Internal Combustion by India Masters

Chelsea doesn’t want a man – problematic, because she can’t stop imagining her boss naked. Finn is definitely off-limits. Chelsea loves her job at his garage way too much to let a little thing like lust ruin her future.

Too bad Finn isn’t on the same page. He can’t seem to think of anything but bending Chelsea over every flat surface in the garage and teasing her until she’ll agree to every fantasy he’s got.

Talking Chelsea to bed – and into some kinky BDSM fun – isn’t nearly as hard as Finn thought it would be. The sex is scorching and he can’t get over how their pillow talk revolves around their mutual love of engines, fast cars, and high-octane fun.

Chelsea may let Finn tie her up, but she’s not about to let him tie her down. The mere mention of a relationship has her pumping the brakes and looking for an exit. Finn’s willing to give her the time and space she needs; he knows his woman better than she thinks, and he’s willing to ignore every possessive instinct he has to prove it.

Publisher's Note: Internal Combustion was previously released by another publisher but has been re-edited and substantially revised.

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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆
This is a hot, fun and easy read. The two characters certainly know how to heat up the page, with plenty of variety and sensual erotica. Even though Chelsea may be sworn off men, Finn gets under her skin and plays the patience game...well, heart-wise, even if not sex-wise! The setting in a garage, with classic cars and both of them having a career and hobby in common is a nice touch. The ending is really fun and even though it is a short story, we know enough about them to definitely care about the outcome.

India was born and raised on the east coast of Florida until the age of 10, when the family moved to South Carolina. A defense industry brat, she’s lived in Charleston, Sunnyvale, CA, Washington State, and back to Florida again. She is divorced and is the mother of an adult daughter who lives in Ohio, where she will be moving in the spring to be closer. India is a retired psychiatric social worker and spends her days writing and indulging the sweetest kitty in the world.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Internal Combustion by India Masters to read and review.

Stuck Landing by Lauren Gallagher

For months, acclaimed Wolf’s Landing director/producer Anna Maxwell has been nursing a crush on Natalya Izmaylova, a former Russian gymnast and current Wolf’s Landing stunt coordinator. When Anna witnesses Natalya’s very public breakup with her boyfriend, she can’t resist inviting her over for drinks to commiserate about love and all that nonsense. Commiseration doesn’t last long, and soon Anna’s in bed with the hottest woman she’s ever touched, living out fantasies she didn’t even know she had.

Despite the amazing sex, Anna wants to proceed with caution. They’re both newly single. They’re colleagues. And there’s the not-so-small matter of Anna’s biphobia.

Natalya won’t commit to someone who clings to ridiculous stereotypes, but they can’t avoid each other at work, and there’s no ignoring their chemistry. Anna’s defenses are slowly eroding, and Natalya is willing to give her another chance. But Natalya only has so much patience, and even scorching-hot sex won’t keep her coming back forever. If Anna doesn’t come to her senses soon and let go of her prejudices—not to mention her insecurities—she’s going to lose the woman of her dreams.

Bluewater Bay stories can be read in any order — jump in wherever you'd like!

Book 11
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Riptide  Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
Anna and Natalya spend a pleasurable passionate night together, but Anna's prejudice towards bisexuals screws things up. Anna convinces Natalya to give her another chance so they can be friends. It is clear to see while they are trying to be casual about their friendship, it is developing into more.

Their relationship is lovely and erotic and sometimes difficult. There is a fantastically sexy scene in a gym shower that I won't be forgetting any time soon. But my favourite part of this book is when our couple attend a wedding of their friends. It is one of the sweetest and most romantic wedding scenes I've ever read and it had me tearing up.

Stuck Landing is the 11^th book in the Bluewater Bay series and the first one I've read but I'm definitely going to read others.

Lauren Gallagher is an abnormal romance writer who has recently been exiled from the glittering utopia of Omaha, Nebraska, to an undisclosed location in South America. Along with her husband, a harem of concubines, and a phosphorescent porcupine, she remains, as always, in hiding from the Polynesian Mafia. For the moment, she seems to have eluded her nemesis, M/M romance author L.A. Witt, but figures L.A. will eventually become bored with the wilds of Spain and come looking for her. And when that time comes, Lauren will be ready. Assuming L.A. doesn't have her hands full keeping track of Lori A. Witt and Ann Gallagher, which she probably will.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Stuck Landing (Bluewater Bay #11) by Lauren Gallagher to read and review.

Never Too Late by J.P. Bowie

Knocking fifty isn’t bad enough? Jared Haas gets a double whammy when his doc tells him he needs a hip replacement. Can a hunky but too young paramedic smooth the way to recovery?

Jared Haas isn’t happy. On his own for more than two years after his partner of twenty years, Daniel, died, he’s knocking fifty and now his athleticism is threatened by, of all things, a hip replacement. How to make a guy feel really old! At least there’s eye candy nearby in the very nice shape of Steve Forrest, a hunky paramedic who is willing to take more than just a professional interest in Jared’s welfare. The problem is, in Jared’s opinion, he’s too young.

Steve is persistent, though, telling Jared that the difference in their ages isn’t ‘the Grand Canyon of time’. His good looks and sweet nature, not to mention his patience in waiting for Jared to heal before making his move, eventually wear Jared down, and the first time they make love, Jared knows he is lost in lust. Something he never thought possible.

Their idyll is shaken when Daniel’s brother shows up unexpectedly and declares his love for Jared. David has left his wife and his job back in Seattle ready to move in with Jared and claim him as his own. To say Jared is taken aback by this strange turn of events is putting it mildly. How can he tell David he’s completely delusional without breaking his heart?

Here’s another situation Jared never thought he’d have to deal with, only this one isn’t nearly as pleasant, and might prove to be the end of his relationship with both men.

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Pride  Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4 heart-warming stars.

Never too Late was a comforting novella, with swift pacing and a warm and fluffy storyline that had unexpected depth in so few pages.

Jared is a forty-nine-year-old widower, whose almost-husband of 25 years had passed away two years ago from cancer. The mature architect may not look his age, but he's surely feeling older than he should. His hips are causing him trouble, and he's diagnosed with needing a replacement. Between thinking he is old, feeling old, now he's insecure that everyone else will see him as old as well.

Jared doesn't harp on this, but it was refreshing to see a mature male character with mature thoughts, actions, and behaviors. Slightly insecure, Jared already had a lifetime of love, and doesn't expect to ever love another, nor is he looking for it, especially at his age.

In walks Steve, a paramedic in his mid-thirties who is persistent enough to drive right through all of Jared's hesitation. While the story is definitely insta-lust, it's not in the way one would think. They are attracted to one another, which is within reason. With the hip replacement surgery, it's not like they could act on the insta-lust for many weeks to come. So there is a slow-building of the relationship as well.

I enjoyed Never too Late, and found it exactly as it was meant to be. However, I do believe the blurb itself gives the entire plot away, and I hope it gets revised. While I like to know a bit about what to expect in the pages, I don't want it all written out for me before I begin.

Recommended for MM romance fans who want a warm, comforting, sexy few hours of escapism.

I don't know if this is the start of a series – it isn't listed as such – but I would be curious to read more from this cast of characters.


Angie – ☆☆☆
Super short, perfect for a rainy day or a day at the beach. Honestly the blurb gives away almost the entire short story so there isn’t really anything that I need to tell you that you can’t find out from reading that. I means seriously, I could rewrite the blurb for you in my own words but I won’t. It was short, sweet, and worth the read.

Characters: Well written
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: No
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Ruthie – ☆☆☆
This is a sweet, short read with some definite heat between the sheets. It dealt with some interesting issues of age, unwanted and unrequited passion, and inventive post-surgery care. It flowed well, even when it went into memory or day dream mode. It was a little odd that the blurb pretty much revealed everything, so that I knew what was going to happen – it reminded me why I usually avoid them.

Overall an enjoyable way to spend an evening, thank you Mr. Bowie.

J.P. Bowie was born in Scotland and toured British theatres in numerous musical shows including Stephen Sondheim's Company.

Emigrated to the States and worked in Las Vegas, Nevada for the magicians Siegfried and Roy as their Head of Wardrobe at the Mirage Hotel. Currently living in Henderson, Nevada.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Never Too Late by J.P. Bowie to read and review.

Strictly Yours by Sheryl Nantus

He’ll risk everything for her safety—this time it’s personal.

Of all the subs Jennifer works with as a Domme-for-hire for Hooded Pleasures as “Danielle”, her favorite is Nathan Harrowsford, a sexy, tough—yet kind—beat cop with a desire to be dominated on his days off.

Though she is responsible for creating a haven for his fantasies, it’s he who makes her feel safe. Yet when she learns a violent piece of her past has been let out on parole, she hesitates to bring Nathan anywhere near her complicated world.

Nathan doesn’t know anything about “Danielle”, not even her real name. But when she reluctantly asks for his help, he’s determined to move heaven and earth for her safety. Because he’s a cop, a man, and her submissive—in that order.

When danger hits too close to home, Nathan’s race to save her and the rest of her subs pushes him to the edge of his skills, and his feelings for his Domme. Because he’s no longer willing to settle for being just her client. He wants her for his full-time lover—if they live long enough.

Warning: Sexy cops who raise the heat—in the kitchen and out—and a man who’s not afraid to rise from his knees to guard his lover’s back.

Book 3
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Samhain  Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Kris – ☆☆☆☆
3½ stars
After completely enjoying the first book in this series, I jumped to read Strictly Yours. Unfortunately, this story fell a bit flat for me.

Jennifer is a decent character and I liked her well enough, and Nathan was a great submissive male, he was written well. I saw him as a strong man, but submissive in nature with a Domme. I just wasn't sure I was on board for the third part of the story, where Jennifer is being harassed by an ex-convict. The one she thwarted from an almost hostage situation at the clinic where she worked. I wasn't sure why I couldn't wrap my head around him coming after her and her submissives, but something about the story just didn't work for me. I also found in this installment an overuse of "scene setting" descriptives that took me out of the story or had me skimming the pages for real content. I still enjoyed Jennifer & Nathan's story together, and the session scenes were very steamy, even the ones that were just their imagination instead of actually happening. So I give this book a 3½ stars.


Stephanie – ☆☆☆☆
3.5 Stars
I read and enjoyed the other installments in the Hooded Pleasure Series, so I was excited to start this next one. As with the rest of the series, Sheryl Nantus brings the heat with this one. The story is descriptive, but I felt like sometimes there is too much description in some parts of the story but then not enough in other parts. I like the way the characters were written, but I would have liked to know a little more about their relationship. I really like how the series is written as standalones, but they are still loosely related.


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
The third in the series – although you could read each as a standalone, as they are about different characters each time. I have enjoyed them all so far.

After the last story which had a lead character that definitely had to grow on you - here we have two delicious leads who start out as Domme engaged via HP, and alpha male, but submissive, cop. The dynamics between these two when in a scene, and then their ordinary (separate) lives contrasts so strongly that it heightens the senses. Clearly they have a bond even when in role, but as things get scary for Jen, Nathan is a strong person to provide support, and care. The role changes work well, and possibly emphasise the importance of D/s and its interaction with the every day. I loved Nathan's conviction, and his stability – just what was needed as things got more dangerous. As they get closer, and danger nears, the additional impact of her having to look after the other men that she provided a Domme service to, was well played out.

I felt that the distance travelled was less than in Strictly Pleasure – but it was an enjoyable read. Looking forward to book 4!

Also Available in the Hooded Pleasures Series

Book 1
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Samhain  Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Strictly Business post.

Book 2
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Samhain  Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Strictly Pleasure post.

Sheryl Nantus was born in Montreal, Canada, and grew up in Toronto, Canada. A rabid reader almost from birth, she attended Sheridan College in Oakville, graduating in 1984 with a diploma in media arts writing. She met Martin Nantus through the online fanfiction community in 1993 and moved to the United States in 2000 in order to marry.

She loves to play board games and write haiku, although not usually at the same time.

A firm believer in the healing properties of peppermint and chai, she continues to search for the perfect cuppa.

She has published multiple books with Samhain Publishing. In 2011 she won two second-place Prism Awards from the Fantasy, Futuristic and Paranormal chapter of RWA for her steampunk romance, Wild Cards and Iron Horses and the first volume of her superhero romance trilogy, Blaze of Glory.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Strictly Yours (Hooded Pleasures #3) by Sheryl Nantus to read and review.

Amended Soul by Kate Steele

Jamie Hardin has had his fair share of ups and downs. He's been widowed once and divorced once--with extreme prejudice. Due to the machinations of his ex-wife, Jamie's son Rio ran away at sixteen. Two years later, Jamie has the chance to reconnect with Rio and so he moves himself and his five-year-old adopted son to a new town in a new state to start over. The welcome he receives from Rio is everything Jamie had wanted; what he wasn't prepared for was Jed Matranga. From the moment they meet, a simple handshake is all it takes to light a fire Jamie has no idea how to handle.

Jed Matranga, single werewolf, has just met his mate. In addition to being gentle, caring and clever, Jamie's emotionally wounded. He's also not gay. For Jed it will be the challenge of a lifetime to prove to Jamie that trusting his own judgment is the right thing to do, and where relationships are concerned, it's feelings and not gender that matters.

Book 2
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Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Dawn – ☆☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book. I never read the first in the series, but I was never once confused as to what was happening.

Jamie wanted to make amends with his oldest son so he makes the decision to divorce his second wife and move closer to Rio.

When Jamie meets Jed, he feels something he has never felt before. The problem is Jed is a man.

This is a great book and I liked that it focused on the love story before anything else. I marked it down a star because I am not a fan of flowery descriptions, they really put me off especially during sex scenes. Other than that I enjoyed the book.

Having been an avid reader of romance for years, and being possessed of an overactive imagination, Kate decided to try her hand at writing. She discovered that, like reading, writing romance is addictive. Whether writing paranormal, contemporary or science fiction romances about werewolves, otherworldly creatures or the average Joe, she found the perfect creative outlet.

As for the everyday details, Kate lives in a turn-of-the-century house located in the midst of Indiana farm country, and is kept company by my family, along with dogs and other pets. When not writing, Kate reads, is an enthusiastic grower of iris, and is a fanatic fan of Japanese manga and anime.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Amended Soul (Mated Heart and Soul #2) by Kate Steele to read and review.

Witness by Rachael Orman is Now Available

I saw something I wasn't supposed to see.
Married someone I shouldn't have.
But I got away.

It's been five years but I think my time has run out.
People aren't who they seem.
Things aren't how they look and I'm finding out the hard way that my life is no longer my own.

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Sighing, I pushed a strand of greasy bleach-blonde hair behind my ear. I missed my natural brown hair. It looked better on me, not to mention it took a lot less upkeep. Although I had plenty of time to waste since I was a waitress at a little diner in the middle of nowhere with no friends.

It wasn't my choice to be in the crappy little town. It wasn't how I envisioned my life being at thirty. However, stupid choices made at the ripe age of eighteen left me slinging crappy food I couldn’t even stomach.

“Miss! Miss!” an obnoxious woman yelled from the other side of the room as she waved her arm in the air. Like I could've missed her when there were only two other tables with customers on my side of the diner.

“How can I help you?” I asked, trying to force a smile.

“I need a refill,” she said, gesturing to her still half-full glass of sweet tea.

“I'll be right back.” I sighed and went to get the pitcher. Once I topped her glass off, I went back behind the counter to stare out the front door again. It was how I passed the time I wasn’t running around trying to keep impossible people happy. Dreaming about the life I should’ve been living or, on bad days, the life I used to have.

I used to work at a pharmacy, helping doctors and patients. I enjoyed going to work every day. Enjoyed my life, but that all ended once I got involved with Michele Berto. No, it wasn’t all bad at first, but by the end, I wished I’d never met the man who ruined my life.

He was tall, dark and handsome. Just what every woman wanted in a man, right? That's what I once thought. Not only was he sexy, but I thought he was the one for me. That we'd be together forever. Then I found out who he really was and nothing was ever the same. One night and my life as I knew it had been forever and irrevocably altered.

I'd loved Michele as much as an eighteen-year-old girl knew how to. I'd been blinded by lust and the attention and money he’d spent on me. Being raised by a single mother who worked two jobs to make ends meet left me alone and hungry more often than not. Then, in swept Michele with his thousand-dollar suits and million-dollar cars. He'd spoiled me from the start. Anything I wanted, I got. If I even looked at something for more than a second, it would magically appear at his house or mine the next day as a gift from him. It was so easy to get caught up in the whirlwind of money. So easy, in fact, that I didn't see what was right in front of my face. That he wasn't just a rich twenty-year-old, but a mafioso who was as controlling and violent as he was charismatic.

Stupid and naïve I'd fallen for everything he told me. For seven years I’d lived in a blissful state of blind love. Until I saw something I was never meant to see, only to disappear in the middle of the night with the help of the FBI then reappear as a new woman in a new town, with a past to hide from. Along with a horrible name change. I’d liked being Alice, but they’d changed it to the much more exotic Allegra, which I didn’t think fit me at all, but no one asked me.

That'd been five years ago. Five long years of no friends, no family, nothing but a crappy job to pay for a crappy apartment.

I’d like to say that I’d relaxed since it had been so long and that I possibly thought I’d gotten away from Michele unscathed. I didn’t. I was still constantly looking over my shoulder. Still afraid to connect with people who would make it hard to leave if I needed to. Not to mention, I still hated the town the FBI had planted me in. The job was absolutely nothing I would’ve ever done in my previous life, which I supposed was why it was such a good place to put me. However, I was miserable, almost hoping someone would find me and take me out just so I didn’t have to keep paying for the sins I didn’t commit and never wanted to be a part of.

“Miss!” the obnoxious customer from hell yelled again.

I gritted my teeth and went to her table again. Another refill for an only half-gone drink. Annoying. Drink the whole glass or at least down the to the last quarter and I'd be automatically filling it. Still half full, and I didn't think it needed my attention, but what did I know? I was just the hired help having to please the masses and their stupid requests.

As I returned to my spot, Wendy, the other waitress, strolled over to me and leaned in close.

“You have got to check out the hunk of man who just sat in my section,” she breathed quietly.

I glanced over to her side of the restaurant in surprise. I hadn't heard the door chime to announce a new arrival so he must've come in while I was handling the needy woman.

My gaze landed on a man in the corner booth. I nearly jumped back when my eyes met his. He was staring right at me as if he'd been waiting for me to notice him. I swallowed around the hard knot that had formed in my throat from the cold, dead stare he gave me.

I knew that look. I’d seen it many times on the men that hung around Michele. It was the look of a killer.

Happily married mother of two darling, trying, beautiful, horribly energetic little girls, an adorable German Shepherd pup who makes her get off her butt and at least go for a walk around the block, and a fat, old, lazy chihuahua.

When she isn't spending all her time writing dirty, sexy, naughty erotic romances, she is narrating audiobooks and helping run a LBGT blog.

Rachael loves to push herself to write new things so her books vary from heterosexual romances to gay/lesbian romances to ménage romances... She couldn't imagine writing outside of the romance genre since that's what life is all about… Love, sex, happiness.

She is a full supporter of the LBGT community and equality for all.

Please connect with her as she loves to know that people appreciate the time and energy she puts into each story.

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High Contrast by Tess Bowery

The deepest scars aren’t the ones that show.

Jacob Shain is your average member of Generation Screwed. He has a boring internship, no cash flow, and a tiny NYC apartment he has to share with Ethan, his much-cooler, tattoo-artist twin brother. Not to mention his love life is DOA. At least, until his brother’s shop hires on a new piercer, and Jacob’s humdrum life takes a turn for the weird.

Cody Turner is gorgeous, funny and kind—everything Jacob wants in a boyfriend. Except for the way he refuses to talk about his past, or where he lives, or anything about his personal life.

When Ethan is arrested while on a mission of mercy, the reason Cody is so tight lipped comes to light. And while Jacob and Cody fight to understand the depth of their feelings for one another, the police dogs catch their scent. So does the local mob.

Now Jacob has to make the hardest choice of his life: stay safe like a good boy, or dive headfirst into a world he barely understands…and hope Cody is there to break his fall.

Warning: Contains a good boy who wants to be bad, a bad boy who longs to be good, bodies that are canvases for living art and high-speed chases with police dogs.

Book 1
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Samhain  Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
4.5 Inked & Geeked Stars

I had no idea what to expect when I started High Contrast. I try to begin a book with no expectations and an open mind. From the get-go, I adored Jacob's narration. I loved being inside the intern's head. Jacob was a mix of self-deprecating man, adorable geek, and a Jewish grandmother who wants to feed you.

High Contrast follows Jacob and his Scooby Doo gang of friends and family. Half of a set of identical twins, Jacob is the unpaid intern fresh out of college, and his brother, Ethan, is a tattoo artist who also has the art of snark and annoying, pestering 'big' brother. Jacob's BFF, Andi, will probably become his sister-in-law someday. The rest of the gang works at the tattoo parlor, including an eighteen-year-old girl who brought a fresh, innocent edge to the storyline, a lawyer on retainer, and a gruff Russian landlord.

In walks Cody... Big, blond, pierced and tatted up, the gang's new piercer has a past he's running from, and Jacob is the type of person who is a caretaker-fixer. Cody's one secret, being a lover of comic books and all things geek, has poor Jacob's tongue hanging to the floor.

Now, obviously upon meeting this god among men, Jacob's internal dialogue was without a shadow of a doubt hilarious. Not over-the-top, either. Just insecure hilarity that men and women alike could relate to. Jacob and Cody are banterific. Yes, it was the usual boy meets boy, boy thinks new boy won't like him, and new boy is amused by the entire exchange. We're not talking insta-lust, because this was a slow-building romance from a budding friendship. I'd say upon first meeting, it was instant intrigue.

Poor Jacob – Cody plays a tune with his emotions. He likes me! No... he doesn't. Yes! Cody really likes me. *crestfallen* No, he doesn't. Now, the way I wrote that out, it seems annoying. But I was connected to Jacob, so every time Cody plucked at his heartstrings, mine were plucked too. My chest would constrict when Jacob's insecurity would rear its ugly head, and my heart would ache when he was rejected, and I would soar when Cody displayed his wings and will to fly.

I just gave you the setup, and I'm not going to spoil the rest. The writing was fluid. I loved the ease of Tess Bowery's writing style, and the realistic edge to the storytelling, making it beyond easy to immerse myself in the debut of the Evolution Ink series. The cast of characters was built around all walks of life from the eighteen-year-old receptionist, to the Russian elderly woman. There was even the landlord's muffled pooch. Together, I dubbed them the Scooby Doo gang who got into waaaayyy too much trouble.

The reason why I can't hand out an easy 5 stars is simply because of said trouble to be had. It made me doubt their intelligence, their sanity, and their survival instincts. But, nevertheless, it was beyond entertaining to read.

Tess Bowery is a new-to-me author, and I can't wait to read more by her, especially the next in this series. Highly recommend this title to MM Romance fans who want a steamy, slow-burn romance, a solid cast of side characters, and zany yet not over-the-top adventurous hijinks with the Russian mafia.


Kris – ☆☆☆☆☆
I got hooked by this book right away. The characters came to life and were written in such depth, I connected to them right away. Jacob Shain is the geek of the crowd, a computer programmer with a dead end job. His twin is a bad boy tattoo artist. While hanging with his brother and the gang at Evolution Ink, he meets the new hire. Cody is the new piercing guy with a jaded past, and Jacob is star struck by him. While Cody is a bit "hard to get," the love interest unfolds beautifully. A great slow burn that leads to fire! Cody is an interesting guy with multiple piercings, tattoos and even angel wing scars. He's everything Jacob is not. How could Jacob ever be this lucky? The two have amazing chemistry and I enjoyed their story from front to back. The rest of the gang is just as interesting and I’m excited to see where this series will go. I found the whole "Russian mafia" thing a bit "jumping the shark" but even it worked, somehow. Tess Bowery is definitely on my new favorite author list.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆
I wasn’t sure what to expect after reading the blurb, but I was pleasantly surprised. The story had some hot sex and had me laughing out loud at times. I liked the total differences between Jacob and his twin, Ethan, that was appealing to me. The slow burning relationship building between Jacob and Cody was awesome. When Jacob asks Cody how many piercings/tattoos he has and he can only count 14 of the 23, I couldn’t wait to find out where the rest of them were!!! I think the mob drama and the other stuff was just something the author threw in there that wasn’t really needed. Overall, a good book and I can’t wait to see whose story is next.

Characters: Well written
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: First of the series
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
Oh, this promises to be a good new series. We are introduced to the team that work together at Evolution Ink, and one of the tattooist's twin, Jacob. All manner of adventures befall the team – or do they bring them on themselves...it depends, I guess! Anyway, it is a good ensemble cast, and I am guessing that we will follow them through their highs and lows – a couple are already in relationships, but there is definitely scope for more with this group.

Jacob and new piercer, Cody, are the central characters in this installment. Jacob is interning in a marketing department, has no tattoos and has a nerd wardrobe. Cody has multiple piercings (oh yes, you will want to know where...) and plenty of tattoos too – but the chemistry is definitely there, and relationships are more than just skin deep. Both men have some serious self-esteem issues, which are beautifully played out in the inner voice – to the extent that you might feel the need to slap them once in a while – luckily their friends often interject and do just that.

The plot is somewhat wild, yet also fits the slightly crazy lives that the group lead. It has a satisfying ending, and the promise of more to come.

Tess Bowery lives near the ocean, which sounds lovely, except when it snows. An historian by training and a theater person by passion, she’s parleyed her Masters degree in English history into something that would give her former professors something of a surprise.

Her love for the Regency era began as they always do, with Jane Austen, and took a sharp left turn into LBGT biographies and microhistory. Now she indulges in both of her passions, telling the stories of her community in the time periods that fire the human imagination. Her first foray into contemporary M/M fiction, High Contrast, releases in 2016.

Along with writing, Tess splits her time between teaching, backstage work, LBGT activism and her family. She spends far too much money on comic books, loves superheroes and ghost stories, and still can’t figure out how to use Twitter properly.

Connect with Tess

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of High Contrast (Evolution Ink #1) by Tess Bowery to read and review.