Emotion in Motion - Thoughts and Things Blog

Rainbow Snippets 8/16/2026

Sun, 16 Aug 2026 17:38:22 GMT

My snippet this week is from A Barlow Lens, book 2 of
Circles romantic thriller series.

Wyatt scrambled around mentally, trying to remember the correct title to address a US Marshal. It seemed every branch of law enforcement had a different set of titles, and they all got pissed off if you called them by the wrong one.

He went for the obvious. “Marshal Diamond, what can I do for you?”

“It’s Inspector,” Griff Diamond corrected. Wyatt closed his eyes and cringed. Inspector Diamond continued, “But just call me Griff. I was given your name by a former colleague of yours, Kevin Fells?”

Wyatt blew out a breath and pulled his arm out from under his head when Val returned and stretched beside him, handing him a glass of juice. “Years ago, we were both involved in some insurance investigations. He’s not really a friend.” He couldn’t imagine why an asshole like Fells, who hated gays in general and Wyatt in particular, would recommend him for anything. “He was also the brother of a… friend, but….” He didn’t know what to say and wondered why he was explaining this to a US Marshal.

Griff laughed outright. It was a hearty, warm laugh that set Wyatt at ease. Val must have heard it, because he turned his head far enough and leaned over Wyatt’s chest to look at the phone, raising his eyebrows.

“He’s a bit of an intense guy. I don’t think he was too happy about handing over your name, but he said you might be interested in some consulting work, and we needed someone with a few specialized skills.”

There are more snippets to read in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group.

A Barlow Lens is available in eBook, paperback, through
Kindle Unlimited and your local library digital catalog.

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P.S. I Love You by Meg Macy

Sat, 15 Aug 2026 06:30:00 GMT

Meg Macy has a new MM contemporary book out, Love is Love book three: P.S. I Love You.

Jackson Riley and Juliette (aka Jules) Baxter are enmeshed in new situations. Jack fled his latest trauma to act in a rom-com film, taking a break from his relationship with Reese, but now regrets his impulsiveness. His ex-lover Kyle is the least of his problems when odd things happen on set and off.

Jules and Chris are committed to their new love affair and in charge of the breakfast café and a new bakery, but keeping on top of employees and finances is not yet a “piece of cake.” Family problems also plague Jules and Reese, while Jack discovers that acting in a film is totally different than acting on the stage.

Will he ever answer Reese’s barrage of texts and voicemails? Will Reese solve the mystery of Jack’s mysterious past?

Warnings: Past trauma.

About the Series:

In the Love Is Love series, these LGBTQA+ contemporary romance novels explore past hurts, healing, and the vulnerability of gay love and acceptance. Friendship, trust, courage, and resilience unite to combat fear and homophobia in reshaping lives and communities.

Amazon

Excerpt

Life sometimes throws you a curveball out of nowhere. You either react fast and catch it, or you’re blindsided when it smacks you in the head. The latter applies to Jack Riley’s man, for sure. Reese Baxter missed the worst signs of trouble in their relationship.

Jack knows all about those curveballs, too, after surviving on the streets. He shivers after stepping out of the shower and checks the new tattoo on his upper arm. It’s healed, for the most part, but his skin has raised goosebumps. Michigan ain’t that far from Ontario, but damn. It’s fucking cold in Canada. When he first woke, he caught a glimpse of fat snowflakes outside the window against the darkness. Back in Ann Arbor, he wore shorts and a tee in a string of days with upper sixties temperatures. No need for a coat or a hoodie.

“Jesus. I’m gettin’ to be an old man bitchin’ about the damned weather.”

The patio installation at the café must be almost finished for the one year celebration. Jack wouldn’t blame his bestie and co-owner, Jules Baxter, for going ahead without him. Not that he knows what’s happening, since he ain’t answered any anyone’s texts. After packing a suitcase, donning a sweatshirt he stole from Reese, Jack rode with Kyle Kingston to this town in Canada to share an old house with his ex-lover’s friends. At least until they find out where they’re gonna be sent for the film production.

After toweling dry, Jack dons boxer briefs, jeans, a tee shirt, plus a wool and cashmere ice blue hoodie sweater he bought in Vegas. Takes out his makeup kit, adds moisturizer and bronzer. When his phone on the counter buzzes with a text, his hand slips. Cursing under his breath, he ignores the phone and wipes off his ruined eyeliner. Decides to go femboy with shimmery lavender shadow on his eyelids, contour and blush, then uses setting spray. He brushes and styles his hair, applies lip oil. At a loud crash, Jack rushes out of the bathroom.

“What the hell, King! You okay?”

Muffled mumbling reaches his ears. Kyle rises from the floor, hands blindly groping, and slides back under the covers. “Do I look okay? Goddammit,” he grumbles. “You didn’t have to insist on twin beds, Tink.”

“Fuck off. You’re gonna be late if you ain’t got an alarm set.”

He throws a pillow at Jack. “Go fuck yourself. I need more sleep.”

“’Cause you got drunk last night.”

Kyle pulls the covers over his head. Jack chose to ignore everyone last night, since the table read today is stressful enough. Jack kept waking up, the party keeping him from much needed sleep. Deep snores from the other bedrooms reach his ears now. He failed to memorize his dialogue due to the noise. Hope he don’t bomb today. Reese always helped him relax, rubbing his back, huggin’ or kissin’ him. Jack misses seeing his man’s deep blue eyes, dark hair, scruffy jaw, that broad smile. He inserts his earbuds and chooses a playlist.

After tossing his kit on the flimsy bed, Jack heads to the kitchen. Good thing he set the machine up last night to brew at five a.m. Yawning, he fills two paper cups with black coffee. Adds lids to each... Until their production assistant can find a better place, he’s stuck here with actor friends of Kyle’s. Decent guys but total slobs.

Having to share a room is another bone of contention. No way is Jack gonna film all day for two or three months with his ex-lover and deal with him all night, too. He wants privacy to chill on his own. That better happen, or he’s gonna pitch a fuckin’ fit.

But Jack smiles to hear Conan Gray’s song, “Maniac.” Perfect choice, given how he ended up here with Kyle. His ex abandoned him, then turned up again outta the blue. Wantin’ him back, despite Jack bein’ with Reese now. He shoulda never let him get under his skin.

Donning his boots, heavy parka, and gloves, Jack slings his backpack on one shoulder and carries the coffee cups into the cold. His breath steams in the air. He curses when a sip of coffee burns his tongue. It’s a ten minute walk to the table read location, but he ain’t in the mood to wait for Kyle. Too restless, Jack figures the fresh air will help clear his head. And bein’ early might make a good impression on the director.

Whatever that’s worth.

His homesickness keeps getting worse, his misery deep. Jack tramps on. Every step fails to ease his jumpy nerves. Why did he agree to do this film? For the money, of course, helping the café survive. They got so far in the red, Jack worried they’d lose everything. Until Reese stepped up and took over without telling him, renovating a building on the other side of the café’s parking lot into the Sunshine Bakery. That was a smart move. Less than a month after it opened, profits are paying off some of the debt.

But his man stepped over the line, not telling him he paid half the new patio’s cost with Jules. “Too fuckin’ late to quit this rom-com,” Jack says aloud. “I’m an asshole, lettin’ Kyle talk me into it. I should be at the café, not a stupid table read.”

Jack wished he listened to Stevie’s advice before running off. Regret hits him now. He misses Reese, bad. Seeing his man, sharing meals, cuddling after sex and playing with his chest hair, waking early to see him, his cheeks flushed, hair mussed, naked under a sheet. Or without anything covering his muscular shoulders, arms, and ass. Jack loved to watch Reese sleep or wake up, grumpy and silent, until he drinks coffee.

“Dammit. Stop being so fucking stubborn and text him...”

Author Bio

National bestselling author Meg Macy first dreamed of seeing a book with her name on it in the school library. She’s always found comfort, adventure, and connection in books—which might explain why she now writes stories that offer all three.

Meg writes LGBTQIA+ romance with a touch of spice, intrigue, and plenty of emotional payoff in the LOVE IS LOVE series. M/M romance and M/F polyamory, her stories are comfort reads with a twist. She's also written cozy mysteries for Kensington, the Shamelessly Adorable Teddy Bear series, and is one half of the D.E. Ireland team for the Agatha-Award nominated historical mysteries featuring Eliza Doolittle & Henry Higgins.

She lives with her writing companion, Mr. Whiskers the cat, and prefers pages to parties.

Author Website: http://www.megmacy.com

Author Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/authormegmacy/

Author Facebook (Author Page): https://www.facebook.com/MegMacyAuthor

Author Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meg.macy.author/

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15751255.Meg_Macy

Author QueeRomance Ink: https://www.queeromanceink.com/mbm-book-author/meg-macy/

Author Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Meg-Macy/author/B01N3KTK1N

Tuesday Teaser 8/10/2026

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 19:56:45 GMT

Wyatt was helped to his feet and lightly patted down. His wallet was dug out of his pocket while another of the cops grabbed the jacket. A quick search produced Wyatt’s weathered leather card wallet, flipping it open to reveal his badge and ID. Val was searched next, his wallet also confiscated.

The cop took all their forms of ID and showed it to the officer next to him, saying, “I’ll check this out.” He moved off to one of the squad cars.
“Until we verify you’re who you say you are, you’ll both remained restrained,” the other cop said. He nodded to one of the others, who bent down, taking Val’s arm and helping him up.

Wyatt gave Val a reassuring smile. “It’ll be okay.” Val didn’t look convinced as he was led to an ambulance along with Wyatt. Kevin was loaded onto a stretcher and cuffed to it.

Val was cuffed to a stretcher in the ambulance. Wyatt went into the back of a police car. As they all pulled away, Wyatt could see the storage unit being sprayed with water, but it was a lost cause and he knew it. Everything Lily had saved was destroyed except the box in the back of Wyatt’s car.

Wyatt was left with one wrist secured with a zip tie to a bed in the emergency room of the hospital. That move didn’t surprise him. Until they talked to either someone from Homeland Security or Griff, they’d want to be sure he stayed where they put him. He asked repeatedly about Val to no avail. He knew there were uniformed cops just outside the curtains around his bed. Where Val was, he had no idea. Kevin’s whereabouts were of no concern.

He had been scanned and examined and questioned by two doctors and three nurses. They’d finally, begrudgingly, Wyatt thought, given him a clean bill of health. His throat hurt like hell, but the doctor cheerfully told Wyatt he’d live. He was given a written list of what he should watch out for in the way of adverse physical reactions and warnings about alcohol and medications. Wyatt decided not to burst their collective bubbles by telling them he had had that list and instructions memorized years ago.

Once the poking, prodding, and scanning segment of his day was complete Wyatt’s only real choice of action was to do nothing and be patient. The local police still had Wyatt’s personal and profession IDs. The first thing they’d do would be to contact Griff, whose card was paper-clipped to Wyatt’s driver’s license.

It seemed forever until the curtain moved aside and Griff stepped through. “Well, you’ve had a fun day.” He cut the nylon cuff away, freeing Wyatt. “Come on, I’ll take you to Val. I’m sure the two of you want to get out of here.” Griff held Wyatt’s arm while he eased off the bed.

“Thanks. Have you seen him? How is he?” Wyatt rubbed the back of his neck.

“He’s shaken up. A bullet grazed his arm, and he has a nice collection of bumps and bruises, but otherwise he’s doing all right,” Griff said.

“Got any idea what will happen?”

Griff nodded. “That’s what took me so long. I wanted to sort out as much of this as I could.” He carried a clear plastic bag in one hand. “This was the phone Val had on him, and this one was recovered from your car. I thought you’d like them back.”

“Appreciate it,” Wyatt said and took the bag as they walked down the hall to a room. His wallet, which he stuffed into his pocket, was with the phones. They came to a stop in front of a door where two police stood on either side.

“Neither of them is being charged,” Griff said, giving all the uniformed police a good look at his ID. They nodded and moved away, but didn’t leave. Griff opened the door and let Wyatt in first, following and closing the door behind him.

Val was on a bed, both metal and nylon cuffs secured his arms and legs. A white bandage was wrapped around his bicep. “Wyatt. They wouldn’t tell me anything. I thought you’d died!” he blurted out, giving his arms a jerk, then huffing out a frustrated breath. “And they seem to think I’m public enemy number one.”

It was impossible for Wyatt to contain his chuckle. When Val glared, Wyatt said, “They arrived and you were the man with the gun. It’s standard.”

Val wilted back against the bed, his expression transformed to one of utter defeat.

Griff took a key from his pocket and unlocked the cuffs, then cut the nylon away. Val swung around and was off the bed like a shot. He had his arms around Wyatt’s neck in a crushing hug a second later.

Wyatt held him tight for a minute before moving him back to the bed and sitting him down.

Val looked at his bicep. “I got shot. You’re a lousy date.” His eyes didn’t quite focus directly on Wyatt, and his words were very slightly drawn out.

“I see,” Wyatt said. “They gave you some good drugs for pain, didn’t they?”

Val gave him a sheepish look and nodded. Griff burst out laughing.

A Barlow Lens is available in eBook, paperback,
through Kindle Unlimited and your local library digital catalog.

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amazon

Review of Mann Hunt by Peter E. Fenton 4 stars

Mon, 10 Aug 2026 15:52:21 GMT

I thoroughly enjoyed this story!

Declan Hunt is a former cop turned PI. Charlie Watts has recently graduated from college with an education in IT and computer tech. He's forced to move back in with his parents because of a poor job market.

When Charlie accepts an invitation to interview for a temp position with Declan Hunt Investigations it seems he's in over his head assisting a PI, but he quickly proves to be an excellent, though inexperienced, partner.

The mystery is good. There are some threads that seem to go nowhere, but since this is a four book series they possibly will lead to something in future books. I enjoyed watching Declan and Charlie follow different leads to find who murdered their client's husband.

The supporting characters are varied and interesting. There is plenty of investigative type action and suspense.

This book (and series) is a romantic suspense, but in the first book there isn't much romance between Declan and Charlie and that's perfect. What they do have is an immediate connection, the type you get with a new coworker that you just click with. Charlie learns he can step out of his tech driven comfort zone and Declan finds an assistant who compliments where he is weak. They are opposites and develop a wonderful friendship, they honestly care for each other. There is eventually a hint of the romance that may develop between them.

The writing is good, not great. There were some plot holes and inconsistencies, but honestly nothing that took away from my enjoyment of the story. Declan and Charlie have good character development and undergo growth and change throughout the story.

I'm looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

This book was provided to me by the author for a fair and honest review.

Find Mann Hunt on Amazon

Rainbow Snippets 8/9/2026

Sun, 09 Aug 2026 15:59:28 GMT

My snippet this week is from Electric Candle, book 2 of
The Sleepless City. Series co-written with Anne Barwell.

Blair fumbled for the phone and at the same time restarted the car, silently thanking Forge for leaving the keys in the ignition. He dropped the phone when the man was close enough to pound on the passenger window. Blair got the car in gear and pulled away, circled around, and stopped next to Forge.

Forge was on his feet in a flash, and Blair swore he looked as if he’d suddenly bulked up. Blair put the car in park and shoved the door open, immediately hearing sirens. The man bolted away.

“That’s the guy!” Blair shouted, pointing.

There are more snippets in the Rainbow Snippets Facebook group.

Electric Candle is available in eBook, paperback and Kindle Unlimited. Sale ends August 11.

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Make a Plan to Read This Weekend!

Fri, 07 Aug 2026 05:00:00 GMT

This week I have an excerpt from Electric Candle,
book 2 of The Sleepless City. Series co-written by Anne Barwell.

When he reached the door to the waiting area, Forge opened it and hung out, wagging two fingers at Blair.

“Hey.”

Blair’s face lit up, and he was on his feet at once. “I brought Lucas’s Jeep to him.” He looked around, nervously, Forge thought.

Forge felt a wave of relief from Blair, relief and the sensation of being safe. Wrapping his fingers around Blair’s biceps, he was surprised when there was no resistance, but he sensed a deep desire from Blair to comply.

“C’mon.” As they maneuvered around desks and went toward Stewie’s office, Forge had a sudden thought. “Are you wanted for anything?”

Blair looked up at him, rolled his eyes, and shook his head. “Then relax.” Forge smiled and resisted the urge to put one arm around Blair’s shoulders. He pushed Stewie’s office door open and motioned Blair inside, closing it behind them.

“Blair, this is Stewart Belle—Stewie. Stewie, Blair Turner. He’s good with computers, research and he’s been helpful before.”

Stewie stepped around the desk and shook Blair’s hand. “Nice to meet you. Hope you’ll be helpful now.”

“He will,” Lucas piped up. Standing, he put a hand on Blair’s shoulder. “You can use my office for now. Maybe we can make sense of some of this mess.”

“Let me know when you have something,” Stewie said.

Lucas led the way to his office. It was at the far end of the building, near the morgue. Forge hung back. Something was wrong. He could feel it coming off Blair, and it had nothing to do with a soulbond or Declan.
“Want the tour?” Lucas looked excited.

Blair’s expression was suspicious. He glanced around the office and through the door to Lucas’s lab. “Are there dead bodies?”

Lucas grinned. “Kid, it’s a morgue, and I’m a medical examiner. Of course, there are dead bodies.”

“No, thanks, I’ll pass.”

Forge laughed, and he felt Blair relax. “Blair, what’s wrong?”

“Maybe it should wait until we’re back at the castle,” Blair said.

“We can talk here, and Stewie knows about things like vampires and werewolves,” Forge said. He took a step closer to Blair and laid one hand on his forearm for a few seconds. A tingle ran through his hand and the length of his arm to spread across his chest and down his belly to settle in his groin. Blair arched an eyebrow and glanced down at Forge’s hand, convincing Forge he’d shared the experience. Forge didn’t move away, however.

“I was tailed. Some guy, except I don’t think he was human. It was more like he stalked me.” Blair pulled his lower lip between his teeth. “I’d think it sounds crazy except….”

“You’re a vampire having a discussion with another vampire in the office of a M.E. who is a werewolf?” Lucas asked.

“Yeah.” Blair looked down at the floor, then up at Forge when he squeezed Blair’s arm. “This guy followed me, watching me in all the stores I went into. When I came here he was behind me right up to the front door.”

“Security cameras.” Lucas was moving across the room to a computer. “Here’s the feed.” Lucas pointed at the monitor. “Who?”

Blair and Forge shadowed Lucas and looked over his shoulder. There was a clear image of people walking along the sidewalk, some going up to the front of the building, others passing by. The outside door appeared to open and close on its own.

Lucas nodded at it and said, “That must be Blair. Where’s the guy?” he asked, turning to look at Blair and Forge.

“He’s not there. I swear to you, a man followed me. While I was waiting for you, I could see him out on the sidewalk,” Blair blurted. “He got close enough to me I could do what you told me to do, I listened to his body. I could hear something moving inside him, but he wasn’t giving off any heat or smell. He was a little taller than me, lighter red hair, glasses. He was trying to look geeky, but it was fake.”

“How’d you know?” Lucas asked.

“He asked me about smartphones in the store.”

“Could have been a ploy to talk directly to you,” Lucas said.

Forge nodded, leaned against the desk and stared at the monitor. “Apparently, we have something that can hide from a camera or doesn’t show up on one, but isn’t a vampire.”

“You believe me?”

That surprised Forge. “Of course, I believe you.”

“Why do I have the ‘we’re screwed’ feeling?” Lucas asked.

“There was another murder. Lucas and I had just gotten back from checking things out when you arrived. This time the victim was a werewolf. An adult male werewolf, and either he had changed or was in the process of changing when he was killed. Do you have any idea what sort of force is needed to bring one of those guys down?” Forge asked.

Blair shook his head. “I never thought about it.”

“Think about it,” Forge said. “A werewolf in full form is one of the most powerful creatures around.” Blair’s gaze shifted to Lucas for a second, then back to him. “They’re not all as sweet and friendly as Lucas, and I sure as hell wouldn’t want to go up against one.”

Blair’s shock cooled the heat rising between Forge’s legs. “Does that mean whatever this guy is, he’s not afraid of werewolves?”

“Worse,” Lucas said. “I don’t think he knew what he was tangling with.” He picked up a tablet and turned it so Forge and Blair could see the screen. “I’m still waiting for Anita’s report, but so far, besides the Xylazine, I found something else. And I have to say, it’s pretty disturbing.”

“That’s sort of scary,” Blair said. Forge was inclined to agree.

“Remember the scent of cauterized flesh? I found the source. It was their prostates. There were burns on them,” Lucas said. Forge knew how troubled Lucas was by the fact he was simply presenting the facts with no commentary or opinion.

“That’s horrible. Why would someone do that?” Blair asked.

Electric Candle is available in eBook, paperback
and through Kindle Unlimited.

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Wonder Boy Owned Review 2 stars

Wed, 05 Aug 2026 06:30:00 GMT

This book is more of a sports romance and less dark romance with powerplay. It reads like a first draft, which is a shame because it’s a good story with layered, fleshed out characters, and an interesting plot, all of which I liked very much. There are a few things about this book that are brilliant. The romance doesn’t involve the athletes but rather deals with people in the league front office as they navigate the legal troubles that go with league ownership and operation. Hello! That’s a fresh awesome idea and I loved it. There was just enough legal wrangling to be interesting, but not so much that it slowed the story.

The story revolves around Global Combat League (GCL) a fighting league. I was never quite sure if it was MMA style or boxing, but that’s not important to the story. What this book does need is to go a few solid rounds with an experienced, tough content editor. The book is 444 pages long according to my Kindle. I found myself skimming through dozens of pages to dig out the story. Honestly the story could’ve been told without a third of those pages and would’ve been a much stronger book with not a good story but a great one.

The three main characters are Jack Doyle, Alex Mercer and Alex’s father Richard. Yes, two of the main characters and the author have the same last name. I have a suspicion why, but until the series is complete, I won’t know if I’m right or not.

The story’s center is Alex. We know a few things about Alex. He’s six-one, thirty years old and freshly barred. These facts are repeated over and over, sometimes multiple times on the same page. The author didn’t trust his readers to remember these facts, and they have nothing to do with characterization, so there is no reason to repeat them. Eventually Alex does turn thirty-two, thirty-three and thirty-four, ages that are mentioned too much. At the start of the book, he’s hired as Jack’s personal attorney. The story spans five years. Four of those years Alex has a forced separation from Jack which is often referred to as thirty-six months, something that confused me since four years is forty-eight months.

What we know about Jack Doyle is he’s fifteen years older than Alex, at five-ten is shorter than Alex with a denser body. Again, facts that are repeated too often. Even Alex’s therapist uses Jack being a few inches shorter than Alex as something demeaning and questions why he’d be in a relationship with a man shorter than him. I thought that was odd.
Cutting just those needless descriptives would probably shave a dozen pages out of the manuscript.

Richard, Alex’s father, doesn’t like Jack. Not because he’s gay but because he he’s a self-made man. Jack literally fought his way to where he is. Jack also knows what a loving family is. He’s a threat to Richard’s plans for Alex. Richard considers Jack crass and classless, beneath his son, who is highly educated, came from wealth and has been Richard’s thirty-year project to create a super-lawyer. A fact the reader is constantly reminded of. Alex is finally reunited with Jack after finding a loophole in his father’s plan, another absolutely brilliant bit of plotting lost in a mire of too many words.

BDSM is fun because there is so much to explore. This couple doesn’t use a lot of toys, but the BDSM and the rules that go with that sort of relationship are solid. The sex scenes, except for one, are flat. The author spends too much time telling the reader what is going on. Facts the reader already knows are constantly repeated. Instead of using less words and sentence structure to let the reader feel the scene the author tells the reader everything happening before, during and after sex, then does do a bit of showing. The majority of the sex scenes are in the first quarter of the book, and there are none between Jack and Alex after that.

There is one scene where Alex has to decide to sign a contract or not. It’s a pivotal point in the story. The whole act of picking up the pen and the decision took up four or five pages, which I ended up flipping through without reading just to get to the end. All those pages could’ve been condensed to 3-5 paragraphs, been much stronger and had more of an impact. The whole book is filled with pages of info-dumps, many are time stamped in some manner.

One of my biggest pet peeves is sloppy POVs. There were too many places the POV changed with no segue or break, and I caught a few times where the POV changed within one paragraph.

There is no true power play or imbalance between Jack and Alex. Jack sees from the start submission is something Alex truly wants and needs. It’s sweet and Jack is a good caretaker. Alex is free to say no to anything they do, a solid foundation to BDSM. Yes, Jack is technically Alex’s boss, but I never felt that they weren’t anything but equals at work and in bed. The one place the author does shine is showing with little actions sprinkled throughout the book that Alex and Jack do, eventually, come to love each other. Another example of great writing that is unfortunately buried under too many descriptives and info-dumps. I didn’t think this was a dark romance, but that’s subjective, others might feel differently. There is a huge powerplay and imbalance between Alex and his father that Jack is caught up in and tries to protect Alex from.

This book ends on a cliffhanger. It’s neither HEA or HFN, thought I think at the end of the series we’ll get a HEA. This book ends on a To Be Continued.

I was given a copy of this book through Gay Book Promotions for a fair and honest review.

Tuesday Teaser 8/4/2026

Tue, 04 Aug 2026 19:37:32 GMT

The man stepped inside and stayed on the first floor, where he would likely have a good view of the second floor. Blair picked out a denim jacket. On a table near the stairs was a locked display of hunting knives. Blair considered buying one of them.

“Now I’m nuts,” he mumbled. “What do I need a knife for? I’m a damn vampire.”

After purchasing the jacket, Blair decided to go to the local electronics store. Being followed and not having a phone was freaking him out. Good selection or not, Blair needed a phone. As he walked, he kept glancing around but didn’t spot his follower. The store, though small, was well stocked. Blair got caught up in examining his options and started when he felt someone behind him.
Blair turned, expecting a salesperson. Instead, it was the man who’d been following him. “Are you knowledgeable about these things?” the man asked, a smooth smile warming his face.

“I… yeah,” Blair said. The guy looked geeky, but he wasn’t or he wouldn’t have to ask a stranger in a store about a smartphone.

Human bodies make a lot of noise. Forge’s off-the-cuff statement screamed in Blair’s head. Pay attention to what a body does. There was the distinct sound of fluid rushing through the man, but no heartbeat. He gave off none of the heat a vampire, human, or werewolf would have, though it varied from creature to creature. Moose was hotter than them all.

“I think these people work on commission. Ask them.” Blair pushed past the man. He’d need ID to get a phone activated anyway.

Blair was at the store exit when the thought hit him that the man hadn’t drawn a breath. Or exhaled. He hurried from the store to the parking lot. Blair unlocked and scrambled into Lucas’s Jeep. He saw the man sitting on a bench not too far from the lot.

Ben had written down directions to the police station. Blair glanced at the paper as he drove. Half a mile from the electronics store, the man was standing at a street corner, watching the Jeep. Blair’s heart was racing in his chest by the time he reached the police station. The enclosed garage had a big sign over the entrance informing him authorized personnel only. Blair doubted having sex with a detective gave him authorization, even if he was said detective’s soulmate.

The visitor’s lot was out in the open, between the main building and the employee parking garage. There were security cameras everywhere, and Blair wondered if he was tense enough to show up. He spotted the man on the sidewalk in front of the station. Blair hurried up the steps and into the building. Once inside he took a deep breath and forced himself to calm down.

There was a desk with thick glass separating it from the room Blair stood in. He stepped up to it and smiled at the officer on the other side.
He hadn’t done anything wrong, or broken any laws, and still he was nervous when he asked, “Is Detective Forge here? Or Dr. Coate? I’m a friend, Dr. Coate lent me his Jeep. Sorry to bother them at work.”

Blair would clearly never make a good criminal, he blathered out everything.

The officer, an older man with a wide, grayish mustache, smiled broadly. “Dr. Coate is like that. Good guy. He’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it. They were out on a call. I’m not sure if they’re back, but you can wait here, and I’ll check. What’s your name?”

“Blair Turner.”

“Got some ID?”

Blair’s heart sank, and his panic ramped. “My wallet was stolen. Detective Forge knows about it.”

The cop nodded and tapped his hand against the counter. “Coffee’s free if you want some, there’s bottled water, too.” He motioned to a spot on the opposite side of the waiting area. “You sit tight, and I’ll find one of them. Let us know if you need anything.”

Blair sat on one of the chairs and glanced out the door. He was in a police station. Certainly, whatever it was that had followed him wouldn’t do anything in a building occupied by trained people armed with many weapons.

Electric Candle is available in eBook, paperback and through
Kindle Unlimited. Series co-written with Anne Barwell.

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Rainbow Snippets 8/2/2026

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 23:06:38 GMT

My snippet this week is from Quarry, book 2 of The Vampire Guard.

One car swerved wildly and Declan was cut off, running right into the bumper. Horns blared and tires squealed. None of the drivers even saw Declan weaving through the pandemonium he moved so quickly.

“Bastard,” Blair grumbled.

Blair was a vampire the same as Declan and could see him. Too bad he couldn’t mimic his smooth moves. A car careened around a corner and right in Declan’s path. He jumped up, slid across the hood on his ass and hit the pavement running without missing a beat.

There are more interesting and diverse snippets in the
Rainbow Snippets Facebook group.

Quarry is available in eBook, paperback, through
Kindle Unlimited and your local library digital catalog.

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Bonded by Love Series by Gabbi Grey

Sun, 02 Aug 2026 06:30:00 GMT

SERIES TOUR with NEW RELEASE

Bonded by Love Series 1 - 3 by Gabbi Grey

The books should be read in order.

Books 1 & 2 are the same throuple (MMF) while book 3 is a new triad (MMM).

Book 3 can be read as a standalone.

Overall Heat Rating for the series: 5 flames

Publisher: The Wild Rose Press

BOOK DETAILS

BOOK 1

Book Title: Caressa’s Homecoming

Cover Artist: Diana Carlisle

Length: 280 pages

Release Date: January 22, 2024

Pairing: MMF

Tense/POV: first person/past tense/alternating POV

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Menage

Tropes: Friends to lovers

Themes: Coming out, bisexual awakening

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Friends in childhood, friends as adults, friends in the bedroom.

Blurb

Nurse Caressa Klein returns home to a quieter life in Vancouver, Canada, after five grueling years of working with patients in Africa. She’s ready to settle back into her relationship with her two best friends.

Engineer Michael Dubois has been in love with his best friend since the day she announced her departure overseas. He’s glad she’s back—now he wants to hold on to her forever.

Actor Cole Hamilton is also in love with his best friend. Or rather, both of them. They supported each other through harrowing childhoods. Cole wants to bring Caressa and Michael into his life and, more importantly, into his bed.

Can they move from friends to a throuple, or is their relationship destined to fail?

BOOK 2

Book Title: Cole’s Reckoning

Cover Artist: Diana Carlisle

Length: 312 pages

Release Date: July 15, 2024

Pairing: MMF

Tense/POV: first person past tense alternating POV

Genres: Contemporary Romance, Menage

Tropes: Friends to lovers

Themes: Coming out, bisexual awakening

Book 1 should be read first.

Goodreads | Universal Buy Link

Three inseparable friends – now three insatiable lovers?

Blurb

Actor Cole Hamilton has finally convinced the two people he loves most in the world, Caressa Klein and Michael Dubois, to move in, join him in a throuple relationship, and set his bed on fire. But he fears his secrets—his real self—will drive them away.

Michael is stressed by his latest engineering project, but his two best friends turned hot lovers worry him more. Cole is too reckless, and Caressa keeps him guessing.

Caressa adores her two sexy men, but her past and tragedies in her nursing profession haunt her.

Can their love and friendship survive secrecy and the reopening of old wounds?

BOOK 3

Book Title: Donovan’s Men

Cover Artist: Lisa Dawn McDonald

Length: 312 pages

Release Date: August 3, 2026

Pairing: MMM

Tense/POV: first person past tense alternating POV.

Genres: Contemporary Romance, BDSM, Menage

Tropes: Forbidden love

It is a standalone story, but best read as book 3

It does not end on a cliffhanger

Goodreads | Universal Buy Link

From forbidden relationship to forever love.

Blurb

Police Officer Tyson McGillvary, newly divorced, is not looking for love—with anyone.

Psychologist Hamish McAllister helps patients deal with workplace violence. He’s never been in a relationship—with anyone.

Stunt coordinator Donovan Riggs, working in Vancouver, Canada, on a popular television show, isn’t looking for permanent. He enjoys relationships—with everyone.

When a tragedy thrusts all three men together, the attraction is instantaneous. While professional ethics keep Tyson and Hamish at a distance, Donovan connives to bring both men to his bed—together. As he loses his heart, can he convince them to break the rules, or at the end of the day, will they all go their separate ways?

Excerpt from Donovan’s Men

Donovan

“Is that toxic sludge?” Cole looked dubious.

I gave them my patented mock glare, mildly offended he would say that while drinking bitter, black coffee. “How you two stay healthy drinking that shit is beyond me. This is a spinach protein shake with probiotics and—”

“I’ll have you know this isn’t shit.” Cole held up what I knew to be his standard coffee. Then he pointed to what I safely assumed was Julie’s typical sugar caffeine bomb. “That’s shit.”

She nudged him.

I snickered. I loved the banter between these two. Their ease with each other meant that when I worked them hard, they could take it and dish it back. As stunt coordinator for the show, I worked intimately with them, honing their fighting skills and teaching them how to give the best shot while performing some pretty neat maneuvers. We used professional stunt doubles for the toughest stuff, but Julie and Cole insisted on doing as much as they could themselves.

Cole and I had come up through theater school together, but while I’d pivoted to stunts, he’d taken the acting track. As a tall, gorgeous man with midnight-black hair that brushed his shoulders and dark-blue eyes that smoldered, he had women—and men—fawning all over him.

Julie, while a foot shorter, held her own. Her long white-blonde hair was her signature trait while her jade-green eyes spoke of mystery and intrigue. The former gymnast cut quite a wallop in a tiny package.

After taking a sip, Cole turned to me. “Hey, and what was with kissing Michael?” Cole tried to replicate my mock glare but failed miserably. He was clearly more curious than annoyed about why I’d kissed his amour at the gala on Saturday night.

“Just a peck.” I ribbed him. “Don’t worry, I’m not poaching.” Cole’d been busy with his girlfriend, Caressa. Their attendance at the gala had tongues wagging in Vancouver—and around the world—if the entertainment shows were any indication. Cole was one of the sexiest actors on the planet, and his being taken caused ripples.

I’d happily brought along the third member of their triad. Michael was pretty new to the whole bisexual thing, as well as the ménage thing, but Cole had wanted him there to see things were on the up and up. And not to let the man feel left out. Michael and I had gone…well, not on a date. More as friends and supporters of Cole as well as Julie and actor Elouise Hynes.

Julie watched Cole intently. “Are you planning to come out as a threesome? You know how insane that thought is, right?”

I eagerly awaited his answer as, in my peripheral vision, I caught sight of our caterer and first aid attendant, Meggibeth, approaching us. Cole held up his cup in salute—obviously to thank her for the great coffee.

In that instant, I realized she’d pulled a gun from her pocket.

Several things happened simultaneously.

Cole dropped his coffee. The cup hit the ground, and the brown liquid spilled onto the roadway where we stood.

I dropped my spinach shake, and the bottle bounced but didn’t break.

Meggibeth pulled the trigger.

About the Author

USA Today Bestselling author Gabbi Grey lives in beautiful British Columbia where her fur baby chin-poo keeps her safe from the nasty neighborhood squirrels. Working for the government by day, she spends her early mornings writing contemporary, gay, sweet, and dark erotic BDSM romances. While she firmly believes in happy endings, she also believes in making her characters suffer before finding their true love. She also writes m/f romances as Gabbi Black and Gabbi Powell.

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