Monday 5 December 2016

Kiss and Ride blog tour kick off + Kindle Fire giveaway!



Kiss and Ride blog tour kicks off today with giveaways, exclusive excerpts, reviews and guest posts!
Today's stop are at Divine Magazine, Zipper Rippers - where I talk about travel and how it affects my stories, and Tangled Hearts Books Reviews. 
Enter the Rafflecoper below for a chance to win one of many prizes, including a Kindle Fire tablet!


Thursday 1 December 2016

Kiss and Ride is LIVE on Amazon


It's December which means Kiss and Ride is here!! I'm so excited to share Luca and Vin's story with everyone. This book feels very personal to me, in a way more personal than anything else I've written. It was inspired by Rome and I tried to capture the city's magic, and hopefully make everyone fall in love with it as much as I did.

The book is about sexy Italian men spending Christmas in Rome. That's the short version anyway. The long version is this:

What happens when you meet the right guy at the wrong time?

When Vincent Alesi’s estranged father dies, he gets on the first plane from New York city to Rome to be at the memorial service. Even if he has to max out his credit card. Even if he hates the man for leaving him. Even if it’s a day before Christmas.

Everything that can go wrong does go wrong, and Vin ends up trusting a complete stranger with all his secrets, even the ones he didn't know he had.

Luca Romano’s job as a flight attendant takes him all over the world. But a jet-setting lifestyle is not what he wants. His dream of opening his own restaurant is being placed on hold over circumstances beyond his control.

Timing is everything...

When Vin bursts into Luca’s life, both men fall fast and hard. But their lives, their dreams, even the cities they live in couldn’t be more different. 

Their few days together in Rome are romantic, emotionally intense, and leave them both wanting more. 

Can a fleeting love affair change their lives forever?

Kiss and Ride is available on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

Check out the visually stunning book trailer:



The blog tour, organised by Alina Popescu at Eyes on Books kicks off next week with guest posts, reviews, interviews, exclusive excerpts and much more! The Rafflecopter giveaway will run throughout the blog tour (5 Dec - 18 Dec) and there are some awesome prizes to claim, including a Kindle Fire tablet. 



Thursday 17 November 2016

Kiss and Ride cover reveal!


Look at the beautiful cover Jay Aheer from Simply Defined Art designed for my new book Kiss and Ride!!! I've been sitting on it for weeks, and was so impatient to show it to everyone! Jay did an fantastic job capturing the mood of the book and I couldn't be happier with it.
Kiss and Ride will be released on December 1st. Preorder is live on Amazon.

Take a look at the beautiful book trailer to find out what the book is all about:




Tuesday 15 November 2016

Snowed In is out on audio!



Snowed In - my stand alone holiday novella - was just released on audio! The narrator - Dan Rider - did a fabulous job with the book! I absolutely love his narration and I hope everyone else will, too.

Get your copy:

Audible   AudibleUK   iTunes   

Book Description: 

Be careful what you wish for...

Nate has been in love with Quinn, his brother’s best friend, for as long as he can remember. But when he finally gets the chance to show Quinn how he feels, his heart gets broken in the most unexpected way.

Second chances come when you least expect them...

Quinn doesn’t believe in miracles, especially not Christmas ones. When he decides to win Nate back he knows it won’t be easy. The last thing he expects is a health scare, a road trip and a vicious snow storm to work in his favor.

In the end, a cabin in the woods turns out to be not only the shelter they desperately need, but also Quinn's very own Christmas miracle. 

Sometimes, to forgive, you need to get snowed in

Book Trailer:



Monday 10 October 2016

Book of the week - The God of Jazz: Fugue, Concord by Varian Krylov


Book Description: 

After years struggling to realize his dream of directing a feature film, on the final night of his fundraising campaign Godard is on the cusp of having everything he ever wanted. The man he loves is upstairs waiting for him, and he's just a few dollars short of his GoFundYourself goal.

Then everything falls apart.

His personal and professional life in ruins, when his old nemesis from film school offers to fund his dream project if he's willing to shoot it in Spain, Godard knows it's a deal with the devil. But he also has nothing left to lose.

Among the labyrinthine streets of Barcelona's Barrio Góthico, the city's vibrant music scene, and the sun-gilt beaches of the Costa Brava, Godard begins shooting his dream project and putting his life back together, largely under the domineering gaze and deft touch of Ángel, the god of jazz.

But Ángel is keeping a secret, and a deal with the devil always comes at a price.

My thoughts:

I absolutely loved this book! 
It's no secret that I've loved every single of Varian's books, but this one must be my favourite.
The God of Jazz: Fugue, Concord is a much lighter read than Varian's other books - it doesn't have the angst of Dangerously Happy or the heavy BDSM theme of Bad Things or the intensity of Transmudo. But it's got a certain magic to it that makes it absolutely brilliant, and so so beautiful.
I don't want to give away too much from the plot because I'm a firm believer that all books should be experienced without knowing much about them, but the premise of the story is this:
When Godard's long-term relationship falls apart, and his dreams of making the film he's written ages ago and keeps believing in follow in the dust, he agrees to a deal offered by an old friend, and goes to Barcelona to film his movie.
I love it when the setting of the story becomes a main character. Barcelona is one of the MCs in this book, and it's described so vividly, so beautifully that the whole time I was reading I could actually imagine myself there, in the streets of this amazing city, or cooling off in the sea after a run on the beach. 
Godard and Ángel's story is sexy, intense and real. I loved these two together. They made me swoon so many times I lost count.
I also loved the movie Godard was making. It was so emotional and described so well - I'm not gonna lie, I did tear up once or twice.
Varian's writing is as beautiful as ever. She's one of these writers who transports you straight to the heart of their story, and can make your heart beat faster with a few simple words. 
Can't recommend this book enough! It's a delight to read!

Here's a little excerpt to whet your appetite:

“Want a beer? Or, I have a bottle of Penedés.” I locked the front door, surprised to realize my hand was a tad jittery. But to be fair, in the years between losing my virginity with Jordi, and falling for Michael, I'd only been with three other men. One one-night stand, and a bit of casual dating. After five years of living like a married man, bringing a sexy stranger home and knowing we were about to fuck, was a new thing.
And this guy. Ángel wasn't just gorgeous. He had the most intense, commanding presence of anyone I'd ever met. And there he was, just looking at me, not saying a word. The sun was settling down against the horizon, its rose and gold rays flooding the living room and setting Ángel's whiskey irises aglow.
“Take off your clothes.” The quiet command uttered in a sultry tone had a firmness yielding no hint of doubt I'd do it.
Damn.
A twinge hit my heart, then heat swept through me, singeing my skin and settling in my groin. The warm arousal that had me buzzing, my junk feeling heavy and making my shorts increasingly tight as we'd walked to my place now swelled to a demanding, pulsing pressure. His expectant gaze slid over me like a touch, settling on my crotch, making me breathe harder. Already stiff, my dick jutted out against my shorts.
I was up for it. A hundred percent. But I wasn't much for taking orders. Especially since Ángel's mere presence had a way of making me feel like an adulating acolyte.
“Ángel?”
“Hmmm?” No hint of surprise I'd remembered his name from the jazz show. “Don't you want to know my name?” He smiled. “Do you want me to know your name?” Well played. I grinned back, grasped the hem of my T-shirt and took it off, sliding it up slowly, teasing him as I bared my navel, my abs, my nipples inch by inch. Sure, he'd seen me shirtless—hell, even naked, apparently—on the beach. But we all enjoy a little anticipation when watching the guy we're about to fuck undress. Unabashedly staring, one forearm crossed under his chest, Ángel brought a hand against his chin and ran the pad of his thumb across his bottom lip, as if he were picturing the feel of my skin against his mouth.

Where to buy:



Varian's social media links:

     Blog    Facebook     Twitter  


Varian's bio:

Growing up near Los Angeles, I spent much of my time frolicking in the Pacific and penning angst-twisted poetry. Now I'm living in sunny Spain writing pathos-riddled fiction. Ironically, two of my favorite things are traveling, and swimming in the ocean, despite increasingly intense phobias of sharks and flying.
I've always loved the music and substance of words, always loved writing in well-worn notebooks by hand, tapping at the keys of the computer, and, of course, conjuring up stories.
When I'm not writing, I'm probably messing around with my camera, either having fun making cover images with the sexy models of Barcelona, or just wandering the streets, snapping the wildly varied architecture and amusing humans. Or I might be riding my bike, swimming in the sea (no sharks in Barcelona!), going on a hike somewhere in the local mountain ranges, or working on my PhD thesis.




Thursday 6 October 2016

A Sip of Rio is LIVE on Amazon


My new book, A Sip of Rio, is LIVE on Amazon and available on Kindle Unlimited.

A Sip of Rio is the perfect read to transport you back to the hot summer days of long walks on the beach, endless sunshine and cocktails at lunch time!



Description:
~Liam Young has a problem – he’s booked a romantic holiday to Rio de Janeiro months ago, but when he breaks up with his boyfriend, all his plans fall apart. Not only is his dream holiday slipping through his fingers, but Liam is sick and tired of getting his heart broken.
Blaine Reed has a solution that can save Liam’s plans. Recently divorced, Blaine needs a break, and a couple of stress-free weeks in Rio with a sexy guy like Liam sound like heaven.
Liam and Blaine hit it off right from the start, becoming good friends even before they’ve left London. Despite their efforts to ignore the simmering attraction between them, it boils over when they end up sharing a room in one of the most romantic cities in the world.
Being together in Rio is easy, and it’s exactly what Liam needs – no feelings, no drama, nobody getting hurt.
Until someone does.
When the holiday bubble bursts, it’s up to them to find a way to be together outside of Rio’s seductive magic.~







Thursday 1 September 2016

Cookies audio book is LIVE on Audible and iTunes


Hi, guys!!!


I'm super excited to announce that the Cookies audio book is now LIVE on Audible and iTunes!



It's brilliantly narrated by Alexander Doddy who was an absolute pleasure to work with and who made my story and my characters come to life with his sensual narration. I hope you love his performance as much as I do!

Cookies on Audible.com
Cookies on Audible.co.uk
Cookies on iTunes
Cookies on Amazon

To celebrate the release of my new audio book, I'm giving away an audio book - any book, any genre, winner's choice. To enter simply leave a comment under this post with with your Audible email address and the book you'd like to have.

Hope everyone has a great week ahead!

Tuesday 3 May 2016

Cookies, Chapter One



“How hard is the caramel in the brown butter caramel-filled cookies?”
My head snapped up from packing a twelve piece box and my eyes searched for the guy asking the most ridiculous question I’d ever heard.
“Is it really runny? Cause it sounds so good,” he continued, groaning a little as the last word rolled off his tongue. “But I really don’t want to mess my outfit.” He bit his plump lower lip when he finished talking, the sparkle in his eyes resembling childish mischief.
I stared at him. I couldn’t help myself. He was so fucking gorgeous that I didn't care if he asked stupid questions. He could ramble all he wanted as long as I got to feed him caramel-filled cookies and lick the sauce dripping down his chin.
“Um...” He glanced uncertainly behind me at Chris as she poured a shot of espresso in a cup of frothed milk.
Realising I was staring at him, unblinking, like an idiot, I tore my eyes away, handed the lady in the queue before him her takeaway box, and wished her a pleasant evening with a charming smile.
Then I focused my full attention on caramel guy.
“I tell you what,” I said, placing my elbows on the counter. “You can have the chunky oatmeal now and I guarantee you won’t mess up your clothes.” I slid my eyes down his body appreciatively, taking in his lithe frame dressed in dark slacks and crisp green button down. “And I’ll wrap a couple of the brown butter caramels for you to enjoy later.”
A cheeky smile appeared on his full mouth and, god help me, his cheeks dimpled as he tried to contain it.
The woman behind him rolled her eyes, pointedly looking at her wrist watch.
“Cool. Thanks,” caramel guy said, lowering his lashes.
Chris appeared next to me and took the woman’s order. Double skinny latte. No cookies. I hated her even more.
I could feel Chris wanted to roll her eyes as much as I did, but she refrained and retreated to the coffee machine at the back once again.
“That’ll be one sixty five, please,” I said as I handed caramel guy his oatmeal and his packed brown butter caramels.
“But...” he began, lowering his eyes to the price labels on the display window.
“The caramels are on me,” I said.
“You don’t have to do that. I’ll pay for them,” he protested, a slight frown appearing between his brows.
“No, I insist.” The frown didn’t ease and he looked at me, straight at me, searching for something. As his clear blue eyes darkened I could see he was weighing the pros and cons of accepting my offer. “I look at it as an investment. I’m sure you’re going to love them and come back for more so I’m willing to give you a free sample.”
The woman behind him scoffed and just when I was about to turn my glare at her, Chris appeared with her coffee. Thankfully, she took it and departed swiftly, her heels clacking on the pavement.
“Alright then. Thank you.” Caramel guy said as he took his cookies from me and paid for the oatmeal. “Are you new? I haven’t seen you before, and I’ve been here every day for the past week.” He leaned a bit closer over the counter to whisper conspiratorially. “Let me just say that the blueberry and lemon cookies are to die for. And the salted caramel brownies? It’s a classic for a reason.”
I laughed and nodded, ridiculously glad that he liked my cookies. 
“If I continue like this I’ll have to increase my exercise or I’ll be rolling down the hill to campus every day.”
“I don’t think that’ll ever happen,” I said, my eyes roaming over his body again.
Subtle, I know. But I couldn't help it. The guy was absolutely gorgeous and I couldn't keep my eyes off of him if I tried. His blond hair brushed his shoulders as he moved, the light playing with its natural highlights. And his eyes... His eyes held me captive in their clear blue depths.
 “Oh, for god’s sake. Can you two flirt later? I’m dying for a cinnamon sugar roll,” the woman next in line grumbled, but gave me a wink when I levelled her with a look. Chris came to my rescue again and started serving the rest of the queue efficiently while I focused my attention back to caramel guy.
“Sorry, I should go. Don’t want to get you in trouble,” he said, tucking the take away cookies in his messenger bag.
“Don’t worry about it.” I waved a hand, trying to look nonchalant when my brain was desperately looking for a reason to get his name. Or number. Or get him to come back.
“Will you be working tomorrow?” A wave of relief washed over me hearing that question. He wanted to see me again.
“Yeah. Stop by any time. I’ll save you some caramels.” I grinned at him and he beamed back, pulling the strap of his messenger bag up his shoulder.
“Cool. Thanks again,” he said as he backed away and raised his hand holding the oatmeal cookie.
“No problem.”
As I watched his retreating back merge into the crowd of shoppers and disappear I couldn't help but smile.
“Wow,” Chris said, bumping her hip with mine and folding her arms. “I never thought I’d see the day.”
“What are you talking about?” I fully intended to ignore her and focus on the customers waiting but I realised she’d taken care of everyone while I was indeed flirting with caramel guy.
“You’re swooning,” she said with glee.
“Fuck off. I don't swoon.”
Turning my back on her, I started towards the back of the tiny shop, trying to find something to keep me busy until the next wave of customers arrived.
“You are totally swooning, big guy.” She followed behind me and unfortunately there was nowhere to hide.
I turned to face her, a menacing scowl on my face. Chris completely ignored it. I knew she was seconds away from saying something that would really piss me off, so I decided to nip her attempts to rile me in the bud.
“I’m an army veteran. I have nightmares plaguing my dreams. I sustained a nearly fatal injury because I was blown up by a bomb.” The mocking expression on her face didn’t change as I took a step towards her. “I. Do. Not. Swoon.”
She burst out laughing, smacking my upper arm as she shook her head. I was glad I had a friend I could joke about this stuff with. Just over a year ago it wasn’t so easy to face my past, let alone joke about it.
“You also bake cookies for a living, and I bet my left boob that you also do it for fun.” I gaped at her. “You know, to fill the endless, empty nights you spend holed up in your house. Alone.” She emphasized the word and lifted an eyebrow.
Her attempts to set me up with ‘someone nice’ had failed miserably in the past, so she didn't even try anymore. That didn't mean she wasn’t rubbing my face in it every chance she got.
“Whatever,” I grumbled, walking to the front of the shop as a customer approached.
“You should ask him out,” Chris said when the customer departed with her box of cookies.
“Who?”
“The cute guy!” she whined, spreading her arms wide.
I turned to face her, taking in her pretty features – the straight nose, the plump cheeks, pouty mouth and expressive, dark eyes. Her red hair was relatively tamed today, tied in a ponytail, a black headscarf with white skulls around it. Not all women could pull that look off. Those who could, like Chris, looked edgy in a laid-back kinda way. Those who couldn’t resembled a housewife in her fifties, regardless of their age.
“Amir!” Chris sighed in exasperation.
“I’m not asking him out.”
“Why not?”
I shrugged.
“When was the last time you went on a proper date?”
God, she was like a dog with a bone, wasn’t she?
“Oh, I don't know. Let me think.” I made a show of looking upwards and tapping my lips with my finger. “It was a couple of months ago with that horrible junior doctor you set me up with.”
“He wasn’t horrible. You didn't even give him a chance.”
“He wore socks with sandals, Chris. On our first date. And he called me ‘bae’ before he attempted to kiss me goodnight.”
 “Okay, fine. But that was months ago. You need to go out there again, Amir.”
“No, thanks. I still have PTSD from the dates you arranged for me.”
I said it without thinking, but realised my mistake when her eyes softened and all her bravado disappeared.
“Amir...”
“It’s fine, Chris, really,” I interrupted her, a discussion about my actual PTSD the last thing I wanted to have right now. Thankfully, a customer appeared and I turned to take his order.
From the corner of my eye I saw Chris retreat to the back when she heard the man ask for a cappuccino. Her shoulders slumped as she walked and I hated that I made her upset, even if it wasn’t technically my fault. Chris was one of my closest friends and we spent so much time together that it was inevitable we stepped on each other’s toes from time to time. But seeing how my own problems weighed on her too, made me feel really bad.
Thankfully, another surge of customers lined up and we were busy until closing time, not having a chance to drag the conversation we’d started. When the last person in the queue got their cookies and waved goodbye, I dropped the shutter halfway and got ready to tidy up for the day.
“You can go, hun,” I told Chris as she came to help me pack the leftover stock. “I’ll just pack everything up and head to the centre.”
“Are you sure?”
I waved her off and nearly forced her out the door. We always cleaned up together but she’d covered so much for me over the past couple of months that the very least I could do was give her an early evening once in a while.
The thought that I should probably hire someone to help out, at least part-time, occurred to me as I packed the last of the remaining cookies, brownies, and shortbread. Chris was an amazing baker and she knew my recipes inside out, but we needed help, especially during peak times.
Cookie’s had gotten quite busy over the past few months. We could barely keep up with the lunch and evening crowd most days. On the plus side, it was making a healthy profit earlier than expected. On the other hand however, we definitely needed help.
Making a mental note to take care of that soon, I washed what was left in the sink, cleaned the counters and with two boxes of cookies in hand, walked out the door.

******

I heard Flo’s claws scraping the floor and rushing towards me the moment I opened the door to the John Sherwood Veteran Rehabilitation Centre. I was seconds away from being jumped on, dribbled on, and licked at by my seventy pound Labrador. Looking frantically around for a flat surface to place the boxes of cookies on before the collision, I heard a familiar voice say, “Flo, stay!”
Flo was nothing if not an obedient, well-trained dog. When we were playing she was all fun and games, but she always obeyed commands from me, or the people looking after her.
“Thank god,” I muttered as Shane approached me, Flo obediently walking next to him. Her tongue was hanging from her mouth, her tail wagging frantically, and I could tell she couldn’t wait to be allowed to jump all over me.
I loved seeing her so happy. She’d helped me a lot when I was recovering from my injuries and getting used to the idea that my left leg was amputated below the knee.
“Hey, man,” Shane greeted me, unloading the boxes from my hands. “The cookies are safe,” he declared with a smirk. “Have a go at him, girl.”
“Asshole,” I managed before Flo stood up on her hind legs, placing her paws on my chest, and licked my face with her long, wet tongue.



Friday 22 April 2016

Cookies is LIVE on Amazon!


I'm super excited to announce that my new contemporary romance Cookies is now LIVE on Amazon and available on Kindle Unlimited.

Want to get yourself a tasty treat?


Cookies is about Amir, an army veteran who's lost his leg in Afghanistan, and Jay, a student in Cambridge, who falls for Amir despite all his scars.
I did a ton of research about amputated limbs, soldiers, the military and, of course, baking. I read some heartbreaking stories, but I also read stories that inspired me and lifted my spirits when I felt stuck. 
I desperately wanted to do all these people justice. But at the same time, I wanted to show the softer side of the story, not focus on the initial battle to get your life back that nearly every veteran experiences coming back home. 
I really hope I succeeded showing the respect I feel for every single person who’s fought for their country. 
Cookies is a feel-good, happy book. It's a curl-on-the-sofa-on-a-rainy-Sunday-afternoon kinda book. 
I wanted to make people smile, and gush, and desperately want a brownie or five. 
Hopefully, I succeeded. 



Book Description:

I went to war, running away from myself. I came back in pieces to find out who I really was... 
It took me nearly ten years, two tours in Afghanistan and losing a leg to come to terms with who I really am. 
Two years after coming back from war, I can say that I’m finally content. I’m as fit as ever, my prosthetic leg allowing me the freedom to move and exercise as if nothing has changed. I own a small bakery in the centre of Cambridge, and I have a loyal circle of friends that I can always count on. 
And yet... 
Yet, there’s something missing. A part of me craves the intimacy, the deep connection to another human being. But another – bigger – part of me is terrified of letting anyone in. 
My internal conflict didn't stand a chance when I met Jay. He stormed through my defence walls like a hurricane, wrapping around me with gentle force until I had no choice but to surrender. 
Surrendering has never felt so good. 
Will Jay want to stay when he sees the real me? When he sees the nightmares and insecurities clawing at my soul? When he realises the burden I come with may be heavier than we both can carry? 
My name is Amir Gopal and this is my story. 





Thursday 24 March 2016

Cookies Cover Reveal

My upcoming book Cookies has a very tasty cover! I've been sitting on it for over a year! I can't believe I managed to keep it a secret for so long considering I'm the worst secret keeper ever.


Ta-daaaa! Isn't it pretty? The amazingly talented Jay Aheer from Simply Defined Art designed the cover when Cookies was just a title and a thought at the back of my head. There were days when the beautiful cover was the only thing that kept me writing - it was a huge inspiration for the story!
So what is the book all about? It's about Amir, an ex-soldier-turned-baker who lives in Cambridge and own a small bakery called Cookie's. And it's about Jay who is a student in Cambridge, and who turns Amir's world upside down. In a good way.
Here's the official book description:

I went to war, running away from myself. I came back in pieces to find out who I really was...
It took me nearly ten years, two tours in Afghanistan and losing a leg to come to terms with who I really am.
Two years after coming back from war, I can say that I’m finally content. I’m as fit as ever, my prosthetic leg allowing me the freedom of moving and exercising as if nothing has changed. I own a small bakery in the centre of Cambridge, and I have a loyal circle of friends that I can always count on.
And yet...
Yet, there’s something missing. A part of me craves the intimacy, the deep connection to another human being. But another – bigger – part of me is terrified of letting anyone in.
My internal conflict didn't stand a chance when I met Jay. He stormed through my defence walls like a hurricane, wrapping around me with gentle force until I had no choice but to surrender.
Surrendering has never felt so good.
Will Jay want to stay when he sees the real me? When he sees the nightmares and insecurities clawing at my soul?
My name is Amir Gopal and this is my story.

Cookies will be out on 21 April 2016. Pre-order links and more info coming soon!


Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews hosted the exclusive cover reveal today. There's an ARC giveaway still going on, so click HERE if you'd like to enter for a chance to win one of 3 advanced copies of Cookies and read it before anyone else.


Friday 12 February 2016

Book of the week - Strong Signal by Megan Erickson and Santino Hassell

Strong Signal
Megan Erickson&Santino Hassell

Release date: 15 Feb 2016

Blurb:

I was counting down the months until the end of my deployment. My days were spent working on military vehicles, and I spent my nights playing video games that would distract me until I could leave Staff Sergeant Garrett Reid behind.
That was when I met him: Kai Bannon, a fellow gamer with a famous stream channel. 
I never expected to become fixated on someone who'd initially been a rival. And I'd never expected someone who oozed charm to notice me—a guy known for his brutal honesty and scowl. I hadn't planned for our online friendship to turn into something that kept me up at night—hours of chatting evolving into filthy webcam sessions.
But it did. And now I can't stop thinking about him. In my mind, our real life meeting is perfect. We kiss, we fall into bed, and it's love at first sight.
Except, like most things in my life, it doesn't go as planned.
*Strong Signal is a standalone, full-length novel with no cliffhanger*




My Review:


I adore both Megan and Santino and have read all their books. So when I found out that they'd written a book together I literally squealed! My author collaboration wet dream had come true! I had no doubt I'd love anything these two have written. And yet I was still surprised by how much I loved this book.
Silly me. I should have known better.
Strong Signal is about falling in love with someone you've met online. In this day and age we've all made friends and/or lovers online. Some more successfully than others, but we've all done it. 
The story rings true to our generation. We seem to have deeper and more meaningful connection with people we'd never met in Real Life than our own families.

In Strong Signal we have the sexy soldier - Garrett - stationed thousands of miles away from home, and the geeky twink - Kai- whose life revolves around gaming. They meet online and eventually develop a relationship deeper than friendship. Meeting in Real Life becomes a matter of 'when' not 'if'. But once they meet, the struggle to learn how to be together threatens to overwhelm them both...
I don't want to say too much because the blurb doesn't give too much away and in my opinion the book is best to be experienced without any prior knowledge of the plot. I was surprised at every turn, never knowing what to expect next and I feel that's the best way to read it.
However, I'll go ahead and say this: Strong Signal is a touching story. It really resonated with me. I have many friends I've met online - and some of them in Real Life later on - and I'm extremely thankful for them. They're there for me when I have a bad day or in a stressful situation or when I go into full meltdown mode. They're also there to share a stupid joke, buddy read a book with me or simply say Good Morning.
Kai and Garrett's story is so real, so moving and inspiring. It touches on with some very real and very scary issues, but the authors manage to deal with them in a sensitive manner. No contrived melodrama here, folks.


Garrett and Kai's story is also very funny at times, and don't even get me started on the sex scenes! Phew, these two can write a sex scene! 
Megan and Santino's writing styles complement each other perfectly! Usually when I read a co-written book I can always tell who wrote what, but in Strong Signal the words flow so seamlessly that I had a hard time figuring out who wrote what scene.
I can't recommend this book enough! It's amazing so don't even think about it - one-click and enjoy!


                                                                        
        




Oh, check out this awesome Tumblr page the authors created for Kai:



Santino Hassell was raised by a conservative family, but he was anything but traditional. He grew up to be a smart-mouthed, chool-cutting grunge kid, then a transient twenty-something, and eventually transformed into an unlikely romance author. 
Santino writes queer romance that is heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, his belief that human relationships are complex and flawed, and his own life experiences.Santino writes queer romance that is heavily influenced by the gritty, urban landscape of New York City, his belief that human relationships are complex and flawed, and his own life experiences.

Santino's social media links:


    



Megan Erickson is a former journalist who switched to fiction when she decided she liked writing her own endings better. She likes to pretend she has control now, but usually her characters are the ones who hold the reins. Her romance novels have a touch of humor, a dash of nerdy, and always a happily ever after. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids, and two cats named after John Hughes characters. She's still waiting for the party she was promised when she grew to five feet... maybe because she never got there.


Megan's social media links: