#author Eliot Grayson

[greenbergsays]

Ked's right, I do have book recs that you can find under this tag and also some on my writing blog here. I also have a page here where you can see what's on my bookshelf, but you can't filter it because Tumblr doesn't allow Java anymore >__>

I wouldn't call that page a rec list, though, it's just an inventory of what I own or what's on my list to own. Some of those books are objectively terrible and I will freely admit that, but there was something about them compelling enough that I read them more than once.

I didn't mean for the below to turn into me just reccing you authors but it kind of turned into that, so here are authors I would recommend:

Onley James - I love her so much that I support her Patreon. All of her stuff is good (and loosely connected) but my favorites are, of course, the Necessary Evils series. It has two spin-off series which I also very much enjoy: Jericho's Boys & The Watch. All three series surround the psychopaths in love trope, however Jericho's Boys and the first book in the Watch series do not feature it as a main trope because neither of the main characters fit the bill. Most of them do feature some level of kink, though.

Kiki Clark - Her main series is werewolves (but no Omegaverse) and it's called the Kincaid Pack. The first book is my favorite, but I own them all. It's finished and she's starting a new series in that 'verse, the prequel to which I think is The Mobster's Mate, which is so up my alley it's like someone was spying on me. She also has a MC/kink series called Leather & Chrome that's good, but it's not my favorite kink series. (Kiki also have other contemporary books that I love, I just don't want this to get too long)

SPEAKING of kink. Robin (RJ) Moray - She has a series called His Boy Next Door that gay-awakening, age gap, and BDSM-related. It has a spin-off series about two other characters called A Collar For His Brat, both are excellent. The only thing is in HBND, the main character's name is Channon and that took some getting used to. Robin also has other books which I highly recommend--including a space Omegaverse story called Changed: Mated to the Alien Alpha, which is very good--she is probably my Top 3 favorite authors and the fact that more of her stuff isn't available in paperback is a source of constant misery for me.

Eliot Grayson -- The only person I can think of off the top of my head that writes well-written first person POV. The Mismatched Mates series is her main title iirc. It's a soul-bonding / "mate or die" situation at first and segues eventually into "mating for convenience." Some stories are related and some aren't.

Stella Starling -- if you like high fluff and low angst, this is the author for you. All of her stuff is contemporary and very cute. My favorite series is the Semper Fi one but I like & own them all.

Sam Burns (and Sam Burns w/ W.M. Fawkes) - They do anything fantasy/magic-related. Werewolves, urban fantasy, there's a series about the Greek Gods, etc. I haven't read ALL of their works, but the stuff I have read, I like. My favorites / the ones I own: Wolves of Kismet (Omegaverse), the Star-Marked Warrior series (sci-fi/aliens), & Wolf Moon Rising (Omegaverse).

Ella Frank (and Ella Frank w/ Brooke Blaine) - Contemporary writer(s) that specialize in writing multiple books for the same couple. There's a lot of gay/bi-awakening. The Temptation series is a fantastic audiobook journey that I cannot recommend enough, that narrator was amazing. I also really liked the first three Fallen Angel books are about the same couple and I love them, the fourth FA book is about a different couple and I DNFed it. Couldn't say why, it just didn't hold my interest.

...I have more, but I should probably work at some point this morning. So if you want more / want a specific rec for a specific trope or genre, lemme know!

[greenbergwrites]

There's another 3-day "stuff your Kindle" promotion going on where a bunch of books are free right now, link to the master list here~

Some notable mentions:

Favor by Kiki Clark - Book one in a trilogy. I own both available books in this series and the third one comes out next week. I'll be honest, it's been a while since I've read this, so I can't give you specifics, but Kiki Clark is one of those authors I trust enough to grab their stuff immediately.

In The Shadows by Hailey Turner - Book #3 in a 6-part series. Not sure why book 3 is free instead of book 1 but I will tell you that the whole series is on KU and it's pretty cool. Good X-Men vibes if the X-Men were a branch of law enforcement. I own the whole series in paperback. HT is heavy on the plot but she also throws some casual kink into her sex scenes. Alexei is one of my favorite characters and this is his romance. It feature a good couple'a tropes that I'm a sucker for. [HIGHLY recommend the audiobooks, too, if anyone is interested. I found this series through Audible.]

Lost Touch by Eliot Grayson - The 7th book in the series, but can be read as a stand-alone. A lot of books in the series aren't really connected, or only tangentially connected. Another series I own the paperbacks for. I read this book while DEEP in my depression state, though, so I remember almost nothing about it but EG is another author I automatically grab. [In case you're wondering, my favorite of the series is the one just before this, Lost & Bound. Only free if you have KU, though.]

Lacuna by N.R. Walker - I have not read this book, but I do know the author and I tend to like their stories. I'm looking forward to this one since it has fantasy elements. Most of NRW's stuff is contemporary, and the works I've read by them are among those.

Drive Me Crazy by Beth Bolden - I have read this one, it's decent if you want something that's a quick read. BB has a couple of different food-related series that are interconnected so there are mentions of other couples but I didn't have a problem following it without having read the others. [Sweet As Pie is another BB title and a better read imo but it's only free if you have KU.]

The Wrangler & the Orphan by Jackie North -- JN has another series called Love Across Time. I've read most of that series and own it in paperback. I haven't read this series, so I can't vouch for it, but the other one was pretty good.

Here are some authors on the list that are hit or miss for me, but fair warning, I haven't read any of the titles:

Professor Daddy by Nora Phoenix -- I own this one, but I don't seem to remember it? Maybe if I re-read it, idk. NP is technically a good writer, I just think they infodump too much sometimes and I find myself glazing a lot. I like books that I'm invested in emotionally and I don't find myself too invested in NP's stuff.

King of Askara by Victoria Sue - I own things by VS but some of their stuff is objectively terrible. I haven't read this title, I don't know which it will turn out to be.

Out of the Frying Pan by Elouise East - I have this ongoing probably where I know I've read things by Elouise East because the name is familiar but I can't for the life of me remember the title or if I liked it. I'm guessing they're somewhere in the middle re: writing, because if it was terrible, I'd remember it.

The Problem by Piper Scott -- They also write under Emma Alcott and I own all of EA's books in paperback. I also own all of Forbidden Desires (y'know, that dragon-shifter series I talked about a while ago) in paperback.

I cannot vouch for any other Piper Scott titles, but I do know that everything where her co-author is Susi Hawke is objectively terrible.

[i-will-not-be-caged]

Free Books!

It's Stuff Your Kindle Day(s), so a bunch of romance authors have stuff for freeeee today. I've read some of what's being offered, so I figured I'd give you a list of recs. And I'm even gonna put it below a cut to save your dash

The Endgame by Riley Hart When an out-and-proud Senator from California sets his sights on a beautiful man in a bar, he has no idea he's a closeted professional football player from Atlanta. Between texts, phone calls and secret meetups, the two men fall in love. The odds are stacked against them, but this is a game both men plan to win. Keywords: sports romance

My thoughts: this is one of my absolute all time faves. Seriously, I've read it so many times now. I don't even really know why, there's just something about it

Lost Touch (Mismatched Mates) by Eliot Grayson After a year of imprisonment and experimentation, Ash is finally free—but not unscathed. Amnesiac and unable to feel pleasure or pain, he’s at the mercy of his rescuer: an alpha werewolf who promises he’ll protect Ash no matter what. But if Drew can’t control himself, Ash could suffer a worse fate than the one he escaped… Keywords: M/M, alpha werewolf, knotting, no mpreg

My thoughts: I don't remember a ton about this series, much less this particular book, but that's par for the course for me. I liked it enough to read the whole series, so take that for what it's worth.

Egotistical Puckboys by Eden Finley and Saxon James Ezra and Anton are doing it "for the team" in this rivals to lovers hockey romance. With a price as cheap as our guys, see where it all starts for the PR nightmares of the NHL. Keywords: Hockey Romance, Enemies-to-Lovers, Teammates

My thoughts: if you read hockey romance, you've probably heard of this author duo. Their stuff is always fun and funny, and definitely not the most inaccurate hockey books I've read.

Devil's Dance (Rebel Kings MC, #1) by Garrett Leigh Opposites attract. The outlaw biker and the accountant. Straightlaced vs straight to hell. Strap in for this bestselling angsty MMM romance. Keywords: Biker romance, MC romance, poly romance, MMM romance, MM romance

My thoughts: I'm not often in the mood for angst, but when I am, Leigh is my go-to. While labeled MMM, most of the full triad relationship is actually in the second book, so it might be helpful to know that going in.

Pick Me (Sunday Brothers) by May Archer A laugh-out-loud rom com about a lumberjack-loving, cow-phobic human ray of sunshine who moves to small-town Vermont for a temporary gig at an apple orchard… only to find himself falling for the quirky town and a certain gorgeous, grumpy man who’s got “permanent” written all over him. Keywords: mm romance, small town romance, grumpy/sunshine, age gap

My thoughts: if you like small town shenanigans with quirky supporting characters, May Archer's Sunday Brothers series is for you. Think Stars Hollow, but gayer

Right As Raine (Aster Valley) by Lucy Lennox As the first openly gay professional football player, I can’t afford to make any mistakes, on or off the field. And the absolute biggest mistake I could make right now would be to fall for Mikey Vining, my best friend, employee and, more importantly, Coach’s baby boy. I might fantasize about Mikey at night-—every night—but actually touching him would be a serious personal foul. Keywords: mm romance, football, forbidden romance, sports romance

My thoughts: another one where I don't remember a ton of details, but I've never regretted picking up a Lucy Lennox book

The Necromancer's Light by Tavia Lark Lonely, touch-starved necromancer Shae will die without human touch. His new paladin bodyguard didn't know cuddling would be part of the job. MM High Fantasy Romance. Keywords: m/m, gay romance, hurt/comfort, huddling for warmth, grumpy/sunshine

My thoughts: I'm obnoxiously picky about gay fantasy and Tavia Lark's stuff scratches the right itch. I didn't like this series as much as her Perilous Courts series, but it was still good.

Natural Twenty (Roll for Love Book One) by Charlie Novak A gruff florist falls for an anxious bookseller with a broken heart in this low-angst contemporary MM romance featuring Dungeons & Dragons, secret flower language bouquets, steamy dreams and sofa smut, and melt in your mouth sweetness. Keywords: Contemporary M/M romance with a low-angst HEA, spice and sweetness.

My thoughts: Novak does low-angst SO WELL. This whole series is just a warm hug.

Shades Of Lust (The Carnal Tower Book One) by E.M. Lindsey Stone is well aware he can’t mix business and pleasure, but when August comes to him with a proposal for a trade—seven paintings for seven nights with Lust—he can’t say no. Not when it means he’ll be able to have August exactly the way he wants him. Stone has every plan to strip August down to his very soul, but the longer the week goes on, the more Stone comes to realize that August might very well be his undoing. Keywords: Virgin Hero, Disabled Character, Bisexual Awakening, Mental Health Rep, M/M

My thoughts: not my favorite series of Lindsey's, but their disability rep is always on point and the writing is top notch

And here's the ones I'm downloading, all because I've enjoyed other stuff from the authors:

Favor (Forever Family Trilogy Book 1) by Kiki Clark Jeremy knows better than to fall for the hot guy doing renovations on his house--especially since that guy's his brother's best friend. And most likely straight. Except... why is the smokeshow of a contractor smiling at him like that? Keywords: m/m, bisexual romance, brother's best friend, blue collar character

Lacuna by N.R. Walker Lacuna is a 92,000-word MM love story of swords and sorcery, action and adventure, and fated romance. Two kings in a game of chess they were never supposed to win. Keywords: Fantasy, gay romance, fated lovers, swords and alchemy

Between the Pipes (Watkins Glen Gladiators #1) by V.L. Locey Between the Pipes is a low angst, age gap gay hockey romance that features an outgoing young goalie, a cautious older race car driver, two families who are not above meddling just a bit to see their loved ones happy, lots of on-ice and high-speed action, and a straightaway sprint to a happy-ever-after. Keywords: Hockey romance, age gap, low angst, family, M/M

Go forth and read!

[mild-lunacy]

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🔹Blog | Eliot Grayson

[cattatonically]

Heart2Heart: A Paranormal Charity Anthology, vol. 7

Synopsis

Once upon a time, a bunch of authors wondered… what would happen if Heart2Heart, the mystical matchmaking app adored across the supernatural world, brought in an absolute legend to help them find true love?

This Valentine’s Day, the sunshiny necromancer, the lonely vampire, and the nonbinary dragon will put their trust in H2H and a certain cheeky cherub of romance. Will Cupid’s arrows strike true?

As always, all proceeds from this anthology will benefit LGBTQ+ charities to ensure that love in all its incarnations will be celebrated and protected every single day of the year!

Stories included in this collection are:

You Can’t Spell Necromancer Without Romance, by Alice Winters Hot Date, by Eliot Grayson Sweet Treats, by Grae Bryan Looking 4 Furever, by Kiki Clark Locked in Love, by Lark Taylor Love Me Love My Dogs, by Macy Blake Not So Cupid, by Mika Nix Starry Night, by Pandora Pine The Hidden God of Open Doors, by Tavia Lark Love Under the Sea, by Taylor Rylan

My Thoughts

Another anthology done, and more stories to enjoy!

After reading the Contemporary counterpart, I was really excited for the H2H Paranormal anthology, and I wasn’t disappointed. I definitely recognized more authors here, which says a lot about my reading tastes of late. But I was also introduced to a couple new authors that I enjoyed!

Like all anthologies there were hits and misses. But overall, I enjoyed these stories quite a bit! Especially the idea of Cupid working overtime for the corporate dating industry. There was just something borderline pleasantly evil about that.

[eloreenmoon]

#Review: The Royal Curse (Twilight Mages Book 1) by @eliotgraysonauthor #LGBTQ #RecentRelease #Romance #Fantasy #Magic

Moonbeams over Atlanta welcomes Eliot Grayson to the blog.  Welcome to the first post on the new site. 🙂 Eliot is a new author to me but was intrigued by the burb they sent to me in Instagram direct message and wanted to read it. Note: A reader copy was provided for an honest review.  The book released on Amazon December 7th, 2023. The Blurb: Dawn mage. Twilight mage. Cursed, useless,…

[joyffree]

TWICE BITTEN Mismatched Mates #9 by Eliot Grayson Release Blitz Release Date: January 5, 2023 Cover Design: Fiona Jayde Media Genre: M/M Paranormal Fantasy Romance

A werewolf walks into a vampire bar… ouch.

Vampire enforcer Angelo has enough problems already, and a tall, dark, and irritating alpha werewolf is the last thing he needs.

With his cheating, murderous mate on the run, Jack’s looking for help from the local authorities—who assign Angelo to solve the problem quickly.

They don’t have anything in common on paper, but sharing magical compatibility, a sense of humor, and a common goal can build a bond—whether mundane or otherwise. Even when another bond’s impossible…

[allthingsdarkanddirty]

✦•*•✦ NEW RELEASE & ePRIZE!! ✦•*•✦

Ready for a captivating & intriguing read? Well, look no further! Get your copy of TWICE BITTEN by Eliot Grayson - NOW LIVE! TWICE BITTEN is a steamy, M/M paranormal fantasy novella, complete with magical attack scorpions, knotting, and a vampire who’s desperate to avoid ruining his suit, falling in love, or other catastrophes. TWICE BITTEN is a guaranteed HEA and can be read as a stand-alone.

NOW AVAILABLE on AMAZON & FREE to READ w/ KINDLE UNLIMITED Amazon Universal ~ https://geni.us/Hojvk 

To celebrate Eliot’s new release, enter her rafflecopter for your opportunity to receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card here: https://geni.us/wQigd

About TWICE BITTEN:

A werewolf walks into a vampire bar… ouch.

Vampire enforcer Angelo has enough problems already, and a tall, dark, and irritating alpha werewolf is the last thing he needs.

With his cheating, murderous mate on the run, Jack’s looking for help from the local authorities—who assign Angelo to solve the problem quickly.

They don’t have anything in common on paper, but sharing magical compatibility, a sense of humor, and a common goal can build a bond—whether mundane or otherwise. Even when another bond’s impossible… Warning: Contains magical attack scorpions, knotting, and a vampire who’s desperate to avoid ruining his suit, falling in love, or other catastrophes. Spoiler alert: He falls in love. Does he ruin his suit, though? Read and find out! Happy ending guaranteed.

#eliotgrayson #mismatchedmatesseries #twicebitten #kuromance #kindleunlimitedromance #mmparanormalromance #paranormalromance #fantasyromance #enemiestolovers #forcedproximity #familysaga #werewolvesandvampires #mmromance #mmromancereads #mmreads #mmbooks #gayromance #gayfiction #lgbtreads #lgbtbooks #forewordpr

[thelittleredheadedmusician]

I’ve been tagged by @klaineharmony and @wordshakerofgallifrey in one version of this and b @radioactivepigeons in another so I combined the 2 (there was one question difference lmao).

How many works do you have on Ao3? 

146 (and like many who have done this before me, a couple are drabble collections and such)

What's your total Ao3 word count? 

530,111 words which... wow.

How many fandoms have you written for and what are they? 

Oh dear GOD if I listed each individual comic series we’d be here all day. We’re gonna go with the five I know for sure off the top of my head w/ the 3 big subcategories for comics. 

DCU 

> Batman comics

> Teen Titans/Titans comics

> Young Justice cartoon

Newsies

Les Mis

Percy Jackson

Harry Potter

What are your top five fics by kudos?

All of these are older and Batfandom so I’m not even remotely surprised by this. 

Family Gatherings Dick wakes up to a text from Bruce asking that the whole family meet at the Manor that night, causing him to stress out all day.

No Judgement Damian crashes at Jason's apartment and has to explain to Jason why.

Nursing a Sick Bird Tim loses contact with his family when he gets sick for a week, causing Dick to come and check in on him.

Bat Kid Jam Sessions All of Bruce's kids play an instrument which gives Dick Grayson and Jason Todd an idea.

Annual Wayne Enterprises Take Your Kid to Work Day Bruce has Tim, Damian, and Dick all coming to WE for the day and he's a bit nervous over what kind of mess they might make.

Do you respond to comments, why or why not? 

I do! Though I see now there’s a bunch sitting there that I haven’t yet. I’ll get to them when I’ve got more spoons. I love interacting with people and knowing what they like about my stories and writing. It makes me really really happy. 

What's the fic you've written with the angstiest ending?

I don’t really write angst? I don’t think I write angst. I write a lot of ennui. So much ennui. And bittersweet endings. Donna Troy and the Outlaws may be the closest to an angsty ending cause they only get one resurrection out of a possible two? But again, it’s more bittersweet than anything. 

Do you write crossovers? What’s the craziest one you’ve ever written?

DO I EVER. Yes. Yes I write crossovers. Mainly modern au newsies/les mis cause it just makes sense. The craziest one has to be from my main newsies/les mis series A crooked politician? Yeah but that ain't news no more where I dropped so many references in media, networking, and other things you don't learn in a lecture to Hairspray and Hamilton characters that I wrote the “shit show” of the four musicals being combined in a modern au that I alluded to (and I think I was encouraged if I remember correctly) and it’s called Cautionary Tale.

Have you ever received hate on a fic? 

Not so much hate as someone doing what was essentially a “well, actually” on the politics in one of my Crooked Politician fics. The moral of the story is character views and emotions and blatant optimism do not directly reflect that of the author and I did study political science and know my stuff. OH! And then there’s my crowning glory of a DIFFERENT Crooked Politician fic being quoted out of context in a New York Times article. That isn’t really hate but it was certainly something. 

Do you write smut? If so what kind? 

Haha. No. 

Have you ever had a fic stolen? 

Not that I know of.

Have you ever had a fic translated?

No, but I welcome translations and podfics!

Have you ever co-written a fic before?

Yes! @wordshakerofgallifrey and I cowrote Costs of Civil Disobedience as part of her Piano Man au and by that I mean were LITERALLY typing in the same doc at the same time. It was wild and amazing. From Across the Bar isn’t cowritten but is my companion to her fic Play Me A Memory. @radioactivepigeons were working on a leverage!newsies au but then we both got busy. 

What's your all time favorite ship? 

I? Don’t think I have one? Uh... Beatrice and Benedick from Much Ado About Nothing? Parker/Hardison/Eliot from Leverage are the ultimate ot3? I care very little about ships. If I like it, I like it. If it squicks me, it squicks me. If I don’t care, I don’t care. Sorry?

What's a WIP that you want to finish but don't think you ever will? 

Oh the Batfam Ghostbusters au. The concept is still solid but I just don’t have the motivation or know where I would go with what stands. If anything I’d strip it for parts and write it new. 

What are your writing strengths?

I have been told my descriptions are really strong but personally I think that my character voices/dialogue is. Also my ability to write teenaged ennui. Any ennui. It’s a mood. 

What are your writing weaknesses? 

Grammar! I do weird shit with my sentence breaks and make run ons and just absolutely butcher punctuation. And balancing characters in ensembles. That’s hard. 

What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

I’m going to quote @radioactivepigeons here cause I agree with it wholeheartedly and she puts it better than I possibly can rn: “I think there needs to be a narrative purpose. Like, is it building dramatic irony? Is someone being purposefully excluded from the conversation? Is there a characterization where the linguistic difference matters?“ If the answer is no then just note it’s being said in the other language. 

What was the first fandom you ever wrote for? 

Actually physically wrote a story out? Batman. I wrote a “patrol report” as Batgirl to my friend as though she were Robin in middle school as part of a christmas present. 

What's your favourite fic you've ever written? 

Oh this is hard. Uh glitter and gold is like my love of DC characters made manifest and is absurdly long but like there’s certainly scenes I like more than others. Three Card Draw might be my favorite? I love the vibes and the little world I made and using it to work out my own thoughts about gods and magic as a stepping stone for my original stuff. 

Since I think literally everyone I know in the newsies fandom has been tagged in this at some point I’m going to kick it towards the dc folks. Absolutely no pressure to do this. @audreycritter @oh-mother-of-darkness @sohotthateveryonedied @preciousthingsareprecious @whore4batfam

[puckwritesstuff]

Thanks in advance

2 & 4

8 & 9

13 & 14

46 & 50

Sorry if that too many questions.

That is not too many questions, let’s do this! Answers under the cut.

2. Favourite character?

Of the fics I've written: Drake Mallard, which would seem fairly obvious. Gyro Gearloose, however, is gaining in leaps and strides. I'm having an amazing time writing for him in this most recent fic.

Of all time: oh geez... Belle, Dick Grayson, Slade Wilson, Hermione Granger, Robin Goodfellow, Henry V, everyone on Babylon 5, Jean-Luc Picard, Q, Elim Garak, Josh Lyman, Toby Zeigler, Harry Lime, Eliot Spencer, Mara Jade Skywalker, Grand Admiral Thrawn...

I like a lot of characters ^_^

4. Favourite pairing?

I'm not going to say that I'm captain of the Fendrake ship, but I'm probably pretty high ranked. XD Though, to be completely honest, my favorite couples to write for are OC pairings in my original works.

8. Favourite fic from another author?

I tend not to go back to fics once I've finished reading them, so the term "favorite" doesn't necessarily apply, unless we're talking about "professional fanfic" like Paradise Lost or the Star Wars Expanded Universe or something. That being said, I'm always excited to see a new chapter of "A Rewritten Family HIstory" (and don't tell @1lilspark, but I'm planning on binge commenting once I've finished "Take On Me" so I can give the fic my full attention) ;)

9. Favourite fanfiction author?

I'm not sure where the line between fic and Tumblr RP blurs, but @goodliest has been my writing partner and alpha reader for years now and she writes the best Glinda Upland in the game.

13. What's your most 'overrated' work?

I'm constantly surprised that "As You Come Home" has the hits-to-kudos ratio that it does. It's not that I think it's a bad fic, I love the piece, but other than the basic 5+1 format, it's a fic that almost requires three other (long) fics to really understand and the amount of people that liked that one and none of the others is fascinating to me. I just want to know what they're getting out of it, and what their perspective is reading it.

14. What's your most 'underrated' work?

My r/WritingPrompts series, definitely. Granted, I tried to back-date them all and I didn't want to shove them in peoples faces because they're mostly very simple and kinda dumb prompts that I took far more seriously than I needed to, but I have some good writing in there, and it would be cool to see what other people think of them.

46. Favourite sentence/pragraph you ever wrote?

Oh, damn I am so bad at picking favorites... I will pick one that I really love that I think is not entirely expected and then explain why I really like it.

From "Feelings I Can't Fight":

Drake sat on the edge of the bed. Fenton sat next to him, his head on Drake’s shoulder. Drake had a hand on Fenton’s knee. Fenton’s hands were on Drake’s arm, and Drake could feel them shaking, feel his pulse through his palms. Fenton leaned up and kissed him with a question he couldn’t bear to ask. Drake kissed back, the fear in the grip of his hands on Fenton cutting through the reassurance of his arms around his waist. They fell back onto the bed.

Drake looked up at Fenton, who straddled his hips and tried to ask the question, but the words wouldn’t come. Drake traced along the edge of the faded scar on his chest and Fenton leaned down with a pleading kiss, almost begging. Drake pulled him close, trying to make his desire clear. Fenton could feel the passion and desperation as Drake’s heart threatened to beat out of his chest as he ran his fingers through Drake’s feathers.

Drake came up for air, his chest heaving as he panted. Fenton kissed along his collar as Drake combed through Fenton’s hair with his fingers. Fenton kissed him one last time before lying down, curled up next to him. Fenton’s eyes burned with tears and he could barely look up at Drake to try and ask again.

“Yes,” Drake said quietly, kissing his forehead.

Drake saw the relief in his face and could feel the tension release in his body. Fenton rested his head on Drake’s chest as Drake gently played with his hair. He closed his eyes, comforted by the sound of a steady heartbeat.

Drake wasn’t sure if he was lying.

I love this excerpt because I don't consider myself to be a particularly descriptive writer. I can see the images clearly in my head, but getting them on the page without it sounding awkward is difficult for me. I kneecapped myself further by not having dialogue. Dialogue is the meat of my writing, it's where I do almost everything, particularly when it comes to character emotion. I am very proud of being able to pull of this pivotal scene with only one spoken word, and everything else in sensation.

50. Is there something you often repeat in your fics (a verb, a trope etc)?

My characters get kidnapped a lot. Not sure where that comes from.

Thank you so much for the ask! Links will appear when the tags behave.

[melaniem54]

Review: Corin and the Courtier (Beautiful Beasts, #2) by Eliot Grayson

Rating: 2🌈 A DNF at 44% I read the books out of order which was a very good idea because otherwise I’d never have read the far superior Deven and the Dragon. This isn’t that lovely adult fairy tale. Instead of finding someone as sympathetic and honest as Fioric, his cousin apparently, the reader finds this dragon knight bully, Corin. He’s so unpleasant to read, that even at 30%, the reader is…

[greenbergsays]

Your books shelf looks so fancy! Would you be willing to recommend one or two from your shelf of a paranormal bent? Plz?

I'm not quite sure what kind of paranormal you're looking for, and most of my recs are of the werewolf-y kind, so let me start with the non-werewolf stuff

Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke - a sort of paranormal PI type story featuring a half-ghost MC. This trilogy is very well written and there's great world-building, but there is a plot decision in the third book that mildly infuriates me.

So this one, I give 8/10 just because of that.

NOX by Adrienne Wilder -- This one does include wolves, but the story is so unique I don't consider it part of the werewolf genre. I haven't started book 2 yet, but this one was great. I read it last year, so I can't recall a whole heckuva lot, but from what I remember, 10/10.

Forbidden Desires by Piper Scott & Virginia Kelly -- A light-hearted / humorous series about dragon brothers finding their mates. Book 2 has some secondhand embarrassment moments, but overall, I liked this series. You have to go into it expecting a "crack taken seriously" vibe, but if you don't expect too much, you'll enjoy it. Fair warning, there is egg-laying. 7.5/10

Poisonwood by Sam Burns -- About a very reluctant incubus who falls in love with a reclusive bear shifter. The other books that come after are good as well, but this one is my favorite. 8/10

Sam Burns' other stuff is good, too. I haven't read it all, but there's usually a magical element to their books, so you can't go wrong.

Wolves of Kismet is a particular favorite of mine. An A/B/O story about a freshly formed packed, complete with newly bitten wolves. Which is rare to see in the genre! I give this one a 9/10, too.

Speaking of wolves, a quick rundown of some of those series:

Mismatched Mates by Eliot Grayson -- This author writes in first POV, but they're the only person I've found so far that does it well. This whole series is basically dedicated to the "soulbond or die" trope with a few exceptions toward the end of the series. There is a lot of world-building, some big battles, magic users, and a more traditional take on werewolves. aka, no Omegas to be found here. But I very much like it, 9/10

Kindcaid Pack by Kiki Clark -- This one is a shifter story, not just werewolves. There's tigers, birds, cougars, etc. I don't often like ones that include a menagerie of animals, but this one is good. It's also another 'verse that doesn't include Omegas. I don't know if that's a pro or a con for you, but it's worth mentioning either way. 8/10

Omega Required by Dessa Lux -- This one hits all my H/C buttons, and you know how I am about that. A good A/B/O story with world-building and hurt Omegas in need of comfort. I like the second book, too, but this one is the one I tend to think about when it's time to re-read the series. 9/10

I hope this is enough of a variety for you to choose from

[download-free-books-67]

Book Name: Once a gentleman Author Name: Eliot Grayson Free Download on: oceanofebook. com Anyone who want to read this book write yes in the commen

[bookworms-united]

Today I read...

The One Decent Thing by Eliot Grayson

4/5 stars

Well, i was plesantly surprised by this one, which i know isn’t really saying much. it’s just... i’d read another book by this author (the alpha’s warlock- and yeah i probably should’ve guessed by the title, sue me) and it wasn’t bad exactly just very superficial and with very little character development, but also kind of fun, so that’s what i expected this book to be. so when it exceeded my expectations you can’t blame me for being surprised. 

so what’s this about? i would summarize it as this: unnecesary angst. it’s just.. Aidan, one of the mcs, goes to prison because he’s accused of kidnapping the other guy, sebastian, even tho he obviously DIDN’T do it, because of corruption and Sebastian’s shit parents. so he goes to jail, spends four years there, and when he gets out seb’s waiting for him because he feels guilty for what happened to him. he takes him home, they become roomates and they fall in luuuurve. 

so yeah, it’s a solid plot. it’s somewhat believable, despite the fact that aidan went to prison when he literally did nothing wrong; everything is better explained towards the end of the book. the relationship had a nice development; there’s an attraction from the beginning but they don’t acually don’t do anything about it until they’re well into the story. there’s a depiction of anxiety, though i can’t vouch for how well it was done (at least they never claimed twu wuv was the answer to everything and the mc does mention therapy). the narrative flowed smoothly; it was told in dual fist person pov and there was a distiction between both characters so it was easy to keep track of the story and who’s perspective it was being told from. both guys are idiots tho, that’s why i said unnecesary angst; they make it with their own stupidity (there’s a lot of “oh i don’t deserve you” and “wow i have an inmeasurable need to protect you - also you’re very pretty, what could that be?”). so there’s a lot of guilt and a savior complex involved, but they do get their shit together in the end. 

overall i think it’s a simple and fun read. i mean, i didn’t particularly hate anything and it kept me entertained; what more do you want?

[lgbtqiahistoricalromance]

Deb! Do you have a list of your top fav m/m romances???

Ok, so I have had this ask in my box forever, and I think I finally have an almost complete list…Happy Reading!! @posh-boy-clever-boy

Single Titles

Downtime by Tamara Allen (A sleuth and a librarian in a time travel investigation.)

The Reluctant Berserker by Alex Beecroft (Read this one for Beecroft’s amazing use of language to paint a picture, and a new take on the roles of warriors and bards.)

Think of England by KJ Charles (Portuguese Jewish MC and the sleuthing former soldier that aids him in this wonderful case investigation.)

Merrick & William (sequel) by Claire Cray (1799 NY; one of the most unusual romances I’ve read, it does have an elemental of the paranormal, but it’s woven in gently and the scenes are full of great tension)

A Private Gentleman by Heidi Cullinan (MC with PTSD from childhood trauma and vision issues, and MC with speech and addiction issues; not an easy read, but so sweet)

The Gentleman and the Lamplighter by Summer Devon (A widower and the man he keeps encountering at night, when he cannot sleep. Novella length.)

The Pillar by Kim Fielding (This one has a beautiful story of two men healing one another, and includes a lot of unique details not often found in historicals; features a lot of botan.)

Briarley by Astor Glenn Gray (WWI, May/December retelling of Beauty and the Beast)

The Replacement Husband by Eliot Grayson (Sweet May/December romance in an alt Regency era)

The Bibliophile by Drew Marvin Fraye (1880′s frontier May/December romances)

Stoker & Bash by Selina Kray (Two novels so far, and some great, witty interactions in this one.)

A Margin of Promise by Emma Lanner (Younger MC in love with an older man he’s basically idolized since youth; this one will keep you guessing to the end, because it’s a bit of a triangle. One of the sweetest romances I’ve ever read, and I wish the author had written more.)

The Forgotten Man by Ryan Loveless (1930′s Chanukah romance between a widower with a child, and a fellow returning soldier.)

Behind Closed Doors: Indecent Proposals Book One by Jude Lucens (Demisexual MC, Biracial MC from prequel novella, several poly relationships, WOC/biracial/poly author)

The Gentleman’s Guide to Vice and Virtue by Mackenzi Lee (Biracial MC with a physical disability and the reprobate best friend that loves him. Romance, adventure, healing, and a kick ass dose of assistance from one MC’s ace sister.)

We Met in Dreams by Rowan McAllister (May/December cusp between a younger man with mental health issues, and the apparition that comes to care for him. Plot twist on this one.)

The Blue Ribbon by Katherine Marlowe (A grumpy chemistry professor must return to his family inn, and ends up running across a wily highwayman. Includes a nice case solving spree.)

The Butler and the Groom by Katherine Marlowe (MC of color that is trying to work his way up in the household, and the stable groom that wants to teach him there is more to life than work; the ending on this one is a delight.)

A Wager Of Love by Katherine Marlowe (Poetry, philosophy, friends-to-lovers, and just an all around sweet romance between two young man that make a wager on whether love is real.)

A Scot’s Surrender by Lily Maxton (The Townsends Book Three) (One very guarded MC, and one that is always trying to protect his family-because they cause a lot of mayhem. Funny and also a bit heartbreaking in places.)

The Black Sheep and the Rotten Apple by KA Merikan (A highwayman that is an absolute cinnamon roll, and the rapscallion young man he kidnaps for ransom. Slightly dubcon in one scene, but Julian is also a tease.)

The Art of Pleasure by KA Merikan (One young man that worries about losing his essence, and how he learns the ins and outs of pleasure with other men.)

The Wrong Kind of Angel by Ruby Moone (One of the first published m/m romances I read, and still a favorite. A soldier determined to live a quiet life where he can’t get into trouble, and the escaped rent boy that brings life back into his world.)

The Mistletoe Kiss by Ruby Moone (May/December romance between an older man with a physical disability and the young returned soldier that he hires to work in his bookshop. Christmas novel, but so sweet, I’ve read it probably 15 times.)

Memories by Ruby Moone (Two soldiers cross paths in an enemies-to-lovers scenario that isn’t at all what it seems. Strong elements of PTSD, but a great novel on healing all sorts of wounds.)

The Moth and Moon by Glenn Quigley (Alt reality 1700′s England, with larger MCS in their 40s and 50s)

A Complicated Affair by Kian Rhodes (Ignore the cover, because it’s nothing like the novel. Read this May/December romance for the wonderful ending that makes of research on law and medicine.)

Madcap Masquerade by Persephone Roth (May/December romance between the older MC that has the money to save the estate of the younger, and the young MC that poses as his own sister so she can marry someone else.)

Earthly Pleasure by Sara Trevor (Alt Regency era; this one is great for the alt theological angle and the outcome)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Deanna Wadsworth (Retelling with Ichabod and Brom in an enemies-to-lovers trope, part of a series of “twisted” retellings, the ending keeps it from being strictly erotica)

A Little Sin by Sionnach Wintergreen (1920′s rural Texas; WWI vet and veterinarian w/PTSD MC and a widowed sheriff; extra points for intelligent and plot-moving WOC)

Series…

All the series books by KJ Charles

The Duke & The Dandy series by Zakarrie Clarke

Surrey SFS series by Nicola Davidson

All the series books by Jordan L Hawk

SciFi Regency series by JL Langley

All the series books by Cat Sebastian

Dark is the Night series by Kelley York and Rowan Altwood

[aspiringpolymath]

February Reading

Oh hi, I read almost as much this month as last month, even though I read too much in January. Like, I’m almost halfway to my yearly goal on goodreads too much.

This month, it was not a good month. I’m extracting myself from a job I’ve had for six years, while not having another job lined up (had an interview, went pretty well, my references were contacted, then nothing), and I had an MRI and found out I have to have surgery. It’s not an emergency, but it’s not nothing, either. And there’s been a host of little annoyances and frustrations, as well, not worth mentioning, but causing stress nonetheless.

So, I read a lot, and I read a lot of fluffiness. I mean, I tend that way, anyhow, but . . . yeah. There were some gems in and amongst, and I’ll highlight those at the end:

I read 44 titles (two from January are pictured, couldn’t easily crop them out), and rated seven of them 5 stars. There were also a higher quantity of mediocre books this month, which, I have enough stuff on my kindle and piles in my house that I could avoid that if I wished, but as Maria Bamford points out, sometimes you kinda want a 2 star experience. (But, like, only if you’re in the mood.)

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:

March Book Three - this trilogy of graphic novels is just fantastic

Midnight Flit by Elin Gregory - sequel to Eleventh Hour and just so good! Action packed and witty in that between-the-great-wars sort of a way

Along for the Ride by Mimi Grace - debut title from this author, and I can’t wait to read more

Mr. Hotshot CEO by Jackie Lau - possibly my favorite Jackie Lau book I’ve read, a very sensitive and personal portrayal of dealing with depression

Layover by Katrina Jackson - innovating the form, podcast transcripts included in this touching romance novella . . . really well done

American Love Story by Adriana Herrera - you have to read the whole series in order, but this one. THIS ONE. 

Behind These Doors by Jude Lucens - legitimately amazing; I highlighted like 40 passages. Queer poly romance with all manner of discussion about class and privilege and suffragists and just READ IT. Another debut novel, and I really can’t wait for more from this author.

RECOMMENDED FOR CUTENESS/FLUFF:

An Unusual Courtship by Katherine Marlowe 

Snowed In by Sarah Title

Snow Way Out by Nora Phoenix

Granddad’s Cup of Tea by Amy Rae Durreson

Yuletide Treasure by Eliot Grayson (not pictured, but a very cute twist on A Christmas Carol)

Caulky by K. M. Neuhold (yes I read it bc the title is a pun, but it’s a charmingly hot story and includes keeping bees so . . . yeah. I hate those 8 pack ab covers tho; that’s not even really the vibe of the book.)

I didn’t actually list any books I rated 2 stars (because, honestly, if I’m reading them FOR a 2 star experience, I’m gonna rate them on how well they delivered that, and they’ll probably get a higher rating, tbh.) Plus, when you read as much as I do, if every book was amazing and awe-inspiring, I’d just be mentally exhausted.