Review: Call The Coroner by Avril Ashton

Call The Coroner by Avril Ashton
Self-Published
Novel: 351pgs

4.5 Pants Off

Blurb: A clash of wills between predators…

He’s been living underground for a long time, but the only thing guaranteed to bring Daniel Nieto back to the surface is the identity of his wife’s killer. With the whisper of one name, he puts it all on the line for vengeance. He’s got plans for Stavros Konstantinou.

The title of monster fits too well for Stavros to want to be anything other than what he is. Time spent in Daniel Nieto’s dungeon, chained and tortured, will never change that. Starved of food, sunlight and freedom, he waits for an opening to turn the tables on the only man who’s ever come close enough to scare him.

Somewhere between the slide of knife against skin, and the drip of blood on cold concrete, things change. Grief and hatred collide with lust and obsession, and this time Daniel and Stavros are on the same side. This time, they’re fighting a losing battle against a connection forged by much more than a love of violence and bloodshed.

In a war this bloodied, what do you do when the bodies start hitting the floor?

**Warning: Gun play, knife play, blood play, breath play. Non Con, Dub Con. Water sports. Triggers**

Review

CALL THE CARDIOLOGIST

This book, this fucking book man. 

I worship at your feet, cus you deserve some praises. 

Something happened when they got in the same room. When their eyes met. When they breathed the same air. A dangerously potent something. 

The names Daniel Nieto and Stavros Konstantinou comes up a lot during the Loose Ends series and you don’t really get a feel for their characters apart from they are dudes that are both dangerous and feared. Well these two unlikely heroes with a sordid history decided that they were going to break convention and rock the boat. Is there a title more fitting than Call the Coroner (cus dead)? Maybe a Call the Cardiologist could be a close second. 

Daniel Nieto has got revenge on his mind, and he’s been hiding in the shadows for his one opportunity to bring Stavros to his knees. The mercenary took something very precious from him and Daniel is going to make him pay. Kidnapping Stavros is easy work and thus begins Daniels revenge of breaking the man responsible for breaking his heart and world.  

What he never anticipated was trying to break Stavros would involve also breaking him. Stavros bleeds so prettily, his body covered in bruises and scars put their by his own hands is a work of art, because he can bend him but the Greek won’t break. Holding this man captive should make Daniel feel lighter but why does he feel like he’s the one being held hostage. 

“You like it when I bleed.” Even to his ears, his words were shakier than normal. Faint.  

“You do it so well.” Daniel’s sounded weirdly proud, like he approved of the rivulets soaking Stavros’ hip and the tiny puddle congealing next to them. “Also it brings me such pleasure, watching you suffer.” Stavros was fading, but he brought his bloodied fingers to his mouth, licking the red away one by one—was it all his, or maybe some of Daniel’s blood was mixed up in there, too?—as he held Daniel’s gaze. “It brings me pleasure…” His voice got softer and softer, slurring, vision narrowing down to the man next to him who wore Stavros’ death mark tattooed around his neck. The man with impenetrable eyes and that beautifully cruel mouth. “Watching you try.” 

This was meant to be easy, his rage was meant to drive him to kill, to maim but life has a way of fucking with you and Daniel was never expecting to need the person who left him wanting in the first place. Big bad Daniel Nieto is used to bringing men to their knees but for Stavros he would gladly get on his. He’s starting to realize for Stavros, there really isn’t anything he wouldn’t do. 

Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer, heh keep this enemy close enough to fuck at least. 

This is such an enemies to lovers story it’s crazy. The initial reaction how can these two men get past the pain they have caused each other and get to somewhere even close to “like”. What you never forget is how ruthless these men are, they will stop at nothing to take what they feel is rightly theirs. They will harm/kill anyone that has wronged them in some way, and most of all they will burn everything ground trying to keep them apart.  

If you don’t already know this, well you gon learn today. I love crazy, I love ruthless, I love bad boy criminal types who never try for any type of redemption. This is what I love about Avril's books. These guys are dangerous, they remain dangerous and I freaking love it. 

Again I will bring up the diversity that can be found in all of this author books. It’s freaking important and you can tell the author knows her stuff. I will give it all the stars ⭐️ for that reason alone. 

Call the Coroner was amazing and I freaking love it. I never get tired of sex scenes in a Ashton book. I’m a skimmer of sex scenes in mostly all the books I read, for me it’s all about words and this book had words. Like some sexy shit gets said and I swear its spoiling me (if you ain’t talking dirty I don’t wanna talk).  

Overall, I LOVE IT. THAT IS ALL…

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Songs

Baby Don't Stop by NCT U 

Danger by BTS 

Review: Scars and Secrets by Avril Ashton

Scars and Secrets ( Loose Ends Book 1) by Avril Ashton
Amazon
Novel: 281pgs

5+ Pants Off

Blurb: After an undercover assignment that changed his life forever, FBI agent Donovan Cintron is barely hanging on to sanity. His new mission is to forget, by any means necessary, so he tries his hardest. Pills. Booze. The warm bodies that never quite measure up to what he’d had. What he’d lost. It’s almost a relief when he learns his identity might be compromised—except he’s not the only one exposed. So is the husband he hasn’t stopped needing all these years later. He’d been aching to die, but for Levi Nieto, Donovan will live. To protect. To regret. To remember.

The realization that everything he loved was a farce sent Levi Nieto spinning out of control, and running away from the memories. Now Donovan is back in his life, still fully entrenched in darkness. Their physical connection is one thing, but the truth of who they are to each other remains trapped among the anger, violence and lies suffocating them. Fixing what’s broken will take more than each man exposing his scars. Secrets—and blood—must be spilled.

Review

I am just…. 

Like where do I begin? This book was just a pure banger and I didn’t want it to end. I know I’m getting an angst ridden read when it comes to Avril, but this had me choking on my own spit and had my heart racing, I haven’t felt them feels since “Watch Break me Break You” left me ruined. Scars and Secrets is a thirst trap, and I am thirsty. My throat is mad raw!!

Donovan Cintron has got a job to do but that job didn’t entail falling in love and building a family. The thing with keeping secrets is that eventually they come to light and leave a mess of hurt behind. That’s what happened with Van, his secrets lost him his husband and family. With everything he does clothed in danger it’s finally coming back to bite him in the ass and his husband and son are put in danger. It’s time for the prodigal husband to make a return and save his marriage and in the process save his own life. 

Levi Nieto found love and lost it. Lies and betrayals has shaped his life for the last seven years and he never thought he would be able to move on from that. Now his life, his sons life is in danger once again and it’s all because of the man he married. Donovan came into his life to build him up only to knock him down. Now he’s face to face with the man that left him wrecked and bodied, how can they move past all this hurt. Ones thing for sure, their passion is blazing fire and it seems not even distance could dim the flames. 

First of all, first off all…this f*cking book left me in tatters. That’s not to say I didn’t have a few problems but the pros far outweigh the cons and I feel like I been ruined for any other books I read this year. It’s like Miss Ashton goes into brain and write the things that make me lose my pants. Levi & Van are walking, talking porn advertisement. I read sex scenes with a slight disinterest because I’ve been doing this so long, so it takes a lot to get my motor running. Their heat left me deceased and just shooketh to the core. I like them together, I love them together but I feel like I hardly know them apart. Their surrounding overshadowed their story and I wanted to know how they fell in love. 

“Want you to feel me” Levi’s mouth was at his ear, breath harsh, loud, broken. “In your fucking chest. When I come inside that ass, you better taste it on your tongue”.  

The plot is one crazy twist after another filled with favourite characters from the authors other works. My heart was just in a happy place seeing characters that I know and love in one place coming together with a common goal and shaking sh*t up. A lot of interesting shockers here filled with Avril’s signature dramatic flair and I was all in for it. I swear I am just so in love with the freaking book its essence is dunked into my bones. 

What I’m having a hard time with, is Vans addiction being glossed over and it was a full blown addiction. He had some demons and I feel they weren’t addressed properly. Man needs rehab, therapy, and a cleanse. Alas, I’m still all for this regardless of its faults I’m still utterly in love and ain’t nobody can tell me otherwise. I give kudos to Avril regardless of writing, high marks for diversity alone. Her stories ain’t filled with cookie cutter white boys all over the place, and all these bad boy types is my aesthetic. Hats off to my Jamaican rude boyz!! 

Overall, this has been a pleasure to read and experience and I might be ruined for the rest of the year. Scars and Secrets is unapologetically Avril Ashton and I am looking forward to reading the series. I have to take them in small doses because I’m trying to live. I am a lifetime fan of this author. Big ups Avril, keep writing the mans dem!!

SideNote- Take caution going into this series if you haven’t read the other series (Brooklyn Sinners and Run This Town). 

SideNote2- Walking around with a girl boner for the rest of the month.

Review: Intercession by Pepper Espinoza

Intercession by Pepper Espinoza
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 206pgs
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
After fifty years of searching for his lost brother, vampire David Derringer attempts the unimaginable: he bends his knee in prayer. While he doesn’t believe, his mother’s faith was strong, and her final request—a request made the night she and David died—keeps David on the path to his younger brother, Danny, despite the many obstacles.

David doesn’t expect his prayer to be answered. He certainly doesn’t expect an angel to intercede on his behalf.

Jophiel is tasked not only with helping David find his brother but with saving David’s soul. It seems like an impossible assignment meant to punish him, especially when they must face the Brotherhood of St. Rocco, an organization dedicated to eradicating vampires.

But David has a chance to prove he’s not like other vampires when he meets Arthur, a young man with a secret and a death wish. Following a very steamy encounter, Arthur expects to be bitten. David never even drops his fangs. Which is a good thing, since Arthur might be the key to finding Danny before it’s too late.

Review:
My very first time reading Pepper Espinoza, and I do solemnly swear that it will not be my last. At first Intercession started off a little slowly and honestly I wasn't all into it, but in no time it picked up and I was hooked. I am talking sexiness of epic proportions and my new fave hot as hell vampire. It should become a new rule: angels should always fall in love and have sex with vampires, makes perfect sense to me.

David is vampire tormented, tormented by the promise he made to his dying mom and years spent searching for a younger brother out of reach. Yet, he is willing to do anything and that anything finds him in a church praying to god that most likely will not answer his soulless prayers. It’s just his luck when a monk decides to ruin his one on one time with god and try to put a stake in his heart, but David is feeling generous and he lets the monk live. It’s just proof that god doesn't answer a killer's prayer and so finding his brother is something he has to do on his own, but time is running out and every day the trail gets colder and his brother Daniel gets older. He needs a bit of a miracle right now, so when a man appears in his car saying he's an angel sent on a mission of god David is having a hard time believing it but he's willing to take scraps.

Jophiel an angel of the Lord can't believe he got stuck helping a vampire, a soulless evil creature of Satan. How can god demand that he help something without a soul? But it might be a way for Jophiel to redeem himself so he has no choice but to help the vampire David. Being in David's company Jophiel is realizing that there is more to the vampire, and he isn't just bent on killing and causing mayhem. He has a conscience and his deep caring for a sibling long lost sets him apart from the rest. If only he wasn't so attractive, and a key player in all the things that Jo should never have or feel. But he will help him find his brother with all the angel power within him.

Throw in the human Arthur, and the story takes a turn of mayhem, betrayal, and sexy good times. Three men brought together under dire circumstances but form an unbreakable friendship. I can't call this one a ménage relationship though there is ménage sex, but anything beyond that hasn't been established yet. David is the glue keeping them together and without him Arthur and Jophiel relationship seems uncertain. There is some twists and turns, all leading to an explosive ending which isn't HEA or HFN it’s more like WTF. So I now pray for a sequel, and might possibly resort to begging for more David, Jophiel, and Arthur.

I am talking about Vampire/Angel smexing and it sets my pants on firs. The writing is engaging, witty, and just spot on I am going into Pepper's backlist because she has created a fan in me. Intercession is a story about hope and finding love when you least expect it. I don't want to give much away, but that ending...maaaaaaaan it’s like whoa!

Should You Read It? YES!!! A fave read of mine, and I wish I could delete it from my head just to experience the feels of reading it for the first time. Awesome read!!!

4.5 Pants Off

Review: Metal Heart by Meredith Shayne

Metal Heart by Meredith Shayne
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 264pgs
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
Scott King swore off rock stardom after his band, King Phoenix, crashed and burned. Now in his forties, Scott lives a quiet life as a music producer and session guitarist. But in a box hidden in his wardrobe lie the relics of the past he left behind—a past filled with drugs, booze, and broken hearts. For sixteen years, Scott has had no contact with his former bandmates, so when he’s asked to play at a benefit gig for King Phoenix’s old sound man, his world turns upside down. A King Phoenix reunion means a run-in with Scott’s ex, Ash Walker—and sixteen years ago, believing Ash wanted to leave the band, Scott OD’d and almost died.

Since then, Scott has ruthlessly suppressed his feelings. As a result, he's completely unprepared for the impact of seeing Ash again, or for dealing with his emotions about the band’s demise. He definitely didn’t expect Ash to want to start up where they left off. Now Scott has to decide between his safe existence and the twenty-year-old love song that could cost him his sobriety—and his heart.

Review:
Another book I was very surprised by, and man it’s awesome when that happens. Metal Heart brought out all kinds of emotions in me, if you follow me on twitter and Goodreads then you already know this. There is something very charming about the story, and refreshing about the characters that I just fell in love with. Plus, its rockstars and they're always all kinds of kickass.

The book is broken down in two parts: the 1990s and 2011 (the books present time). In 1990, Scott King is looking for a band to make it big with so he can quit his day job and go on to superstardom. When a friend tells him about a band one man short, and gives him their demo, Scott knows he's found his band. With the smooth sultry voice of the singer giving him feels below the belt, and with a name like King Phoenix it’s like a match made in heaven. When Scott finally meets the band they hit it off right away but it’s the singer Ash that has Scott in a twist. Ash is sexiness personified and Scott is close to losing his shit over the sexy singer, but he's got the music to get lost in and keep his crush under control. Working their way to up in the music scene comes with a lot of hard-work and disappointments but they knew the road to fame wouldn't be easy. From the small gigs, and rocking out at every club/pub they get to play at Scott's feelings for Ash intensifies but he knows that nothing will ever come of it. Until he gets a glass to the face at a gig gone wrong, and Ash is jumping in to take care of him and pouring out his feelings while they lie together in bed. Things seem almost perfect, because together they will take over the world with their music and rock on.

A series of ups and down, and finally all their hard work is paying off. Scott and Ash are in love, but the relationship remains a secret, regardless their happy being with each other. King Phoenix is the next big thing, and people are noticing. Boom, comes the record deal, KP is finally touring, and things couldn't be any better. With a few good years under their belt, suddenly performing for larger crowds has Scott suffering from stage fright and it’s taking a toll. When friends introduce him to pick me uppers that will take his fear away, Scott feels like he can fly. Next, he's using things to stay awake, drugs to go the sleep, and he is just one addicted mess. His love for Ash won't save him this time and everything starts to fall in between the cracks. When Scott realizes he might be losing Ash, he goes on the bend and ODs, and a dream for a band goes up in flames.

Now it’s 2011 and Scott has tried to forget a time when he almost died, and lost the man he loved more than anything. So when he gets a call to a reunion show for a friend who is dying to raise money for his family. Scott can’t be an asshole and say no, but it would mean seeing the band for the first time in 16yrs but most off all it would mean seeing Ash. He decides to do it but it doesn't mean he's gonna be nice about it, because while he was fighting for his life his bitch ass band upped and disappeared. It's that Ash up and disappeared is what hurts the most.

So this book was made of awesome, and I am just surprised by how much it I love it. Though I am singing praises, it did piss me the eff off. First, Scott really knows how to hold a grudge and though I can understand him being pissed about them not coming to see how he was doing, he can’t blame them for his drug use. No one held his face to a line of coke, so he has no one to blame but himself. I am also pissed at all the band members because the douche bag faces could have visited him or at least called to see how he was doing, especially Ash. They were in love and together for years, and just like Scott I can't forgive him easily. No matter the excuses I was all "It Doesn't Matter" all your stupid asses could have called in the last 16 bloody years.

Meredith doesn't shy away from writing the drug use, and you get to see how intense it all was for Scott. The relationship between the men was a real sweet case of young love, and it’s heart breaking to watch them crash and burn. But they were so young going after a dream without any form of guidance. I wouldn’t have minded if this story was a bit longer because I feel a lot of things weren't explored to their full potential. There is a lot of blame, without any real solution so I am feeling a bit dissatisfied with how it all ended. I am crossing my fingers that I get another story, because I am so in love with Scott and Ash.

Should You Read It? I am going to give this one a big YES, because I cried while yelling at this book. This was my first time reading Meredith Shayne and it will not be my last, I loved the rockers, loved all the angst, and I loved Scott/Ash. The writing had such a wonderful flow; I could have easily read another hundred pages. Metal Heart was superb!

4.5 Pants Off

Review: Falling Into Place by Tia Fielding

Falling Into Place by Tia Fielding
Dreamspinner Press
Novel: 214pgs
4 Pants Off

Blurb:
Following an amicable divorce, former stay-at-home dad Scott Mitchell needs to get a job—and a new lifestyle to help him manage his depression, since he lost his Domme along with his marriage. At least one of his problems is solved when finds work at Wilde Publishing. Fulfilling his boss’s needs at the office gives him a productive focus and pays the bills, but becoming a PA to publishing wunderkind Milo Brock isn’t without its trials.

After an injury put an end to his dreams of the NHL, Milo got an education and pursued other interests. At work, he runs Wilde’s sports division. At play, he’s always thought of himself as straight, but his attraction to his new PA casts that into doubt. Luckily a hard life has taught Milo to take things in stride.

Scott and Milo are battling separate lives, ghosts from their pasts, a sister dying of cancer, and a clash of preferences in the bedroom. Scott needs to submit to keep himself balanced; Milo prefers vanilla sex. If they can’t find some middle ground, they’ll lose the support they both desperately need.

Review:
I really wasn't expecting to enjoy this book, after the huge fail I read by this author called Technically Dead. So yes, I had some apprehension about how good Falling Into Place would be, but it turned out to be quite good, and far surpassed my expectations. I call that a win!

Scott Mitchell is depressed and has no idea how to move forth and find some happiness. You could say he is happily married with his two kids, but his life is lacking something more. His Mistress is also his wife Heather; she can't provide the pain he needs to keep him sane, and functional. Scott finds himself just going through the motions and living his head. This ultimately leads to an accident and the end of his marriage. Now he has to go out find himself a job and start over, while lacking the pain and subordination that he craves.

Scott lands a job at a sports publishing company, and the routine gives him an escape and most night leaves him exhausted so he can keep the darkness away. Scott is very good at his job, becomes a huge importance to fledging company, and a friend to his boss Milo Brock. The men hit it off right away, and Scott becomes comfortable in sharing his wants/needs, and the nightmares of his past with Milo. The friendship becomes more, and Milo is faced with the how & whys in being a competent Dom for Scott. While Scott is thinking maybe, he's asking for too much from the man that has become so much more than just a friend.

I was worried about how the author would deliver the story, but it came together very well. The story is very much a discovering/coming out of two men finding themselves and saving each other. Sex takes a back seat within the plot, and the book focuses on family, and the importance of friends. Scott and Milo take a journey together, with Scott having experienced BDSM lifestyle for some years with his wife, but never having exploring it fully. While Scott was learning, Milo was there along with him learning too.

I did find Scott's past tragedy to be over the top, and it failed to provide a realistic background. Because all I kept thinking was 'that's just crazy' and eye roll numerous happened. I'm glad that BDSM wasn't used as some sort of therapy for Scott, and the author made it a different issue instead of it remaining singular. Really, lots to like about this one!

Should You Read It? I am going with yes, because Tia Fielding has redeemed herself for me with this book. The story is emotional, loving, and entertaining. It is rare that I read and enjoy book without dirty, dirty love. While there is a sex scene, the relationship between Scott, Milo, and his family totally steal the show. I enjoyed it!

4 Pants Off

Review: Acceleration by Amelia C. Gormley

Acceleration (Impulse #2) by Amelia Gormley
Self-Published
Novel
4.5 Pants Off

Blurb:
GAINING MOMENTUM

Gavin Hayes is everything Derrick could ask for in a lover. Gorgeous. Passionate. Great in bed. Derrick finds it very easy to just let himself go, to let Gavin guide him and teach him all the things he missed during a decade of celibacy. In the course of a single weekend, Derrick’s routine is transformed, his mornings and evenings filled with sex. Sweet, seductive, wild, or raunchy, Gavin offers Derrick all the pleasure he’s denied himself for so long.

But learning how to be a lover in bed is one thing. Learning to be one out of bed is another. For Derrick, being alone has become habit. Sharing his confidences doesn’t come nearly as readily as sharing his bed. After so many losses, the last thing Derrick wants is to become dependent upon another person who might not always be there.

And Gavin always being there is far from certain. With an ex-lover lurking in the background, and the question of Gavin’s future health still outstanding, neither Gavin nor Derrick feel capable of asking for anything more than right now. But Gavin won’t be kept on the fringes of Derrick’s life. Can Derrick let someone in before the opportunity passes him by?

Review:
I am blown away! Where I found the first book in the series goodish, this one was excellent. I did not want it to end, and Gavin and Derrick are INTENSE. I am excited for the next book and man am I impatiently waiting.

 In Impulse book 1, contractor/handyman Derrick meets Gavin whom he finds very attractive. After spending many years celibate and alone, his attraction is both exciting and terrifying. Plus, Gavin is coming on strong and Derrick was finding it hard to resist to him. Then Gavin drops a bomb that blew up their fledgling relationship before it even got started.

Both men are dealing with past hurts, and this terrifying reluctance to trust each other. Gavin's previous relationship has left him emotionally and quite possibly physically damaged. Derrick’s fear of being abandoned has him keeping Gavin at arms length (giving but never quite giving all). He hides things that affect them both, and he is wary of the day that Gavin will up and leave him. Which is interesting, based that Gavin might be seriously ill and Derrick has this past of caring for ailing people.

The men do this tango of sex and apprehension, and man was it beautiful to read. I really liked Derrick, his fears were sound and I felt like sometimes he was backed into a corner. They were moving at a speed that just felt too fast, for where their relationship was at. It's only been a few months and expectations seemed excessively high, and sometimes both were asking for too much.

I thought there would have been more angst (doom and gloom) but I found it very sweet, and of course sexay as hell. This was hot, hot and Gavin delivered his superior Dom like a boss. I was both impressed and excited in my pants by the amount of awesomeness. It’s as if the author planed to unleash all the sexy in book two "I will wait and then I will kill them with utmost exceptional ass eating scenes ever written". I really believe that was the plan :D

The writing is superb, the care that went into it, is in every chapter on every page. For a self-pub, it really can't get any better than this (it really can't). Acceleration is definitely going on my fave list of 2012; it was a wonderful surprise in awesmazing. Also, that freaking cover *squee* EXCELLENT!

Should You Read It? Yes, yes, and more yes. Blew me out of the water because I was expecting to like it, not love it. Worth taking a chance on. I am eagerly awaiting the third book in the series; Derrick and Gavin have captured my heart and have caused some mega pants losing.

4.5 Pants Off

Review: Book #1 Impulse