January’s Hotpicks and Giveaway

Every month the Sinfully team brings you our Hotpicks. Check out our favourites for January and don’t forget five lucky readers get the chance to win a Kindle eBook from our list of January’s Hotpicks. Just enter the Rafflecopter below for your chance to win. Keep up with all our 2016 Hot Picks –> HERE.

Lisa’s Hotpick

Unquiet by Melanie Hansen

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Lisa’s Review

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Synopsis

Loren Smith has been in love with Eliot Devlin almost his entire life. During their turbulent childhood and teen years, Loren didn’t always understand Eliot, and sometimes he could be a challenge, but Eliot was the only one to ever truly ease Loren’s deep loneliness and accept him. When Eliot’s increasingly erratic and self-destructive behavior culminates in a suicide attempt at seventeen, Loren is devastated.

Upon meeting again by chance nine years later, Loren is enjoying a successful career as a police officer while Eliot’s life has been a constant struggle for stability. In and out of mental hospitals, with a rap sheet a mile long, he continues to be buffeted by the twin storms of mania and depression. Loren’s love and protectiveness for Eliot are deeply ingrained in him, however, and their feelings for each other are quickly rekindled.
Loren has issues of his own he’s dealing with, and trying to understand and cope with Eliot’s bipolar disorder isn’t easy.

They believe they’re meant to be, and Eliot brings a fulfillment to Loren’s life that no one else will ever match. But as they both come to realize, love by itself can’t cure all.

Lisa: "Unquiet is the third book in Melanie Hansen’s Resilient Love series. This is loosely tied to book two in this series and while we do get a glimpse at how the couple from the second book is doing, you can certainly read this book as a stand-alone.
If I am to be completely honest, this is a book that has left me deeply conflicted and not in a good way. I do not think I have ever finished a book and was immediately perplexed as to how I should rate the said book. I want to start by saying that I am an emotional reader and I tend to rate books according to how they make me feel. If I were to do that with this book, I perhaps would have rated it 1 star. I hated the fact that I was so damn sad and angry for most of the book. With this being said, Unquiet challenged me. The book is well written but it took everything in me to keep reading. I experienced such a plethora of emotions while immersed in this book, most of them darkening my mood. So why the heck would I give this book 4.5 stars then? It’s simple. This book made me feel. Sure, it was often not good emotions. But, nonetheless, I became wholeheartedly involved in the twisted imperfection that was Loren and Eliot. I ached for them. I got angry. I loathed what was happening. I became completely entrenched in this fucked up and messy story.
Do not go into this book hoping to experience a love story that will leave you sighing and all sappy, completely engrossed in the passion the two protagonists share. Nope. Yet, despite totally exemplifying how hard and painful love can be at times, Loren and Eliot somehow make it through the cloudiness and despair. They somehow withstand the challenges and are unable to walk away from one another." Was it healthy and beautiful? Hell no. Was it real and achingly raw? Absolutely.

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Mark’s Hotpick

Torn and Frayed by Rodd Clark

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Mark’s Review

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Synopsis

“Conscience isn’t something all people are born with . . .”
Gabriel Church is a portrait in contrast. It would be easy to get lost in his pale-blue eyes, ache with the need to feel the strength of his masculine frame. He appears to be nothing but animal and instinct. The only people who know the full depth of that truth are dead, murdered, or two thousand miles away.

Gabe is a serial killer. For the first time in his life, he has more on his mind than his own survival. This time he is running from Seattle to protect the only person he thinks innocent in his laundry list of crime and murder: Christian Maxwell, his biographer and unexpected lover. Drawn to a place he never thought to return, Gabe finds new and different realities. Realities that insist he let go of his tragic past, those incredible perceptions of God, and his own divinity. He must open his eyes to what the love of a good man can do to heal a broken soul.

But when the killer is confronted by his own willingness to love and sacrifice, he is forced to ultimately ask the question: Just how far will he go to save a life . . . when all he’s ever done is take them?

Mark: Difficult choice for me in January as I read two great books and wrote a joint review for one with Sally. So as Sally wanted our joint review book for her January Hotpick then I gave in to her and have now the opportunity to choose both books – YEAH! My January Hotpick is Torn and Frayed by Rodd Clark. this is the second book in the Gabriel Church Tales and I’m now lovin’ this series. For this series is a great psychological thriller with a warped M/M romance thrown in. The writing of Rodd Clark is detailed and empathetic of his characters, letting the reader delve right into the psyche of Gabriel Church. Maybe it’s a place you want or don’t want to go but just the thrill of going somehwere you normally wouldn’t, pushing your boundaries, questioning rights and wrongs, makes for a super book and an exciting read. Can’t wait for the next book.

Connect with Rodd Clark

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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Debra’s Hotpick

Will & Patrick Fight Their Feelings

(Wake Up Married #4) by Leta Blake & Alice Griffiths

Rating: 5 Stars

Debra’s Review

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Synopsis

Follow Will & Patrick in this fourth installment of the romantic-comedy serial,Wake Up Married, by best-selling author Leta Blake and newcomer Alice Griffiths!

Will and Patrick have embraced adding hot sexy-times to their fake marriage, but as their emotions deepen, they confront whether or not they want to be more than friends-with-benefits. Freshly free of a restrictive relationship, Will’s not ready for more than exploratory fun. And no matter how Patrick feels about Will, his own difficult past has left him wary of love.
The heat is high (and occasionally kinky) in this episode of the Wake Up Married serial, but Will and Patrick struggle to accept their mutual affection, much less confess it. How long will they fight their feelings?

Debra: I can only hope the rest of my reading year is as good as this first month has been! With so many excellent reads already the bar has been set pretty high. Will & Patrick Fight Their Feelings is book #4 in this series of novellas and if you haven’t been reading it, I urge you to click book #1 right now! What started off as a fun story of trying to get out of a drunken mistake of a marriage has become so much more and has been getting better with every novella. In this Episode the men are finally recognizing their feelings for what they are. Snarky, arrogant, brain surgeon Patrick has done the unexpected and fallen in love with his husband Will, even as they are still planning to divorce as soon as they find a loophole that will satisfy Will’s mobster family. Will, who struggles with alcoholism, controlling his diabetes and lingering feelings for the ex from hell is still a bit clueless, but is finally starting to blossom into the man he always wanted to be thanks to Patrick’s encouragement.

Humor, two men who don’t know what to do with their growing feelings, a sappy 1970’s love song and the release of the tension that’s been building with some kinky sex, all combined in this perfect Episode to make me fall even harder for these guys. With two parts left to go I can’t wait to see these men get their HEA!

Connect with Leta Blake

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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Connect with Alice Griffiths

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Freya’s Hotpick

#Junkie (GearShark #1) by Cambria Hebert

Rating: 5 Stars

Freya’s Review

Amazon Buy Link

Synopsis

Drew Forrester is a total adrenaline junkie.
His high of choice?
Cars.
The faster, the better.
He’s been making waves in Maryland’s underground racing circuit since he crossed the state line, and after speaking with him, we know he’s not hitting the brakes anytime soon.

So what exactly does it take to burn rubber and make a name for yourself in a world where the only rule is there are no rules?
You gotta be hungry…
You gotta have balls…
And you can never back down.
What’ve we learned here at GearShark?
Drew is all of the above.
We also know he’s got some secrets buried under his hood.
Secrets we think are loaded with octane and just might set the world of cars on fire.

Check out the full feature article inside…

Freya: What can I say about this book that I didn’t in my review? It is well written, has a fabulous plot, hot men and fast cars. What isn’t there to like?

I’ll tell you what there isn’t to like – the fact that it ended before I wanted it to, and that the next book in the series isn’t out NOW. Junkie grabbed my attention in the first paragraph and kept it to the end of the book, where I almost threw it up the wall because the next one wasn’t available to read there and then. That’s how much I loved this book.

Connect with Cambria Hebert

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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Sally’s Hotpick

Cold Fusion by Harper Fox

Rating: 5 Stars

Sally’s Review

Amazon Buy Link

Synopsis

Their love is the catalyst that could save the planet…or cost their lives.
As an environmental activist for Peace Warrior, Kier Mallory never hesitated to throw himself into dangerous situations. Until his hotheadedness costs the lives of two fellow crewmembers on an anti-whaling mission.
He finds no refuge in his hometown on Scotland’s north coast, where everyone knows what this son of a broken fisherman has done. Effectively homeless, Mal returns to one of his favorite places—Spindrift, a rustic colony of artist and crafter huts.
Spindrift is dilapidated and empty, save for a lone resident. Vivian Calder, a brilliant but emotionally detached scientist who appears to have done the impossible—mastered cold fusion. A clean, free, limitless source of power.
Despite Viv’s aversion to contact, a fragile bond forms between them, seemingly one atom at a time. Until Mal, determined to redeem himself by revealing Viv’s accomplishment to the world, brings down the wrath of an oil-dependent establishment, risking not only their love, but Viv’s life.
Warning: Contains a disgraced environmentalist and an autistic genius who go from strangers to lovers-for-life in thirteen days. Don’t believe in miracles? We’ll make you.

Sally: Harper’s use of language is what makes me pick up her books, no matter the subject matter, but with this one - oh my the suspense!! There was this spiral of impending disaster. With the benefit of the clarity of vision afforded to readers we could look across to the next loop on the spiral and think “oh shit, I really don’t think that’s a good idea” but the poor, poor protagonists are set in their course. Luckily Harper always puts in moments of calm and grace, and humour too, so a reader can catch their breath before the next crisis. As for the characters, I've seldom met a pair I cared about more than Keir and Vivian. So, a romping plot, characters one is reluctant to leave and beautiful lyrical language - there's not much better than that.

Connect with Harper Fox

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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Alan’s Hot Pick

The Epiphani: A "Love & Gospel Music" Novel

by Timothy Blaine

Rating: 5 Stars

Alan’s Review

Amazon Buy Link

Synopsis

This second novel in the 'Love & Gospel Music' series opens on the end of a pier in the San Francisco Bay. After two long years of dark debilitating grief an emotionally tormented Joey White comes to the conclusion that the only way forward for him is to roll the spiritual dice and pray he meets up with his one true love Dwayne on the other side. Dwayne Brown; the original protagonist in this series had made transition… Actually he’d been shot in the head and heart by an obsessed teenage fan of Joeys. Now Joey’s got the ball and he’s running for his life. -- Enter the strangers. – Who are ‘The Epiphani’ and what do They want?

Alan: My January Hotpick is a profoundly beautiful book. A beautiful story that covers about a decade, and does it elegantly, in subtle shifts and transitions as time passes. Watching Joey come back from grief moved me to tears of joy. Cheering on the two boys who love each other, make such exquisite music together, and find a way to share a life is both triumphant and unexpected. The writing is powerful, the dialogue realistic (even when it's in ethnic patois), the pacing, twists, dangers and life-threatening attacks make your heart pound out of your chest. In short, this book is nearly perfect. So, please avail yourself of this book. You won't be disappointed, and you won't walk away unmoved.

Connect with Timothy Blaine

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Macky’s Hot Pick

Strength of the Rising Sun

(The Borders War #5) by S.A. McAuley

Rating: 5 Stars

Macky’s Review

Amazon Buy Link

Synopsis

Merq’s always known there’s only one way Armise and he can end.
The Opposition is losing—both the war and the fight for citizen support—and the Revolution’s victory appears certain. Despite that success, Merq knows his leaders won’t let two of their greatest assets simply walk away. But with Armise fighting for his life, getting out becomes Merq’s primary objective.

Almost two decades of selfishness can’t be alleviated with one right decision, and Merq is faced with the reality of how deeply he has wounded Armise in ways that cannot be seen from the outside. Merq’s world has been upended more times than he can count and he’s always survived, but life without Armise is no longer an option. He just has to prove that to Armise.
Merq believes there are few who are strong enough to challenge them when they stand together. But when the secret Armise has been protecting Merq from is revealed, the truth has consequences neither of them can prepare for.

Reader Advisory: This book contains graphic violence, mention of torture and genetic experimentation.

Macky: I’m still not completely over this book and still gushing about it even now! This book...OMG!...THIS BOOK! This is storytelling at its finest. A master class in how to intricately build a complex universe and interweave it with the type of storyline so cleverley plotted throughout, that you can never once predict it's next move or incarnation, and that in itself is glorious. A master manipulator and emotional assassin; S.A. McAuley didn't just nail this final episode she killed it... and me in the process. But what a way to go! I worship these guys, so much that a selfish part of me wants to keep the whole thing to myself...MINE!...but how can I not share the abiding love. So once again I'm shouting loud to all theBorders War virgins out there...do not pass this by...

Connect with S. A. McAuley

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AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE

Monique’s Hot Pick

Review: Backlash (Don’t #4) by Jack L. Pyke

Rating: 4 Stars

Monique’s Review

Amazon Buy Link

Synopsis

In the aftermath of Jack Harrison’s release from the psychiatric unit, Gray Raoul’s first instinct is to take brutal revenge on the one responsible for financing Jack and Jan’s torturous psychological reconditioning. However, that person plays the game dangerously well, and knows exactly how to manipulate everyone in Gray’s life. To help negotiate this delicate situation, Gray contacts ex-Diadem Doms Trace and Gabriel Hunter. But the more Gray seems to regain control, the clearer it becomes that there’s something not quite right about Jan Richards. Jan quickly unravels, taking Jack and Gray with him, and bringing out one particularly deadly player. Gray is left with one last defense: break Jack down in order to partner up with his alter ego, Martin. But once freed, Martin has plans of his own, and he wants to make it personal with Gray. Complete trust between Master and sub, between Gray and Jack, will be tested to the absolute limit.

Monique: My January Hotpick has to be Backlash by Jack L. Pyke because her books always leave me emotionally drained to the point of exhaustion, but at the same time exhilarated at the utter genius of her craft. She is without doubt the master of the ‘mind fuck’ and dark, erotic, psychological thriller within this genre and the Don’t series, is, in my humble opinion, an incredible example of how to get it right!

I have been put through the wringer with these three boys in the series so far, to the point where even I was doubting they’d come out of it with all faculties intact, although some might say they were questionable to start with. As much as I love Jack Pyke’s usual roller coaster ride of a read, Backlash had to take time out for healing, which of course it does, but that’s not all, because it wouldn’t be a Jack Pyke novel if she didn’t throw in a few ‘WTF’ ‘Holy shit’ ‘I never saw that coming’ ...moments, as well as a few cleverly worked revelations that leave your head spinning. The Don’t… series is an outstanding work of fiction, penned by an incredibly talented author with characters that are guaranteed to steal your heart and soul… read it!