Imago by N.R. Walker Blog Tour

Nerdy, introverted genius lepidopterist, Lawson Gale, is an expert on butterflies. He finds himself in a small town in Tasmania on a quest from an old professor to find an elusive species that may or may not even exist.

Local Parks and Wildlife officer, Jack Brighton, is an ordinary guy who loves his life in the sleepy town of Scottsdale. Along with his Border collie dog, Rosemary, his job, and good friends, he has enough to keep from being lonely.

But then he meets Lawson, and he knows he’s met someone special. There’s more to catching butterflies, Jack realises. Sometimes the most elusive creatures wear bow ties, and sometimes they can’t be caught at all.

Lawson soon learns there are butterflies he can’t learn about it in books. They exist only in a touch, in a kiss, in a smile. He just has to let go first, so these butterflies can fly.

Imago is the story of finding love, bow ties, and butterflies.

Book 1
Buy Links

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~ Available on KindleUnlimited ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Ruthie – ☆☆☆☆
I was delighted to be given the opportunity to review this book – and very happy to see that it is the first in a new series.

This is a really cute and very sexy romance set in Tasmania. The lead characters are very different physically, and to an extent academically, but the chemistry between them is real. Lawson is, however, cautious by nature and he wants to take it slow – the buildup in this relationship is super sexy for that very reason. Jack will do whatever Lawson wants, as he is totally smitten.

The drama is supplied by nature and only serves to cement the rightness of these men together. We get the story from both their viewpoints, and unusually both men talk about the other much more than they do about themselves when they have the floor. It was an interesting writing device that took a little while to get into, but was fascinating once I had.

Thank you Ms. Walker, a great start to a new series; I am looking forward to more!


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
So this is sweet and fluffy and happy insta-love, but it also transported me across the world and gave me insight into a whole new world of butterfly science. The very rational science and conservation aspects of this story balanced a romance that would otherwise have been just a little bit too sweet for me.

Jack and Lawson are both complete opposites and great complements for each other. The rugged wildlife officer and the geeky scientist work perfectly from the start. The series of perfect dates was slightly nauseating, but the two socially awkward men offered a little realism to temper the fairy tale.

Tasmania is a completely new place for me and the author really breathes life into both the small town community Jack lives in and the National Parks he works to protect. The wild beauty of the place just jumps off the page – I really want to visit now!

I really enjoyed this story. I learned a great deal and I really liked both Jack and Lawson. For me, Jack’s dog Rosemary really steals the story and I totally fell in love with her.


Angie – ☆☆☆☆☆
What a sweet, loving book. Nerdy guy, hot guy, bow ties, and off-the-chart chemistry. Such a good book, good story, and great characters. I loved Lawson and his bowties. Jack and his enthusiasm when it came to Lawson was great, he thought the sun rose and set with Lawson and I loved that about Jack. There was a tad bit of angst, but nothing that made you want to scream or throw your book out a window. I was fascinated by Lawson and how he came out of his shell around Jack. The one upping each date was great as well. Sweet book and I can’t wait to see what will be in the next book.

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


Veronica – ☆☆☆☆
I loved Imago. It is a completely uncomplicated romance. Lawson is a butterfly expert and is only in Tasmania for a week to do research. Jack is the local Parks and Wildlife officer. Lawson is an awkward genius and Jack is an outdoorsy, hunky popular guy. They bond over a shared love of conservation and every night they go on a date, each one better than the last.

This is a simple romance with a pop of excitement just at the right time. As I watched Jack and Lawson fall in love with each other I fell in love with them. Fabulous story. I'm going to be reading more of N.R. Walker's books as soon as I can.

N.R. Walker is an Australian author, who loves her genre of gay romance. She loves writing and spends far too much time doing it, but wouldn’t have it any other way.

She is many things: a mother, a wife, a sister, a writer. She has pretty, pretty boys who live in her head, who don’t let her sleep at night unless she gives them life with words.

She likes it when they do dirty, dirty things… but likes it even more when they fall in love. She used to think having people in her head talking to her was weird, until one day she happened across other writers who told her it was normal.

She’s been writing ever since…

Connect with N.R.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Imago (Imago #1) by N.R. Walker to read and review for this tour.

Service with a Smirk by Ariel Tachna

Pascal Larocque, a waiter at a high-end Montréal restaurant, knows what it means to love—and he knows what it means to lose. He buried the man he expected to spend his life with years ago. He’s perfectly happy with his solitude, or so he tells his friends. But a chance encounter in a neighborhood bar followed by a run-in at his apartment building turns his world upside down.

Mathias Perras is twenty-four, newly arrived in Montréal, and works two jobs so he can live on rue Sainte-Catherine in the heart of the gay district. During the day, he’s on a fast track to management at the Banque de Montréal. At night, he waits tables at a gay bar down the street. He’s burning the candle at both ends, but it will be worth it when his career takes off and he has the life he’s always dreamed of. When he meets Pascal, one more piece of that dream slots into place. Pascal is everything he wants in a lover: older, self-assured, established in his life and his career. But Pascal doesn’t look at him twice. What’s a boy have to do to get a little action?

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angie – ☆☆☆
I really wanted to like this book. I like the age difference between Mathias and Pascal, but I just couldn’t connect with either of the characters. I didn’t feel any passion between them. I just felt like I was reading about two friends who kind of liked each other. The only scene that had any feeling for me was the phone sex scene. I was hoping after that part it would get better, but it really didn’t. I am sure others will enjoy this book, it just wasn’t for me.

Characters: Couldn’t connect with them
Sex: Yes
Religious: No
Would I recommend to others: Yes
More than one book in the series: Not sure
Genre: M/M Romance
Would I read more by this author: Yes


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆
This is a sweet, slow May to December romance between two very different men. Mathias is ambitious, driven, and focused. He knows what he wants in all areas of his life and he is willing to nearly kill himself to realise his dreams. When Mathias decides he wants the much older Pascal, he won’t stop until he gets the man he wants.

At 48, Pascal is settled in a comfortable life. His work as a waiter in a high end restaurant pays him enough to enjoy good food and exotic travel. After burying his life partner, he doesn’t anticipate another romance and he is happy enough on his own. Until he meets Mathias and feels pulled towards the much younger man. Pascal is a difficult character. I enjoyed his friendships and the peaceful life he created for himself, but I found his brooding and overthinking a little tiresome at times.

I enjoyed Mathias more. His drive to get ahead in his career contrasts well with Pascal’s contentment. I loved the way his initial excitement at the attention from bar customers was tempered as he reflected more on the nature of his job and the boundaries he wanted to set up. I’m not sure I fully understand his desire for an older partner, but I liked that it was Mathias pursuing the older Pascal in this story.

The May to December theme is very clear in this story. Mathias definitely reads like a 24-year-old. I loved his impetuousness, his energy, and his quick certainty. In contrast, Pascal is guarded and cautious, slow to trust and slower to invest in a relationship. His caution makes for a story that is very slow and more romantic than sexy.

Montreal is a great choice for setting – Ariel Tachna is the queen of exciting and unusual settings and she manages to capture the elegant, liberal feel of North America’s most European city. I loved the way her characters switched easily between languages and the way her Montreal is so distinct from her Paris in the last story.

When ARIEL TACHNA was twelve years old, she discovered two things: the French language and romance novels. Those two loves have defined her ever since. By the time she finished high school, she’d written four novels, none of which anyone would want to read now, featuring a young woman who was—you guessed it—bilingual. That girl was everything Ariel wanted to be at age twelve and wasn’t.

She now lives on the outskirts of Houston with her husband (who also speaks French), her kids (who understand French even when they’re too lazy to speak it back), and their two dogs (who steadfastly refuse to answer any French commands).

Connect with Ariel

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Service with a Smirk (At Your Service #2) by Ariel Tachna to read and review.

The Cad and the Co-Ed by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid Blog Tour

Keeping a secret this big is going to take lots of balls. Specifically, rugby balls.

THE CAD

Bryan Leech is a cad.
Or, he *was* a cad.
No one is quite certain.

Once the quintessential playboy, Bryan claims he’s done with wild parties and weekend benders. No more one night stands leading to mornings he can’t remember; no more binges and blackouts; no more exploits plastered all over the tabloids and rag sheets. According to Bryan, he’s cleaning up his act.

The only problem is, no one believes him.

THE CO-ED

Eilish Cassidy never thought she’d be a mother at nineteen or still in college at twenty-four. Cut off from every member of her family except her favorite cousin, she’s finally managed put her life back together. Stronger and wiser, Eilish enters her last semester of university determined to stand on her own. Now she just needs to find an internship.

The only problem is, her best option—by far—places her directly in the path of her son’s father, and he doesn’t remember her at all.

THE PLAN

Bryan is determined to prove he’s changed. Eager to settle down with the right woman, he’s got his sights set on the gorgeous redhead who seems terribly familiar.

Eilish is determined to hide her secret. She’ll do anything to keep her child safe, even if that means ignoring her own wishes and desires.

But what happens when Bryan starts to remember? And what will it take for Bryan to convince the girl he forgot that she’s unforgettable?

The Cad and the Co-Ed is a full-length, romantic comedy novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the third book in the Rugby Series.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~  Available on KindleUnlimited  ~

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Angela – ☆☆☆☆☆
I picked up the first book in the Rugby series largely because I was a huge fan of Cosway’s writing, the blurb sounded awesome, and the title was pure perfection – The Hooker and the Hermit. Being as Cosway and Reid delivered fabulously on the promise of book one, I of course, had to have book two, The Player and the Pixie, and it also proved to be a delight to read. Needless to say, when the opportunity to review The Cad and the Co-Ed arose, I jumped at it, calling rank amongst my co-reviewers, and doing so without even reading the book’s blurb as it mattered not one whit what the blurb said because I had to see what this talented duo had dreamed up next. So imagine my surprise when I stumbled over the dare in the book’s dedication, thinking to myself, “No, that can’t be this book – not a secret baby book.” And yet, it was. Not only that, Cosway and Reid managed to take an overused trope and make it their own by infusing their own brand of humor, awkwardness, and heart crushing moments that kept me glued to my Kindle.

Oh yeah, I failed to mention that I started the book at 4 am, when I woke up unexpectedly and couldn’t go back to sleep, hoping to read for an hour or two and (*fingers crossed*) go back to bed. Rather than getting tired, I looked up to discover that I had fallen so into the book that five hours had passed without my being aware of it. If that’s not the sign of a good book, I don’t know what is. Despite what could have easily been a clichéd beginning, Cosway and Reid quickly derailed that train, making me fall in love with Eilish, with Bryan, and even more so than I already was with Sean, Eilish’s cousin and the main man from book two. I loved that Eilish and Bryan had far more in common than one would expect at first glance. I enjoyed how the relationship between Eilish and Bryan developed organically, despite their initial lust-driven interaction. I appreciated how the authors struck the right balance between indecision and insecurity on both Eilish’s and Bryan’s parts, giving them realistic reactions without dragging the conflict out unnecessarily. I also think that Patrick was a delightful little boy whose presence enhanced the book without overshadowing the romance and that the authors did a wonderful job of capturing the resilience of the young – particularly when he thought he had to choose between a best friend and a father. On the off chance you haven’t figured out what I’m saying, I absolutely loved The Cad and the Co-Ed and sincerely hope that Cosway and Reid join forces again to help another hapless rugby player find love.

Also Available in the Rugby Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~   Available on KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on The Hooker and the Hermit Blog Tour.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
~   Available on KindleUnlimited  ~

For reviews & more info, check out our stop on The Player and the Pixie Blog Tour.

L.H. Cosway

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Connect with L.H.

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Penny Reid

Penny Reid is the USA Today Bestselling Author of the Winston Brothers and Knitting in the City series. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances, Penny works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She’s also a full time mom to three diminutive adults, wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of The Cad and the Co-Ed (Rugby #3) by L.H. Cosway & Penny Reid to read and review for this tour.

Last Night with the Duke by Amelia Grey

Could finding love be his greatest scandal of all?

The Duke of Griffin has never lived down his reputation as one of the Rakes of St. James. Now rumors are swirling around London that his twin sisters may bear the brunt of his past follies. Hiring a competent chaperone is the only thing Griffin has on his mind--until he meets the lovely and intriguing Miss Esmeralda Swift. In ways he could never have expected, she arouses more than just his curiosity.

Esmeralda Swift considered herself too sensible to ever fall for a scoundrel, but that was before she met the irresistibly seductive Duke of Griffin. His employment offer proves too tempting for her to resist. She can’t afford to be distracted by his devilish charms because the stakes are so high for his sisters’ debut Season... unless one of London’s most notorious rakes has had a change of heart and is ready to make Esmeralda his bride in Last Night with the Duke, the first novel in the brand-new Regency Rakes of St. James series by New York Times bestselling author Amelia Grey.

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆
3.5 stars

I need to preface this review by stating my current mood wasn't favorable for this genre. Explanation: you know how when you read a bunch of books back-to-back and they all start sounding similar? While the first few, you were in deep love with the genre, the premise, eager for more of the same, but then you get burnt out on the same tropes. That's how I felt reading Last Night with the Duke. This doesn't mean it's a bad book. If this had been the first in a string of historical romances, I would be raving about it. That's not fair to the book or the author. So I'm going to state what's within the book, and leave my skewed personal opinion out of it.

What's in the book: Esmeralda is the granddaughter of a viscount, but after the actions of her mother, their branch of the family was disowned, so she has to work her way through life. She oversees a governess and chaperone business.

Griffin is a Duke who is seeking a chaperone to help pave the way for his sister's debut – this sets up how the two love interests meet. He has a past, and he fears it tainting his sister's future.

If you're looking for a book featuring a scoundrel (our duke) who butts heads with his sister's chaperone, one who doesn't want to marry a commoner, where we discover Esmeralda (being the granddaughter of a viscount) is exactly what he's looking for, which leads to a happily ever after between the pair.

Last Night with the Duke was written well, the flow fluid, as Amelia Grey is a good writer. The characters were engaging, with mystery, closed-door-fade-to-black romance, and added banter/humor. The pacing was on the slow side, without much occurring until the final climax.

As I stated at the start of this review – this is on me. The book was a solid historical romance, with all the elements needed, but I couldn't help feeling as if I've read this all before, many times over. Maybe I'm burnt out on the genre. Maybe I'm looking for an original take on historical romance.

Recommended to fans of Amelia Grey and historical romance, especially those who love the tropes that have stood the test of time. This is a clean romance, solid writing, with a guaranteed happily ever after.

For those looking for a book that stands out from the crowd, has a different take on the culture in historical romances, more heat, I'd suggest you download the sample.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Amelia Grey read her first romance book when she was thirteen and she’s been a devoted reader of love stories ever since. Her awards include the Booksellers Best, Aspen Gold, and the Golden Quill. Writing as Gloria Dale Skinner, she won the coveted Romantic Times Award for Love and Laughter and the prestigious Maggie Award. Her books have sold to many countries in Europe, Indonesia, Turkey, Russia, and most recently to Japan. Several of her books have also been featured in Doubleday and Rhapsody Book Clubs. Amelia is the author of twenty-five books. She’s been happily married to her high school sweetheart for over thirty-five years and she lives on the beautiful gulf coast of Northwest Florida.

Connect with Amelia

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Last Night with the Duke (The Rakes of St. James #1) by Amelia Grey to read and review.

Darkness by Kate Sherwood

A murdered prostitute. An obvious suspect. Clear evidence. For once, Jericho Crewe has a straightforward crime to investigate, and Wade Granger isn’t involved.

It all seems so simple, but Jericho’s instincts won’t let him rest. As he investigates, he finds troubling suggestions that the murder is a part of something larger and more sinister. But working within the boundaries of the law may keep him from finding the truth. If Jericho doesn’t break the rules, an innocent man may rot in jail while a killer remains free to strike again.

Inevitably, it all comes back to Wade. Because who else knows as much about breaking rules? And who else knows Jericho the way Wade does—not wisely, but far, far too well?

The Common Law novels can be read on their own, or enjoyed in series order.

Book 3
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
I love this dark and gritty series so much! The third book brings us back to Mosely, Montana, where Jericho Crewe is now working as an under sheriff. This time, while the problems of smuggling, drugs, and organised crime still swirl around the town, Jericho’s focus is on a simple homicide.

This is the first story in the series with a contained story arc. This murder mystery has more depth and complexity than a stand-alone novel could ever manage. The wonderfully complex characters were established in the first two books – the complicated relationships and dubious morality aren’t new but they are expanded on in this third story.

For the first time, we see moments of actual intimacy between Jericho and Wade. I wouldn’t go so far as to describe it as romance, but there are flickers of vulnerability that humanise both the cop and the criminal. The chemistry between these two continues to build and deepen even as the barriers that keep them apart remain in place.

This story focuses less on the FBI investigation and more on Jericho and Kay. Kay gets more and more interesting as the story progresses and I’m really starting to love her. Similarly, Nikki and the bikers take a backseat this time as the murder investigation consumes Jericho’s time and attention.

In this third book, there are some important revelations that push the main series storylines forward, but they aren’t central. I really enjoyed the murder mystery interlude that allows for character and relationship development without complicating the story any further.

This is such a brilliant series and I can’t recommend it highly enough!

Also Available in the Common Law Series

Book 1
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Long Shadows post.

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo
Riptide Publishing

For reviews & more info, check out our Embers post.

Kate Sherwood started writing about the same time she got back on a horse after almost twenty years away from riding. She’d like to think she was too young for it to be a midlife crisis, but apparently she was ready for some changes!

Kate grew up near Toronto, Ontario, and went to school in Montreal, then Vancouver. But for the last decade or so she’s been a country girl. Sure, she misses some of the conveniences of the city, but living close to nature makes up for those lacks. She’s living in Ontario’s “cottage country”—other people save up their time and come to spend their vacations in her neighborhood, but she gets to live there all year round!

Since her first book was published in 2010, she’s kept herself busy with novels, novellas, and short stories in almost all the subgenres of m/m romance. Contemporary, suspense, sci-fi, or fantasy—the settings are just the backdrop for her characters to answer the important questions: How much can they share, and what do they need to keep? Can they bring themselves to trust someone, after being disappointed so many times? Are they brave enough to take a chance on love?

Kate’s books balance drama with humor, angst with optimism. They feature strong, damaged men who fight themselves harder than they fight anyone else. And, wherever possible, there are animals: horses, dogs, cats ferrets, squirrels... sometimes it’s easier to bond with a nonhuman, and most of Kate’s men need all the help they can get.

With her writing, Kate is still learning, still stretching herself, and still enjoying what she does. She’s looking forward to sharing a lot more stories in the future. (And check out her imaginary friend, Cate Cameron, who writes m/f romance and YA.)

Connect with Kate

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Darkness (Common Law #3) by Kate Sherwood to read and review.

Permanent Ink by Jaime Samms

Beauty is only skin deep, but some marks—and what they represent—are impossible to escape.

Eric resents his comfortable college life and the restrictions his family’s expectations put on him. Dwayne, his best friend Angel’s cousin, is a pierced and tattooed ex-con trying to rebuild his life. Eric sees only the tattoos and the way Dwayne’s upbringing have dictated his future. It takes a surprising revelation from Angel to force Eric to see past Dwayne’s defenses to the generous heart beneath and to realize it’s time for him to break free of his own instilled beliefs. The men can’t keep apart, and they gradually learn that everything they thought they knew about each other might be wrong.

Opposites attract as two men from very different backgrounds move from enemies to lovers in a story of understanding, compassion, and redemption.

2nd Edition
First Edition published by Pink Petal Books, 2011.

Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  Kobo
Dreamspinner Press

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Erica – ☆☆☆☆
Jaime Samms is a new-to-me author, and I felt reading a short story was the best way to see if the author and I were a good fit. I like well-written short stories and novellas, because sometimes I don't feel like wading through 400+ pages for an entire story, and Permanent Ink was a solid choice.

Eric is a basketball player from an affluent family. He feels trapped within his parents' ideals, as does his brother the reader meets briefly. His best friend, Angel, has expanded Eric's horizons. After a night of partying, Eric is camped out on Angel's sofa, when Dwayne – Angel's cousin – comes home and hits on Eric.

Eric is bi, but it's the outside package of Dwayne that puts Eric off. It's not the color of his skin, or the intriguing tattoos and piercings, it's the ex-con vibe Dwayne gives out.

Permanent Ink is an exploration of learning 'don't judge a book by its cover.' Dwayne has an intense story to tell, and it's written on his skin. Eric allows himself to open up and see his new friend as the incredible man that he is.

I rated the short story by others in its genre, finding it a quick, steamy romp. While Permanent Ink is a full story, and I thoroughly enjoyed every page of it, I felt if it had been expanded just a bit more, the emotional impact would have been exponentially higher. Dwayne had a big story to tell, but it was told via Eric's narration. Written from Dwayne's point of view, with a bit more length, the story would've been taken in a different direction. I didn't rate the story on what I wanted or wished it had been, but what it was. Permanent Ink was a solid story, wrapped up in a few pages, giving the reader an entertaining read.

I look forward to reading more by this author in the future.

Hi! I'm pleased to be a Dreamspinner author. I've been writing in the genre most of my life, even way back when publication was a dream. Well, it came true. My dreams have been spun into reality, and I hope you enjoy the results. Thanks for coming to see what's available. Jaime has been writing for various publishers since the fall of 2008, although she's been writing for herself far longer. Often asked why men; what’s so fascinating about writing stories about men falling in love, she's never come up with a clear answer. Just that these are the stories that she loves to read, so it seemed to make sense if she was going to write, they should also be the stories she wrote. These days, you can find plenty of free reading on her website. She also writes for Freya’s Bower, Loveyoudivine Alterotica, Pink Petal Books, Dreamspinner Press and Total E-Bound. Spare time, when it can be found rolled into a ball at the back of the dryer or cavorting with the dust bunnies in the corners, she's probably spending reading, drawing, gardening (weather permitting, of course, since she is Canadian!) or watching movies. Well. She has a day job or two, as well, and two kids, but thankfully, also a wonderful husband who shoulders more than his fair share of household and child care responsibilities. She graduated some time ago from college with a Fine Arts diploma, with a major in textile arts, which basically qualifies her to draw pictures and create things with string and fabric. One always needs an official slip of paper to fall back on after all...

Connect with Jaime

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Permanent Ink by Jaime Samms to read and review.

Rope 'Em by Delphine Dryden

TIED UP

Returning home to help out with his brother’s dude ranch is cool with Ethan. After all, he’s as comfortable in the saddle as he is roping a calf. But what’s really jangling his spurs is a chance to indulge his kink in the ranch’s monthly Giddyup event. Did someone say suspension bondage? Yee-Haw!

TEASED

When Victoria realizes her family’s number one goal in sending her to college is to get her hitched to a husband, she drops out one semester shy of graduation. But paying her own way turns out to be the hardest lesson of all. Thankfully she’s found her way to the Hilltop Ranch. A place to get away and refocus. And get herself all tied up...

TAKEN

Sure, Ethan’s pretty handy with that length of rope. But it turns out the expensive design school wasn’t a total waste for Victoria. Bringing an “academic” approach to their play—and Ethan’s hobby—is opening up new possibilities. Like maybe the chemistry between them is something more than a game...

Book 2
Buy Links

Amazon US  ~  Amazon UK  ~  Amazon Au  ~  Amazon Ca
B&N  ~  Google Play  ~  iTunes  ~  Kobo

Reviews by the Wicked Reads Review Team

Mary Jo – ☆☆☆
I enjoyed this book, but I felt as though there was something missing.

Victoria is an extremely naive and sheltered woman even though she has been living on her own for the past four years, attending art school in Rhode Island. Over Christmas break, she overhears her father telling someone that she has failed to obtain the one thing he sent her to school for: A Ring.

Not knowing what else to do, she decides to quit school, sell all her stuff, and try to make it on her own. Her problem: she doesn't know how to do anything. She's been pampered and taken care of her entire life. Not because she didn't want to learn, but because her parents didn't think she was smart enough to learn how to do things.

Ethan is a vet with a rope fetish. Living at Hilltop, he's able to indulge in his most wicked fantasies during the "Giddyup" weekends. "Giddyup" is what they call the private parties the ranch throws once a month for their kink-minded friends and customers.

When Victoria gets to Hilltop, she's in for a world of learning and she doesn't mind. She just wants to be useful, that's something she's never been. Ethan is stunned when he first sees her, but even more so when he learns she is into the scene.

I did enjoy this book, but there a few times that the timeline got a little tangled up for me, and I want to read more about the Hilltop Ranch.


Avid Reader – ☆☆☆☆
M/F Romance
Trigger: Click HERE to see Avid Reader’s review on Goodreads for trigger warnings.

Ethan and Victoria have an interesting start to their relationship. Ethan is trying to figure out where he goes from here. He has a degree in vet science, works as a large animal vet, but his passion isn't really there anymore. He wants to be dying the rope for BDSM events, living on the ranch, and just is not sure if taking over the large animal vet practice is the right move.

Victoria is floundering. She overheard her father discussing how he felt about her and it was less than flattering. Not only was he judging her, he was essentially saying that she was just a drain on them. Her life is in crisis. She quits school, packs up her car, and essentially hightails it out of her current job because her boss is a creep.

Victoria's know-it-all sister tries her very best not to continue to make decisions for Victoria – just like everyone else has done for her. When Victoria is left to help on a farm until she figures out what she wants, she feels like herself for the first time in a long time.

While Ethan and Victoria get to know each other, you can really see them working out their own issues. I liked how they were able to lean on each other, but also to decide on their own. There was not a lot of conflict in the story, there were some great sexy scenes, and in the end, you get a happily ever ending.

I think this was a very sweet story.


Sarah – ☆☆☆☆☆
This little gem takes BDSM romance in a refreshingly original direction. Free from nearly all of the more tired genre tropes, this story had me looking at rope and rope play in a whole new light.

When Victoria decides she needs to leave her pampered life and become self-supporting, she finds an unlikely fresh start on a Texan ranch. At the start of the story, Victoria has no idea just how privileged she actually is. But as she adjusts to the real world, she becomes a much more sympathetic and engaging character. Her naivety is bloody annoying at the start of the book, but I really enjoyed her journey towards independence.

Ethan has spent his whole life training to be a large animal vet. But now that he’s finally qualified, he finds himself more interested in making, dying, using, and selling rope. His passion is contagious and I found myself more interested in ropes than I’d ever anticipated.

The relationship between these two is pretty unique. They share a kink – she likes to get tied up and he likes to tie people up using beautiful patterns and his own handmade ropes. Unusually for a romance, theirs is a very believable colleague to hook up to more relationship that felt real and honest. And unusually for BDSM, the kink didn’t involve any of the exaggerated and overdone D/s and impact play I’ve come to expect and dread from the genre. Here, the rope bondage kink is specific and the author explores it in wonderfully sensual detail.

This story manages to be both sexy and playful. The relationship between Ethan and Victoria is fun and almost angst free. The angst in this story comes from two people who are both giving up their safety nets to follow their passions. I loved their relationship and I really loved the whole Hilltop Ranch community. I can’t wait for the next story in this series!

Delphine Dryden majored in English at the University of Texas at Austin. She has written contemporary and erotic romance for Carina Press and Harlequin, and mainstream steampunk romance for Berkley Publishing. Her writing has earned an Award of Excellence and Reviewers’ Choice Award from RT Book Reviews, an EPIC Award, an IPPY Gold Medal, and a Colorado Romance Writers’ Award of Excellence. She was the also the inaugural winner of the Science in My Fiction contest.

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Reviewers on the Wicked Reads Review Team were provided a free copy of Rope 'Em (Giddyup #2) by Delphine Dryden to read and review.