Zack stared at his mate for a second before his actions clicked. “You mean…” He stared down, his hands holding his shirt rucked up under his chin, at the small protuberance he could see in his belly. “But… how? I haven’t…”
Simon kissed his stomach again and whispered, “Love you, thank you for making me the happiest man on earth. Love you too, little one. Can’t wait to meet you.”
Zack wiped at the tears gathering in his eyes, then placed one hand on the small bump and threaded the other through his mate’s silky locks.
That had been seven weeks ago, his principal, Donald Murphy, hadn’t been happy about the late notice of their supposed surrogate giving birth and Zack needing time off. Hopefully he’d given enough notice in December for his boss to find a substitute; he didn’t think it would be a problem with the six-week school holiday period. Classes were just starting back up now in the last week of January, and Zack missed his students.
Thinking about his students also made him think about something else he missed. Home. Thankfully the construction work should be finished soon, and they would all be able to go home. He loved Maryanne and Joe to bits. But the woman fussed like there was no tomorrow. He knew she did it out of love, but sometimes Zack hid in his room just to get a moment of peace and quiet.
Of course he couldn’t tell his mate that his mother was smothering him. All the Holland boys thought sun shone out of their parent’s butts, and most of the time, Zack agreed.
However, even though this was the fourth pregnancy in the family, none of the other three had had to live with Maryanne. Yes, she had visited, but she always had to leave as well. There was no leaving for either Zack or Maryanne at this time. He really couldn’t wait to get home.
“You hungry, Zack? I can make you something to eat if you’d like,” Maryanne asked as she walked back into the living room not even five minutes after she’d asked him the last time.
“I’m fine, thanks.” Just then, his stomach grumbled. Okay, maybe he was a little hungry. “A sandwich might be nice if it’s not too much trouble,” he conceded.
“No trouble at all. I’ll be back in a minute.”
It had been all right at the start of the school holidays, but as soon as he started to show more than he could reasonably cover up, Zack was confined behind closed doors.
Hayley was also missing during the day now. She had gone from a half day at kindy last year to a full school day at prep. Zack hated that he wasn’t there for his girl on her first full day at school. Simon was dropping her off in the mornings on his way to work and Maryanne picked her up in the early afternoons when school finished and brought her back. Another hour or so and Zack could see his little girl again. He missed having her around during the day. He’d gotten so used to having her right there during the school holidays.
She was growing up so damn fast. Some days he felt like he blinked and she’d changed on him. Zack knew it was all a part of growing up, but that didn’t mean he had to like it.
“Here you go, honey. You let me know if there’s anything else you need. Are you cool enough? It’s supposed to be a scorcher out there today. I can get you a fan if you like.” Maryanne handed Zack his sandwich and then immediately turned and to start looking around, for the fan, Zack assumed.
He sighed quietly. “I’m fine for the moment. Thanks for the food.” He smiled at her before taking a bite. Maryanne studied him for a second before she reluctantly nodded.
“Do you want me to turn the television on? Are you comfortable? How’re your feet today? Any swelling?”
Zack really was hard-pressed not to roll his eyes. Seriously, the woman needed to calm the hell down.
He finished chewing and swallowed his mouthful. “I’m fine, thank you. I happy here with my book.” Zack held up the iPad he was reading a book on and then placed it back on the arm of the couch. “My feet feel fine as well. Nothing Simon can’t take care of tonight when he gets back from work.”
Zack grinned mischievously and winked at Maryanne.
She chuckled, then fussed a little with her clothes. “If you’re sure.”
“I’m fine, Maryanne, truly. If I need anything, you’ll be the first person I call.”
“Good.” She smiled at him, nodded, and then thankfully left him alone.
Zack sighed in relief, turned his iPad back on and ate his sandwich. A hard kick to his stomach had him rubbing at the offending area. “I know, little one. Not long now and you too get to deal with the awesomeness that is your grandma.”
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.
Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toni.griffin.author:
Other: http://www.tonigriffin.net/
E-mail: info(at)tonigriffin.net
https://twitter.com/MischiefCorner
Giveaway!
Win $10 Amazon Gift Card and 2 copies of A Very Holland Valentine
(Just click the link below)
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(Ends 24th February 2015)
Review
Title: A Very Holland Valentine
Series: Holland Brothers 06
Author: Toni Griffin
Genre: Gay Erotic Romance, Paranormal, Shape-shifter
Length: Novella (81 Pages)
ISBN: MSCRBK0000057
Publisher: Mischief Corner Books (February 14, 2015)
Heat: Moderate
Heart: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Lisa
Blurb: Valentine’s Day is fast approaching and with it the completion of the renovations to their home. None could be happier about this then Zack who can’t wait to get away from Maryanne and all her fussing.
Plans are being finalised for all four couples for the happy day. However, sleezy tradies, an over protective mother-in-law, and unexpected complications throw spanners in the works.
Product Link: http://mischiefcornerbooks.weebly.com/store/p75/A_Very_Holland_Valentine:_Holland_Brothers_6.html
Review: A little note that Toni had put inside the book. After finishing the rewrites for her Holland Brothers series, she did a couple of short fiction pieces to coincide with their releases as a bonus, a small ‘Where are they now’. To make things easier for anyone that wasn’t aware of these and didn’t read them, she had decided to have them professionally edited and include them in this published work as they lead up to the events in this story. In regards to the timeline, A Holland Anniversary takes place prior to A Very Holland Christmas. Everything else is set consecutively after that, with A Very Holland Valentine taking place two months after Walk with Me.
There is nothing better than a good paranormal romance with two gorgeous men involved. There is something about the way that Toni tells a story that will not only draw you in and keep your attention the whole time. The characters are beautifully written with big hearts, however if you cross them, they have no problem putting you down. They will protect their mates with their entire lives. I had a blast reading this story.
This is one of my top five favorite series there was. It wasn’t fast paced as many others had been, they each had their issues that caused problems and continued to fight for certain things. What I loved the most was the fact that you can see the love they have for each other. The only problem with books like this is, you have to go back and read the others again, because the characters get mixed with the others. You have trouble remembering who, what, where, when and why on certain things.
In the first little story you have Brian and Marcus celebrating their first year anniversary. A little hard to do certain things when you have twins. In the second story it is Alex’s birthday and Jason has a big surprise for him. I love those kind of surprises that is as long as it is not me. In the third little book Zack and Simon lure you in with a story that will have you in tears and then chuckles. Zack had a daughter by his best friend and Simon loved her dearly. However they wanted a child together. Time will tell if their wish comes true. However Hayley tells them exactly what she wants. I love the little ones bossy ways. She is adorable. Now in the fourth little story Jake and Patrick have your attention. Now these two had been in love since they were young, but Jake’s father threatened to kill Rick if he ever made a move. It took ten years but they finally got together. Now this shows where they are today. I love when a mate puts on a chasing game for the other. So damn hot. Then we get to the final story and it will have you sitting on the edge of your seat. The house is getting to small for all of them and their children, so they decided to build on. It sets for an interesting time because Zack is pregnant and since they are staying with the in-laws it is getting pretty touchy. His mother-in-law has gone all protective on his ass and he just wants to go home. They have a bit of trouble with the construction crew but nothing they can’t handle. Plus even though his pregnancy was great in the beginning, times are stressful for him. Valentine’s day is coming up and they have all their plans in place. One should always remember that plans can be changed at the last minute.
I absolutely love this book almost as much as I have loved the other’s in this series. When this amazing author puts out a book I am usually there to eat them up. They do have a touch of a seriousness in them but there is quite a bit of humor mixed in. I have always loved these guys and can honestly say Toni Rocks. I was quite surprised by this book, as I had no hint that she had even written another one. This is a series that will have you falling in love once more and believing in romance all over again. It caught my attention from the moment I started reading and kept it all the way to the end. It also gave me almost everything I could want in a book. I would definitely recommend reading this book. Trust me it will keep you laughing, crying, loving and having fun.
If possible I would have given each story five hearts. I would recommend reading this book but starting with the first one. It was a blast to read and I can guarantee that you will love it.
Check out the other blogs on the
Parker Williams, My Fiction Nook, Molly Lolly, Kristy’s Brain Food, Bayou Book Junkie, Cate Ashwood, BFD Book Blog, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Blogger Girls, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Angel Martinez, Wicked Wolves and Dreaming Dragons, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Fallen Angel Reviews, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, All I Want and More Books, Inked Rainbow Reads, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Bike Book Reviews, (Publishing on February 17) Multitasking Mommas
Filed under: Author Giveaway, Book Blast, Book Review, Excerpt, MM Romance Book Review, New Releases Tagged: GLBT Paranormal romance, Holland Brothers series, Lisa's Reviews, Mischief Corner Books, Toni Griffin