In the Raw
By Eileen Griffin and Nikka Michaels
Genre:
M/M, Foodie Romance
Length:
85,000 Words
Series:
In the Kitchen
Release
Date: October 6, 2014
Publisher:
Carina Press
BLURB:
If you can’t take the
heat…
James Lassiter has had a
crush on fellow culinary student Ethan Martin for three years, but has never
had the guts to make a move. Putting himself out there is hard, especially when
under the thumb–and wallet–of his overbearing parents. Now that bad boy chef
Ethan–who is always vying with Jamie for best in class–is struggling with the
pastry course, Jamie suddenly has a reason to reach out.
Ethan doesn’t mean to be
an ass–okay, so mostly he does–but even though he’s secretly hot for Jamie, he
sure as hell doesn’t want help with pastry. Ever since his dad walked out,
Ethan has been the one to hold things together and he’s done fine on his own.
Except that he can’t get his cake to rise.
Jamie could be the
answer to what Ethan’s been missing his whole life–someone to depend on. But
with the two competing for the same scholarship, things suddenly get too hot to
handle. And if Jamie finds the strength to go for what he wants, he isn’t about
to settle for what he needs.
EXCERPT:
I opened the door,
shivering when a gust of wind swept through. I pulled my jacket tight around my
body, sighing when I saw no cabs waiting at the curb. “Shit.” I could either
call information or wait a few minutes for another to drive by. I leaned
against the brick wall of the building to wait when I heard the bar’s door
squeak open and shut again.
“You could have waited
for me, you know?” Ethan’s annoyed voice as he approached had me wondering what
I’d done now.
“No worries.” I
shrugged, tired from the long day and the confusing mix of emotions hanging out
with him seemed to bring. “I didn’t want to rush you because I was ready to
leave.”
He stepped closer, his
shoulders hunched as he reluctantly admitted, “I wanted to hang out with you.
Not Summer or the guys. Just you.”
I stared at him. “What
do you want from me, Ethan? Half the time I don’t know whether you hate me or
want to be friends. Then you do something like defend me to my father, who
incidentally thinks you’re the antichrist. Tell me what we’re doing here.”
Instead of launching
into the verbal tirade I expected, a determined look crossed his face and he
murmured, “Fuck it.”
He stepped closer and I
tensed. As unpredictable as Ethan was, I wasn’t sure what he’d do. I let it out
a surprised gasp when his mouth met mine. There was nothing gentle about it.
Months of tension, fighting, flirting all igniting when he touched me. Not a
romantic kiss by any means…it was bruising, rough, passionate, intense, all the
same things I’d come to equate with Ethan Martin. My fingers curled in the fabric
of his sweatshirt, tugging him closer as my eyes slammed shut.
Braced between the
solidness of his body and the cold wall behind me, I felt my entire body heat.
Ethan’s ravenous lips and desperate tongue claimed my mouth, tasting of beer
and mint. He slid one hand up to cup the back of my neck, holding me captive as
he braced himself against the wall. I kissed him back fiercely, our teeth
knocking together with the force of it.
Sounds I didn’t even
know I was capable of making left my mouth and I didn’t care we were in public
where anyone could see us. I nipped his lip, sighing with pleasure when he
moaned into my mouth. He might be an infuriatingly stubborn asshole at times
but one thing was for certain: Ethan Martin could kiss. He broke away, breathing
hard as he leaned his forehead against mine.
“Wow.” I fought for
breath, a smile tugging at my lips. “For once we’re actually on the same page.”
As soon as the words left my mouth, he pulled back. His expression changed from
needy to terrified as he released me, his hands clenched into fists.
“Ethan?”
“I’m sorry.” He backed
away, staring at my face like I’d punched him. “I’m really fucking sorry,
Lassiter.”
I swallowed hard and
took a deep breath, raising my hands as if I was soothing a spooked animal.
“Ethan?”
He yanked up his
sweatshirt hood and took off, leaving me to stare after him in silence. What
the hell had happened?
BUY LINKS:
Carina Press:
In
the Fire
By Eileen Griffin and Nikka Michaels
Genre: M/M, Foodie Romance
Length: 93,000 Words
Series: In the Kitchen
Release Date: November 3, 2014
Publisher: Carina Press
(if hyperlink doesn’t work - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/23125017-in-the-fire?from_search=true)
BLURB:
Because the way to a man's heart…
Eight years ago, the world was their oyster. Until, that is,
competing chefs Ethan Martin and James Lassiter's hot and heavy relationship
fizzled after Jamie left for an internship in Paris. Even though Jamie's career
has taken off since his return to the States, with his own television show and
a lot of fame, his feelings for Ethan have never quite gone away.
Ethan's culinary career has developed more slowly, but he's
almost saved enough to buy the restaurant where he works and re-open it as his
dream spot, Bistro 30. If only he could get the sexy chef who loved him and
left him out of his mind.
But when someone starts sabotaging the restaurant and a fire
threatens to take away everything Ethan holds dear, his only option is to rely
on Jamie for help. Back in close quarters, the two men will have to find a way
to work through their past if they hope to save the restaurant—and their
future.
See how Ethan and Jamie's romance began in In the Raw, available now!
EXCERPT:
When we made it to the sofa I nudged him
to sit. Instead, he turned to face me. Even intoxicated, the way Ethan looked
at me now, heavy lidded eyes tinged with heat, was the way I’d remembered him.
No anger, no accusations, no bitterness, just a hint of my Ethan. But he
wasn’t my Ethan anymore, was he?
When he slid his hands up my arms to cup
my face I should have moved. I should have told him no. But I didn’t. Instead
my heart warred with my mind over what was right and what I had dreamed of
since we said our last goodbyes all those years ago. This was the reason I
couldn’t stay with anyone. No one but Ethan had ever made me feel alive like
this.
I watched with shock as he leaned in
close and brushed his lips over mine. A sigh escaped him as his fingers curled
against my skin. Overwhelmed by how good he felt against me, I closed my eyes
and breathed him in.
When I parted my lips, Ethan’s tongue
brushed against mine and my resistance broke. My fingers tightened against the
fabric of his borrowed T-shirt, pulling him closer as he deepened the kiss. I startled
when a hint of metal brushed my tongue, knowing I’d discovered a new piercing.
Ethan’s low groan echoed mine and I
turned my head, kissing him deeper. Passion warred with possessive need as he
responded, both of us vying for dominance as we each tried to control the kiss.
This was too much. With a pained sound, I pulled back, my breath uneven as I
rested my forehead against his. As good as this felt, it was too much to digest
after too much time had passed, coupled with alcohol and bad judgment.
“You need to sleep.”
He nodded and I stepped back and grabbed
a blanket from the closet, nudging him to lie on the couch. I spread it over
him and Ethan’s eyes finally closed as his body sank against the cushions. When
I straightened up to shut off of the lamp next to the couch I froze at his
barely audible words.
“I would have chosen you.”
BUY LINKS:
Carina
Press:
Amazon
US: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00M6G8MVK
Amazon
UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Fire-Nikka-Michaels-ebook/dp/B00M6G8MVK
Barnes
and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/in-the-fire-nikka-michaels/
iBooks:
https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/in-the-fire/id903782423?mt=11&uo=4"
target="itunes_store">In the Fire - Nikka Michaels & Eileen
Griffin
In
the Distance
By Eileen Griffin and Nikka Michaels
Genre: M/M, Foodie Romance
Length: 105,000 Words
Series: In the Kitchen, Book 3
Release Date: June 15, 2015
Publisher: Carina Press
BLURB:
Because sometimes it takes some distance to finally see what’s
right in front of you…
Tyler Mitchell
has worked hard to rebuild his life after his family kicked him out. A culinary
student and sous chef who spends his spare time volunteering with kids, he’s
happy enough even though he has no time to consider a relationship.
Trevor Pratt is
finally getting over losing his best friend and the one person he wanted to
spend the rest of his life with, but it’s taken screwing every cute guy in
Manhattan to get there. He’s vowed to repair the friendship he endangered, but
that’s hard to do when his friend’s new employee catches his eye. Despite being
warned to stay away from Tyler, Trevor knows the sous chef is more than just a
hookup.
Romance is a terrible idea. Trevor is ten years older and a
relentless playboy. Tyler is still unsure of his place in the world. Neither of
them is ready for life-changing love, but as things heat up, their chemistry in
the bedroom might just take that decision out of their hands.
Read about Ethan and Jamie's romance in In the Raw and In The Fire, Books 1 & 2 in the In The Kitchen Series, available now!
EXCERPT:
I
threw him a dirty look over my shoulder as we walked out of the diner. “Okay.
So I might have had my dad’s Platinum AmEx card to help me out, but I struggled
just like the rest of my classmates.”
Tyler’s
low, deep laugh hit me in all the right, and wrong, places. “Poor baby. I’m
sure it was hard to choose between the double shot extra whip latte and the
regular Joe Blow latte.”
God,
it was good to hear him laugh. “Hey now. Leave my double shot latte out of
this,” I shot back as I unlocked the doors to the Mercedes coupe I’d rented.
His
laughter slowly faded as I pulled out of the parking lot. I had only been to
Ethan’s old place a few times when Jamie had first moved back to Seattle and
before they had bought a new condo together. But Tyler made sure to keep me on
the right track with directions, his voice getting softer and softer the closer
we got to the apartment.
I
pulled up to the curb, letting the car idle instead of parking and walking him
to his door. As much as I found myself not wanting the night to end, it
wouldn’t have been smart to push whatever this was. Anyone else? We’d already
be upstairs with Tyler’s pants around his ankles and my mouth on him. But he
wasn’t just anyone else.
Tyler,
who had been staring out his window, slowly turned toward me. The soft lights
of the dash barely illuminated his face. God, he looked young, innocent and
worth every ounce of protectiveness he brought out in the people who cared
about him.
“Thanks
for the ride. And dinner. It was nice.”
He
turned again and reached for the door handle.
“Hey,
Tyler. Wait up.”
BUY/PRE-ORDER LINKS:
SERIES REVIEW:
I will have individual reviews of each book going out this week but I felt for this blog post I would do a special series review. The first book and the second book follow Ethan and Jamie and the sizzling hot life they lead... literally, they're chefs! LOL . There were times I questioned their chemistry. Then by the next page I was like, "Wow, their polar opposite attitudes actually work. Paula Abdul did say opposites attract and I guess she was right. I was eager for book 2 and so happy I had it on hand. Their journey of culinary masterpieces and personal creations is a pleasure to read. I found myself singing, "It's gettin' hot in here, so take off all your clothes." Far too many times LOL. The third book is a change of characters but no less wonderful. I thoroughly enjoyed Tyler and Trevor just as much as Ethan and Jamie. This is a series you want in your life. Oh! and you should be warned that you will be hungry through out the entire series as well! I salivated... it wasn't pretty.
Please check out my individual reviews for these books on my amazon and goodreads pages throughout the week. Eileen and Nikka are a great writing team and their work proves their chemistry.
EILEEN GRIFFIN BIO:
Eileen Griffin lives in the southwest, but
loves to travel and has spent many summers crossing Europe with nothing but a
backpack on her back. She enjoys TexMex, lives for good wine, and has a certain
penchant for purple unicorns. She loves reading all genres of books, but her
current obsession is writing M/M romance.
EILEEN GRIFFIN SOCIAL
MEDIA LINKS:
NIKKA MICHAELS BIO:
Nikka Michaels
lives in the rainy Pacific Northwest where she spends her time cooking,
laughing and crafting romantic tales to satisfy her craving for HEAs with heat.
A voracious reader, novice knitter
and music lover she’s been known to multitask without breaking a sweat. She
loves to read and write M/M romance but believes everyone deserves a love
story.
NIKKA MICHAELS SOCIAL
MEDIA LINKS:
For
anyone who knows us, followed us on Facebook or Twitter, we’re a little bit
fanatical about Nutella. Nikka was the one to introduce me to the creamy,
chocolatey goodness of Nutella about three years and honestly, I’ve never
looked back. See, it all started with Grilled Nutella and Banana sandwiches
(which Nikka affectionately calls an “orgasm in your mouth”) and then morphed
into a kind of obsession for us with who could find the best new recipe
containing Nutella. I mean, really, what’s better than a freshly made crepe
slathered with Nutella while you’re walking around Paris? Nothing. Absolutely
nothing. More recently, one of our best friends just sent us a goodie package
that contained Nutella Rice Krispy Treats. Three words: So. Damn. Good. (That
said, nothing beats eating it with a spoon straight out of the jar on those
days when the world seems to be conspiring against you.)
Since
the beginning of our In The Kitchen Series, Nikka and I have tried to work a
Nutella dish/recipe into our stories, beginning with Ethan introducing Jamie to
the mouthgasm that is a Grilled Nutella/Banana sandwich, to Trevor ordering a
Nutella panini during In The Distance, Book Three of the In The Kitchen Series.
Both Nikka and I know there are some Nutella haters out there, but for everyone
else, here’s the recipe for the Nutella paninis Trevor orders during his brunch
with Chef Boulanger. Bon Appetit!
~Eileen
Griffin
Hazelnut
Chocolate Paninis
Ingredients
·
1 loaf Ciabatta or other rustic bread
·
½ cup of Nutella
·
2 Tbsp. Honey
·
¼ tsp. salt
·
¼ tsp. ground cloves
·
1 bar bittersweet chocolate
·
2 Tbsp. butter
Directions
1. Cut the ciabatta into 5- by 3-inch rectangles
and split horizontally.
2. Stir the Nutella, honey, salt, and cloves
together and spread about 1 tablespoon onto each of 4 of the bread rectangles.
3. Layer with the chocolate and top with
remaining bread. Brush with butter and grill in a press until the chocolate
melts.
4. Cut into small
triangles and sprinkle each with sea salt to serve.
GIVEAWAY:
Eileen and Nikka are offering one reader a chance to fall in love with this series by offering one of you In The Raw (book 1) Simply fill out the Rafflecopter below. Contest will run until Sunday, June 21st. Winner will be contacted via email. Remember to check your spam.
Thank you Eileen and Nikka for all the awesomeness you offered us today!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
