Dirty Games by Barbara Elsborg Blog Tour

The last thing Linton needs when he arrives home after three months in the States, is to find his beautiful flat is a squat, complete with his younger brother Dirk, who’s lying in Linton’s bed with a couple who’ve paid him for sex. Dirk isn’t even supposed to have a key. But after Linton throws Dirk out, life slams in hard and if his brother is to have any hope of a future, Linton has to play dirty. Or at least pretend to. What he hasn’t factored in is having to play the game to the bitter end.

Film star Thorne Morrisey has everything. Good looks, charm, seductive magnetism and a voice that could charm a snake from its basket. He can also be a real shit and yet people still love him – though he’d rather not have the love of his ex. Owen’s a suicidal wreck after Thorne dumped him in a very public and humiliating way and Owen’s wealthy brother has his own reasons for wanting revenge on Thorne. Max’s weapon of choice is his employee, Linton.

Linton and Thorne are on a collision course and in for the game of their lives. But who’s playing who?

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 stars of complexity

This is a difficult book in the beginning, as it is challenging to find characters who are really good. The names we know we need to look out for demonstrate behaviours that are flawed and unkind, and unethical. So Ms. Elsborg sets us up, draws us in, and then slowly peels back the layers.

What I guess I am saying is, give this every opportunity to deliver a great story – because I believe it does achieve it. Linton gives us a lot of himself, and he deserves our patience, support and sympathy. Even Thorne, who behaves appallingly at times, loves his brother, River, and gets to understand how much better things can be when someone stands up to him. Both men grew up protecting their brothers and keeping the world at bay – watching those barriers fall and be repaired is both frustrating and engaging.

This is one of those books which will stick with me for a long while, because life isn't all about roses, but can still be about love.


Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
Having read Elsborg’s Fall or Break series and Give Yourself Away, I jumped at the chance to read Dirty Games as the blurb suggested it would have a similar feel – that gritty, realistic look at life, flawed characters and all. While Dirty Games certainly has that gritty feel to it, it didn’t occur quite as I expected. But let’s face it, in a book in which the characters are keeping secrets and lying to themselves as much as they are to one another, the realism isn’t going to be as in your face, but rather more subtle and psychological because you can’t know who is playing whom until it’s all revealed at the bitter end.

Elsborg sets the scene perfectly so that I, as the reader, had the utmost sympathy for Linton’s situation – wanting to strangle his brother and cut him out of his life completely versus wanting to cry for his brother while bundling him up to protect him from the world. Linton’s is not a position anyone ever wants to find themselves in and his desire to do whatever he could to help his brother get better, made it impossible not to like him – even when he agreed to help Owen and Max exact revenge on Thorne. Yet even after the indirect introduction of Thorne – compliments of the reason why he has become the target of Max and Owen’s scorn – the author pens a series of scenes for the reader’s first “meeting” of Thorne that made it impossible for me to see him as the cold-hearted monster he’d been made out to be. This is why I understood Linton’s state of confusion when the man he met did not match the man who had been described to him, and even less so as he and Thorne spent more and more time together. Despite his intentions, Linton found himself falling for Thorne, wishing they’d met under different circumstances, and hoping he could figure out a way to tell Thorne about his agreement with Max and Owen without losing Thorne or risking his brother. And the guilt that Linton is carrying is what compels him to endure Thorne’s fury and the public humiliation Thorne doles out when his deception is revealed. And it is brutal. But when all the secrets are exposed and both men discover that there were more than just pawns in someone else’s game, will Thorne be able to repair the damage he’s done?

One of the things I appreciate about Elsborg’s writing is that she is able to convey a character’s trauma or dark past without giving the reader all the dirty details. For me, this can actually be far more effective as it gives my mind the chance to fashion a past that may be worse than what the author would have written. In regards to Dirty Games, we learn what tragedy befell Linton and Owen when they were teens that led Linton to feel as though he “owes” Owen for letting him down – a situation that Owen and Max take advantage of and that I got the feeling they had done so for years – but without the specifics laid out, my mind fashioned its own horrific series of events, making me even more invested in the book. Not surprisingly, I loved watching the relationship between Linton and Thorne develop – seeing Thorne fall for the man who didn’t immediately succumb to his advances, all while Linton tried desperately not to get involved and then, when he couldn’t avoid it, he tried to protect himself from the heartbreak he knew would come once Thorne learned about Max’s plan. I loved the supporting cast of characters and especially loved how Thorne’s brother, River, identified the parallel between Thorne’s career and what Linton had done and how it forced Thorne to reexamine his reaction to Linton’s deception. Of course, the absolute best part was how Linton and Thorne got their revenge against Max by not seeking revenge; you’ll have to read the book to find out how. Dirty Games is another great example of Elsborg’s talent and I cannot wait to see what she writes next.

Barbara Elsborg lives in Kent in the South of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Vulcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.

After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.

Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they were to write.

Connect with Barbara

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Dirty Games by Barbara Elsborg to read and review for this tour.

Drawn In by Barbara Elsborg

Undercover police officer Kell has crossed the line. He’s become trapped in an abusive relationship with his violent thug of a boss and sees no way back without wrecking months of work. The hope of ever being involved with someone who respects him seems a distant dream.

Private investigator Gethin is depressed that the bulk of his work involves following unfaithful partners. He knows just what it’s like to be cheated on. Even worse, his relationship with his ex is complicated and Gethin can see no way of breaking free of a guy who so desperately needs him.

A chance encounter brings Kell and Gethin together, entwining their lives with secrets and danger. They both have reasons to keep things casual. But there are consequences to zipless fucks. Not only do they have to survive people trying to kill them, they need to trust each other and keep their wits about them, while ensuring their hearts stay intact.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/M not exactly romance
Triggers: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

This was just an okay story for me. There was a lot of angst in the story and I thought that Elsborg did an amazing job keeping it all flowing in an organic way. The characters were full of their own self-doubts, worries, stresses, but in the end, they found their way through the muddled mess to each other.

Jonnie was kind of a conundrum in this story. I REALLY disliked him. He was both manipulative and needy in a way that made me instantly dislike him and he never came around for me. Gethin is a kind soul and he knew that he needed to be there for Jonnie despite their history. I also thought that Jonnie's parents were chicken-sh**s for making Gethin do what they were too cowardly to do. (Man, can you tell I didn't like him or his family?)

Gethin is struggling with his life. He stumbled on to something that he knows he shouldn't have seen, but can't let it go. The investigator in him needs to know where the rabbit hole ends. He knows he's putting his work-friends in danger, but just can't seem to figure out how to not care. I think my issue with Gethin is that he's too caring and forgets to care for himself.

Then you have Kell. Man, Kell is all sorts of messed up. Staying with that horrible "man" just to find a girl who's not even really part of his life anymore? Strange and honorable all wrapped into what makes Kell, Kell.

This story is full of anxious moments, questionable decision making, but ultimately, it's about finding your way through darkness and into the light of what love can truly bring someone.


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
This was a slow start for me. As I read about the awful circumstances that Kell and Gethin find themselves, I was second guessing my choice to read such a heavy and, at that point, depressing story at Christmas. I continued on because author had laid enough ground work that I wanted to see where the story was going and particularly, how Gethin's situation would resolve.

Kell and Gethin meet at a party, neither of them wanting attachments and expecting their get together will be a one off. But one encounter turns into two, which turns into them exchanging numbers. It is clear this is never going to be a one nighter no matter how much they try to deny it.

For me the story really picked up when Gethin's job as a private investigator put him in the club where Kell is "working security." Action, danger, and a mystery to solve, coupled with the personal relationship developing between Kell and Gethin sucked me in and squashed any doubts I had about this book choice.

Drawn In had my heart racing. It was both heartbreaking and heartwarming. By the end, my emotions were all over the place and I was in my happy book place. Great story.

Barbara Elsborg lives in Kent in the south of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Vulcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.

After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.

Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are as much fun to read as they are to write.

Connect with Barbara

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Drawn In by Barbara Elsborg to read and review.

Give Yourself Away by Barbara Elsborg

One guy intent on caution. One an adrenaline junkie. Love could be one risk too many.

March is determined to lose the numbness that accompanies a history of loss and blame. Desperate to feel something—anything—the adrenaline junkie base jumps off cliffs, soars on hang gliders, and embarks on dangerous sea-borne rescue missions. But any release he feels is fleeting, and when you play Russian roulette with fate, eventually you come crashing down.

No matter how hard Caleb tries to forget his past, a dark shadow is always behind him. When a bizarre turn of events results in him being trapped in a sea cave, Caleb wonders how his mantra—safety at all costs—could have failed him. On the point of drowning, he’s stunned when March surfaces in the cave.

March’s disregard for the rules saves Caleb’s life but gets March into a heap of trouble. Not least of which is the guy shivering in the boat next to him. March tries to ignore Caleb but it’s already too late. Together, they take small, awkward steps toward love. But Caleb’s past is waiting to sink in its claws…and this time, it could drag him to his death.

Warning: This book contains difficult flashbacks of child abduction and sexual violence, but also the incredible perseverance of two men who never give up on love—or each other. Bring your tissues and a heart that believes in the resilience of the human spirit.

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Samhain  Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
This is an intense read all the way through. It slips from the past to today in ever increasing frequency and I got the twist fairly quickly, but the reveal worked well, and was beautifully handled. Actually the whole story is surprisingly beautiful – given the subject matter and the long-term impact of it on the protagonists.

This is undoubtedly a romance, but as with many of Ms. Elsborg's books, the reader is treated to much, much more than a simple story. The plot is deep, difficult, and keeps the reader thinking all the way through. It is very clever because it could fall over the edge, but instead it skirts along a fine line, and is so sensitive to the lead characters, that the reader can completely embrace the closeness that develops.

A really good read. Thank you Ms. Elsborg!


Angela – ☆☆☆☆
I have only read a few of Elsborg’s books, but I’ve enjoyed each one of them. So I jumped at the chance to review Give Yourself Away. The premise intrigued me and I expected the author could make it an interesting read. I was not disappointed as the blurb merely hinted at a tiny portion of what plays out over the course of the novel and it was even better than I expected.

I’ll start with a warning and clarification, the book opens with a scene that I suspect will scare the bejeezus out of most parents – the abduction of two young boys, Baxter and Tye, 15 years earlier. What made it scary was not that it was violent, but rather that it occurred so easily. Each chapter opens with a scene from the boys’ time with their kidnapper and while nothing explicit happens on page, you have no doubt as to what the boys endured, especially Tye. And as more comes out about how the boys were abducted, I suspect a few parents will experience a bit of panic regarding the vulnerability of their own children. After each snippet from the past is presented, we join Caleb and March in the present and it didn’t take long for me to realize the direction the author was practically shoving me in as more is revealed about the men. While there is a definite romantic suspense element to Give Yourself Away, it had nothing to do with the correlation between Baxter & Tye and March & Caleb. No, where the mystery came into play was determining who it was from Caleb’s past who was threatening him and those near him who hurt him. I will embarrassingly admit that once the stalker’s identity was revealed I was both shocked by who it was and why that person never dawned on me.

As much as I enjoyed the romantic suspense element, it was watching the relationship between Caleb and March form and grow that I really enjoyed. It was painfully obvious that Caleb had his issues and walking in on his boyfriend cheating on him, in public, at a party, did nothing to help them. On the other hand, March seems to have it all together as a college professor until he’s accused of sexual impropriety by a female student and we learn that March has been questioning his sexuality since he broke off his engagement. When fate brings the two men together and they begin getting to know one another, it’s entertaining to watch as they are both wary of the other for different reasons. But as they overcome their fears and become better acquainted with one another, they both feel a strong pull to the other without understanding why. But as March makes Caleb feel safer than he has in years, and Caleb makes March feel as though he’s finally figured out what’s been missing in his relationships, they are both hesitant of making the wrong move, wanting too much, and possibly scaring the other man away. This was a bit frustrating for me as the reader to witness being as I had already figured out their secret, but it was still fascinating to watch unfold. Between the men’s chemistry, their romance, the mystery stalker, and the truth about the boys’ abduction, I was fully engrossed in Give Yourself Away because I had to know how it was going to play out. The ending of the book had me glued to my Kindle once Caleb’s stalker made his identity known by abducting Caleb. I loved that March’s second job and willingness to jump into the fray were what saved Caleb and I especially loved the epilogue. All in all, another great read from Elsborg.

Barbara Elsborg lives in West Yorkshire in the north of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her. Vulcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide. (Try saying that fast)

After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop. Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, sometimes two bad boys for each quirky heroine, and more recently two bad boys all on their own. She hopes her stories are as much fun to read as they are to write.

Connect with Barbara

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Give Yourself Away by Barbara Elsborg to read and review.

Talking Trouble by Barbara Elsborg

Two men are separated by more than the dam between their houses. Can Mollie be the path that unites them?

Flint Klavan appears to have it all. The sought-after British actor is affluent, loved and vocal in his professional life but privately he’s a mess. A devastating breakup leaves him full of self-loathing. He hopes to find the way to turn things around when disaster strikes. He’s left speechless with fear he’ll never get the chance to recover what he’s lost.

Mollie James has the perfect job teaching children, and used to have the perfect boyfriend. Attentive, kind and thoughtful. Only now he’s not. She has to sacrifice everything if she’s any chance to survive, and run as fast and as far as she can.

Lysander Weldon is a wealthy, talented artist who’s hidden himself away following personal tragedies. He shares his house and his body but never his heart. When opportunity to forgive confronts him, he has to choose between giving up his fortress or bracing to watch happiness leave him behind.

Reader Advisory: This book contains scenes of physical abuse and MM content.

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Totally Bound

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I loved this book. Talking Trouble features my favorite type of ménage relationship – one woman with two bisexual men. I haven’t read many novels in which the two men have a prior relationship and are reunited by the woman between them and the few I have were a bit awkward and rather angsty considering that the characters tended to be in their late twenties or older. So I wasn’t sure how well it would play out. But having read Ms. Elsborg before and having enjoyed her writing immensely, I was quick to grab this one and I am oh so very glad I did.

I found each of the main characters fascinating in their own way. The author does a wonderful job using each of the first three chapters to introduce us to Flint, Mollie, and Lysander and then continues to alternate between the characters’ points of view for an even fuller look into how they each fare within the relationship that ultimately develops. In an effort not to spoil the book for others, I will say that I found the incident that left Flint speechless utterly terrifying and realistic. Although I was able to suss out what happened before he did, I found myself afraid for Flint as his world was turned upside down. His subsequent confusion and depression were completely understandable and it was no surprise that he was so elated when he was able to connect with Mollie. Or that he latched onto her so thoroughly when they were able to communicate. But this was not the sole source of his fascination with her. Flint felt an attraction for Mollie that he hadn’t felt for a woman in years. In fact, it was almost on par with his feelings for the only person who broke his heart…Lysander. Yes, THAT Lysander. Lysander is the cocky yet tortured artist and as the book plays out we learn that he truly is tortured. While part of Lysander’s “torture” is of his own making part is not, but even he is unaware of the truth behind his tragedy. Just as Mollie plays a huge part in Flint’s recovery, she also finds herself at Lysander’s side as his truths are revealed. Mollie is an interesting enigma in that she projects a happy innocence yet proves to be far more open-minded and accepting of Lysander and Flint than either expected, especially when learning of their past relationship. And it is Mollie’s secrets that have the power to destroy their budding happiness… or save it.

The relationships that develop between the characters in Talking Trouble were each unique. Yes both men were attracted to Mollie and she to them, but the relationship she developed with Flint was entirely different from her relationship with Lysander. While there is quite a bit of drama and conflict in the book, it isn’t muddled with unnecessary angst. There are a few moments of angst as each character tries to decide if the other two would be better off without him or her, but it wasn’t the back and forth “should I/shouldn’t I” that dragged on and on unnecessarily. Despite the heightened emotions and injured feelings, these characters actually communicated – they talked to one another and worked out their issues. Once they began to form their ménage relationship, any ganging up of two parties on one was to prove to the one that they were a vital part of the relationship. The chemistry was electric and this made for some sizzling sex scenes, complete with MF, MM, MFM, and MMF interactions. I found myself reading later into the night than planned and waking early the following morning to finish it because I had to know how Ms. Elsborg would give Flint, Mollie, and Lysander the happy ending they deserved. And the Epilogue was perfect! My only complaint is that their story is over because I absolutely adored these characters and would love to read more books about them.

Barbara Elsborg lives in West Yorkshire in the north of England. She always wanted to be a spy, but having confessed that to everyone without them even resorting to torture, she decided it was not for her.

Vulcanology scorched her feet. A morbid fear of sharks put paid to marine biology. So instead, she spent several years successfully selling cyanide.

After dragging up two rotten, ungrateful children and frustrating her sexy, devoted, wonderful husband (who can now stop twisting her arm) she finally has time to conduct an affair with an electrifying plugged-in male, her laptop.

Her books feature quirky heroines and bad boys, and she hopes they are much fun to read as they were to write.

Connect with Barbara

Facebook  ~  Twitter  ~  Google+  ~  Website  ~  Goodreads

Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Talking Trouble by Barbara Elsborg to read and review.