Hiya guys, we now have Susan Mac Nicol stopping by with a whole slew of books, that’s right today we have 6 of Susan’s books to show off, Stripped Bare, Saving Alexander, Worth Keeping, Waiting for Rain, Double Alchemy and Love and Punishment, so it’s gonna be a long post, best thing though… 6 fantastic excerpts and an incredible giveaway! We also have reviews for each book reviewed by Tams’, Gigi or Cat so seriously check out the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Stripped Bare
Now that Shane Templar has stripped the armour from Matt Langer’s heart, will either of them ever be safe again?
Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He’s steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to fall for him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realises just how far he’s already fallen. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who has broken through his armour, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Boroughs Publishing | ARe | B&N
Saving Alexander
Punishing himself for a horrific past that is not his fault, bestselling author Alexander Montgomery seeks redemption and love—and perhaps he will find it.
Famous author though he may be, Alexander Montgomery is not someone you take home to meet your mother. Seriously flawed, damaged by a horrific past, he’s trying hard to claw his way back to normality. But how can anyone respect what he truly is? His therapy involves regular sessions at Study in Scarlet, an exclusive S&M club.
Then comes Sage. Tall, with black hair and blue eyes, an up-and-coming actor with impossible charm and boy-next-door good looks, he’s the perfect choice to play the leading man in a TV adaptation of Alex’s latest best-seller. Even more, he is a man you introduce to your family. Which Alex would do—if he weren’t taken by another man who offers the punishments Alex prays will wipe away the past and make him the person he wants to be. Yet, perhaps there is another path to redemption. If only the solution would reach out and touch him.
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Boroughs Publishing | ARe | B&N
Worth Keeping
Abused horrifically as a boy, Nick Mathers has come to terms with his existence as a man. Mostly. Other days life seems a little much. Especially when Nick knows he’ll always be alone.
On those days his thoughts turn black. He walks the Norfolk coast and considers the frigid embrace of the waves. And then, one stormy night, he finds someone who’s tasted just that. The beautiful stranger on the beach is near death, and Nick rushes him home to slowly nurse back to health. As he does, he finds a love unlike any other. Owen Butler’s body is as warm as the sea was cold, his heart as big as an ocean. And Owen is a man who swears to repay the favor. Nick can yet be saved from himself, and he will see that he is indeed a man… worth keeping.
We are contributors to the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children http://www.nspcc.org.uk – and we encourage you to donate, too.
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Boroughs Publishing | ARe | B&N
Waiting for Rain
The village of Stamford, the quintessential chocolate box English scene, seemed an impossible dream for foster kid Toby Prentiss. Now he’s found a home among the haystacks and village fairs as the general manager for the Duck and Drake Hotel. With the fears and demons from his youth hidden away in this bucolic oasis, he’s very protective of who he lets in. Until he stumbles across shirtless carpenter Rain Engel building the hotel’s new custom-designed bar.
Working in the countryside, Rain prepared to face his biggest fear: sheep. He didn’t expect to deal with his second biggest fear: commitment. Toby’s controlled tough guy façade coupled with his “find happiness where you can” optimism calls to Rain like nothing before. While Rain may be an exhibitionist, his romantic history forces him to hold his emotions close. As their relationship develops, secrets from their pasts drive a wedge between them: the ex-boyfriend who tore apart Rain’s trust and Toby’s history with the law. But can the secrets hiding among the quirky villagers bring them together? With missing sheep, pole dancing at the winter festival, and a crippling drought, everyone is waiting for Rain.
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner Press | ARe | B&N
Double Alchemy
Powerful yet tormented modern warlock Quinn Fairmont must initiate the silver-eyed Cade Mairston into the world of witchfinders, Withinners, and what can happen when two men fall truly, madly, deeply in love.
THE WORLD IN SHADOW
In modern London there lurks a warlock, Quinn Fairmont. Dangerous, powerful, tortured, sharing his body with the soul of an ancient Welsh sorcerer, Quinn is never alone—and never wholly himself. He fights against all those who would exploit his kind. He takes pleasure where he can find it.
In the forest of Hampstead Heath, Quinn’s hometown, Cade Mairston appears to him like a waking dream. Lithe, lean and silver-eyed, he evokes feelings in Quinn unlike any other: lust with true affection, immediate and shocking. Cade is clearly more than he seems. And yet, if a man of the world, Cade is innocent. He knows nothing of warlocks, witchfinders or Withinners. He knows nothing of what he is, what he might be, or what he might feel. For him, the story is just beginning. Magyck, peril and passion await.
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Boroughs Publishing | B&N | Smashwords | ARe
Love and Punishment
FROM DARKNESS
AND LIGHT
Someone is leaving a trail of bodies throughout London, and Detective Anthony Parglietto is determined to end the violence. Then he’ll return to the man he loves.
Tough, street-savvy, and used to dealing with lowlifes, Flynn Parker is the last person Anthony thinks he has to protect. Then the Bow-Tie Killer strikes close to home and the world turns upside down. Right is wrong, black is white, and a policeman might become a monster. But in the name of love, justice must be served. In the name of love, pain can be endured. In the name of love, a man can taste the very essence that defines him.
Amazon US | Amazon UK | Boroughs Publishing | ARe | Smashwords | B&N
Excerpt
Stripped Bare
Matthew raised an eyebrow . “Are you with him tonight as a paid escort, or a free date?”
He knew even as he said the words that he’d gone too far. To be honest, he was ashamed at the words even as they left his mouth.
Shane’s face went white as he stepped forward.
For a moment, Matthew thought he was about to be smacked across the jaw. Instead, he found himself being pushed against the wall, Shane’s greedy lips finding his in a kiss that made him rock hard. Matthew couldn’t help himself. His lips parted involuntarily as Shane’s hungry tongue crept into his mouth, meeting his own as his body pressed against Matthew’s in sheer carnality. Matthew tasted whisky, mint and pure sex.
The younger man knew how to kiss. His lips were demanding and warm and his tongue definitely knew what it wanted.
All sense of anything rational left him as the other man’s hips pushed against his. Matthew lost all breath in his body feeling Shane’s raging erection against his own. He groaned and gripped Shane’s blonde hair as he ground his mouth against the other man’s in a frenzy of sheer need and want.
Shane’s hands were on his backside, gripping him fiercely, pulling their two bodies together.
Christ, he’s a great kisser. He must be total dynamite in bed. God, I want this man.
The thoughts were fleeting. Matthew found himself being released and the incredible sensations in his body were relieved somewhat as Shane pulled away.
The other man’s face was dark, his eyes stormy. His lower face was reddened from the roughness of Matthew’s chin, from the stubble that grew around his mouth. Shane’s voice was fierce when he spoke. “Is that what you wanted, Matthew? It certainly felt like you did.” He reached down and brushed Matthew’s groin.
Matthew gasped. “I’d say you want me. Why the hell are you so uptight about it? Be honest with yourself.”
Matthew couldn’t quite find his voice. He took a deep breath trying to calm down the emotions surging in his chest. Shane watched him and then shrugged. His voice sounded disappointed when he next spoke. “Fine, then. You’ve had your chance. Twice. So don’t bloody well think I owe you anything.”
Excerpt
Saving Alexander
Sage moved toward Alex swiftly and Alex flinched as if he expected him to hit him or worse. Instead, Sage pulled him close, kissing him with a hunger that he hadn’t ever felt before for a man. Alex stiffened at first and then finally relaxed into him, his arms wrapping tightly around Sage’s neck, his mouth devouring Sage’s in a kiss that seemed to swallow him whole. Alex’s hands wound themselves tightly into Sage’s hair as he ground his mouth against his, pressing his body against Sage’s, leaving no doubt how the man felt.
Alex seemed to want to meld them together as one. Eventually they needed to come up for air and when they did, they were gasping at the intensity of their passion for each other.
“Jesus, Sage, I wasn’t expecting that. I didn’t think you’d want me after that story,” Alex breathed against Sage’s mouth, driving him even crazier with desire.
Sage thought he might explode there and then. “Does this feel like a man who doesn’t want to be with you?” His voice was low as he ran his hands over Alex’s hips, pressing himself against him.
Both men moaned at feeling their hardness against each other’s stomachs. Alex reached down to caress Sage’s groin.
“God, don’t do that,” Sage groaned. “I’m barely holding it in as it is.”
Alex’s low chuckle made Sage’s control even more difficult as Alex reached out first to turn out the light Sage had originally come to switch off, then to pull Sage over to the two -seater couch in the corner of the office. The room was now pitch dark with only the dim streets lights from outside shining through.
“It’s not the Ritz but it’ll have to do. I so want you to fuck me, Sage. It’s all I’ve been thinking about for weeks,” Alex murmured, unzipping his jeans, tugging them and his silk boxers down over his hips.
His erection sprung out, ready and glistening with moisture. Sage couldn’t take his eyes off it as he yanked down his own pants. Alex reached out and pulled Sage’s shirt over his head, then slid a hand through his chest hair and his shoulders. Sage closed his eyes at Alex’s touch, feeling himself stiffen even more, his breath ragged and deep.
“Christ, Alex,” Sage murmured, knowing his limits and conscious that he’d reached most of them. “I’m not made of bloody steel, and you’ve been driving me crazy for weeks as well.”
“I have to leave my shirt on, Sage.” Alex’s voice was filled with resolve. “I’m not ready to take it off yet.”
Sage nodded. “If that’s what you want.” His hands stroked Alex’s back through the fabric, feeling the play of the man’s muscles beneath his eager fingers. He pushed Alex back onto the studio couch, covering him with his own body, so the men’s cocks were sandwiched together, skin to skin, slickness to slickness.
“No foreplay needed,” Alex whispered in his ear, his breath tickling the sensitive skin . “I just want to feel you inside me. It’s all I want right now.”
Excerpt
Worth Keeping
“Um, Owen?” The bathroom was spacious, a simple but modern design with a bath , the wet room capable of fitting two big men, a toilet and a basin. It was decorated in shades of cream and blue. Nick saw the naked form of his lodger in the shower, all fair skin and long, slim, taut muscled legs with water cascading over his body. The smell of coconut shampoo swirled into Nick’s nostrils together with the tantalising tang of maleness.
“Nick.” Owen’s amused voice sounded over the sound of the running water. “Are you in a rush to pee or have you decided to join me?” Nick was sure he wasn’t expecting an affirmative answer to his last question.
Boy, is the man in for a surprise.
He took a deep breath, sliding his sweatpants off his hips. He opened the shower door to see Owen’s flabbergasted face staring at him.
“You did offer,” Nick murmured, reaching for Owen, pulling him closer, grinding his mouth against his like a drowning man drinking down the last few precious drops of water from a closing bud.
Owen moaned, his lips parting and Nick slid his tongue inside, tasting the man like a lizard testing the air. Owen’s hot, wet tongue met his and Nick grew even harder against Owen’s stomach as he pushed Owen back against the shower wall, wrapping his hands in Owen’s hair, driving his mouth deeper into his.
Nick just couldn’t get enough of him. Owen’s hands gripped his arse as he ground his hips against Nick’s. The long, hard length of the other man pressed into his groin and stomach and they both groaned at the sensation. And all the time water fell in rivulets down faces, into open mouths, down heated skin like rivers let loose in a dam bursting its confinement. It echoed Nick’s desire, a too-long-awaited need to be with someone like this, in a carnal desire so deep that if he let it, the simple touch of the other man was enough to make him burst.
Excerpt
Waiting for Rain
“You heard me. You have to dance for me. A Rain dance, with a capital R.” I was starting to enjoy myself now. “The farmers have been complaining that they need rain. Your name is Rain, we’re out in a field, surrounded by nature, a full moon, and it’s nearly midnight. That sounds very auspicious to me. So do a Rain dance for me. Then you can have me on top of that haystack.” His eyes were hooded as he stared, first at my groin then back up to my face. He looked very turned on but still worried. “Are there any animals in that field? You know, cows, horses… sheep?” He shuddered. I looked at him, a little nonplussed. I’d offered him my arse, and he was worried about livestock?
“Not that I know of. Dave does have some sheep, but they’re kept on another field.” I saw him shiver again. I frowned. “What’s wrong? You don’t like farm animals?”
He muttered, and I leaned in toward him. “Sorry, I didn’t catch that. What did you say?” He glowered at me in the dim light from the moon. “I said I don’t like bloody sheep.”
I nodded. “I see. Why not? Sheep are nice, woolly, cute animals.”
He looked distinctly ill. “I can’t agree with that. I really don’t like them.”
I didn’t quite know what to say to this rather surreal conversation about my man having an obvious phobia of the ovine species.
“Well, I can assure you there are no little lambs, rams, or mummy sheep near that haystack.” I gazed at him curiously. “Have you always had a dislike of sheep? Did you perhaps have a sheep-related trauma that affected you in childhood?”
Rain scowled again. “I just don’t like them, okay? Fluffy, po-faced sheep with gooey eyes. They give me the willies.” He waved an impatient hand. “Now, are we going to do this whole ‘fucking’ thing or not?”
Excerpt
Double Alchemy
Cade Mairston was no ordinary man. Quinn had known it from the minute he’d touched Cade’s hand, smelt his scent and heard the rushing of his blood through his veins. Cade was Fey.
Not overtly Fey, but something resided there, buried deep down within him. Quinn didn’t think Cade Mairston had any idea who or what he was.
Quinn shivered. The way Cade had crouched in a fighter’s stance, fierce glare and strong body ready to do battle— he’d been inspiring. It was only due to Quinn’s Warlock skills that he’d the ability to anticipate and deflect the other man’s moves and not be grievously injured. Cade Mairston was a strong, agile presence and Quinn wouldn’t have liked his privates to be on the receiving end of the other man’s foot, which was attached to a muscled leg which he wished would wrap itself around his legs as he pounded the man’s arse….
Quinn checked himself mentally.
Christ, Quinn. Get a grip! Hell, my hormones are running riot.
Thank God the man was gay. Quinn’s gaydar worked very well, thank you, despite noticing the evidence of the large erection the man had sported in his trendy cream chinos for him.
What were the odds of meeting another gay Fey? Quinn chuckled softly. If things had turned out the other way, Quinn would have been in danger of deflowering a straight man and that one never worked out for the best.
Cade had looked a little rattled himself. For a moment, from the look in Cade’s smouldering grey eyes, Quinn had thought he might be about to get savagely violated. While Quinn topped most of the time he was definitely not averse to being taken by a man like Cade. There’d been anticipation so strong for Cade to touch him, kiss him right there, that he’d lost his breath for a moment. Quinn had a really tight feeling in his boxers right now as his cock threatened to burst into song and dance a jig out of his pants.
He sighed. Best get home, have a cold shower and do whatever else was necessary to relieve the turmoil snaking through his nether regions. Cade’s sexy stubble on his jawline and light silver eyes were playing havoc with Quinn’s sexual urges. Next time they met— and he was sure there’d be a next time— he’d have to search his apothecary for something that would deaden the sexual attraction. If not he’d never make it through a next meeting without ripping off Cade’s clothes until his need was fully satisfied for the first time. After the first time, it became more controllable. Experience had taught both he and Taliesin that.
Excerpt
Love and Punishment
By the time he reads this, you’ll be mine. Inside and out.
The words loomed eerily off the page as Flynn Parker re-read the message on the cream-coloured notepaper. It was seven p.m. on a chilly February evening. He’d gotten back into his basement flat in Chelsea after a sweaty and energetic game of squash at the gym. All he wanted to do was have a warm shower then wait for his boyfriend, Anthony, to arrive for a drink. They’d been together six months now and Flynn already knew he was in for the long haul. He had a fervent hope for tonight: that hot, raunchy animal sex would be on the menu and Anthony wouldn’t be too tired to participate. Flynn needed to alleviate some of the tension that still racked his body from the gym and the tough day he’d had at the newspaper with deadlines and angry interviewees. He hadn’t anticipated the official-looking cream envelope lying in wait in his hallway—an envelope that had obviously been slipped under the door. He frowned.
Who the hell would send me something like this slipped under the bloody door? It’s so damn cloak and dagger.
As an investigative crime journalist for a mid-sized independent newspaper, he was used to the weird things that life had to offer. He felt a frisson of unease trickle down his spine as he laid the note down on the kitchen top. As he busied himself making coffee, absorbed in the task, some small shadow to his left made him turn in curiosity. Something cold and acidic was pressed against his face. He struggled as he tried to take in air, but only gulped in the noxious fumes of whatever was being pressed against his nose. It happened so quickly that he had time only for a fleeting moment of terror before everything went dark.
He awoke in blackness. His head felt stuffed with cotton wool. He could see nothing, feeling only the crinkle of something silky lying across his eyes.
I must be blindfolded. At least I hope to shit that’s what it is and I haven’t actually gone blind.
When he tried to move, he realised he was flat on his back on a rough, yielding but scratchy surface. He was cold, his skin prickling with goose bumps as cold air lapped at his body. He didn’t even want to think about what that might mean. His arms were stretched above his head, bound to something he couldn’t see.
About Susan
Susan Mac Nicol is a self confessed bookaholic, an avid watcher of videos of sexy pole dancing men, geek, nerd and in love with her Smartphone. This little treasure is called ‘the boyfriend’ by her long suffering husband, who says if it vibrated, there’d be no need for him. Susan hasn’t had the heart to tell him there’s an app for that…
She is never happier than when sitting in the confines of her living room/study/on a cold station platform scribbling down words and making two men fall in love. She is a romantic at heart and believes that everything happens (for the most part) for a reason. She likes to think of herself as a ‘half full’ kinda gal, although sometimes that philosophy is sorely tested.
Lover of walks in the forest, theatre productions, dabbling her toes in the cold North Sea and the vibrant city of London where you can experience all four seasons in a day , she is a hater of pantomime (so please don’t tar and feather her), duplicitous people, bigotry and self righteous idiots.
In an ideal world, Susan Mac Nicol would be Queen of England and banish all the bad people to the Never Never Lands of Wherever -Who Cares. As that’s never going to happen, she contents herself with writing her HEA stories and pretending, that just for a little while, good things happen to good people.
Sue is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association in the UK.
Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | tsu | Youtube | Pinterest | Website | Boroughs Publishing | Amazon Author Page | Scoop.it | Goodreads
Giveaway!
Win 3 ebooks of winners choice by Susan Mac Nicol!
Runner up will receive a set of MOL magnets!
(Just click the link below)
Susan Mac Nicol Rafflecopter giveaway!
(Ends 26th July 2015)
Reviews
Title: Stripped Bare
Author: Susan Mac Nicols
Genre: Contemporary romance
Length: Novel (290 pages)
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Company (July 22nd, 2013)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 3.5 Hearts
Reviewer: GiGi
Blurb: Now that Shane Templar has stripped the armour from Matt Langer’s heart, will either of them ever be safe again? Though two years past, Matthew Langer is still getting over the death of a loved one. He’s steered clear of serious relationships, but when he meets the irascible, dirty mouthed and tempestuous Shane Templar that decision has never been harder. Shane is sexy, warm and funny, and Matthew finds himself trying like hell not to fall for him. Especially when Shane, with his quick wit and hacking skills, is quick to stand up for justice and avenge wrongs. Then Shane strikes at the wrong target, and Matthew realizes just how far he’s already fallen. At the threat of losing for good yet another man who has broken through his armor, Matthew finds his heart stripped bare. He must face the demons of his soul or a future without love.
Product Link: http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/stripped-bare
Review: A mysterious hacker and elite escort, Shane lives a bit on the wild and unstructured side, until he meet’s Mat Langer, who is just this side of OCD, but for very serious reasons. These two live in very different worlds that collide over a mutual friend and client. An interesting combination of corporate espionage, murder/mystery, love, loss and a touch of D/s make this book a fast-paced nail-biting read. At times, I got so very frustrated with both MC’s that I wanted to throw the book across the room, but that’s a great thing! I love it when a work of fiction can stir me so! Loss of a partner and the guilt over the attraction so someone new, someone out of their comfort zone, is the major driving force of this book. Each character’s side stories, David’s, and especially Timmy’s intrigue me. I have a feeling we’ll be hearing more from this writer!
Title: Saving Alexander
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Genre: BDSM
Length: Novel (256 pages)
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group (October 28th, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥♥ 5 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: Punishing himself for a horrific past that is not his fault, bestselling author Alexander Montgomery seeks redemption and love—and perhaps he will find it.
Famous author though he may be, Alexander Montgomery is not someone you take home to meet Mother. Seriously flawed, damaged by a horrific past, he’s trying hard to claw his way back to normality. But how can anyone respect what he truly is? His therapy involves regular sessions at Study in Scarlet, an exclusive S&M club.
Then comes Sage. Tall, with black hair and blue eyes, an up-and-coming actor with impossible charm and boy-next-door good looks, he’s the perfect choice to play the leading man in a TV adaptation of Alex’s last best-seller. Even more, he is a man you introduce to your family. Which Alex would do—if he weren’t taken by another man who offers the punishments Alex prays will wipe away the past and make him the person he wants to be. Yet, perhaps there is another path to redemption. If only the solution would reach out and touch him
Purchase Link: http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/saving-alexander
Review: Warning: this book contains explicit scenes of S&M used as therapy
Alexander is an up and coming author with a haunting past. He sees Eric at Study of Scarlet an S&M club to punish himself for his past as part of his therapy. He wrote his books with an actor in mind as his inspiration for his main Character so he jumped at the chance to meet Sage in person and have him play the lead in the series being developed from his books.
All in all this is a beautifully written book full of the struggles of love and life.
I have to say I totally loved this book. Before I go into why I will say that there was lots going on, lots hinted at and some of the stuff thrown out there left me with a couple unanswered questions or was solved a bit lightly. I can’t say any more on this without giving away the plot.
Having said this I will also say I still think this is one of my favourite books. I loved Alexander through all his flaws he was amazing. He isn’t a bad man he is a broken man. He tortures himself mentally and physically for his past.
Sage on the other hand is the perfect hot hero. Some people reading this may think he is too good and he would never accept Alex’s situation (seeing the S&M man).I disagree. Perhaps in reality it would have been even harder than in this fiction book but I think it was handled well here. The conflict was shown, the jealousy and pain was shown. This is one of those stories of love being difficult. But life is difficult. There are things in each of ours past that our lover must abide.
The struggles of this romance were great and I thought the mystery was good and very twisty. There also is a lot going on in this story besides the turmoil of the relationship. I would have liked a bit more of Sage.
I highly recommend this book if you like lots of angst, broken men, actors, authors, mystery S&M, and lots of very hot mansex.
Title: Worth Keeping
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Novel (256 pages)
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group (December 23rd, 2013)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: Abused horrifically as a boy, Nick Mathers has come to terms with his existence as a man. Mostly. Other days life seems a little much. Especially when Nick knows, he’ll always be alone.
On those days, his thoughts turn black. He walks the Norfolk coast and considers the frigid embrace of the waves. And then, one stormy night, he finds someone who’s tasted just that. The beautiful stranger on the beach is near death, and Nick rushes him home to slowly nurse back to health. As he does, he finds a love unlike any other. Owen Butler’s body is as warm as the sea was cold, his heart as big as an ocean. And Owen is a man who swears to repay the favor. Nick can yet be saved from himself, and he will see that he is indeed a man…
WORTH KEEPING
Purchase Link: http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/worth-keeping
Review: I really liked this story. It is full of depth and emotion and touches on some very disturbing topics. I will say however that there is a lot going on and at times, I was a little overwhelmed with all the emotion, angst and different things happening. Still it is a beautiful and poignant story.
There are a lot of characters in this story also, but I really like that. Nathan is a dark brooding man, who wouldn’t like him but I have to say that at times I wanted to just slap him and say get over it. Owen I loved!! He is the perfect character and the dream man everyone would want no matter what sex you are! Both men are broken and so different that they complement each other well. Socks… I think he stole the show. I absolutely adored him and now I want a pet monkey.
If you like, stories with angst, broken men, which deal with abuse, loss and suicide, devoted adoptive fathers, fate, a love worth keeping, and MONKEYS! You will love this story.
Title: Waiting for Rain
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Genre: Contemporary Romance, with a Pole Dancing niche’
Length: Novel (280 pages)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press (February 24th 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate to Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Tams & Cat
Blurb: The village of Stamford, the quintessential chocolate box English scene, seemed an impossible dream for foster kid Toby Prentiss. Now he’s found a home among the haystacks and village fairs as the general manager for the Duck and Drake Hotel. With the fears and demons from his youth hidden away in this bucolic oasis, he’s very protective of who he lets in. Until he stumbles across shirtless carpenter Rain Engel building the hotel’s new custom-designed bar.
Working in the countryside, Rain prepared to face his biggest fear: sheep. He didn’t expect to deal with his second biggest fear: commitment. Toby’s controlled, tough guy façade coupled with his “find happiness where you can” optimism calls to Rain like nothing before. While Rain may be an exhibitionist, his romantic history forces him to hold his emotions close. As their relationship develops, secrets from their pasts drive a wedge between them: the ex-boyfriend who tore apart Rain’s trust and Toby’s history with the law. But can the secrets hiding among the quirky villagers bring them together? With missing sheep, pole dancing at the winter festival, and a crippling drought, everyone is waiting for Rain.
Purchase Link: http://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4730
Tams Review: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Toby Prentiss has been single for a long time, and he’s come to the conclusion that being alone is better than being hurt. He’s so wrapped up in his work that he doesn’t even realize his boss wants to be a little more than friends. Then he meets the charismatic and outspoken carpenter, Rain.
Rain Engel is building a bar for the Duck and Drake hotel where Toby is the manager. From the first day, that first meeting, the two have an electric chemistry that threatens to ignite and burn everything around them to the ground. They also share a very short fuse, a mutual disdain for the word trust and the inability to ask for or allow their friends to help when it’s needed. All this makes for a very explosive read.
Both men are hiding their past from the other, afraid that the truth would drive them away. But keeping their secrets is what’s driving a wedge between them, not the truth. Slowly Rain gains Toby’s trust and just as slowly, Toby peels back the layers that make Rain who he is. Chemistry is not the problem for these two. They can’t go much more than five minutes without lips on skin. Communication is what may prove to be their downfall. Or a lack there of. I said this recently for another review and I’m reminded of it again with Toby and Rain. “What we have here is a failure to communicate!”
Although I could see the ending of this story coming a mile away, Mac Nicol still did a fantastic job of painting the picture and conveying her story to the reader. There weren’t really any side characters either, except maybe the sheep. The secondary characters were as three-dimensional as Toby and Rain, and an integral part of the story. While I loved the inner workings of Toby and Rain’s relationship as it grew and unfolded, I also could have nipped one or two of them, “he slammed me against the wall while he shoved his hands….” Do NOT get me wrong, I love me some sweaty naked man on man sex, its f**king hot. But there is a thin line between wiping steam off my kindle and reading fifty shades of gay.
That being said, overall this was such a fun read. I blew through it in one setting. If you are a fan of hard luck stories, two stubborn alpha males finding their home, and LOTS of guy on guy action this is a must read for you. Oh, and pole dancing, as if the cover didn’t give that one away, it is a very erotic and well-written pole dance guys.
Cat’s Review: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
I love this title and cover. I also love this author and this book didn’t let me down.
Toby is hotel manager and has a rough background but has managed to make a respectable life for himself. He longs for love but after his past thinks it’s out of reach for him. Then he meets Rain Engel.
Rain is a contractor and does exceptional wood crafting. Simon the owner of the hotel has contracted him for a job to build a bar in the Fancy Duke and Drake Hotel. He is recuperating form a rough breakup that left him broken, devastated, and got him it no some trouble that makes him leery of relationships. He meets Toby the hotel manager and right away is taken with him. He thinks a good f**k-buddy wouldn’t be a bad thing while he is doing this job.
I loved that this story is in first person and both men’s views. I like being able to get into both men’s heads and feelings. I found the switchover very easy to follow. I found this story hilarious and loved how the humor breaks up and makes the angst easier. There is a lot going on in the story but I never got overwhelmed. I also loved both Rain and Toby a lot though I think I liked Toby even more since I felt I knew him more than Rain. I would have liked to have had a bit better feel of Rain and had more of his past like we did with Toby.
I thought this was an all-over good story with a touch of intrigue and super sexy. I loved the pole-dancing bits and could just see Rain on the pole. I had to go google the song Smoke and Mirrors.
I recommend this if you love a good romance, broken men finding love, good friends ,hot mansex and Pole-Dancing.
Title: Double Alchemy
Series: Double Alchemy Book 01
Author: Susan Mac Nichol
Genre: Paranormal, Horror Romance, Fantasy
Length: Novel Plus (375pgs)
ISBN: 9781941260043
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group (25th March 2014)
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: Powerful yet tormented modern warlock Quinn Fairmont must initiate the silver-eyed Cade Mairston into the world of witchfinders, Withinners, and what can happen when two men fall truly, madly, deeply in love.
THE WORLD IN SHADOW
In modern London there lurks a warlock, Quinn Fairmont. Dangerous, powerful, tortured, sharing his body with the soul of an ancient Welsh sorcerer, Quinn is never alone—and never wholly himself. He fights against all those who would exploit his kind. He takes pleasure where he can find it.
In the forest of Hampstead Heath, Quinn’s hometown, Cade Mairston appears to him like a waking dream. Lithe, lean and silver-eyed, he evokes feelings in Quinn unlike any other: lust with true affection, immediate and shocking. Cade is clearly more than he seems. And yet, if a man of the world, Cade is innocent. He knows nothing of warlocks, witchfinders or Withinners. He knows nothing of what he is, what he might be, or what he might feel. For him, the story is just beginning. Magyck, peril and passion await.
Purchase Link: http://boroughspublishinggroup.com/books/double-alchemy
Review: I’ve read all but I think one of Susan Mac Nichol’s books and loved them all. Double Alchemy was very different being a paranormal. I wasn’t disappointed. This story still deals with broken men, as lots of angst and is very emotional with a touch of humour.
Quinn is a Warlock and owner of a prestigious business. He also has many secrets. At a charity function, he meets Cade an anthropologist. The pull between them is irresistible. They have wild sex and seem to bond further.
Cade finds out from Quinn that the pull between them was more than just physical sex and that Quinn is a warlock and Cade has Fey in him.
They seem to fall in love instantly, BUT, not being a big fan of instalove, it really works here. I found this a very interesting refreshing take on Instalove or the soulmate bond thing. This ran much deeper and I can easily accept the connection.
This story is full of intriguing characters, both male and female, witches, warlocks, and more. There were also fine lines between good and evil, which I really liked a lot. Almost every character had a good side ad a bit of bad also. I loved this because it made all the characters so realistic, since none of us are perfect. Don’t get me wrong there were some pure evil characters as well. The balance of good and evil was fantastic and kept you on the edge of your seat. The Warlocks had a Withinner, which is another type of warlock or Magical being. I would have liked a bit more information on this but, I loved this take on a familiar. I will admit at first it got a bit confusing since Quinn spoke to his Withinner, or he spoke to Quinn was in italics. Also Quinn and Cade’s thoughts were in Italics and at times especially early in the story I was a bit confused as to who was speaking. As the story progresses I got used to the switches though.
The plot is very complicated and intricate. I loved how the story was far from ordinary. I also loved that it is set in today with paranormal world mixed in. There is an ongoing major plot with lots of subplots spinning off like little webs. I liked how the plots of this story were resolved, but there were just enough of those threads left hanging making you want more. I absolutely love Tal (Quinn’s Withinner) and would love much more of him!
The story does resolve the major issues and has a happy for now ending with just enough hints that there is more to come. I for one cannot wait.
I recommend this: if you like paranormal stories that are different, world within a world, witches Warlocks, sprites, secrets, twists and turns, a touch of humour and some hot sexy ManLove.
Title: Love and Punishment
Author: Susan Mac Nicol
Genre: Gay Romance, Drama Romance, Suspense, Mystery, Thriller
Length: Novel (261 pages)
ISBN: 9781941260449
Publisher: Boroughs Publishing Group (August 29th 2014)
Heat Level: Explicit
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥ 4 Hearts
Reviewer: Cat
Blurb: FROM DARKNESS
AND LIGHT
Someone is leaving a trail of bodies throughout London, and Detective Anthony Parglietto is determined to end the violence. Then he’ll return to the man he loves.
Tough, street-savvy, and used to dealing with lowlifes, Flynn Parker is the last person Anthony thinks he has to protect. Then the Bow-Tie Killer strikes close to home and the world turns upside down. Right is wrong, black is white, and a policeman might become a monster. But in the name of love, justice must be served. In the name of love, pain can be endured. In the name of love, a man can taste the very essence that defines him.
Purchase Link: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-loveandpunishment-1610790-148.html
Review:</st