HELLO FRIENDS, TODAY I AM HAPPY TO BE A STOP ON THE EMBRACE THE FIRE BY FELICE STEVENS BLOG TOUR! I DID A RELEASE DAY REVIEW ON THIS ONE, SO I AM GONNA INCLUDE MY REVIEW, IN ADDITION TO THAT I HAVE TONS OF LINKS FOR YOU, AN EXCERPT,AUTHOR BIO AND LINKS, AND A RAFFLECOPTER GIVEAWAY! THANKS TASTY BOOK TOURS, FOR LETTING ME HAVE A SPOT TO PROMOTE THIS GREAT BOOK AGAIN!
BLURB:
Brandon
Gilbert has spent years in hiding, but finally he’s accomplished
his dream of working as a public school teacher. When offered the
chance to help bullied children, there was no way he could say no.
Not to mention that meeting Dr. Tash Weber, the psychiatrist who
helps them, a sad yet sexy older man, ignited a spark inside Brandon
he’d never had before.
Though
five years have passed since the death of his lover, Dr. Sebastian
"Tash" Weber has no interest in relationships or love. But
young, enigmatic Brandon awakens his heart and his desire. Despite
Tash’s best efforts to push him away, Brandon unlocks the passion
for life Tash thought he’d lost forever.
Falling
in love wasn’t part of the plan for either Brandon or Tash, but
neither family disapproval nor self-doubts can stop them from
embracing the fire that burns between them. And when Brandon returns
home to fight for a future he never imagined possible, he and Tash
discover that the one thing worth fighting for has been with them all
along.
COVER:
(I LOVE THIS COVER!) HERE IS MY REVIEW:
Oh my, is this the perfect book three in this series, I know everyone who has read the first two books was anxious for Brandon's story, and Felice did not disappoint in the least.
When we first meet Brandon he is homeless and alone, thanks to the kindness of a stranger he gets a second chance at life after he left the hell that he had to call home. He has changed his name and become a teacher, he has realized his dream but he has always wondered about his brothers.
I love the chemistry between Tash and Brandon, even though Tash fights it and insists he doesn't need anyone but his two cats, he knows Brandon fills a part of his life he thought would never be filled again.
So much happens in this book, it is like navigating a mine field trying to avoid spoilers ;), but I will say that this book answers tons of questions you may have had through book one and two!
Follow these two men as they fall in love, and fight for it, and you will be so glad you were there when Brandon finally sees his brothers again, and possibly someone else ;)!
Ok that is all you are getting out of me friends, this book is wonderful, and I beg you to read it, thanks Felice for more of the beautiful literary magic you are known for!
AWWW I HAD TO DO THE KITTIES! HERE ARE THE LINKS FOR THIS ONE:
Link
to Follow Tour:
http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/04/embrace-fire-through-hell-and-back-3-by.html
Goodreads
Link:
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25311093-embrace-the-fire?from_search=true&search_exp_group=group_b&search_version=service
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/142965-through-hell-and-back
Goodreads Series Link: https://www.goodreads.com/series/142965-through-hell-and-back
NOW HERE IS AN EXCERPT FOR YOU!! (I LOVE THIS ONE):
Brandon
glanced around the empty room. “Guess we’re a little early.”
Chairs were set around in a haphazard manner, and the desk in the
front was bare of any material.
When Gage checked his watch, he shrugged. “Yeah, only by about ten minutes. Why don’t I go tell them we’re here?”
Before Brandon had a chance to answer him, Gage left. After wandering around the room, Brandon stood at the window, looking out over the dark city sky. It was times like these he wondered if he could risk it all, go back home, and deal with the consequences. He understood a little better now, with the wisdom coming from a life hard-lived, why his foster mother became so overprotective of him. Years of being beaten down and weakened by living with a bully and abuser like Munson would make anyone want to believe in a religion that promised salvation. While he didn’t understand the religious aspect, he supposed it gave her something to hold on to when her life crashed and burned around her.
The door opened. “Oh, hello. I didn’t realize anyone was here yet.”
Brandon turned from his contemplation and faced the man at the door. His eyes widened, recognizing the man he’d seen crossing the street. Once again his body registered an unusual heated response.
“Yes. I’m here for the mentoring program. I came with Gage Taylor.” The man was even better-looking close up. His eyes were hazel with streaks of gold, and his face had a masculine, rugged quality. Not classically handsome, but arresting and, in Brandon’s eyes, so much more memorable.
“Oh great.” The man entered the room, leaving the door ajar behind him. “We were hoping Gage was able to pick up a few volunteers to come tonight.” He extended his hand. “I’m Tash. I run the program.”
At the press of Tash’s hand, a shiver rippled through Brandon. Deciding he was reading more into the touch than he thought, Brandon withdrew his hand a little quicker than he normally would and sat in one of the chairs, drawing a quizzical look from Tash.
“Tash. That’s an unusual name.” To his shock, Brandon realized he’d gotten hard. Mortified and hoping his cheeks weren’t red, he shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable. This had never happened before. Ever. He took several deep breaths and concentrated on the man speaking.
Tash rubbed his chin ruefully. “Would you believe my mother is an avid reader of Regency romances and Sebastian was her favorite name? My sister couldn’t pronounce it when she was a baby, and it was shortened to Tash.” He chuckled. “I suppose I should be grateful she didn’t also add the title she loved the most, or you’d be calling me Duke.”
When Gage checked his watch, he shrugged. “Yeah, only by about ten minutes. Why don’t I go tell them we’re here?”
Before Brandon had a chance to answer him, Gage left. After wandering around the room, Brandon stood at the window, looking out over the dark city sky. It was times like these he wondered if he could risk it all, go back home, and deal with the consequences. He understood a little better now, with the wisdom coming from a life hard-lived, why his foster mother became so overprotective of him. Years of being beaten down and weakened by living with a bully and abuser like Munson would make anyone want to believe in a religion that promised salvation. While he didn’t understand the religious aspect, he supposed it gave her something to hold on to when her life crashed and burned around her.
The door opened. “Oh, hello. I didn’t realize anyone was here yet.”
Brandon turned from his contemplation and faced the man at the door. His eyes widened, recognizing the man he’d seen crossing the street. Once again his body registered an unusual heated response.
“Yes. I’m here for the mentoring program. I came with Gage Taylor.” The man was even better-looking close up. His eyes were hazel with streaks of gold, and his face had a masculine, rugged quality. Not classically handsome, but arresting and, in Brandon’s eyes, so much more memorable.
“Oh great.” The man entered the room, leaving the door ajar behind him. “We were hoping Gage was able to pick up a few volunteers to come tonight.” He extended his hand. “I’m Tash. I run the program.”
At the press of Tash’s hand, a shiver rippled through Brandon. Deciding he was reading more into the touch than he thought, Brandon withdrew his hand a little quicker than he normally would and sat in one of the chairs, drawing a quizzical look from Tash.
“Tash. That’s an unusual name.” To his shock, Brandon realized he’d gotten hard. Mortified and hoping his cheeks weren’t red, he shifted in his seat, trying to get comfortable. This had never happened before. Ever. He took several deep breaths and concentrated on the man speaking.
Tash rubbed his chin ruefully. “Would you believe my mother is an avid reader of Regency romances and Sebastian was her favorite name? My sister couldn’t pronounce it when she was a baby, and it was shortened to Tash.” He chuckled. “I suppose I should be grateful she didn’t also add the title she loved the most, or you’d be calling me Duke.”
They
were still laughing when Gage walked in, followed by a group of
people, some of whom Brandon recognized from the pictures hanging on
the wall.
“Oh good, Randy, you met Tash.” Gage dropped into the chair next to Brandon. “Randy is the teacher I told you guys about. Even though he joined our staff as a permanent teacher only this year, he’s already made a tremendous difference in the lives of the kids he teaches.”
Brandon’s face colored, and he squirmed under the scrutiny as the attention of everyone in the room shifted to him. “It’s no big deal,” he muttered. “The kids are awesome and eager to learn.”
“My man here is too modest.” Gage stretched out his long legs. “Within weeks of the start of the school year, all the kids could talk about was Mr. Gilbert and how much they love him. All the kids want to be in his classroom. He’s taken it upon himself to stay late, well after school is over, to work with any of the kids who are struggling, not only the ones in his class.”
“Come on, Gage, cut it out. That’s not why we’re here,” Brandon protested, unzipping his jacket. He hung it on the back of his chair. “Don’t hold up the meeting. No one wants to hear you talk about me.”
“But you’re wrong, Randy,” Tash cut in. “You’re exactly the type of person we need for this program. Someone young, who the kids can identify with, someone who doesn’t look down on them. Someone with empathy for their pain.”
Their gazes held, and Brandon’s breath grew short in his throat. Like a movie where the sound is muted, the rest of the room disappeared; it was as if only he and Tash were present in that small conference room, with Tash whispering the words straight to Brandon’s heart.
Instead of the familiar trepidation at facing new people, Tash’s presence centered Brandon, untangling all the knots the big ball of his hopes and dreams had twisted themselves up into. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Brandon felt safe.
“You make me sound special. I’m not.” It was the truth. All he gave those kids was his time and concern. They craved attention and the knowledge that another person gave a damn about them. Brandon was anything but special. If they knew who he really was, they’d avoid him.
“Everyone is special.” The man he recognized as the founder of the clinic, Dr. Drew Klein, spoke. “That’s what we need these kids to understand. Because they’re different, either in their looks or their sexual orientation, that doesn’t make them weird or bad. Loving someone differently from the norm doesn’t make you wrong.” The doctor smiled at him with a clear, friendly expression.
Brandon wondered if the doctor was gay. In the chair next to his, Tash’s presence brushed up against him, warming him as if he’d been caressed. Brandon’s skin prickled with awareness.
“There’s a chance Randy can help you since he’s already taken it on himself to tutor the kids.” The door opened, and a young man walked in carrying a box of coffee and a bag that smelled like sugar. Gage’s eyes lit up. “I didn’t know you were having coffee and snacks.”
Tash chuckled and bent over to whisper in Brandon’s ear. “If I hadn’t seen how dedicated Gage was to these kids, I’d swear he did this for the free coffee and doughnuts.”
Brandon snorted, knowing well his fellow teacher’s propensity for caffeine and sweets. “I know. The man should just get an IV of the stuff.”
He and Tash shared a smile, and Brandon’s heart gave a funny thump in his chest. Heat rose in his face, and Brandon knew he blushed. Embarrassed, he fidgeted with his watchband, then raked a hand through his hair. He couldn’t sit still and tore his gaze away from Tash’s mesmerizing eyes.
“Oh good, Randy, you met Tash.” Gage dropped into the chair next to Brandon. “Randy is the teacher I told you guys about. Even though he joined our staff as a permanent teacher only this year, he’s already made a tremendous difference in the lives of the kids he teaches.”
Brandon’s face colored, and he squirmed under the scrutiny as the attention of everyone in the room shifted to him. “It’s no big deal,” he muttered. “The kids are awesome and eager to learn.”
“My man here is too modest.” Gage stretched out his long legs. “Within weeks of the start of the school year, all the kids could talk about was Mr. Gilbert and how much they love him. All the kids want to be in his classroom. He’s taken it upon himself to stay late, well after school is over, to work with any of the kids who are struggling, not only the ones in his class.”
“Come on, Gage, cut it out. That’s not why we’re here,” Brandon protested, unzipping his jacket. He hung it on the back of his chair. “Don’t hold up the meeting. No one wants to hear you talk about me.”
“But you’re wrong, Randy,” Tash cut in. “You’re exactly the type of person we need for this program. Someone young, who the kids can identify with, someone who doesn’t look down on them. Someone with empathy for their pain.”
Their gazes held, and Brandon’s breath grew short in his throat. Like a movie where the sound is muted, the rest of the room disappeared; it was as if only he and Tash were present in that small conference room, with Tash whispering the words straight to Brandon’s heart.
Instead of the familiar trepidation at facing new people, Tash’s presence centered Brandon, untangling all the knots the big ball of his hopes and dreams had twisted themselves up into. For the first time in what seemed like forever, Brandon felt safe.
“You make me sound special. I’m not.” It was the truth. All he gave those kids was his time and concern. They craved attention and the knowledge that another person gave a damn about them. Brandon was anything but special. If they knew who he really was, they’d avoid him.
“Everyone is special.” The man he recognized as the founder of the clinic, Dr. Drew Klein, spoke. “That’s what we need these kids to understand. Because they’re different, either in their looks or their sexual orientation, that doesn’t make them weird or bad. Loving someone differently from the norm doesn’t make you wrong.” The doctor smiled at him with a clear, friendly expression.
Brandon wondered if the doctor was gay. In the chair next to his, Tash’s presence brushed up against him, warming him as if he’d been caressed. Brandon’s skin prickled with awareness.
“There’s a chance Randy can help you since he’s already taken it on himself to tutor the kids.” The door opened, and a young man walked in carrying a box of coffee and a bag that smelled like sugar. Gage’s eyes lit up. “I didn’t know you were having coffee and snacks.”
Tash chuckled and bent over to whisper in Brandon’s ear. “If I hadn’t seen how dedicated Gage was to these kids, I’d swear he did this for the free coffee and doughnuts.”
Brandon snorted, knowing well his fellow teacher’s propensity for caffeine and sweets. “I know. The man should just get an IV of the stuff.”
He and Tash shared a smile, and Brandon’s heart gave a funny thump in his chest. Heat rose in his face, and Brandon knew he blushed. Embarrassed, he fidgeted with his watchband, then raked a hand through his hair. He couldn’t sit still and tore his gaze away from Tash’s mesmerizing eyes.
GREAT CHEMISTRY RIGHT? YOU HAVE NO IDEA :)! HOW ABOUT AN AUTHOR BIO AND SOME SOCIAL LINKS? COMING RIGHT UP!
I have
always been a romantic at heart. I believe that while life is tough,
there is always a happy ending just around the corner. I started
reading traditional historical romances when I was a teenager, then
life and law school got in the way. It wasn’t until I picked up a
copy of Bertrice Small and became swept away to Queen Elizabeth’s
court that my interest in romance novels became renewed.
But
somewhere along the way, my tastes shifted. While I still enjoys a
juicy Historical romance, I began experimenting with newer, more
cutting edge genres and discovered the world of Male/Male romance.
Once I picked up her first, I became so enamored of the authors, the
character-driven stories and the overwhelming emotion of the books, I
knew I wanted to write my own.
I live
in New York City with my husband and two children and hopefully soon
a cat of my own. My day begins with a lot of caffeine and ends with a
glass or two of red wine. I practice law but daydream of a time when
I can sit by a beach somewhere and write beautiful stories of men
falling in love. Although there is bound to be angst along the way, a
Happily Ever After is always guaranteed.
Website:
http://www.felicestevens.com/
CLICK ON THE RAFFLECOPTER PIC BELOW TO ENTER TO WIN A $10.00 AMAZON OR BARNES AND NOBLE GIFT CARD! GOOD LUCK FRIENDS!
THANKS FOR JOINING ME FOR MY BLOG TOUR STOP! GRAB THIS BOOK IF YOU HAVEN'T FRIENDS, IT IS THE PERFECT BOOK 3 IN THIS SERIES! HAVE A GREAT ONE!
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