Nell Iris

Nell’s Top Five

Published on June 14, 2019June 10, 2019 by Nell Iris1 Comment

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Nell’s Top Five

…Things I Don’t Step Onto An Airplane Without

(…other than the usual, necessary stuff like passport, phone, wallet and such.)

On Sunday evening, me and the husband jumps on a plane to go to Sweden for a vacation. We’re going to spend time hugging our beloved daughter (and her boyfriend), see our families, hang out with friends, celebrate Midsummer (a huge thing for most Swedes), and enjoy Sweden in summer for once (we’re usually only there for Christmas and the cold and darkness, which is a shame because Sweden is lovely in summer).

So I thought I’d make a list of five things I need on a long-ass flight like that. There’s no way to make a 14 hour flight (actually it’s 7+7 hours, because we do a stopover in Dubai, but still) comfortable. I usually can’t sleep on planes because it’s cramped and uncomfortable and I don’t like sleeping surrounded by hundreds of strangers. But with these five things I won’t suffer too badly. Hopefully.

What do you bring on the plane to keep you occupied on a long flight?

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My tablet, stuffed full of books and music. I usually pick books I’ve already read, comfort reads, so that I know I’ll be happy and content when I read them. Also because I don’t want to risk sobbing on the plane! I also have a few playlists downloaded on my tablet from Spotify. For example Leonard Cohen’s Ten New Songs; it’s the only album I can sleep to, so if I get sleepy, I put it on repeat and hope I can doze away a couple hours. I also have a more upbeat playlist in case I want to entertain myself with happy music and wine 🙂 I also have a sudoku app on my tablet that can keep me entertained for hours.
My powerbank. Because even if there’s usually USB ports for charging your devices on planes these days (at least Emirates has them), I don’t want to risk that my batteries die and I won’t be able to do all the stuff in the first point on my list.
My fabulous cordless headphones. When it’s time to replace them, I’m buying headphones with noise cancellation, but these are good enough to drown out crying children and the droning of the engines. At least mostly.
Notebook, so I can write, and
Pen, so I have something to write with. Not a fountain pen though, because they behave strangely at high altitudes.

Pre-order 9 Willow Street

Published on June 13, 2019June 12, 2019 by Nell IrisLeave a comment

My bunny shifter book is now up for pre-order!

preorder 9ws

PRE-ORDER: JMS BOOKS

(20% off until July 13, or if you haven’t used your Pride coupon yet, you can get it for 50% off until June 30)

Cover reveal: 9 Willow Street

Published on June 10, 2019June 10, 2019 by Nell Iris4 Comments

Want to see the super cute, swoonworthy, adorable cover for 9 Willow Street, my story about an equally adorable bunny shifter? I’m gonna go ahead and assume the answer is ‘yes’ so here it is:

Release day is July 6, I don’t have pre-order links yet, but I’ll post them as soon as I have them! 🙂

9 willow street

Heartbroken after the death of his beloved Nana, Hannes, the family outsider, finally allows himself to grieve. The legal battle over Nana’s quirky old house— the only place he’s ever felt accepted and loved—is over, and he moves in and finds a sense of peace.

…and a rabbit.

An adorable bunny with a huge personality moves in, too, and refuses to leave. Hannes instantly falls in love with the sweet animal who helps heal his heart. But one morning, Hannes’ view of the world changes when the rabbit transforms into a man. A man named Mattis.

After the initial shock, Hannes and Mattis discover a connection between them that runs deeper than it seems. Will their newfound feelings survive unraveling secrets and meddling families, and grow into something real? Something deep and everlasting?

RELEASE DATE: JULY 6, 2019

Pride sale

Published on June 8, 2019June 8, 2019 by Nell Iris3 Comments

In honor of Pride month, JMS Books offers 50% off everything (ebooks, pre-orders, paperbacks) in their store. Use the coupon code PRIDE2019 – but make sure you fill up your cart properly because the code is only valid once.

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Here are some handy links for you if you want to take advantage of this fabulous sale:

If you’re in the mood for a May/December story and haven’t read my newest release yet: His Steady Heart.

If you want four stories in one handy book (Finding The One box set ebook) that you also can get in paperback (Finding The One box set paperback).

My author page at JMS Books where you can check out all my books published by them.

Or if you really want value for money: 2017 Top Ten Gay Romance (ebook / print) or 2018 Top Ten Gay Romance (ebook / print), each containing ten stories.

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Friday review

Published on June 7, 2019May 18, 2019 by Nell Iris3 Comments

aftercare tanya chris Aftercare (Ever After #1) by Tanya Chris

Aayan Denir knows Garrett Hillier was once a high-powered defense attorney, and—thanks to a leaked photograph—he knows Garrett is sexually submissive, which makes him ideally qualified to defend Aayan’s brother from the charge of murdering his sub. Aayan would do anything to protect Syed, even if he doesn’t understand how Syed could hurt someone he loves. He could never hurt Garrett. He only wants to take care of him—love him, serve him, cherish him. And maybe torture him. Just a little.

Garrett probably shouldn’t be dating his client’s brother. Right? And what’s the use in a confirmed sub dating a guy who doesn’t want to be a Dom anyway? The important thing is to get Syed cleared of the discriminatory murder charge he’s facing. Aayan is a distraction. But for the first time in the three lonely years since Garrett’s husband died, he’s feeling hope, ambition, and desire. Can he give up the pain he craves to find the love he needs?

As Syed’s trial date looms, Aayan and Garrett explore what a BDSM relationship means for them, and what they mean to each other.

(There is a newer cover than the one pictured above, but this is the version I read)

My last review here on the blog (Leather and Tea by K.L. Noone) was a BDSM book, and so is this one (I swear I don’t only read BDSM even if it seems like that 😀 ). In that review, I said that my favorite kind of BDSM book “What I like is the power dynamics, the BDSM not overpowered by props, the BDSM where the emotions are in focus, where the need to give up control is respected and handled with care” and Aftercare is another book that fits into that category.

Aside for that, Aftercare has three other things I love in my books:

Court proceedings – I’m a sucker for court proceedings. I love court TV-shows or movies or stories, it’s really my thing. (Fiction though, not real life court TV)
The MCs communicating. Gawd, is there anything sexier (except for consent – consent is always the most sexy thing to read) than people talking to each other? I think not!
Diversity. Aayan and his brother Syed are Turkish Muslims.

So considering all that, it won’t come as a surprise to you that I really, really liked this book.

The characters were interesting and complex. I like that Garrett is a submissive masochist, but he’s also fierce in his profession and has backbone enough to stand up to Aayan when necessary. Aayan has problems incorporating his identity with his Muslim faith, but he tries so hard to accept who he is, and who his brother is, even though their parents aren’t exactly supportive.

This story line resonates with me. The brother, Syed, wanted to marry his boyfriend Jamie, but wanted to wait until he got his parents’ blessing. Unfortunately, he never got it and then it was too late. I have a gay friend who’s Muslim, and he’d like to be able to commit to his partner of many years, but he can’t do it because of his family. I know people like this which makes it even more real and touching and sad.

I would also like to go back to the communicating. If you’ve been following me for awhile, you know that I hate misunderstandings, and love talking. (So much that my current WIP is about two characters NOT misunderstanding each other!) And there were a couple moments in Aftercare that had the potential of ending with misunderstanding, but didn’t. Tanya Chris handled these situations with utmost grace, and neither of the characters let the other get away with it. And that is how you do it, people. Because in real life we don’t always want to talk about the hard stuff, but we have to. If we have a grown-up partner who’s invested in our relationship, they won’t let us get away with crap like that. So kudos for that.

If you like an emotional BDSM story about two people who really want their relationship to work, and who struggle to find themselves in the circumstances they’re in – this is the book for you.

Buy link

After finishing Aftercare, I one-clicked book 2, Aftershock, which is Syed’s book. Can’t wait to read his story and HEA – he deserves it.

Short update

Published on June 3, 2019June 3, 2019 by Nell IrisLeave a comment

I just wanted to tell you that I’ve requested my rights back for Red Popcorn Strings and Gumball Rings from Dreamspinner Press, my advent calendar story from 2017. The rights reverted back to me on May 31, so as of now, you can’t buy this story anywhere.

Never fear, though! It will be republished by JMS Books in time for the holidays, so all is not lost if you’ve missed Casey and Ellis’ story.

Thanks to Dreamspinner Press for taking a chance on me. It was a pleasure working with you. 😊

Release blitz and #giveaway: The Best-Laid Plans by Addison Albright

Published on June 1, 2019May 30, 2019 by Nell Iris1 Comment

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: The Best-Laid Plans (Plans, book #2)
Author: Addison Albright
Publisher: JMS Books, LLC
Cover Artist: Written Ink Designs
Genre/s: M/M Fantasy Romance
Tropes: abduction, hurt/comfort, princes
Heat Rating: 3 flames
Length: 28 130 words
Release Date: June 1, 2019

Add on Goodreads

Buy Links

Publisher | Books2Read | Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

A death that wasn’t what it seemed…
A kidnapping that isn’t what it seems…
Time is running out.

The morning after his wedding night, Prince Marcelo thought he’d be embarking on a journey to his own personal fairytale happily ever after with his husband, Efren, the crown prince of Zioneven. But when news arrives indicating his sister’s death wasn’t as accidental as previously thought, that journey becomes fraught with danger.

Enmeshed in political intrigue, death, and a kidnapping that might not be what it seems, will Efren untangle the web of misleading clues in time to save the naïve young man he’s already come to admire, or will Marcelo dig deep to discover a previously untapped inner strength and determination to facilitate his own survival?

Excerpt

Chapter 3: …Oft Go Awry

Efren

Efren blinked rapidly as he came awake with a start. He stared into the darkness and mentally shook the cobwebs from his mind. What had awoken him? Marcelo lay softly breathing in his arms, as relaxed and peaceful as only the innocent can truly be.

Around him, the night was silent. Too silent? He strained to hear the patrols rustling through the grasses, or the faint trills of their signals to each other.

A breeze swirled through the branches of the trees in the distance, rippling the leaves. Crickets chirped, apparently unconcerned about whatever either was or wasn’t going on in the meadow.

And footsteps. Quiet, approaching footsteps. It must be time for the shift change. That’s what had awoken him. Efren relaxed and nestled Marcelo tighter against him. One at a time, the guards would come in and wake their replacements.

Except—Efren tensed, then maneuvered his arm out from under Marcelo’s head and eased himself from under the blankets—the footsteps, furtively stopping and restarting, were approaching from multiple directions.

Efren shivered as goosebumps rose on his naked skin in the chilled night air and soundlessly slipped his broadsword and knife from their leather scabbard. He glanced at Marcelo, still sleeping, although less serenely with the sudden loss of the warm body next to him.

Guilt pinged his core as he shook off a strong desire to waken and forewarn Marcelo, but he pushed it down. Marcelo, completely untrained in warfare, would be safer in here. He seemed a heavy sleeper, likely incorporating outside noises into his dreams, unused to a need to be readily alert. He might even doze through the skirmish.

Or was that just wishful thinking? Because there’d be no hope that Marcelo could escape unseen, if it came to that.

Surely it would be better for such an innocent to be killed in his sleep, or with scarcely a brief moment of shock beforehand than to spend minutes quaking in terror, unable to defend himself.

Efren shook off his doubts and quickly pushed out the weighty flap, sword raised ready, and opened his mouth to yell an alert to awaken any of his warriors who hadn’t already sensed the looming danger, same as he had. But the breath he drew to strengthen his voice instead choked him.

He’d never before smelled these fumes, but the pungent, wet-dog odor had been described to him. The material of their tents was heavily treated to keep the toxin producing that odor from permeating the walls and closed flaps.

Icy apprehension slithered across Efren’s skin before settling in the pit of his gut. This was a completely unexpected development. The alchemists from the kingdom of Proye who’d developed this toxin—and unfailingly guarded the recipe—called it “Knockout.”

As Efren’s sword arm dropped, followed swiftly by his eyes rolling back in his head and his body slumping in a boneless crumple, a corner of his brain recognized how fittingly it was named, and hoped that enough of it had entered the tent through the briefly opened flap that Marcelo would succumb before Proye agents executed whatever they had planned. They’d been married for less than two days, and already he’d failed his innocent, young husband.

About the Author

Addison Albright is a writer living in the middle of the USA. Her stories are gay romance in contemporary, fantasy, and paranormal genres. She generally adds a subtle touch of humor, a smidgen of drama/angst, and a healthy dose of slice-of-life to her stories. Her education includes a BS in Education with a major in mathematics and a minor in chemistry. Addison loves spending time with her family, reading, popcorn, boating, french fries, “open window weather,” cats, math, and anything chocolate. She loves to read pretty much anything and everything, anytime and anywhere.