Tour & #Giveaway - Crush Box Set 1 by Elouise East
Book Details:
Book Title: Crush Box Set 1
Author: Elouise East
Cover Artist: Maria Vickers
Release Date: January 13, 2022
Genre: Gay contemporary romance
Heat Rating: 3-4 flames
Length: approx. 210 000 words for all 3 books
Each one can be read separately, but characters pop into all books.
The stories do not end on a cliffhanger.
@Archaeolibrary, @gaybookpromo, @EastElouise,
Box set 1 contains:
First Kiss follows Charlie and Josh as love crosses boundaries they never expected it to. When Charlie tries to find someone to take his virginity, he doesn’t realise he is knocking down the first domino in a long line of changes set to test their loyalty and put them on a path neither anticipated.
Instant Desire is what Sean feels when he first meets Asher. Unfortunately, it pushes Sean further away from the man instead of closer. Asher does everything he can to help Sean get past what haunts him, but even though he understands the grief, he can’t wallow in it himself. His niece needs him.
Primary Seduction follows Trent on his bisexual awakening. He never would’ve thought Max would be the one person he wanted. A match flickers to life inside him, and he can’t hold back, even when Max comes complete with a BDSM lifestyle Trent knows nothing about. Trouble comes calling, but his newfound relationship helps him in ways he never expected.
MM romances where love wins over everything. Everyone is welcome at Crush.
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“Hello?”
Josh rushed into the hallway and ploughed into Charlie.
“Umph!” Charlie dropped his bag with a thump, then slid his arms around Josh’s waist, one reaching up to rub his back. “Hi, J,” he whispered.
Josh didn’t say anything. Charlie hadn’t realised exactly how much he had missed him until he’d come back through the door. The same for Josh if how tight he was holding him was anything to go by. Josh squeezed him tighter. A throat cleared but they ignored it. Josh burrowed his face into Charlie’s neck. “I love you,” he whispered so quietly, Charlie wasn’t sure if he’d heard right.
Charlie’s body started shaking. Josh pulled back a little to look at him, and Charlie realised he was crying. Josh cupped his cheeks, wiping the tears with his fingers. “Is that okay?”
Charlie nodded as more tears fell.
“Why have you made my boy cry?” Josh got pushed aside as their mum took his place, pulling Charlie into a hug. “Are you okay, sweetheart? What did he say to upset you?” His mum looked at Josh, eyes narrowed. “You better have a good explanation, young man.”
Josh straightened, looked her in the eye and said, “I told him I loved him.”
There was a beat of silence then his mum burst into tears, hugging them both tight, mumbling words he couldn’t understand. He was hoping they were happy tears too. But he wasn’t sure.
His mum pulled away after a minute and pulled them into the living room. She pushed them both down onto the sofa and she sat on the coffee table facing them. She looked at Josh. “You love him?”
Josh nodded. “With everything I am.” He wrapped his arm around Charlie’s shoulder.
His mum looked at Charlie. “What about you?”
Charlie nodded. “I love him.” Then he turned to Josh, “I love you.” A lone tear dripped down his cheek, which Josh wiped away.
His mum clasped her hands to her mouth and laughed. “I’m so happy for you both.” She looked at them tenderly for a moment, then her face became serious. “You’re going to have many problems, my beautiful boys. There will be people out there,” she pointed out the window, “who will try to bring you down with their hate. You must stay strong. Believe in each other.
4 out of 5 (very good)
CRUSH Box Set 1 is the first three full-length novels in the Crush series. Crush itself is a bar that features prominently in the first book, and then as a get-together place in the following two. All three stories are different and stand on their own, but I would recommend you read them as a series.
FIRST KISS tells the story of Charlie and Josh. Charlie works at Crush and hopes to become manager one day. INSTANT DESIRE is about Asher and Sean. Asher has loved and lost and is ready to find a relationship. Sean has also loved and lost and yet has closed himself off to the possibility of ever being with someone. And PRIMARY SEDUCTION is about Max and Trent. Max is gay and likes Trent who, as far as everyone knows, is straight. Trent's ex-wife, Trish, has a big role to play in this story and not for good reasons.
Each story was well-written and flowed from beginning to end. I loved the different timeline epilogues we got, and how the stories sometimes overlapped. This happened in books 1 and 2 more than 3. There are steamy scenes as well as ones that are tender and loving -- whichever is being used, it works for the story at that moment.
I would have loved to have heard more about Charlie and Josh as the stories progressed as they really wormed their way into my heart because - although you're not supposed to have favourites - that's what they were!! This was a great box set that I thoroughly enjoyed and have no hesitation in recommending.
** same worded review will appear elsewhere **
* A copy of this book was provided to me with no requirements for a review. I voluntarily read this book, and the comments here are my honest opinion. *
Merissa
Archaeolibrarian - I Dig Good Books!
Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win
one of two signed paperbacks of either First Kiss, Instant Desire, or Primary Seduction (winner’s choice).
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I am Elouise East but feel free to call me Elli. I write sweet and steamy connections in gay romance. I also touch on taboo stories under the name Elouise R East.
Books that tell the stories where friendship and family are the focal point - be it blood family or chosen - is very important to me. That’s why I include a variety of personalities, talents, ages, situations and abilities as I believe a story needs, or a character needs. I want my characters to be real, to be relatable, to be free to have whatever views they tell me they have. And trust me, most of the time, I do not have any say in the matter!
My characters come to life on the page for me as well as my readers. Their stories unfold in front of me, and I have very little input into how they want to be shown. Just like real life, the lives of my characters change with every choice, every interaction and every conversation. And I wouldn’t have it any other way.
I write books that are emotionally realistic, even if liberties are taken with other aspects of my stories. I don’t know any other way to write. It comes from deep inside.
Who am I? A single parent to two children who make life worth living. An avid reader who still devours every book she can get her hands on. A student of learning about any subject that takes her fancy. An author of books she would read herself. And a romantic at heart who loves anything cheesy.
Who’s in?
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Tour hosted by: Gay Book Promotions
