His Royal Secret (His Royal Secret #1)
   by: Lilah Pace

Publication Date: July 19, 2016
Publisher: InterMix
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 185 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

The first in an enchanting new male/male romantic duology from Lilah Pace, author of Asking for More and Begging for It ....

James, the handsome, cosmopolitan Prince of Wales, is used to being in the public eye. But he's keeping a king-sized secret...James, next in line for the throne, is gay.

He’s been able to hide his sexual orientation with the help of his best friend and beard, Lady Cassandra. Sometimes he feels like a coward for not coming out, but he daren’t risk losing the crown. If he did, the succession would fall on his deeply troubled younger sister, Princess Amelia. To protect her, James is willing to live a lie.

While on holiday, he meets Benjamin Dahan—a rugged international reporter with a globe-trotting, unattached life—who catches far more than James's eye. And when Ben is transferred to London, it seems fate may finally be smiling on James.

But what began as a torrid fling grows into something far more intimate and powerful. Soon James will have decide who he is, what he wants from life and love, and what he’s willing to sacrifice for the truth...

 

 

When I first saw the synopsis for this book, I knew I wanted to give it a try. I am such a sucker for books with royalty- no matter if it's a real country or a fake one. I also love some forbidden romance, and His Royal Secret definitely had that going for it!

 

I absolutely adored James. He was such a sweetheart and I wanted him to be happy so incredibly much. I can't imagine having to hide who you truly are because you are constantly under a microscope and the world is constantly watching and scrutinizing... He handles it with such grace though. Even when the media is bashing people he cares deeply for, he still manages to keep his emotions in check and remember that he has to consider every angle before moving forward. It's such a lonely life to lead -being both a gay man and heir to throne. When he meets Ben Dahan, the two have instant chemistry and after a chance meeting in Kenya, the two reconnect months later and begin a 'casual' secret relationship.

 

I liked Ben ok, but not nearly as much as James. Ben was harder to read and I wasn't sure of his true emotions. James wears his heart on his sleeve, where Ben is much more guarded. Considering his past, I get it, but I had trouble discerning whether or not he truly cared for James.

 

My one issue with this book was how quickly Ben decided he was all in. We literally have him going on about how he has to protect himself and that he wouldn't let himself be vulnerable to anyone ever again one minute and the next he's professing his love to James. It felt like whiplash and I was a bit skeptical that he could have changed his mind so quickly. Still, James loves him and wants to be with him, so that's good enough for me.

 

I also really enjoyed James's sister, Indigo. My heart ached for the girl and I wanted nothing more than to see her healthy and happy. I don't agree with the way James sheltered her. She needs professional help and I hope we see her get that in the second book.

 

Overall, I did enjoy this one! It was one sexy book and I have to caution you not to read it on a train like I did where nosy people can read over your shoulder!

 

 

 

His Royal Favorite (His Royal Secret #2)
   by: Lilah Pace

Publication Date: Aug. 16, 2016
Publisher: InterMix
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 245 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

The conclusion of Lilah Pace’s racy, romantic male/male duology following His Royal Secret...

James, Prince of Wales, is making history. He's decided to come out to his subjects—and the world. However, telling the truth means exposing his relationship with lone-wolf reporter Benjamin Dahan. Although Ben never wanted commitment, the unexpected depth of his feelings leads him to join James in the media's harsh spotlight.

When the news story explodes across the globe, Ben can endure the mockery and dirty jokes. But after his tragic past is cruelly revealed, his life begins to implode. Can even his love for James be worth this?

James has it no easier. His revelation divides the country and sparks turmoil within the royal family. He must struggle to defend not only himself and Ben, but also his younger sister, who hovers on the brink of a breakdown that could endanger her life.

Is Ben strong enough to survive the onslaught and stand by James' side? And will James have to make a choice between Ben and the crown?

 

 

After finishing His Royal Secret, I immediately dove right into His Royal Favorite. It didn't end on a cliffhanger per se, but James and Ben's story was far from over. As you can see from the synopsis, James has officially come out as gay and now begins the whirlwind of media, speculation and slander. James is used to being in the spotlight, but Ben isn't. His life is about to become very different and I felt bad for the guy. He knew what he was signing up for, but knowing isn't the same as experiencing.

 

I hated seeing Ben's deterioration of spirit in this book. It hurt. He loves James and wants to be with him, but this life wears on a person. We see how much it has impacted James's sister and while not the sole reason for her illness, it does play a large role in her anxiety. I am glad we got to see that addressed and it will absolutely tug at your heartstrings to see how wrecked James is over her situation. It is certainly emotional and difficult to witness, but I felt Pace handled it very well and am so pleased with how Indigo's story was resolved.

 

James and Ben have made tremendous sacrifices for one another and their love, and they continue to do so. I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop so to speak, so I was pleasantly surprised at how everything was handled. Again, I felt Pace handled their relationship and their issues so realistically. They do not live in a fairy tale world where love is a cure all. Instead, she really sheds light on the fact that love is NOT always enough. There has to be balance, feelings of worth and fulfillment, goals of their own.

 

While this book was a bit tamer on the sex scenes, it still had its fair share of steamy ones. (Again- DO NOT READ ON A CROWDED SUBWAY TRAIN!)

 

I highly enjoyed this dualogy by Lilah Pace! If you enjoy reading about royals as much as I do, definitely check these out!

Out of Frame (In Focus #3)
   by: Megan Erickson

Publication Date: March 15, 2016
Publisher: InterMix
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 202 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Romance trades the open road for the high seas in the latest from the author of Focus on Me and Trust the Focus...

Perpetually shy, Quinn Mathers is content to remain in the shadow of his brash best friend Jess Hartman. But before their college graduation, he and Jess have planned one last hurrah: a spring break Caribbean cruise.

And it won’t be just any cruise. On board are members of the reality show Trip League, which follows young twenty-somethings on adventures around the world. Since the show’s beginning, Quinn has been fascinated by J. R. Butler, with his amazing body, warm eyes, and killer grin. Unfortunately, he’s straight—or so the world thinks.

At nineteen, J. R. signed a contract to play straight for the show, and there’s no way to get out of it now. Yet with each passing day, Quinn and J. R. find it harder to keep their hands off each other and to keep out of the camera’s frame. But when the lens finally focuses on them, J. R. must decide if he’s willing to risk his career by admitting his bisexuality, and Quinn must determine if he's bold enough to stand in the spotlight with the man of his dreams...

 

 

This was such a fun, cute read! Although, now I wish I were ALREADY on Spring Break! While I'm not a big fan of reality tv, I have to admit this was a fun spin to add along with the cruise setting. I adored Quinn and I liked Jay a lot, so I was rooting for them from the beginning. Jess was also so much fun, as was Levi! So not only did we have a fun setting, but our characters were great too. I love how supportive they were of each other- their friendships were so key to this story!

 

Quinn was just precious. He was a complete sweetheart. He is a people pleaser though and isn't a take charge kind of guy. Being on spring break with his wild friend Jess, gives him the outlet to finally break free and step out of his comfort zone to go after what he wants for a change. I liked seeing him take chances and it was really inspirational to readers who want to do the same, but are afraid to. Jay was a bit of a tough nut to crack at first, but he was actually a good guy who felt trapped by the situation he was placed in. He notices Quinn, but knows he can't act on his feelings, as he's supposed to be straight for the show and there are cameras EVERYWHERE. Their stolen moments together were definitely great, but my heart ached for them as they shouldn't have to hide from the world.

 

Overall, I really enjoyed this one. I flew through it and it was just the kind of light-hearted read I needed. I am really looking forward to Levi's book, especially since it's about being on the Appalachian trail!

 

Us (Him #2)
   by: Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Publication Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 255 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Can your favorite hockey players finish their first season together undefeated?

Five months in, NHL forward Ryan Wesley is having a record-breaking rookie season. He's living his dream of playing pro hockey and coming home every night to the man he loves–Jamie Canning, his longtime best friend turned boyfriend. There's just one problem: the most important relationship of his life is one he needs to keep hidden, or else face a media storm that will eclipse his success on the ice.

Jamie loves Wes. He really, truly does. But hiding sucks. It's not the life Jamie envisioned for himself, and the strain of keeping their secret is taking its toll. It doesn't help that his new job isn't going as smoothly as he'd hoped, but he knows he can power through it as long as he has Wes. At least apartment 10B is their retreat, where they can always be themselves.

Or can they? When Wes's nosiest teammate moves in upstairs, the threads of their carefully woven lie begin to unravel. With the outside world determined to take its best shot at them, can Wes and Jamie develop major-league relationship skills on the fly?

Warning: contains sexual situations, a vibrating chair, long-distance sexytimes, and proof that hockey players look hot in any shade of green.

 

 

When I saw there was going to be a sequel to Him, I was equal parts nervous and equal parts giddy with excitement. Typically sequels equal more drama and unrest for our couples and I didn't want that for Jamie and Wes. However, I am so glad Bowen and Kennedy gave them this sequel. We definitely got to see their happy ending in Him, but I knew they had more trials to face, especially with Wes's status as the hot, new rookie hockey player. Wes has not come out to his teammates or the world and that is something that plays a huge role in this book. I really love that they explored this, as well as how Jamie is dealing with these new changes in his life.

 

This book definitely hurt my heart at times and I just wanted to hug both of these guys and tell them everything would be ok. It's not an angst-filled book, but there were moments where I felt the sadness and longing just jumping off the pages. Wes and Jamie are great together but they did need to be more open with their feelings instead of wondering about the other's. They do get to that point, but it definitely took some work on both of their parts. There were also some moments that felt awkward between them even when they weren't having issues and I wasn't sure why. The two have plenty of sexy times and it's obvious they have hella chemistry, but there were times in this book I had trouble feeling their connection with one another.

 

One of my favorite parts of this book comes in the form of a new character, Blake Ryan. Oh my goodness, Blake was HILARIOUS. He was so obnoxious that you couldn't help but love the guy. He really ended up surprising me with his loyalty and genuineness. Jamie and Wes might have felt a little suffocated by the guy in the beginning, but he really became a true friend and one of the best people to ever have in their corner. I would love a book for him (and Jess!) That would be a fun one to read!

 

Again, I couldn't be happier to get this sequel. Jamie and Wes's story was not over and I loved getting to see the what comes next now that they are together.

 

Strong Signal (Cyberlove #1)
   by: Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell

Publication Date: Feb. 15, 2016
Publisher: Self Published
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via the authors in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5/5 stars

I was counting down the months until the end of my deployment. My days were spent working on military vehicles, and I spent my nights playing video games that would distract me until I could leave Staff Sergeant Garrett Reid behind.

That was when I met him: Kai Bannon, a fellow gamer with a famous stream channel.

I never expected to become fixated on someone who'd initially been a rival. And I'd never expected someone who oozed charm to notice me—a guy known for his brutal honesty and scowl. I hadn't planned for our online friendship to turn into something that kept me up at night—hours of chatting evolving into filthy webcam sessions.

But it did. And now I can't stop thinking about him. In my mind, our real life meeting is perfect. We kiss, we fall into bed, and it's love at first sight.

Except, like most things in my life, it doesn't go as planned.

 

 

When I first saw Megan was writing this book, I was already in. I love her books, so it was a given that I needed this one. She has combined forces with Santino Hassell and holy hell did these two kill this book. This nerdy gamer girl all kinds of geeked out over the lingo and I found myself torn between wanting to read and going to game! (Kai and Garrett won by the way.) So fangirling and geeking out aside, this book was hella hot. The romance between those two was SO steamy and sexy. However, it's not without its complications. Both Kai and Garrett are navigating their new relationship and trying to fit the other into their life.

 

Garrett has been deployed to Afghanistan and video games are an escape for him. He is ready to be done, but he also has a lot to think about in terms of his future. He doesn't have a wide array of skill sets to work with, so his scope is pretty slim. He is a mechanic in the military and a damn good one, so he hopes to continue that out in the civilian world. He certainly didn't plan on finding and falling for a Twitch gamer, named Kai. However, the two end up forming a friendship and soon Kai is the one bright spot in Garrett's life. They are definitely attracted to one another, but Kai shies away from talk of meeting for reasons that I don't want to spoil.

 

Kai broke my heart a bit. I loved him so much and I hated that he had to deal with the issues he did. Garrett was so good for him and I am glad he was so supportive. Kai doesn't have family like Garrett does and neither have many friends they can call on either. However, Kai does have Shawn and Shawn's mom, who live down the hall, and I was infuriated when someone tried to defile that with ugliness. Garrett's mom and sister ended up being really great, especially when Garrett came clean to them about his being gay. They are not perfect and sometimes say the wrong things, but they love him no matter what and it was refreshing to see.

 

These two were such a good balance for one another. They are quite different, but they mesh so well together and man was their chemistry explosive! I felt both Megan and Santino did such a great job teaming up together to write this series! I can't wait for the next book!

 

The Darkest Flame (Roadmap to Your Heart #1)
     by: Christina Lee

Publication Date: Aug. 17, 2015
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: M/M Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 265 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 3.5/5 stars

From the author of There You Stand, a new male/male romance about an errant motorcycle recruit and the captivating bartender who sends his wheels spinning down an all too tempting road.

Vaughn O’Keefe has been part owner of the Hog’s Den for years. Privy to plenty of Disciples of the Road business, he’s never been more ruffled as when a new recruit named “Smoke” walks through the door. Something about the man gets his blood pumping, but he knows to keep his preferences under wraps around the club.

“Smoke” Callahan has done a couple of rehab stints and is finally clean, thanks to help from the Disciples. He’s on the right path and isn’t about to get sidetracked, no matter how much the guy who manages the bar gets beneath his skin. Besides, his last relationship with a man left him scared, alone, and with a nightmare of an addiction.

When the Hog’s Den becomes shorthanded, and Smoke is ordered to help out the one man he can’t have, his longing for the bartender reaches blistering proportions. Vaughn figures a night together should be enough to satisfy their mutual attraction. But neither banks on just how scorching hot it might be.

As Smoke’s past unravels and the one person he hopes never to lay eyes on again messes with all he holds sacred, it’s time to involve the Disciples. Problem is, he’ll have to risk his membership, his heart, and his own hide to keep everyone he cares about safe.

 

 

I am a huge fan of Christina Lee's books, so I was excited to read this first one in her new series! I have had really great luck with motorcycle club books, so I was interested in seeing how Lee would spin a m/m romance out of it! I thought she did a great job of making this one gritty and real, and I enjoyed Smoke and Vaughn together.

 

I liked that we had two very masculine, tough as nails guys as our main characters and that we got both their POVs. However, my one issue was that I really struggled to remember who was narrating because their voices sounded the same. Even though this was an ARC, and they are uncorrected proofs, I found myself doubly confused at times because the wrong name would be used. For example, it would be Vaughn's chapter and we would be getting his POV, but then it would refer to Vaughn as if Smoke were narrating. That may not be an issue in the finished copy, but it did make reading a bit more challenging for me personally.

 

Christina does not hold back in bringing the steam, that's for sure. The tension between Smoke and Vaughn is pretty intense and it's even more so because they had to hide their true natures from the others in the MC, for fear of not being accepted. The MC is a huge part of both Smoke and Vaughn's lives. While Vaughn may not be in the actual club, he runs their bar and is considered one of their own. I loved that the gang didn't hesitate in offering their protection to Vaughn after his apartment had been broken into. Having come from a different MC, Smoke is glad to be a part of the Disciples. His last club introduced him to a heroin addiction and a lover who treated him poorly and he is grateful to the Disciples for the chance to be a part of their group.

 

There is a bit of suspense involved in this one, as Vaughn and Smoke are dealing with a jealous ex who isn't afraid of messing with Vaughn and what's his. Even though I expected a bigger showdown towards the end, I have to admit, that big scene was already tense enough and I was nervous reading because my mind was going to dark places and I did NOT want to see Vaughn and Smoke go through what was planned for them.

 

This book probably won't be for everyone. It has a grittier and more in your face tone than some of the other m/m romances I've read. While it didn't bother me personally, I did want to point that out. It's also pretty heavy on the sex scenes and does include one brief one that included a ménage a trois with a female. I did feel some of the scenes overshadowed the plot and I think I would have liked a bit more action on the MC end. Nevertheless, I love Lee's writing and storytelling, so I am excited to see who the next book in the series will follow!

 

Him
   by: Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy

Publication Date: July 28, 2015
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via BocciPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 276 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 5/5 stars

They don’t play for the same team. Or do they?

Jamie Canning has never been able to figure out how he lost his closest friend. Four years ago, his tattooed, wise-cracking, rule-breaking roommate cut him off without an explanation. So what if things got a little weird on the last night of hockey camp the summer they were eighteen? It was just a little drunken foolishness. Nobody died.

Ryan Wesley’s biggest regret is coaxing his very straight friend into a bet that pushed the boundaries of their relationship. Now, with their college teams set to face off at the national championship, he’ll finally get a chance to apologize. But all it takes is one look at his longtime crush, and the ache is stronger than ever.

Jamie has waited a long time for answers, but walks away with only more questions—can one night of sex ruin a friendship? If not, how about six more weeks of it? When Wesley turns up to coach alongside Jamie for one more hot summer at camp, Jamie has a few things to discover about his old friend...and a big one to learn about himself.

Warning: contains sexual situations, skinnydipping, shenanigans in an SUV and proof that coming out to your family on social media is a dicey proposition.

 

 

When I saw Elle Kennedy was pairing up to write a M/M romance, naturally I HAD to have it. This was my first experience with Sarina Bowen and I can safely say I NEED her other books. This book... you guys. It was BEYOND hot. Seriously. I felt like I needed to go jump in my pool to cool myself down. These ladies do not hold back and man are the scenes STEAMY. All sexiness aside, this was just a GREAT read. I loved the storyline, the romance, the banter... it all came together SO WELL and I just enjoyed every minute of this one.

 

I loved both Wes and Jamie. They were such a great pair and I liked being inside both of their minds to see what they were thinking and feeling. Jamie hasn't heard from Wes in years and now the two are brought face to face as their teams play in the Frozen Four championship with their respective schools. They had been best friends for years until all of a sudden they weren't. That separation hurt both of them, and now Wes is determined to make things right. He misses his friend, but it's more than that too. He has deep feelings for him... but Jamie doesn't reciprocate those feelings.... or so he thinks. I can't imagine what it was like for Wes at 18 to feel the way he did and then fear he ruined the best friendship he ever had.

 

Jamie never understood why his friend cut and run. He never made a big deal out of that night and now that he knows Wes is openly gay, he doesn't think any less of his friend or is weirded out by this revelation. If anything, Wes's return to his life really opens his eyes to some things he may have never considered before. He doesn't understand the jealousy that courses through him at seeing his best friend chat it up with another guy, but he knows he doesn't like seeing it. Spending time with Wes again really changes a lot of things for Jamie and I liked how naturally that happened. Sure, Jamie has questions and is a bit confused by his feelings, but he doesn't freak and jump ship. He's pretty open about exploring these newfound feelings and soon he finds himself falling for his best friend as well.

 

I like that Bowen and Kennedy explored some deeper rooted issues in this book as well, as Wes and Jamie have some prejudices to overcome and not everyone is ok with two men being with one another. Wes is going into the major leagues and his plan is to fly under the radar for at least his first year, as he doesn't want complications with his new team. Wes doesn't think he and Jamie have a chance beyond their summer together, which made me sad because he was too afraid to talk to Jamie and find out what he thought and felt about the whole thing. The summer has completely changed everything for Jamie. He not only realizes he's in love with his best friend, but he is also starting to question his career choice. I found myself desperate for these two to communicate with one another and I was ready to smack Wes for being so bull headed!

 

Overall, this was a fantastic story and I really liked how their romance developed. It was sexy, steamy, and sweet all at the same time and I was rooting for them from the get-go! They are two great guys and they deserve happiness and to be together, damn what anyone else thinks. The ending with Jamie's family is perfection and definitely filled my heart with joy. I really hope these two ladies pair up again to write another novel because HOT DAMN they rocked it.

 

Focus on Me (In Focus #2)
    by: Megan Erickson

Publication Date: July 21, 2015
Publisher: InterMix
Genre: Contemporary M/M Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 204 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4.5 stars

Colin Hartman can now add college to his list of failures. On the coast-to-coast trek home from California, Colin stops at a gas station in the Nevada desert, and can’t help noticing the guy in tight jeans looking like he just stepped off a catwalk. When he realizes Catwalk is stranded, Colin offers a ride.

Riley only intended to take a short ride in Colin’s Jeep to the Grand Canyon. But one detour leads to another until they finally find themselves tumbling into bed together. However there are shadows in Riley’s eyes that hide a troubled past. And when those shadows threaten to bury the man whom Colin has fallen in love with, he vows to get Riley the help he needs. For once in his life, quitting isn’t an option…

 

 

Focus on Me was an emotional journey that completely took me by surprise. I had no idea that this book would take on a more serious subject matter, and while I expected a light, fun road trip with some small bumps in the road, I got so much more. I am so happy Megan delved into the issues she did, as they are ones many people will identify with and may even suffer from themselves. This was such a beautiful story of love, acceptance, and hope. Riley and Colin's story is one of strength and perseverance and I loved every minute of it, even with the darker, more troubling parts that made my heart ache for these two.

 

As soon as we met Riley, I knew we would be in for a more emotional story. He is looking for a ride, but has no real destination in mind. He's just existing and barely so. There is a quietness about him that left me feeling unsettled because I knew at my core that something wasn't right in his world. Riley couldn't have met a better person to ride with though. I loved Colin and his caretaker spirit. He sees the demons in Riley's eyes and wants him to open up to him and make things better for him. However, as Colin later learns, he can't be the one to save Riley. Riley has to be the one to save himself. I loved seeing this lesson here, because with what Riley is dealing with, love is not a magical fix all. It is an important factor though and it does play a large role in Riley's decision to get better.

 

My heart broke for Colin too, as he is feeling pretty low at this point in his life. He is heading back home after failing out of school and is really struggling with some self esteem issues. Thankfully, he has a great support system in his family and I was so happy that they accepted him without judgment or hesitation.

 

Both of these guys have their own battles they are dealing with, but along the way they do have some really sweet, fun moments together. The scene in the Laundromat where they are dancing brought the biggest smile to my face because it was nice to see Riley so happy and free in that moment.

 

The romance between these two was really sweet, but not without its challenges. That's what made it even sweeter though. They had to work at it and it wasn't easy, but they couldn't help how they felt either. Because of the way these characters developed, it did take a bit longer for me to connect with them than it did Justin and Landry from the first book. Speaking of those two crazy kids... we get to see them again in this book! I was beyond happy to check in with them. It was neat how their stories intertwined and how they became such good friends.

 

This is definitely not a light and fluffy read like I originally thought and I'm glad for it. I loved seeing these two face what they did and come out even stronger because of it. Focus on Me is one of those books that has so many poignant scenes that will affect you on so many levels.

 

 

 

My boots made an odd sound on the Skywalk. I watched them as I raised my knees up, forward, then down onto the clear glass floor, from which I could see the bottom of the Grand Canyon two thousand feet below.

My legs shook, and my heart felt like it was beating in my mouth. I wiped my forehead with the sleeve of my shirt and breathed in through my nose, out through my mouth.

This whole thing was weird and freaky. But the bridge was a little crowded, and Riley seemed to like it, so I shut my mouth and fought against my flight instinct. Still, I gazed longingly at the solid ground at the edge of the Grand Canyon. According to the shuttle driver, the U-shaped Skywalk jutted out from the rim of the Grand Canyon seventy feet at its farthest point. Which was where we were.

Riley leaned on the railing and looked below. I followed his gaze, spying the Colorado River in the distance.

I walked over next to him and folded my forearms on the railing, resting my forehead on them and closing my eyes. Then I prayed my legs would stop shaking.

When I looked up, Riley was watching me with amusement.

“What’s that look for?”

“You don’t like this, do you?"

I shrugged.

He laughed. “Liar. Your face is white and you’re sweating like crazy.”

I wiped my forehead again. “Hot as hell out here. This is Arizona, ya know.”

“Right . . .” He let his voice trail off and then focused back on the canyon in front of us. I told myself to chill and let my gaze roam the area. I’d seen pictures of the Grand Canyon, but to actually be here in this huge natural area was a head trip. I was seeing it with my own eyes, but could barely grasp the actual freaking size of the canyon.

A helicopter circled overhead, one of the tours, and I looked up, shielding my eyes as it flew past.

“Have you ever seen Garden State?” Riley asked.

I dropped my hand back to the railing. “Garden State?”

“Yeah, it’s a movie.”

I shook my head, “No.”

He swallowed and looked back at the canyon as he spoke. “Well, the main character is depressed, and he’s been on drugs a lot of his life to deal with it. But then he stops taking them. He said he wants to feel, and he wasn’t sure he ever needed them in the first place.” He took a breath. “Anyway, there’s this scene where he and his friends visit an abandoned quarry. He climbs on top of this old construction vehicle in the pouring rain on the edge of the quarry and yells down into it. Just yells into the infinite abyss, as he calls it. And he’s happy because he’s feeling that moment, you know?”

Riley looked at me, his eyes wide. I didn’t know what he wanted me to say. Because that sounded kind of weird, for a guy to stand and yell into a hole. Maybe he just wanted to hear his voice echo. Some guys liked to hear themselves talk. So all I did was nod.

In response, Riley stepped closer. When he spoke again, his voice was lower, softer. “Standing here like this, how does it make you feel?”

I licked my lips and broke Riley’s gaze to look at the other people walking the bridge. Some were holding hands and talking. Others were pointing at the canyon below. Then I looked back out, staring at the tan rocks of the canyon walls. The best way to describe all of this was beautiful, in the way the sun baked the ground, the way the gentle breeze ruffled my sweat-dampened hair. The way plants shoved their way through cracks in the rock to reach the sun and thrive.

I wasn’t so good at this, talking about how I felt and shit. But he’d asked me, so I thought about how to answer as honestly as I could. “I guess . . . I guess I feel pretty small. And I feel pretty lucky that I’m here. I’m alive and the sun is shining, and I get to see one of the greatest sites in the world.”

I winced a little, wondering if that all sounded stupid.Riley rolled his lips between his teeth, and his eyes lowered until he stared at his hands folded on the railing. “That’s . . . that’s good, Colin.”

So I guessed I’d done all right. “How, uh, does it make you feel?”

Riley’s eyes fell closed slowly. “About the same,” he whispered. But there was something in his voice, something that made me scratch my head, but also made me think he was lying a little.

“You happy you got to see this?” I waved a hand out into the infinite abyss.“Yeah,” he whispered again. But he didn’t look happy. And his eyes looked wet.

He blinked and turned away, and when he faced me again, some cool mask had slipped over his face. His eyes looked a little too bright, his smile forced. “Thanks a lot for bringing me.”

The Darkest Flame

by: Christina Lee

M/M Contemporary Romance

Expected Publication: Aug. 17, 2015

 

From the author of There You Stand, a new male/male romance about an errant motorcycle recruit and the captivating bartender who sends his wheels spinning down an all too tempting road.

Vaughn O’Keefe has been part owner of the Hog’s Den for years. Privy to plenty of Disciples of the Road business, he’s never been more ruffled as when a new recruit named “Smoke” walks through the door. Something about the man gets his blood pumping, but he knows to keep his preferences under wraps around the club.

“Smoke” Callahan has done a couple of rehab stints and is finally clean, thanks to help from the Disciples. He’s on the right path and isn’t about to get sidetracked, no matter how much the guy who manages the bar gets beneath his skin. Besides, his last relationship with a man left him scared, alone, and with a nightmare of an addiction.

When the Hog’s Den becomes shorthanded, and Smoke is ordered to help out the one man he can’t have, his longing for the bartender reaches blistering proportions. Vaughn figures a night together should be enough to satisfy their mutual attraction. But neither banks on just how scorching hot it might be.

As Smoke’s past unravels and the one person he hopes never to lay eyes on again messes with all he holds sacred, it’s time to involve the Disciples. Problem is, he’ll have to risk his membership, his heart, and his own hide to keep everyone he cares about safe.