If I Ever Virtual Book Tour

About If I Ever

Some ghosts refuse to stay buried . . .

Prophet and Tom have been through the wringer more times than they can count, both as partners in the field and in life. Yet despite it all, they’ve built something great together. But now they need to protect it again: Prophet’s old nemesis, John Morse, is back and threatening everything he loves.

Prophet is driven enough to take John down alone, and with a chance to do exactly that on the table, he runs with it, risking himself in the process. But trusting Tom to help him is so much more than mission critical.

It’s the final stand, and with Tom and his team behind him, Prophet’s in for the fight of his life. Then a figure from his past goes missing, and the consequence of an old mission rears its head. As complications and destruction mount all around them, getting out alive becomes the most important mission of their lives.

Now available from Riptide Publishing!

About Extreme Escapes and Hell or High Water

Extreme Escapes, LTD recruits only the best mercenaries for its black ops missions. Prophet — former SEAL, former CIA, current pain in the ass — has worked there for years, comfortable in his role as a lethal shadow, helping those the government can’t — or won’t — save.

Tom Boudreaux — failed FBI agent, failed sheriff, full-time believer in bad luck — jumps at the chance for salvation offered by EE. He’s eager to feel useful again, even if it means partnering with a man like Prophet, who doesn’t want a partner at all.

But as the two men work through missions that mix their personal lives with their professional ones, the lines between good and evil, friend and foe, and enemy and lover all begin to blur. 

 The Hell or High Water novels are best enjoyed in series order:

1. Catch a Ghost – Creative Deeds Reads Review

2. Long Time Gone – Creative Deeds Reads Review

3. Daylight Again

3.5 Not Fade Away – Creative Deeds Reads Review

4. If I Ever

And don’t miss the bonus novellas in the Extreme Escapes universe!

Free Falling – Creative Deeds Reads Review  |  Dirty Deeds – Creative Deeds Reads Review

About SE Jakes

SE Jakes writes m/m romance. She believes in happy endings and fighting for what you want in both fiction and real life. She lives in New York with her family, and most days, she can be found happily writing (in bed). No really…

SE Jakes is the alter ego of New York Times bestselling paranormal and romantic suspense author Stephanie Tyler.

Connect with SE:

• Website: sejakes.com
• Tumblr: sejakes.tumblr.com
• Twitter: @authorsejakes
• Facebook: Facebook.com/SEJakes
• Email: authorsejakes@gmail.com
• Goodreads author page: goodreads.com/S_E_Jakes
• Goodreads author group: Ask SE Jakes

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of IF I EVER one lucky person will win an ecopy of Running Wild, a Havoc novel by SE Jakes! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 26, 2019. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

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Hell’s Highway (The Devil’s Daughter #3) by G.A. Chase

For an immortal, learning what it means to be human can be an emotional wild ride.
Having put down the latest batch of escaped doppelgängers, Sere Mal-Laurette felt she’d earned a little time off from demon hunting. She was wrong.
Her inattention has allowed a new batch of hellions to rise from the swamp and abduct Rampart Thibodaux. With the hot ex-Navy SEAL’s blood and soul infecting her, Sere has no choice but to jump back on her motorcycle to rescue him. Her quest will cost her dearly but also bring her closer to being human than she could have imagined.
Sere’s emotional roller-coaster ride of human experiences, however, is overshadowed by the rise of a new devil—one who isn’t satisfied with simply claiming hell as his only domain.

This series gets better with each book. Of course, that may just be because I’m getting to know the characters better, but for now I’ll chalk it up to more layers being revealed. Speaking of which, Hell’s Highway requires your complete attention. There is a lot of information to take in and even though I’m giving readers a heads up, I’m still not sure I got it all. In other words, I see a re-read in my future. 😉

Sere’s come a long way since Hell in a Head Gasket, the first book in The Devil’s Daughter series. She still wants to protect the people she cares about, but she’s learned to lean on them just a little bit.

So, saying that a lot happened in Hell’s Highway would be an understatement. The connection between Sere and “Bart” grows a lot stronger. The goals and true purpose of the doppelgängers leaving Hell becomes clearer. And yes, there was heartbreak that took me totally by surprise, so prepare yourself… *sigh*

Hell’s Highway didn’t necessarily end in a cliff hanger, but things are far from over for Sere and her rag tag family. I can’t wait to see what G.A. Chase has in store for them next in Hell or High Water. Oh, and for those of you who (like me) weren’t introduced to Sere in The Malveaux Mysteries series, the full book bundle is now available on Amazon. You’re welcome 😉

Perfect Match Virtual Book Tour

About Perfect Match

Secrets can derail even the most powerful attraction.

Logger Sven Larson has never found a man worth publicly coming out of the closet for. But his family has other plans. As a thirtieth birthday gift, his mother hires the online dating service Perfect Match to find Sven the love of his life. To say Sven isn’t thrilled is an understatement, but it’s too late to cancel, and Jayden Calver arrives.

Perfect Match’s success rate is unsurpassed, but they don’t come by it honestly: if a client can’t be matched, the agency uses a stand-in to fulfil their guarantee and protect their profit.

Tough luck has left Jayden in debt, and playing Perfect Match’s deceptive game is his only option. So he travels — sparkling toenails and all — to a remote camp deep in the mountains to meet Sven Larson and pretend to be his perfect match for a few days.

Sparks fly on first contact. But as the two men get closer, Sven grows more and more suspicious of Jayden, and Jayden struggles with guilt over his deceit. They both want a future together, but first they must find the courage to be honest with themselves and each other.

Now available from Riptide Publishing!

About AG Meiers

Eighteen years ago, AG Meiers came to the US for adventure and stayed for love. Currently, she lives in New England with her husband and two awesome kids—balancing work, friends and family, and writing.

When she has some free time, her favorite thing to do is travel and visit new places. Her past trips have already brought her to a variety of countries on four continents. She never passes up an opportunity to experience different cultures, diverse people and amazing locations.

Even though she has been dreaming up stories all her life, she has only recently started to write them down and share them with the world. As a writer she loves to put her characters through a lot of challenges, conflict and heartbreak, before she allows them to find their happy-ever-after.

Connect with AG Meiers:

• https://www.agmeiers.com/
• https://www.facebook.com/ag.meiers.1

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Perfect Match  one lucky person will win a $20 Riptide Publishing gift card! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 18, 2019. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Perfect Match by A.G. Meiers

Secrets can derail even the most powerful attraction.
Logger Sven Larson has never found a man worth publicly coming out of the closet for. But his family has other plans. As a thirtieth birthday gift, his mother hires the online dating service Perfect Match to find Sven the love of his life. To say Sven isn’t thrilled is an understatement, but it’s too late to cancel, and Jayden Calver arrives.
Perfect Match’s success rate is unsurpassed, but they don’t come by it honestly: if a client can’t be matched, the agency uses a stand-in to fulfil their guarantee and protect their profit.
Tough luck has left Jayden in debt, and playing Perfect Match’s deceptive game is his only option. So he travels — sparkling toenails and all — to a remote camp deep in the mountains to meet Sven Larson and pretend to be his perfect match for a few days.
Sparks fly on first contact. But as the two men get closer, Sven grows more and more suspicious of Jayden, and Jayden struggles with guilt over his deceit. They both want a future together, but first they must find the courage to be honest with themselves and each other.

This was a really cute and sweet read. I loved Jayden even before readers were let in on his full story and then my heart broke for him. It was hard to get aggravated with Sven for not trusting Jayden for a couple of reasons. The biggest was because Perfect Match wasn’t what it seemed to be and Jayden was trying to deceive him. But there was also the fact that he was really a good person who was at the mercy of his well meaning family. Add to that the fact that he was falling for Jayden just as hard as Jayden was falling for him and it was impossible to not want things to work out for both of them – even though things weren’t stacked in their favor.

There were some extra surprises revealed in the epilogue of Perfect Match that leave some clues to the possibility of a series. I was really not a fan of the crew that runs the haphazard Match Making service, but… Well, I guess we’ll just have to see what comes next 😉

Escaping Mortality (Escape Trilogy #3) by Sara Dobie Bauer (Bout-of-Books Review)

Their ocean journey was successful, and Andrew and Edmund found an Elder just in time. As they wished, Edmund is now a vampire like Andrew. They have eternity together, but first, they must visit Edmund’s ailing mother in the English countryside with their flock of immortals, including the Elder, who has taken an ominous liking to his new creation.
When they arrive at Edmund’s family estate, his sick mother and her loathsome best friend await them. While ducking religious curses, Edmund struggles to harness an unexpected power gifted him by the Elder. Andrew fears for his beloved as Edmund becomes more and more monstrous—but vampires have always been monsters, haven’t they?
A battle is coming, for Edmund’s heart and his soul, and Andrew will lose neither. He escaped island exile and a near tragedy at sea to be with Edmund, the beautiful young sailor he loves. Andrew will do anything to keep Edmund by his side, but his most dangerous adversary may be Edmund himself.

I’ve loved this trilogy made up of novellas. Escaping Mortality was about 127 pages, but it wasn’t lacking at all. Although these short stories could have been contained in one volume, each one adds another layer to their relationship. Escaping Exile is the beginning for Andrew and Edmund. Escaping Solitude is their journey together toward an uncertain future and Escaping Mortality is the perfect ending (or continuation) of that journey. Each one, except for Escaping Mortality, ends in a bit of a cliff hanger, which adds to the suspense.

There’s a price to pay for Edmund’s immortality and although that’s kind of expected, it turns out to be much more than they bargained for. Neither Edmund or Andrew are angels by any stretch of the imagination, but their love for each other has kept most of their demons at bay. Since Edmund was turned, there’s a force that’s bringing out the worst in both of them and the Elder seems to know more than he’s willing to share. Unfortunately, the mysterious Elder isn’t the only danger the vampires and those they love have to worry about once they reach Edmund’s home. Needless to say, there was more than enough to keep the pages turning.

It’s always sad to say goodbye to characters that you’ve grown to like so much when a series ends, but the epilogue in Escaping Mortality more than made up for it. Enjoy!

 

Fire Devil (Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper #11) by J.L. Bryan (Bout-of-Books 24 Review)

Ellie’s pursuit of a possessed friend and her own worst enemy takes her across the United States into forgotten corners of the countryside through haunted hotels, ghost towns, and strange highways, and toward the site of a horrific fire haunted by hundreds of spirits.
Together with her team, plus help from an eccentric exorcist from Texas, prepares for the fight of her life, a fight destined since her own childhood.
Ellie’s past and present collide in a final confrontation that will change the course of her life, giving her a chance to finally be rid of her most dangerous personal demon—if he doesn’t kill Ellie first, along with the people she cares about the most.

Eleven books in and I’m no where close to being tired of Ellie Jordan, her crew or their escapades. Fire Devil may be one of my favorites in this series so far.

Throughout the Ellie Jordan, Ghost Trapper series, readers have known about Clay. He’s only been front and center in a few books, but he’s always there. He’s the reason why she started hunting and trapping ghosts in the first place. In Fire Devil, things finally come to a head and she risks losing everything to take Clay down. Even her own life.

The action and danger didn’t slow down in this one at all. The whole crew was together, with a few additions. Their main goal was to release Michael’s sister from Clay’s clutches and destroy Clay in the process. Hopefully without anyone else getting hurt… or worse… in the process. Along the way they encounter even more restless spirits and solve a few mysteries, while opening up even more. Clay has a sinister plan, which they have to figure out and fast.

Ellie learns more than she expected and gains something that she thought was forever lost. Just one of the many reasons why I loved this one so much. I can’t wait to see what J.L. Bryan has in store next for Ellie Jordan. 😉

Tied to Home (Ames Bridge #3) by Silvia Violet (Bout-of-Books 24 Review)

Luke Sumner has spent his whole life being coddled, after nearly dying as an infant. At twenty-one, he is more than ready to break free from his restricted world. He hasn’t told anyone he’s gay, and he’s only just admitted his kinkier needs to himself, but he hopes to work up the courage to say something to the older man who has captured his attention.
Since moving back to Ames Bridge, Jack Lawrence has been consumed with running a successful bed-and-breakfast. He hasn’t considered making time for relationships until he starts flirting with Luke each week at the farmers’ market. By the end of the summer, Jack is wondering where the spark between them could go.
When Luke finally ventures into a club where he can fulfill his desires, he unexpectedly runs into Jack, and they discover they’re a perfect match in the bedroom. With each hot encounter, more tender feelings surface, but between the age gap, not being out in Ames Bridge, and Luke’s need to come into his own, do they dare be more to each other?

I tagged this one as BDSM, because it is – after all, they’re first real encounter took place in a club. It’s also the main focus at the beginning of their relationship, but it’s not hard-core and there’s a lot more to the story. I guess my point is, don’t let that scare you away from this one. 😉

Luke and Jack had a lot stacked against them from the time they even thought about getting involved. Their age gap was the most obvious along with the fact that they were gay men in a town that held a rather opinionated population of prejudiced individuals. The other problem was that his parents hovered over him and treated him like a child along with most of Ames Bridge. He may have been 21 but they all still pictured him as the sickly child who almost didn’t make it.

Jack remembered Luke when he was that small child, but that’s not how he pictured him when he came back to Ames Bridge. He only saw a young man that he was attracted to and that attraction went both ways. They spent a lot of time in their own personal bubble and the more time they spent together the more they realized that they both wanted more. Of course they couldn’t stay in that bubble forever and once it burst reality set in for both of them.

The supporting characters were great and readers who have followed the Ames Bridge series so far will recognize a couple of familiar faces. There are at least a few level headed people in Ames Bridge and it was great seeing them again… 😉

The Princess of Baker Street by Mia Kerick (Bout-of-Books 24 Review)

When she was a child, Joey Kinkaid, assigned as a boy at birth—wearing Mom’s purple sundress and an imaginary crown—ruled the Baker Street neighborhood with a flair and imagination that kept the other kids captivated. Day after day, she led them on fantastic after-school adventures, but those innocent childhood days are over, and the magic is gone. The princess is alone.
Even Eric Sinclair, the Prince Eric to Joey’s Princess Ariel, has turned his back on his former friend, watching in silence as Joey is tormented at school. Eric isn’t proud of it, but their enchanted youth is over, and they’ve been thrust into a dog-eat-dog world where those who conform survive and those who don’t… well, they don’t. Eric has enough to deal with at home, where his mother has abandoned him to live in isolation and poverty.
But Eric can’t stay on the sidelines forever. When Joey finally accepts her female gender and comes to school wearing lip gloss, leggings, and a silky pink scarf, the bullies readily take the opportunity she hands them, driving Joey to attempt suicide and leaving Eric at a crossroads—one that will influence both their lives in not just the present, but the future.
Is there a chance the two teens can be friends again, and maybe even more?

First, this is my 3rd Mia Kerick read and there’s something I’ve just gotta say… My first read by this author was The Art of Hero Worship. The next was Scarred. In each book so far, the “voices” of the characters were totally unique and fit those characters perfectly. I have to admit that when I first started Scarred, it kind of threw me, but the more I read, the more I realized that there was no better way to portray those characters. By the time I got to The Princess of Baker Street, I expected it and the author did not disappoint.

My first reaction when I finished The Princess of Baker Street was that even though this was definitely Joey’s book, it was just as much Eric’s – especially since it was told from his POV. My heart went out to both these young people. I don’t remember middle school being a scary time for me, but as a parent, I honestly couldn’t wait until all three of my daughters were past it. I hated what they went through and there was absolutely nothing I could do about it… and I tried. It was just the whole atmosphere and that included the adult staff. It was a miserable time for all of us and we were just fighting the normal everyday stuff. Nothing compared to what Joey and Eric faced. So, for a lot of reasons, this one just about broke me. *sigh*

It would have been easy to get mad at Eric, but he beat himself up enough. I could also kind of relate to that kind of mentality. He was just trying to survive the best he could with little or no support. Then there was Joey, who was just trying to be who she knew in her heart she was meant to be. The story was a perfect portrayal of how things change as children grow older. Their innocence and acceptance is replaced by what adults and society ingrain in them as the “norm”.

The second half of The Princess of Baker Street was full of hope. Things were far from perfect for either of them, but they were better. Their support system didn’t necessarily grow, but it tightened and I was honestly and truly happy for them. ❤

Mess me Up (Bear Bottom Guardians MC #1) by Lani Lynn Vale

When Rome Pierce moved to Bear Bottom, Texas, it was his intention to lay low. To not be seen. To find a way to heal his body and soul—as well as his son’s.
Nobody would know by looking at him that he used to play professional football. Not with the Bear Bottom MC cut covering his back, and definitely not with his friendly smile completely obliterated.
No longer is there charm in each smooth word that comes out of his mouth. What’s left is an angry, bitter, scared man that’s terrified one day he’s going to wake up and his entire world is going to be gone.
Nobody knows what drove him to leave the game he loved—nobody but her.
She’s the one person that has helped him make it through the dark days and even darker nights. She’s the bright and shining star in his pitch-black sky.
And he doesn’t even know her name.
He should be afraid that she knows things that not anyone—not even his best friend—knows.
Yet, with each encounter, he gives what little bit of his soul remains, and before he knows it only two people on this earth—one dying and one too afraid to live—make his life worth living.
Until one day he has to choose—the love of his life, or the life he brought into this world.
Two impossible situations. One decision that would change him forever.

This one starts with tears of heart wrenching grief and ends with tears of joy… I might forgive this author… eventually.

Some books are harder to read than others and Mess Me Up – guess which category this one falls in? At least during the first part. The grief that Rome experiences is overwhelming and he almost drowns himself in it, which is understandable. Because the emotions in Mess Me Up are so raw that it might serve as a trigger to anyone who has experienced this type of grief should probably steer clear of this one, so proceed with caution.

The second part of Mess Me Up was much easier, but no less emotional. Rome had a lot of people who wanted to look out for him and support him, but he kept them all at a distance. Especially Izzy… but she was determined to be there for Rome whether she wanted him to or not. She had her own past that made her want to keep her heart under lock and key, but she knew Rome was worth the risk and she couldn’t walk away.

I know a lot of readers had a hard time with this one and I totally understand why and respect their opinion. I also agree with that there should have been a disclaimer for those that may be sensitive to the subject. As for me, a warning would have been nice, but I can pretty much handle anything that an author puts their characters through as long as they leave them with hope and a chance to heal… Although this story just about broke my heart for both Izzy and Rome, I think that they were both left with a hopeful future and stronger in the end.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a Lani Lynn Vale book and I obviously have some catching up to do. Even though this is the first book in the Bear Bottom Guardians MC series, readers met evidently met Rome in Vale’s Simple Man series. So the question is, do I continue the Bear Bottom Guardians MC series, or back track to all the books I need to catch up on… decisions, decisions.

Scarred by Mia Kerick

Even in paradise, beautiful faces can hide scarred souls.
ONE tropical island.
Placida Island’s gentle ocean breezes and rolling surf beckon to those who wish to reside in remote tropical serenity.
TWO men living in self-imposed exile.
Wearing twisted ropes of mutilated skin on his back and carrying devastating damage in his soul from severe childhood abuse, Matthew North lives alone in a rustic cabin on the shore, avoiding human contact.
Gender fluidity his perceived “crime” against family and friends, Vedie Wilson flees his childhood home so he can freely express his identity.
THREE persecutors seeking their warped view of justice.
Vedie’s past refuses to stay in the faraway city he left behind when family members, intent on forcing him to change, threaten the precious peace he’s found.
TOO MANY scars to count.
Their beautiful faces masking deeply scarred souls, Matt and Vedie live in hiding from the world and each other.
Can they unite and embrace each other’s painful pasts, leaving the scars behind, to find love?

This was not an easy book to read, but I’m glad I did… Also, I’m not a “judge a book by its cover” kind of reader, but every once in a while (and not often enough) a cover captures a character perfectly. This one comes so close to how I pictured Matt in Scarred that it’s scary…

Both Matt & Vedie were broken. They both ended up on Placida Island to escape and hide. Matt was hiding from his past and Vedie was trying to find a place to be himself and feel safe while doing it.

Watching Matt keep his distance from Vedie and lie to himself about his feelings for him was painful. Watching Vedie try to be what Matt needed to be and knowing it would never be enough was even more painful. They loved each other, they needed each other, but there was too much baggage between them… My heart broke for them throughout most of Scarred.

There’s hope though and it takes them almost losing each other to find it, but eventually they do… and a lot more than they expected.