#PrideMonth - New Review - UNEXPECTED SANTA & THE LION TAMER by Dahlia Donovan

Title: The Unexpected Santa 

Author: Author Dahlia Donovan

Series: The Sin Bin Book 5

Publication Date: November 11, 2017

Genre: M/M Romance

This story is the prequel to Gray and Scottie's story, The Lion Tamer.***

When a rugby bad boy butts heads with a retired Marine, which alpha male becomes top dog?

Scottie Monk came out of the womb angry at the world. He's selfish and bitter. "Bah humbug!" rolls off his tongue far easier than "Happy Christmas."

Gray Baird has dedicated his life to public service as a Marine Corps officer and later as a police chief. The decorated hero finds it impossible to ignore autistic twins in desperate need of holiday spirit. He'll be the grumpiest Santa in the world if it puts a smile their faces. And he'll drag a reluctant Scottie along for the ride.

This December, Gray and Scottie collide while unexpectedly playing Santa.

The short story The Unexpected Santa is book five in Dahlia Donovan's international bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot rugby players and the men who steal their hearts. This is not a stand-alone story. It is recommended that readers have read at least The Royal Marine prior to reading The Unexpected Santa. 

Review

4 Stars 

This book has been on my TBR list since it came out. The blurb itself is very intriguing. This book is a great quick introduction into Gray and Scottie's story. I liked how the author gives us a tease on what to expect between these two. 

The characters are very well written. I certainly started off not liking Scottie because his whole attitude just sucks. Gray is very likeable from the start. However, both characters are very arrogant and stubborn. 

Dahlia Donovan does a great job with the pace of their relationship. It's a good slow burn that keeps you wanting more. A great start to Scottie and Gray's journey. 

Read today! 

-->> https://amzn.to/2M6xlq9

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2ts5EzQ

The Lion Tamer 

(The Sin Bin Book 6)

Publication Date: February 20, 2018

Genre: M/M Romance 

One dominant Marine.

One troubled rugby player.

The Sin Bin will never be the same.

Gray Baird’s to-do list for the year includes starting a restaurant, claiming his submissive, and keeping his nosy friends out of his business. He has his work seriously cut out for him.

Scottie Monk prides himself on bullying his way through problems—and sometimes even people. His life is spiralling out of his control, but he refuses to break. The last thing he expects is to find peace in the confines of submission.

One man will try to tame a lion.

One man will try to heal.

And both men will have to join forces to deal with a toxic family and invasive paparazzi.

The Lion Tamer is book six in Dahlia Donovan's international bestselling gay romance series, The Sin Bin. Each one features hot rugby players and the men who steal their hearts.

Review

4 Stars

Holy ALPHA!!! Ok, so I kinda knew what I was getting into when I read The Unexpected Santa, which is the prequel to this book but HOLY!!! Gray is absolutely the ALPHA dog around here and hott damn Dahlia Donovan does such a good job with his character. Gray is deliciously dominant, sexy and has a soft side. 

This book definitely kept me captivated from beginning to end. Scottie struggles so much and his bitter, anger and fuck off attitude kinda grows on you once you get to know him and the reasons behind his struggles. He faces so many demons and I was so happy that the author really showcases his struggles and his progress in trying to get better. 

Dahlia Donovan definitely does a great job capturing and conveying each of the MC's strengths and flaws. I love seeing both the vulnerable, soft side and the strong side of these men. It certainly makes them all the more endearing. Let's not forget the chemistry between these two....PHEW!! Gray and Scottie have chemistry and it rolls right off the pages.  

Another great aspect of this story is the D/s relationship. Scottie struggles and tries to deny the submissive side of himself and I love how patient yet persistent Gray is with him. An overall great story and I'm looking forward to reading more from this author.

*** Gifted copy received from the author in exchange for an honest review ***

Read today!

-->> https://amzn.to/2sN7KtJ

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2MMZpPJ

About the Author

Dahlia Donovan wrote her first romance series after a crazy dream about shifters and damsels in distress. She prefers irreverent humour and unconventional characters. An autistic and occasional hermit, her life wouldn’t be complete without her husband and her massive collection of books and video games.

Connect with Dahlia:

Website: https://dahliadonovan.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/dahliadonovan/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8184061.Dahlia_Donovan
Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KC4yca
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dahliadonovanauthor/?hl=en
Twitter: https://twitter.com/DahliaDonovan/

Blog Tour + Excerpt + Giveaway: Before Ryan Was Mine (The Remembrance Trilogy - Prequel) by Kahlen Aymes

The Mad, Mad Love Begins….

The highly anticipated pre-quel to The Remembrance Trilogy is NOW AVAILABLE!

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1sxKTzo

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/12ZRZAz

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/POPrequelBN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/PreorderPreqeulKOBO

iTunes:  http://bit.ly/1wJsiRx

Goodreads:http://bit.ly/1ym7uwQ

Blurb

When Ryan Matthews meets Julia Abbott for the first time at Stanford University, he immediately knows she will change his life.  They have an instant, unbreakable connection that goes beyond partying and palpable attraction.  Although his intelligence and good looks land him any girl he wants, Ryan hesitates to cross that line with Julia because she quickly becomes the best friend he’s ever had.

Both secretly in love, Ryan and Julia are terrified to take the chance that could mean the loss of the very person they don’t want to lose.  As the bond between them grows stronger, they are both miserable as they are forced to watch as they each date other people.  But will Ryan’s all-consuming jealousy and Julia’s deeply broken heart torment them enough to make one or both walk away?

Join Ryan and Julia on the beginning of the journey that has made Kahlen Aymes’ Remembrance Trilogy an international bestselling favorite among her readers.  This book was written after The Trilogy was finished due to an abundance of reader requests for more of Ryan and Julia’s story.

And so…

The Mad, Mad Love Begins…

Excerpt

Excerpt from Before Ryan Was Mine, The Remembrance Trilogy, Prequel, Copyright 2014, Kahlen Aymes, All Rights Reserved.

My beer slipped from my fingers, and I scrambled to catch it but it was being lifted by another set of slender fingers without the blazing red nails.  By the time my eyes shifted up and focused, Julia was leisurely taking a drink from my bottle.   Her hooded green eyes appraised me, with my date almost on my lap.  I barely noticed Leah because my attention was on Julia, and then her eyes shifted twelve inches right, landing on Leah.  Julia hated beer, but still here she was, stamping her ownership with something as simple as a pull on my beer bottle.   She probably didn’t even know the effect it had on me at such a base level, but I fucking loved it.  Something tightened deep inside my chest, and my dick twitched inside my jeans.

“Ryan!  Are you gonna let her do that?”  Leah demanded indignantly, her eyes flashing haughtily up at Julia.

My lips raised in the slightest smirk.  Julia echoed it when her eyes locked with mine.

“Yeah, she… uh, she can do that,” I confirmed without emphasis.  Amusement at Julia’s confidence made me want to laugh out loud.  I felt fucking elated.

Leah huffed beside me and angrily flung herself back against the cushions of the couch, removing her leg from mine.  “Well, do you know her?”

“Yeah. Yeah, I know her.”  Boy, do I know her.

Julia wobbled a little, and I could see she’d had more to drink than she needed.  Still, she grinned at me, her arm bent at the elbow as she curled my beer close to her chest, not drinking, just holding it in place.  My instinct was to reach out or stand up to steady her.

Angrily, Leah pushed on my shoulder and spewed venom in Julia’s direction.  “Are you going to introduce us?  Is she your sister?”

Julia started to giggle.  “Pffft!  Do I look like his sister?”

 “Then who are you?” my date demanded, her expression hard.  I watched the exchange, anxious to see what Julia would say.

“Oh, we’re ….”  She handed back my beer and walked behind me to sit on the top edge of the back of the couch and slid her hand over the shoulder Leah had shoved.  “Well, let’s see… we’re…  mmmm...”  Her words were nonchalant but her eyes widened, waiting for me to finish the sentence.  “What exactly are we, Ryan?”

“This is my best friend Julia.  Jules, this is Leah.”  I said the words carefully, but couldn’t tear my eyes from Julia’s face.  Her features were filled with laughter and devilry.

“His date,” Leah spat.

“Congratulations.”  Julia focused on Leah and wagged a finger in her direction.  She was clearly tipsy.  “You need a donut.”

A laugh burst from my chest because I couldn’t help myself.  You need a donut. I thought it was fucking hilarious, but Leah was clearly pissed.

“What did you say?”

“You seriously need a donut.”

Leah looked indignant and furious, but my shoulders were visibly shaking with laughter when Julia turned her attention to me. “Can I talk to you for a sec?”

“Excuse me,” I murmured to Leah then immediately rose to follow Julia a few feet away.  “Are you being careful?”

“Is it just a coincidence that you and Twiggy are here tonight?”

I swallowed at the accusation in her tone.  She was tipsy, but her eyes still burned into mine.  “Yeah.  I had no idea you were even going out, but I’m glad I’m here.  Who is that guy?”  I wanted to ask why she let him touch her in such a familiar way but clamped my jaw shut.

“He’s a guy.  Collin, I think?  No big deal.”  She shrugged nonchalantly, and her hand came to rest on the front of my shirt.  I should have been reassured as her deep green eyes looked up imploringly.  “Don’t worry, Ryan.”

It was all I could do not to cover her fingers with my own.  “I worry.”

“I know.”  She leaned in and wrapped her arms around my waist in a brief hug and the scent of her perfume engulfed me.  “I’m glad to see you.  I’ll call you tomorrow.”

                                

The Remembrance Trilogy Reading Order

Before Ryan Was Mine (Book 0.5)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1sxKTzo

Amazon UK:  http://amzn.to/12ZRZAz

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/POPrequelBN

Kobo: http://bit.ly/PreorderPreqeulKOBO

iTunes:  http://bit.ly/1yqtDNz

Haven’t read this series yet?  Now is your chance, Grab the box set!

The Remembrance Trilogy: Books 1-3

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/12ZSvib

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1BRzGwl

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1HixD5I

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1F1BCl4

About the Author:

Kahlen Aymes

I'm a single mother of one daughter, Olivia. She's amazing in every way.

I was born in the Midwestern United States and educated at a private university where I received a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Business Administration.

I've always been creative with art, music, theater and writing. I decided to write a story as a way to build a network for a business venture. The reader support of my stories and my overwhelming desire to find out where my characters would take me, soon had the writing morphing the business. No one was more shocked than I. When readers began nominating my work for online awards, it took my breath away and only made me love it more. It soon became clear that writing was, and should be, my focus.

Stalk Her:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

GIVEAWAY

5 Signed Paperbacks w/$10 Gift Cards (Open Internationally)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Hosted by

COVER REVEAL w/ EXCERPT: Before Ryan Was Mine (The Remembrance Trilogy, Prequel) by Kahlen Aymes

Release Date: December 16th, 2014

Goodreads

Blurb

When Ryan Matthews meets Julia Abbott for the first time at Stanford University, he immediately knows she will change his life.  They have an instant, unbreakable connection that goes beyond partying and palpable attraction.  Although his intelligence and good looks land him any girl he wants, Ryan hesitates to cross that line with Julia because she quickly becomes the best friend he’s ever had.

Both secretly in love, Ryan and Julia are terrified to take the chance that could mean the loss of the very person they don’t want to lose.  As the bond between them grows stronger, they are both miserable as they are forced to watch as they each date other people.  But will Ryan’s all-consuming jealousy and Julia’s deeply broken heart torment them enough to make one or both walk away?

Join Ryan and Julia on the beginning of the journey that has made Kahlen Aymes’ Remembrance Trilogy an international bestselling favorite among her readers.  This book was written after The Trilogy was finished due to an abundance of reader requests for more of Ryan and Julia’s story.

And so…

The Mad, Mad Love Begins…

Excerpt

~Ryan

The biggest moment of my life found me unexpectedly.  It crept up softly, and settled around me like a fuzzy blanket.  A mere whisper; it hit me like a sledgehammer.  At the time, I knew it was significant, but I didn’t realize just how those few seconds would change absolutely everything: how one brief glance could leave such an indelible stamp on the remainder of my life.  It would become a contradiction; an unstoppable force that would send me reeling out of my control, churning and shredding my emotions, but create the most incredible contentment I’d ever feel.  Contentment that could wrap me up in a warm, safe place or devastate me to the core and leave my heart in shambles.  It would become years of want and pain, lust and love… It would hurt like the deepest hell, but become the most euphoric and precious ecstasy I’d ever know.  I’d never forget that day, that moment; that glance.

It would wreck me.  It would make me.     

The Remembrance Trilogy Reading Order

Before Ryan Was Mine (Book 0.5) Releasing 12/16

Barnes & Noble Pre-order: http://bit.ly/POPrequelBN

Kobo Pre-order: http://bit.ly/PreorderPreqeulKOBO

iTunes Pre-order:  http://bit.ly/1yqtDNz

The Future of Our Past (Book One)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1qUv27K

Don’t Forget to Remember Me  (Book Two)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1zBFJBr

A Love Like This (Book Three)

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1tc2Gpl

The Remembrance Trilogy: Books 1-3

Not currently available on Amazon

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1HixD5I

iTunes: http://bit.ly/1F1BCl4

About the Author

Kahlen Aymes

I'm a single mother of one daughter, Olivia. She's amazing in every way.

I was born in the Midwestern United States and educated at a private university where I received a Bachelor's degree in Marketing and Business Administration.

I've always been creative with art, music, theater and writing. I decided to write a story as a way to build a network for a business venture. The reader support of my stories and my overwhelming desire to find out where my characters would take me, soon had the writing morphing the business. No one was more shocked than I. When readers began nominating my work for online awards, it took my breath away and only made me love it more. It soon became clear that writing was, and should be, my focus.

Stalk Her: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads