Contemporary Authors

https://lccn.loc.gov/2014660469 Erickson, Megan. Dirty thoughts / Megan Erickson. New York, New York : HarperCollinsPublishers, [2015].©2015. 301 pages ; 18 cm. CPB Box no. 4184 vol. 17 ISBN: 9780062407740 paperback0062407740 paperback

• Zero Hour (Wired & Dangerous) - 2018 Forever , https://www.amazon.com/Zero-Wired-Dangerous-Megan-Erickson/dp/1538743884/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_7_twi_mas_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-7
• Overexposed (In Focus) - 2016 InterMix, https://www.amazon.com/Overexposed-Focus-Megan-Erickson-ebook/dp/B01A6EQGIO/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_8_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-8
• Focus on Me: In Focus - 2015 InterMix, https://www.amazon.com/Focus-Me-Megan-Erickson-ebook/dp/B00LMGLXUC/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_9_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-9
• Chasing Destiny (Silver Tip Pack) (Volume 2) - 2017 CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, https://www.amazon.com/Chasing-Destiny-Silver-Tip-Pack/dp/197395284X/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_10_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-10
• Tied to Trouble - 2016 Entangled Publishing, https://www.amazon.com/Tied-Trouble-Megan-Erickson/dp/1682810887/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_11_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-11
• Make It Right: A Bowler University Novel - 2014 William Morrow Impulse, https://www.amazon.com/Make-Right-Bowler-University-Novel/dp/0062353519/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_12_twi_mas_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-12
• Make It Last: A Bowler University Novel - 2015 William Morrow Impulse, https://www.amazon.com/Make-Last-Bowler-University-Novel/dp/0062353543/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_13_twi_mas_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528083343&sr=1-13
• Make It Count: A Bowler University Novel - 2014 William Morrow Impulse , https://www.amazon.com/Make-Count-Bowler-University-Novel/dp/0062353411/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_14_twi_mas_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528083343&sr=1-14
• Dirty Talk: A Mechanics of Love Novel - 2015 Avon Impulse, https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Talk-Mechanics-Love-Novel/dp/0062407767/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_15_twi_mas_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528083343&sr=1-15
• Changing His Game - 2015 Entangled Publishing, LLC, https://www.amazon.com/Changing-His-Game-Megan-Erickson/dp/1943336067/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_16_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528083343&sr=1-16
• Leveling the Field - 2016 Entangled Publishing, https://www.amazon.com/Leveling-Field-Megan-Erickson/dp/168281176X/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_17_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528083343&sr=1-17
• Playing For Her Heart - 2015 Entangled Publishing, LLC, https://www.amazon.com/Playing-Her-Heart-Megan-Erickson/dp/1943892113/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_18_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528083343&sr=1-18
• Out of Frame (In Focus) - 2016 InterMix , https://www.amazon.com/Out-Frame-Focus-Megan-Erickson-ebook/dp/B016JPTQ8G/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_19_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528083343&sr=1-19
• Dirty Deeds: A Mechanics of Love Novel - 2016 Avon Impulse, https://www.amazon.com/Dirty-Deeds-Mechanics-Love-Novel/dp/0062407783/ref=tmm_mmp_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=
• Anchor Me - 2013 CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, https://www.amazon.com/Anchor-Me-Megan-Erickson/dp/1481897896/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_26_twi_pap_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528083448&sr=1-26
• Darkest Night (Wired & Dangerous) - 2018 Forever, https://www.amazon.com/Darkest-Night-Wired-Dangerous-Erickson/dp/1538743906/ref=sr_1_1_twi_mas_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528083495&sr=1-1&keywords=darkest+night+megan+erickson
• Final Day (Wired & Dangerous) - 2018 Forever Yours, https://www.amazon.com/Final-Wired-Dangerous-Megan-Erickson/dp/1538743965/ref=sr_1_1_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528083513&sr=1-1&keywords=final+day+megan+erickson
• Daring Fate (Silver Tip Pack) (Volume 1) - 2016 CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, https://www.amazon.com/Daring-Fate-Silver-Tip-Pack/dp/1540463958/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_2_twi_pap_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-2
• Boots - 2017 Amazon Digital Services LLC , https://www.amazon.com/Boots-Megan-Erickson-ebook/dp/B077XH3BBV/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_3_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-3
• Blood Veil: A Mission Novel - 2018 Random House LLC , https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Veil-Mission-Megan-Erickson-ebook/dp/B06XFJYWMT/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_4_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-4
• Blood Guard: A Mission Novel - 2017 Random House LLC , https://www.amazon.com/Blood-Guard-Mission-Megan-Erickson-ebook/dp/B01NAKMA4X/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_5_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-5
• Trust the Focus: In Focus - 2015 InterMix, https://www.amazon.com/Trust-Focus-Megan-Erickson-ebook/dp/B00LMGLZPU/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_6_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-6
• Heels (Boots Book 2) - 2018 Amazon Digital Services LLC, https://www.amazon.com/Heels-Boots-Book-Megan-Erickson-ebook/dp/B07DCG67YR/ref=la_B00AWD8MHS_1_1_twi_kin_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1528082899&sr=1-1

• Megan Erickson - https://www.amazon.com/Megan-Erickson/e/B00AWD8MHS/ref=sr_tc_2_0?qid=1464206128&sr=8-2-ent

  Megan Erickson is a USA Today bestselling author of romance that sizzles. Her books have a touch of nerd, a dash of humor, and always have a happily ever after. A former journalist, she switched to fiction when she decided she likes writing her own endings better.

  She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own nerdy husband and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she's been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn't writing, she's either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or... thinking about writing.

  For more, visit meganerickson.org

• Megan Erickson - http://meganerickson.org/about-megan/

  megan14Megan Erickson is a USA Today bestseller and former journalist who switched to fiction when she decided she liked writing her own endings better.

  She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own romance hero and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she’s been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn’t writing, she’s either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or… thinking about writing.

  She is represented by Marisa Corvisiero of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Zero Hour
Publishers Weekly.
265.1 (Jan. 1, 2018): p44. From General OneFile. COPYRIGHT 2018 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Zero Hour
Megan Erickson. Forever, $7.99 mass market (384p) ISBN 978-1-5387-4388-1
The first in Erickson's Wired & Dangerous romantic suspense series roars out of the gate and doesn't let up. Hacker Roarke Brennan is determined to avenge his younger brother Flynn's death--at the hands of an almost cartoonishly ruthless computer magnate and his evil son--with a group of his most talented hacker friends. When feisty Wren Lee finds out from her brother that her long-ago crush, Roarke, is putting a team together, she wants in: Flynn was a friend, and she has skills the crew needs. As bullets fly and emotions rage, Wren realizes Roarke's original coolness toward her isn't because he didn't care--it's that he's terrified she'll be hurt. It's a valid concern with Erickson's hairraising plot twists, since it's not clear who, if anyone, will survive. The villains are so unlikable that it's very satisfying to see them meet their fates. But just as the reader thinks the tale is over, Erickson (Blood Veil) throws several curveballs (readers who hate cliff-hangers, beware). This is a highly enjoyable romantic thriller. Agent: Marisa Corvisiero, Corvisiero Literary. (Feb.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Zero Hour." Publishers Weekly, 1 Jan. 2018, p. 44. Business Collection,
1 of 8 6/3/18, 10:30 PM
http://go.galegroup.com/ps/marklist.do?actionCmd=GET_MA...
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A522124990/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=6c3cc54c. Accessed 3 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A522124990
2 of 8 6/3/18, 10:30 PM

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Blood Guard
Publishers Weekly.
264.29 (July 17, 2017): p204. From General OneFile. COPYRIGHT 2017 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Blood Guard
Megan Erickson. Loveswept, $4.99 e-book (230p) ISBN 978-0-399-18092-7
An ordinary woman learns her blood might be the key to saving the world in this engrossing erotic paranormal romance. Tendra Parrish is mourning her mother's recent death when a huge and gorgeous man, Athan, abducts her. To Tendra's shock, he tells her he's a vampire and he's to deliver her to his older brother, Idris, who will someday become king of their clan. Her blood is supposed to give Idris the power to defeat their rival clan and save humankind. On their way, though, Athan and Tendra develop attraction to and affection for each other--feelings that make Athan's duty to deliver Tendra to his brother far more complicated. The plot gets bogged down in backstory early on, but once the rules of the world are established, things move along engagingly. Tendra and Athan's characterization sometimes falls back on common tropes, but Erickson adds interesting new aspects to those tropes, and their chemistry is pleasantly intense. Athan and Tendra's journey marks a promising beginning to Erickson's newest series. Agent: Marisa Corvisiero, Corvisiero Agency. (Sept.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Blood Guard." Publishers Weekly, 17 July 2017, p. 204. Business Collection,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A498996947/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=48b48937. Accessed 3 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A498996947
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Make It Last
Publishers Weekly.
261.46 (Nov. 17, 2014): p40+. From General OneFile. COPYRIGHT 2014 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Make It Last
Megan Erickson. Avon Impulse, $2.99 e-book (384p) ISBN 978-0-06-235353-5
The appealing, quick-paced final title of Erickson's Bowler University new adult contemporary trilogy (after Make It Right) ventures off campus to look at life after graduation. The ink is still drying on Cam Ruiz's diploma when he's called back to his uninspiring hometown, Paradise, to help care for his mother. Working as a bouncer is no fun, and Cam is torn between staying for his mother's sake and leaving in the fall for his dream job. Tate Ellison, Cam's high school flame, has been stuck in Paradise due to her father's illness. She's working as a waitress and trying to hold her fracturing family together as she makes her own hard decisions. When the two reunite, everything gets both better and more complicated. With an easy style and likable characters, the story flows quickly, and readers familiar with new adult romances will appreciate Erickson's willingness to abandon the genre's cliches.
Agent: Marisa Corvisiero, Corvisiero Literary Agency. (Jan.)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Make It Last." Publishers Weekly, 17 Nov. 2014, p. 40+. Business Collection,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A391719339/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=40d69523. Accessed 3 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A391719339
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Focus on Me
Publishers Weekly.
262.23 (June 8, 2015): p46. From General OneFile. COPYRIGHT 2015 PWxyz, LLC http://www.publishersweekly.com/
Full Text:
Focus on Me
Megan Erickson. InterMix, $2.99 e-book (203p) ISBN 978-0-698-19463-2
Erickson's second road-trip romance (after Trust the Focus) is a tender treat. Colin Hartman, on his way home to North Carolina after a failed attempt at higher education in California, picks up hitchhiker Riley Sorenson, a former Armani underwear model now down in the dumps. Faulty gaydar leads the men to admire each other only in sidelong glances as they begin their journey. Of course, it isn't long before they openly confess desire. As their passion flares, Colin can't help but fall helplessly in love with the man he affectionately calls Catwalk. Erickson imbues handsome Riley with near-debilitating emotional issues, which refreshingly having nothing to do with being gay. Credible characterizations and a sensitive ear for the ways men talk about love and sex make this a delectable summer read. Agent: Marisa Corvisiero, Corvisiero Literary Agency. (July)
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
"Focus on Me." Publishers Weekly, 8 June 2015, p. 46. Business Collection,
http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A417571527/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=dc4efb27. Accessed 3 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A417571527
5 of 8 6/3/18, 10:30 PM

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Erickson, Megan. Blood Veil
Marlene Harris
Xpress Reviews.
(Mar. 30, 2018): From General OneFile.
COPYRIGHT 2018 Library Journals, LLC http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews- first_look_at_new.html.csp
Full Text:
Erickson, Megan. Blood Veil. Loveswept: Random. (Mission, Bk. 2). Apr. 2018. 224p. ebk. ISBN 9780399180934. $4.99. SF ROMANCE
Blood Veil recaptures the feel of J.R. Ward's early "Black Dagger Brotherhood" novels while still exploring a new world of vampire clans and politics with humans caught in the crosshairs. In this second book in the "Mission" series (after Blood Guard), Idris, the brother of a vampire king, discovers his true mate while stalking the half-human daughter of the king of a rival vampire clan; Celia has no knowledge of her heritage, or that it makes her a pawn of the opposing factions. Forced to kidnap Celia to protect her from a vampire hit squad, Idris can't help falling in love with the daughter of his greatest enemy. Neither does he abandon his plan to use Celia as bait ultimately to kill that enemy, the vampire Idris believes turned his father away from him and the peace with the humans his clan holds dear. When they are both captured, Idris and Celia use their newly forged bond to fight their way to freedom and happiness.
Verdict Readers who are searching for something to tide them over until the next "Black Dagger" book comes out should look no further than this series. Recommended for fans of vampire romance, particularly of Susannah Sandlin's "Penton Legacy."--Marlene Harris, Reading Reality, Duluth, GA
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Harris, Marlene. "Erickson, Megan. Blood Veil." Xpress Reviews, 30 Mar. 2018. Book Review
Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A536533219/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=6baf0cdb. Accessed 3 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A536533219
6 of 8 6/3/18, 10:30 PM

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Erickson, Megan. Dirty Talk: A
Mechanics of Love Novel
J. Harris
Xpress Reviews.
(Oct. 2, 2015): From General OneFile.
COPYRIGHT 2015 Library Journals, LLC http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews- first_look_at_new.html.csp
Full Text:
Erickson, Megan. Dirty Talk: A Mechanics of Love Novel. Avon Impulse. 2015. 304p. ebk. ISBN 9780062407757. $1.99. CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE
Running from a dark past, Ivy Dawn moves to a new town with her daughter and sister, seeking a normal life with no complications and absolutely no men. Starting over is hard enough, but when her sister's coworker the good-humored and handsome mechanic Brent Payton takes an interest in Ivy, she finds it hard not to reciprocate. Brent wishes he could be seen as more than a playboy jokester but never more so than when Ivy walks through the door of his family's auto shop. She's beautiful, alluring, and completely resistant to his charms, but Brent can't stop thinking about her and sets out to prove that he's worthy of both her trust and her love. As they start to fall for each other, "complicated" doesn't begin to describe the situation when a threat from the past resurfaces that tests family loyalties, reveals secrets, and jeopardizes the lovers' relationship.
Verdict This latest from Erickson (Dirty Thoughts) is recommended for fans of romantic stories that are down to earth and fun. Dirty Talk includes several steamy scenes, a straightforward, enjoyable plot, likable characters, and witty dialog.--J. Harris, New Hampshire
Harris, J.
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Harris, J. "Erickson, Megan. Dirty Talk: A Mechanics of Love Novel." Xpress Reviews, 2 Oct.
2015. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A431446517 /GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=7d151eee. Accessed 3 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A431446517
7 of 8 6/3/18, 10:30 PM

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Erickson, Megan. Make It Right
Kara Kohn
Xpress Reviews.
(Oct. 10, 2014): From General OneFile.
COPYRIGHT 2014 Library Journals, LLC http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/reviews/xpress/884170-289/xpress_reviews- first_look_at_new.html.csp
Full Text:
Erickson, Megan. Make It Right. Avon Impulse. (Bowler University, Bk. 2). 2014. 220p. ebk. ISBN 9780062353498. $1.99. NEW ADULT ROMANCE
Max Payton has the strong and flirtatious thing down, but he has never really ventured successfully into the boyfriend zone. That is until he met his match in Lea Travers. Both college students at Bowler University, Max knows of Lea, the gorgeous girl with a limp, through the same group of friends, although they have never been chummy toward each other. When they are forced together by a string of campus attacks that has them both assisting in a self-defense class, their banter leads to a date and more. Max, who was brought up by an emotionally distant father and was always taught to stand strong, discovers that this sassy girl has a pull on his heart. But the conflicts in his home life might destroy any chance he has of a future with the only woman who has ever made him want to be a better man.
Verdict Erickson (Make It Count) creates a strong female lead in Lea, who is not only emotionally flawed but also has to deal with a physical shortcoming that she battles with gusto. Additionally, dealing with the internal conflict of finding who you are versus what is expected of you is a pivotal moment in college life that the author handles in a relatable way. Another enjoyable series that is carving out its niche in new adult romance.--Kara Kohn, Plainfield P.L, IL
Kohn, Kara
Source Citation (MLA 8th Edition)
Kohn, Kara. "Erickson, Megan. Make It Right." Xpress Reviews, 10 Oct. 2014. Book Review
Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A387827267/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS& xid=740f52bc. Accessed 3 June 2018.
Gale Document Number: GALE|A387827267
8 of 8 6/3/18, 10:30 PM

"Zero Hour." Publishers Weekly, 1 Jan. 2018, p. 44. Business Collection, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A522124990/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=6c3cc54c. Accessed 3 June 2018. "Blood Guard." Publishers Weekly, 17 July 2017, p. 204. Business Collection, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A498996947/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=48b48937. Accessed 3 June 2018. "Make It Last." Publishers Weekly, 17 Nov. 2014, p. 40+. Business Collection, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A391719339/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=40d69523. Accessed 3 June 2018. "Focus on Me." Publishers Weekly, 8 June 2015, p. 46. Business Collection, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A417571527/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=dc4efb27. Accessed 3 June 2018. Harris, Marlene. "Erickson, Megan. Blood Veil." Xpress Reviews, 30 Mar. 2018. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A536533219/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=6baf0cdb. Accessed 3 June 2018. Harris, J. "Erickson, Megan. Dirty Talk: A Mechanics of Love Novel." Xpress Reviews, 2 Oct. 2015. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A431446517/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=7d151eee. Accessed 3 June 2018. Kohn, Kara. "Erickson, Megan. Make It Right." Xpress Reviews, 10 Oct. 2014. Book Review Index Plus, http://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/A387827267/GPS?u=schlager&sid=GPS&xid=740f52bc. Accessed 3 June 2018.

• Binge on Books
  http://bingeonbooks.com/paranormal-romance-review-blood-guard-by-megan-erickson/
  Word count: 716

  Blood Guard by Megan Erickson

  Published by: Loveswept

  Format: ePub

  Genre: Paranormal Romance

  Order at: Publisher | Amazon | B&N

  Reviewed by: Alex

  What to Expect: Plucky heroine falls for hot, hardass vampire when she’s supposed to be ‘destined’ for his brother…but, you know… hardass vampire is right here, tomorrow may never come, and instant gratification is so instant.

  Plot:

  Tendra: One minute, I’m a bartender in gritty Mission City; the next, I’m whisked away by a vampire named Athan who tells me that I’m the lifeblood of his clan. It sounds unbelievable, but he’s got evidence I can’t deny. Turns out, Athan belongs to an underground society of vampires who feed only on humans with their consent. Their enemies have no such qualms, and they want me dead. The only thing standing in their way is strong, sexy Athan. And the closer we get, the more tempted I am to let Athan feed. . . .

  Athan: How could I have known when I snatched this snarky, beautiful human off the streets that she would change my destiny? As a loyal soldier, I must deliver Tendra to our future king—my brother. Empowered with the blood of ten generations of the Gregorie breed, she is fated to rule as our queen. But there’s something between us that’s so intoxicating, so carnal, I can’t help wanting Tendra for myself . . . even if it’s treason.

  Review:

  When I sit down with a Megan Erickson book, I feel like she’s right here, like somehow she’s personally materialized in my living room, complete with glass in hand, has curled up on the sofa, and tells me her story, waving hands and all. “Oh, this guy—OMG, he’s so wrong, you will not BELIEVE what he’s done now. Like…it’s horrible but it’s incredible…can you believe he did that?”

  And just like that, I’m going along with it.

  I like that she finds complex characters to write about, that none are perfect, that she can take one guy who is completely unlikeable in one moment and make him star in the next. Here, that guy is Athan. And he’s paired with Tendra, a woman who’s trained all her life to defend herself, one who has learned to watch her back and to survive at all costs. So, effectively, you’ve got two people who are totally devoted to her survival more than all else.

  Then comes the why. Which takesme right into…

  What you may not like: The premise is not… hm… well anytime an abduction results in a love story, it’s problematic, even there were some moves toward giving the abductee choice and even when I have fully engaged my suspension of disbelief. Stockholm syndrome was mentioned I *think* in jest or, at the very least, as a way of showing how, in comparison, it wouldn’t really pertain to this particular situation. Ultimately, Tendra agreed to come along but not because she truly had a choice. This briefly brought up questions about duty and free will but the core of this issue—how quickly Tendra gave up that choice—was never really addressed and for sake of all strong, willful, smart women everywhere, I really needed it be.

  What you will love: Erickson’s got the pacing exactly right in this book and keeps the tension high, providing exactly the right amount of resolution to keep the pages turning.

  Another nice thing, Tendra is totally unapologetic in owning her sex drive and her love life, whether or not those two things happen to coincide. No sex shaming here, nor should there be. Just saying, when you need sex-positive romance, Megan Erickson is an author one who delivers.
  Alex claims to read more than any normal, healthy adult should though the rest of the Binge on Books team would beg to differ. You can read all of his reviews here.

  Connect with Alex on Twitter: @Alex_deMorra

  You might also like:

• Hypable
  https://www.hypable.com/zero-hour-megan-erickson-wired-and-dangerous/
  Word count: 1975

  ‘Zero Hour’ excerpt: Megan Erickson kicks off the Wired and Dangerous series with a bang
  Exclusive
  Hypable
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  'The Magicians' exclusive: Olivia Taylor Dudley talks all about that crazy Lamprey episode

  BooksFeatures

  Are you excited for a whole new series from Megan Erickson? We’re sure you will be when you check out this excerpt from Zero Hour.

  If you love a good mystery mixed up with your romance, Zero Hour is definitely the story for you. Roarke Brennan and his team are working hard to avenge his brother’s death, but it wouldn’t be romance if there wasn’t a bit of temptation in the crew. This temptation has a name, Wren. Read on for all the details about Zero Hour and get yourself addicted to Megan Erickson’s books with the first in the Wired and Dangerous series.
  About ‘Zero Hour’

  Hacker extraordinaire Roarke Brennan lives each hour — each breath — to avenge his brother’s murder. His first move: put together a team of the best coders he knows. They’re all brilliant, specialized, and every one an epic pain in his ass. Only now Wren Lee wants in too, threatening to upset their delicate balance. The girl Roarke never allowed himself to want is all grown up with sexy confidence and a dark past … and she’s the wild card he can’t control.

  Roarke might still think she’s a kid, but Wren’s been to hell and back. Nothing and nobody can stop her – especially the tatted-up, cocky-as-all-hell hacker. But when years of longing and chemistry collide, Wren and Roarke discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot.
  Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iBooks | Goodreads

  Now onto the excerpt, but first check out this introduction from Megan herself!
  Introduction from Megan Erickson

  Zero Hour is about Roarke Brennan, a hacker who assembles a team of fellow tech heads to get revenge on the man he believed killed his brother. His best friend and fellow crew member’s little sister–a woman he has held a torch for since he was a teenager–shows up and asks to be put on the crew. Roarke is not on board with involving Wren at all, but she’s not taking no for an answer. As readers will see in this scene, she has caught the attention of one of the men Roarke holds responsible for his brother’s death, and Roarke isn’t happy about it.

  And now, with no further ado…
  ‘Zero Hour’ excerpt

  A sound echoed off the brick building and shoved all her instincts into overdrive. She darted to the side, withdrawing her gun in a quick motion and leveling it on the source of the sound. The figure leaned forward, and she froze when she met the gaze of Roarke Brennan.

  He stood with his arms crossed over his chest. And he didn’t look happy. At all. “Put the gun down, little bird.”

  Well, now she was just embarrassed. With a frustrated grunt, she shoved the gun into her waistband and tried to act like nothing had happened. She cocked out a hip and waved. “Hey Roarke.”

  He didn’t speak for a long moment. “Darren Saltner is the thirty-five-year-old owner of Alpha who is just as bad as his father and is less good at hiding it.”

  She swallowed.

  Roarke wasn’t finished. “He’s been known to funnel drug sales through his club, and several women have brought sexual assault charges against him, only to drop them. And that’s just the tip of the shit sandwich of things he’s involved in.”

  She knew all of this. “Look—”

  “And after I told you to stay out of it, you drive back down here and go right to his club and cozy up to him? Seriously, Wren?”

  “Were you following me?”

  “Yes, I sure the hell was!”

  She scowled. “That’s rude.”

  “I don’t give a fuck,” he shot back. “I am rude. And I can’t believe you put yourself in that situation—”

  “I didn’t take the drink he offered me.”

  Roarke threw up his hands and turned his back on her, walking a few steps away before stopping abruptly and turning. “You didn’t take a drink from him. God, Wren, I—”

  “I got out of there fine!”

  Roarke stared at her incredulously. “Sure you did, because I raised an alarm on their security system so you could escape.”

  She forced down the growl that was roaring up her throat. Of course he interfered. “I’m not an idiot, Roarke!” She surged toward him. “I researched him, I know what he does and who he is. Tonight he mentioned something to his bodyguards that made me think he knows what his father is doing. And I intend to find out more.”

  For the first time, uncertainty crossed his face. “I guess I don’t really know you, do I?”

  She shrugged. “You knew me at one time, I guess. And I’m still Wren. I’m just . . . grown up.”

  She didn’t miss the way his gaze coasted down her body. His hazel eyes bored into her as he took a step closer. The air between them was charged, and a bead of sweat trickled down her back.

  “Did Darren touch you, Wren?” His voice was low, barely above a whisper. “Did he put his hands on you?”

  “It was nothing I couldn’t—”

  “Answer me.”

  “Yes.” Heat pooled in her stomach as his eyes blazed, and she couldn’t stop the tremble in her voice.

  “Why’re you looking at me like that?”

  He placed a fist in his other palm and cracked his knuckles, an agitated tell he’d had since she’d known him. “Because Wren . . . fuck.” The curse was a growl. “The thought of him touching you, thinking he can, thinking he has a right”—his hand sliced the air—“it’s driving me crazy.”

  Her throat went dry and words failed her. This was a side of Roarke she’d never seen, never thought possible. He rarely deviated from his aloof scowl, and this possessive side—over her—was kind of turning her on.

  She wasn’t sure if that was healthy, but fuck it, she wasn’t going to lie to herself. “Look, I know you feel obligated to protect me because I’m Erick’s little sister—”

  He turned away with a bitter laugh, flattening his hands on top of his head.

  She stamped her foot. “Will you quit interrupting me?”

  He whirled around and advanced on her so quickly, she retreated until her back hit the wall. Then he was in her space, all up in it, their chests brushing, his thighs touching hers. He braced a hand on the wall beside her head. “You think this is about you being Erick’s little sister?”

  Her head was spinning. She didn’t know what was what anymore. “Roarke, I don’t understand.”

  His jaw was so tight that she swore a light tap would shatter it. He was so close now that she inhaled the scent of his leather jacket with every breath. The tension in his body was a tight coil that seemed about to unleash any second. A large vein in his neck cut through the inked rose, and without thinking, she ran a finger down it. His entire body shuddered.

  He gave a small lip twitch and then something brushed the front of her thigh. She startled and glanced down to see his fingers grazing her skin. She didn’t move but kept her eyes on that tattooed hand as it flattened on her thigh. “Is this okay?”

  Her head jerked up. Roarke’s eyes were wide, pupils blown. She swore she could feel the pulse of his heart in the pads of his fingers where they rested on her skin. What was going on? Whatever tentative relationship they’d had was shifting beneath her, and she couldn’t get her bearings. All she knew was that her entire body was on fire, and it was taking every bit of self-control not to climb that big body and finally see what those full lips felt like on hers.

  Get a grip.

  She still hadn’t answered his question so she licked her lips, tasting the last of her lipstick on her tongue. “Yes.”

  His hand shifted, and four fingers ran up the inside of her leg, dangerously close to where she ached for him to touch. He curled his fingers around her inner thigh so one rested on the seam of her panty line. She balled her hands into fists because it was the only way to prevent herself from reaching for him. “Roarke,” she croaked.

  “This is going to be a fucking disaster,” he muttered almost to himself, as his gaze began to roam. Down her neck, across her chest, which heaved with deep breaths, and then down to where his hand was tucked between her legs.

  “Roarke—”

  “I didn’t want you in because I can’t be objective with you,” he interrupted, his gaze once again cutting to her. “Do you understand what I’m saying?”

  Not really, but when his thumb brushed ever so lightly over her underwear, she sucked in a breath and nodded.

  He dipped his head for just a second, and she thought he was going to kiss her, but then he took a step back. She almost reached for him but stopped herself.

  He shoved his hands in his pockets and began to walk past her, as if he hadn’t just rocked her world with a touch. “Better get some rest. We’re meeting at eight a.m. sharp.”

  She glanced at her watch. That was in five hours. Shit. “Uh . . .”

  He was already in the parking lot. “I’ll have Erick text you the address,” he called over his shoulder.

  “Okay!” she yelled back.

  She waited until his car pulled out of the parking lot before sagging against the wall, a hand on her chest as she sought to calm her racing heart.

  In one night, she’d placed her safety in the hands of a very dangerous man and allowed another equally dangerous but also sexy man to touch her.

  She hoped like hell she wasn’t in over her head.
  About Megan Erickson

  Megan Erickson is a USA Today bestselling author of romance that sizzles. Her books have a touch of nerd, a dash of humor, and always have a happily ever after. A former journalist, she switched to fiction when she decided she likes writing her own endings better. She lives in Pennsylvania with her very own nerdy husband and two kids. Although rather fun-sized, she’s been told she has a full-sized personality. When Megan isn’t writing, she’s either lounging with her two cats named after John Hughes characters or…thinking about writing.

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• Romance Novel News
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  Word count: 753

  Review: Changing His Game by Megan Erickson
  Written by Jennifer Porter

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  changingHisGameChanging His Game by Megan Erickson (erotic, Entangled, April 2015, $2.99, 175pp)

  RNNREad2-3

  Series: Gamers, book one

  Summary:
  He controls the game, but she's rewriting all the rules...

  Marley Lake is no stranger to awkwardness, but getting caught watching a dirty GIF by the company's hot new IT guy exceeds even her standards. That is, until she realizes he's as turned on by it as she is. But with a big promotion on the line, she refuses to let her current dry spell be her downfall. Maybe.

  Austin Rivers has no business lusting after the irresistible editor of Gamers Magazine. He's a secret partner in the business-and technically Marley's boss. One look at that GIF, though, and he's ready to install a whole lot more than just software...as long as she never finds out who he really is.

  But reality's not as virtual as it seems, and when Austin's identity jeopardizes Marley's promotion, he has to change his game or risk losing the only woman with the cheat code to his heart.

  Review:
  I read the blurb for this book and knew I had to read it as fast as humanly possible - I mean I am always on the lookout for geek kink romances. And the book did not disappoint. In fact, it far exceeded my expectations for it with lots of very dirty sex scenes that had me running for a fan - and a fabulously engaging love story. I loved Changing His Game by Megan Erickson from the first word to the last and highly recommend it to fans of geeky characters, kinky sex and office romances.

  Austin Rivers is the one of the partners in Gamers Magazine. However, his role is a mostly silent one as an investor in the business. When Marley Lake needs help from IT, Austin ends up at her desk trying to help. While there, he sees Marley’s tumblr with dirty gifs that suggest she has an interest in kink and D/s. Austin is, of course, a dominant who can’t resist the hints he gets that Marley might be a good match for him.

  Austin knows that he should stay away from Marley - after all, she technically works for him. And, of course, Marley thinks he is just an IT worker at the company. But the sexual chemistry between the two is explosive, and they cannot keep their hands off each other. There is lots of kinky sex and some serious dirty talking. Austin has got some impressive skills in that department. And he brought his grovel skills when his identity was revealed.

  Additionally, Erickson has a great cast of secondary characters, including Austin’s business partner Grant and Marley’s brother Chad. Chad adds a great deal of comic relief, and Grant is an important part of Austin’s life. I certainly hope these characters get stories. Changing His Game is listed as part of series, so I am most hopeful.

  Changing His Game is a book that fans of dirty books should not miss. It singed more than just my eyebrows - and made me a huge fan of Erickson. I will be looking for more!

  Megan Erickson: http://meganerickson.org/

  Book Disclosure: An ebook was provided by the author.
  Last modified on Tuesday, 28 April 2015 18:55
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  Jennifer Porter
  Jennifer Porter

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• Romance Novel News
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  Review in Bullet Points: Tied to Trouble by Megan Erickson
  Written by Jennifer Porter

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  TiedtoTroubleTied to Trouble by Megan Erickson (contemporary, m/m, Entangled, January 2016)

  RNNREad2-3

  Series: Gamers, book 3

  Summary:
  Between love and hate, there's a whole lot of trouble...

  Chad Lake only showed up at his sister's party for the free food, but when he spots an uptight nerd at the edge of the crowd, he can't resist trying to ruffle the guy's perfect bow tie and impeccable hair. The hottie's ready for him, though, and in the end, it's Chad who's left wide-eyed, his ears still ringing with the filthy things Bow Tie whispered in his ear. No one gets the upper hand on Chad. Ever.

  Owen Hawkins has heard all about the cocky Adonis from Chad's sister--the same sister who holds Owen's career advancement in her hands. He has every intention of steering clear of the other man...until Chad's sexy taunts push him too far. There's something intriguing about Chad, and even though Owen knows that getting tangled up with the infuriating man is trouble, he can't seem to stay away...

  Review in Bullet Points:

  This is the third book in Megan Erickson’s Gamers series and features Chad and Owen. Chad is the brother of the heroine of book one. While this book can be read as a stand alone, I recommend reading the entire series - it is a great way to get to know Chad.

  Chad and Owens’ romance is pretty much a hate at first sight type. These two are opposites. Chad is a free spirit, someone who doesn’t like to wear a helmet while riding a motorcycle, someone who changes jobs fairly often. Meanwhile, Owen is more buttoned down, someone who has a good job and wears a bow tie. They set off some serious sparks when they meet, and underneath those sparks there is an intense attraction.

  The two get physical pretty fast, trying to scratch their itch without getting emotionally involved. But of course, you know they are doomed to be disappointed in this endeavor.

  Most people think of Chad as a lackadaisical person who just plays at life and is never serious. But he does have dreams and hopes, he is just afraid to share these with most people. One of my favorite parts of this story is when Chad opens up to Owen and tells him about his desire to study art. Chad is more complicated than everyone thinks.

  Owen was a big surprise. He is the quieter of the two, but when Chad backs him into a wall (literally), Owen brings the dirty talk and a take charge attitude. He also surprises Chad, even renders him speechless.

  And this brings me to the fact that this book is SERIOUSLY DIRTY. Chad and Owen are two very horny dudes who can’t keep their hands (or other appendages) off each other. They had some sexy power struggles as well.

  Tied to Trouble is a fantastic read (I listed it as one of my favorites of 2015 as I read it last year) and one that I highly recommend. It has a wonderful romance, fantastic emotional growth from both characters and all the naughty moments one could expect.

  Megan Erickson: http://meganerickson.org/

  Book Disclosure: An ebook was provided by the author.
  Last modified on Monday, 04 January 2016 19:54
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• Fresh Fiction
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  Word count: 550

  Zero Hour
  Megan Erickson

  Reviewed by Patti Loveday
  Posted March 1, 2018

  Romance Suspense

  ZERO HOUR by Megan Erickson is the first book in the Wired & Dangerous series. This thrilling romantic suspense novel is a mix of The Fast and the Furious meets Mr. Robot. When years of chemistry between Wren and Roarke collide, they soon discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot! ZERO HOUR is full of action, drama, steamy romance, blistering chemistry, and forbidden love.

  Roarke is set on avenging the murder of his younger brother. So, he assembles a team of brilliant hackers which reunites him with his lifelong crush, Wren. She also happens to be his best friend's younger sister. Will a decade apart change the feelings he has for her all those years ago or will the lines become crossed and passion become center stage? Can they work together to complete the mission or will the chemistry they share distract them? You will love the push and pull between them and the emotional explosions help make this a steamy hot read.

  From page one you get drawn right into all the drama and action with Roarke's history with Wren. They share several heated exchanges throughout the story and some pretty steamy pages as well. The attraction is written so brilliantly that you can almost feel the pull coming through the pages. Erickson has created a list of characters that are lovable and vividly realistic with personalities that remind you of an Oceans 11 movie, but with hackers. The side characters help to play a big role in the story. They also are written with creative and secretive pasts that help play a role in the current situation. Hopefully, there will be more stories about the whole team in future books. I would enjoy seeing how some of their stories play out.

  I really enjoyed reading this fast-paced thrilling suspense novel that has just enough romance to help heat up the pages leaving you wanting more. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.
  Learn more about Zero Hour
  SUMMARY

  The Fast and the Furious meets Mr. Robot in USA Today bestselling author Megan Erickson's thrilling new romantic suspense series.

  Hacker extraordinaire Roarke Brennan lives each hour - each breath - to avenge his brother's murder. His first move: put together a team of the best coders he knows. They're all brilliant, specialized, and every one an epic pain in his ass. Only now Wren Lee wants in too, threatening to upset their delicate balance. The girl Roarke never allowed himself to want is all grown up with sexy confidence and a dark past ... and she's the wild card he can't control.

  Roarke might still think she's a kid, but Wren's been to hell and back. Nothing and nobody can stop her - especially the tatted-up, cocky-as-all-hell hacker. But when years of longing and chemistry collide, Wren and Roarke discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot.
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• Red Hot Books
  http://redhotbooks.com/2014/09/review-make-it-count-by-megan-erickson.html
  Word count: 745

  Review: Make it Count by Megan Erickson
  make it countReviewed by Janell

  I love a nerdy, awkward hero almost as much as Jen loves a tortured hero, so when I found this book at the library I gave it a shot. This “dimwitted girl falling for her nerdy tutor” story isn’t groundbreaking, but at times I found myself really caught up in it. Other times, not so much.

  Kat’s brain doesn’t exactly work like other people’s brains. Her mind wanders a lot, she has to be hyper-organized to complete assignments on time, and she’s used to people making fun of her. Luckily she’s hot (her parents are Brazilian, and also rich) and she made it through high school with a little help from various boyfriends. Now she’s a college sophomore and failing her statistics class.

  Alec is a nerd in that he’s smart and he wears glasses. He also styles his hair into a pompadour, which Kat likes. I couldn’t visualize his look without thinking hipster, and there’s nothing wrong with Alec being a hipster, but that word never comes up; he’s working the impoverished nerd vibe, which I had trouble connecting with his hair. So, yeah. Pompadour. Alec is also Kat’s boyfriend’s roommate, and he happens to end up as her statistics tutor.

  The sexual tension between Kat and Alec was done well, once I got past the stereotypical scene where she blindly walks out of a door and crashes into his large muscular body. Kat flirts as a defense mechanism when she feels stupid, but Alec patiently sees through it and helps her study. They develop a rapport, and then share a steamy dance at a club when Kat’s boyfriend asks Alec to watch out for her while he uses the bathroom.

  The forbidden love was great. Kat’s jokes and wandering mind were great. She describes her mind as Kat-land, a mystical place where she rides a unicorn while eating fat-free chocolate, and peasants blow bubbles on her while telling her how smart she is. She’s adorable. Alec’s inner turmoil and loyalty to his friend were believable, and he stood up for Kat like a big hero without throwing punches. So that was all good.

  This book lost me whenever there were heart-to-heart conversations with secondary characters, because there were a lot of them. Alec has two roommates plus Danica, his lesbian gal pal, who wears crazy outfits, colored wigs, and colored contacts all the time. Danica was fun, but her emotional connection to Alec was so strong that I felt like he was using too many of his deep thoughts on her. Kat has a supportive, thoughtful roommate, plus then she meets Danica and uses her to run interference with Alec, and then Kat meets Danica’s roommate and immediately bonds with her, too. So at times I felt like this was a world of friendly, supportive college students who were always in tune with each other’s emotions, which probably isn’t realistic.

  Speaking of all these meaningful conversations, Alec and Kat had them with everyone but each other for the back half of the book. The first part was great, with the forbidden love, and the guilt, and the drama. Then it turned into Alec and Kat misunderstanding each other over little things, and Kat running away, and then them having chats with other people. Plus Kat learns a lot about her learning disability, which is a great public service announcement, but since she does it mostly without Alec’s help (because she thinks he only wants to fix her, not love her, because she runs away before he can explain), it’s not good romance.

  This is the first in a series, so I know the excess of secondary characters is just planting the seeds, but I was already tired of them. So. The first half, with the romantic drama, was probably a B+. All the friends and happiness and talking and misunderstanding was a C-. I’ll average it to B-, because Kat-land was funny.

  Click to purchase: Amazon

  Make It Count
  by Megan Erickson
  Release Date: June 3, 2014
  Publisher: William Morrow Impulse

  Filed Under: by Janell, Contemporary Romance Tagged With: Megan Erickson2 Comments

• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/zero-hour-megan-erickson/
  Word count: 1297

  Zero Hour

  Megan Erickson

  Buy This Book

  I don’t know about you, but some of my favourite authors are the ones who have a particular genre or style and tend to stick with it. Sure, there’s always the risk of one day waking up bored with it all, but often it’s easy and delightful to come back to what you love and get exactly what you want out of a story.

  Then there are those authors who break out of their niche and try something new every so often. Sometimes it works; and sometimes you can only applaud the effort and the bravery in deviating from the tried and true, as opposed to applauding the material itself.

  Zero Hour is the first book in Megan Erickson’s newest series Wired & Dangerous series which features a team of coders and hackers. Ms. Erickson’s recent ventures into the supernatural haven’t really wowed me, but there is potential in some of the characters she’s created in this series, even though the context in which they exist and the events that contain them, are not as strong.

  We’re thrown right into the mix as tattooed hacker Roarke Brennan works to assemble a team to help him take down the person responsible for the death of his brother. It’s chapter one and we already have a revenge plot; I am digging it. There is fun banter between Roarke and his friend Erick and a clumsy and less than smooth scene where they convince a fellow hacker they don’t even like to join the team. Immediately afterwards, Erickson wastes no time in setting the stage for some angst and conflict by throwing the heroine of this story right in Roarke’s path just as he’s secured the final piece for his plan.

  Enter Erick’s sister, Wren – our second PoV – who used to crush hard on her big brother’s bestie ten years ago and now gets to refresh the signal strength of said crush when she sees the man he has since become. I’m not sure we can call this insta-lust seeing as they have history and yet… it still sorta feels like that. Wren has done some of her own growing up and with Roarke’s revenge plot still simmering, we’re introduced to yet another one, as Wren wants to exact retribution for a wrong done to her friend by the same set of people Roarke is looking to take down. This is the first, but not the last, time things feel unbelievably convenient, and in this case, a little clumsy. By shifting gears so quickly to Wren’s need for justice, Erickson ends up diminishing the impact of Roarke’s feelings of grief and anger over losing his brother. Had Wren’s motivation been only teased, and maybe dragged out a little, it would’ve made for a smoother start.

  What follows are some generic computer-y scenes, some undercover work involving spy cams and coding, poor dietary preferences, some dark backstory on Wren’s part, the snarky personalities that make up this group of grey hats, and action sequences you don’t normally see being handled by guys who spend more of their lives behind computers. There’s also plenty of sexual tension between Wren and Roarke as they refuse to act on their feelings because of various complications and the likelihood they’ll have to hit ‘delete’ on their lives and disappear once the mission is complete.

  If you’re getting the sense that I wasn’t able to sink into this story, or suspend my disbelief, you’d be right.

  As mentioned before there is just too much contrivance within these pages. It’s convenient to have the reader believe that ten years have gone by and neither Roarke nor Wren have ever been interested in anyone else, especially as they were never together and never confessed their feelings. To try and convince us further we’re treated to sweeping statements such as, “she suspected Erick had always wanted her to be with Roarke” but we don’t hear of any hints or overture, made that would support this. There is no foundation for this belief or that it would have survived the time apart – at least not on Wren’s end.

  Additionally, some of the suspenseful moments are just… unlikely. We have a camera planted in a necklace to capture video feed while Wren’s undercover on her first date with her target. And the reader is supposed to believe that said date just happens to come prepared with a necklace of his own for her to wear? That’s a bit of a stretch and does nothing but try to force the reader to feel anxiety for Wren and the team. But don’t worry. Unbeknownst to everyone, a last minute gift of diamond earrings had a backup microphone so they can still record and Roarke is reassured about Wren’s safety. Spell it with me now. C O N V E N I E N T. And on and on it goes.

  For a book in which hacking is a major plot point, I never felt the distinct presence of the culture or that I was reading about characters who reside in the world of coding. There are a few offhand geeky references sprinkled here and there but instead of reinforcing the niche it mostly feels out of place. For some readers this will be a bonus as they won’t feel bogged down in jargon and they can instead enjoy a medium-high stakes adventure story. But for me all it did was fail to convince me these were the highly-skilled and sought-after hackers they claim to be.

  What Erickson does do well is her effortless diversity. We have a pair of Korean siblings, a gay man, a bisexual Latina, and another character who is a bit of a mystery to me but who features in a crossdressing scene. I loved the strength she gives Wren; she’s the one going undercover, wired up, and in far more constant danger than Roarke, who is safely behind the computer while running the mission. The dialogue is also peppered with realistic quips about hackers not liking to run (despite their ripped physiques) and we have men who don’t enjoy handling or being around guns (despite owning guns), so these are not your typical full-out alphas used to physical conflict and danger, even if they feel a little too capable for said situations. Ultimately the characters are the best part of this read, specifically the supporting cast who feel more like they fit the hacker mold, and it’s a strength of their group dynamic that will likely have me picking up the next book.

  While not believably suspenseful enough for what I expect from a romantic suspense novel, I still feel I have to give kudos to Erickson for trying something new. Unfortunately, a mix of convenient plot devices, my inability to suspend belief about the abilities of the protagonists, and a story centered around a couple who tried really hard to convince me that a flimsy emotional connection – based only in wanting what they couldn’t have – would actually survive ten years, didn’t make Zero Hour very enjoyable. Though the author makes a point to subvert alpha-tropes and also manages to give her lady more of an action-focused role, overall this just wasn’t a winner for me.
  Buy it at: A/BN/iB/K
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/zero-hour-megan-erickson/

• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/changing-his-game/
  Word count: 704

  Changing His Game

  Megan Erickson

  Buy This Book

  When I heard that Megan Erickson was doing a new series about sexy nerds, I was more than ready to get my hands on one. While Changing His Game was very readable, and both characters are interesting, there was something about it that didn’t click with me.

  Marley Lake is working late as a copy editor for Gamers Magazine and browsing for dirty GIFs on her computer. Austin Rivers (it only just now hit me that their last names are Rivers and Lake. What?), the company owner who Marley mistakes for the IT helper, sees the image and gets the idea that the two of them might need to try it out in real life. Marley is happy to play along, since she doesn’t know this is actually the man who could determine whether she gets the promotion she is gearing up for.

  I think that Erickson has a fun, lighthearted writing style that is very easy to read. However, some of the technology related sexual innuendos came off more silly than sexy for me. I liked the inclusion of nerdy elements like cosplay, video games, and Tumblr, but I never fully believed Austin as a geek. He was too alpha for what I was expecting. Not to stereotype, but when I think sexy nerd I don’t picture and alpha male in a power suit that just happens to work for a gaming company. The only thing about him that kept him from being a typical alpha was that he was a bit awkward about crowds and social situations. However, if I hadn’t heard that fact about him prior to reading the book, I’m not sure I would’ve picked up on it until the end. The final reunion between Marley and Austin is partially hinged on him overcoming his issues about crowds, and the buildup to that moment didn’t do enough to convince me that he really was struggling to make me feel moved by his choices. If not for his interactions with his friend and his friend’s child, he would have been an incredibly flat character.

  Marley was more rounded than Austin, and I really enjoyed her scenes with her sassy brother. She had far more at stake in her relationship with Austin because she had to worry that her bosses would think she was trying to sleep her way to the top. She is very career driven and her promotion means so much to her that she doesn’t want to compromise that, even for Austin.

  Like any Brazen, Changing His Game was packed with sex scenes. However, I never totally connected to them. I wanted to be left more hot-and-bothered, not thinking about computer lingo. One big place where I couldn’t connect with this story was the jump from lust to love. Yes, Marley and Austin have some kinky sexual encounters and hit it off, but there’s no real build in their relationship that takes them over the edge into love. I wanted slightly more in this area so I could feel them falling. I have read several other books by Erickson and I know she is capable of some heart-wrenching writing, but it wasn’t apparent in Changing His Game.

  Overall, this is a sexy, light read that brings a slightly unusual context to the romance world, but lacked the extra oomph I needed to emotionally connect with the characters.
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  Book Details
  Reviewer: Haley Kral
  Review Date: August 20, 2015
  Publication Date: 2015/05
  Grade: C
  Sensuality Hot
  Book Type: Contemporary Romance
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  Price: $12.99
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• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/overexposed-by-megan-erickson/
  Word count: 768

  Desert Isle Keeper
  Overexposed

  Megan Erickson

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  One of the best things about this stellar book is the fact that it’s told from Levi Grainger’s PoV. Hiking the Appalachian Trail in honor of his sister, who was recently killed in action, Levi runs into all sorts of issues expected of a novice hiker. He also runs into Thad Connors, a withdrawn but more experienced hiker, who ends up as Levi’s trail guide. As the hike and their stories unfold, Levi and Thad find peace in each other in ways neither of them expected.

  Levi is ready for the quiet the trail will provide. He just completed a season of a reality show and enjoys some minor fame from that; not recognized everywhere, but enthusiastically embraced when spotted. It sounds like a mix between The Amazing Race and the UK’s Coach Trip, for the record. Levi and his mother are still reeling from the death of Layla, who was killed by a suicide bomber while serving in the military. They were, and are, a tight knit family and her death is still leaving ripples in their daily lives.

  Layla and Levi had planned to hike the trail after both his show and her deployment ended. With her death, he shifted plans to hike it solo so that he could grieve her in a tangible way. This element of literally walking out his grief, talking to her on the trail, preparing for his hike in her memory; those moments arrested me. I could feel Levi’s grieving process, not just read it.

  One evening, he encounters a man in the moonlight. They have a brief interaction, but Levi is left feeling affected by it. He is drawn to the stranger immediately. Creatively calling him “Moon Man”, Levi assumes he’ll never meet the intense man again, but Moon Man becomes part of his hike.

  Through Levi, we learn about Moon Man slowly. His name is Thad Connors and he’s a little older than Levi, but not much. (Levi is twenty-three, Thad twenty-six.) He never watched Levi’s show, he’s an experienced outdoorsman, and they’re both gay. For a while, the only real hint we get at Thad’s thoughts come in the form of terse text message conversations he’s sharing with someone named “M”. They show him as a man not up for talking to anyone, a man on the run from something ugly that happened in his life, a man not willing to deal with that ugly.

  They fall into a rhythm, hiking during the day and sleeping together at night. Levi tells us repeatedly he knows this relationship will end when the trail does, but we know pretty quickly he wishes that wasn’t true. Thad is drawing Levi into his mystery, but both are too stubborn and eventually they split up. Their coming back together takes up the latter part of the book, and the way it’s crafted is breathtaking. To delve into Thad’s baggage would be spoiler territory; every reader deserves to have this unfolded for them as I did.

  Thad’s pain is both run-of-the-mill and unique to him. It’s quite like Levi’s in that way; we’ve all had to grieve, but none of us have had to grieve Layla specifically. The familiar but distinct is carefully dealt with here. The balance struck by Ms. Erickson made these characters so tangible, I could nearly see them on their hike.

  If you can’t tell already, I found this book to be lovely. I adored both Thad and Levi as people, adored their relationship, and adored getting to know them. When I finished the book, I sighed deeply with contentment at having spent time with complicated but lovely people.

  The book is marked as part of a series, and the epilogue touches on the couples from the previous books. They meant little to me as this was my first encounter with Ms. Erickson’s works, but I’d imagine that fans of the series will love the quick check-in we get in the last few pages.

  Clocking in at 177 pages, this is just north of novella length, but still a quick read. For anyone with a heaving TBR pile looking to spend a short amount of time with realistic characters and a lovely happily ever after, Overexposed is for you.
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• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/blood-guard-by-megan-erickson/
  Word count: 1229

  Blood Guard

  Megan Erickson

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  In Blood Guard, the first book in the two-book Mission series, author Megan Erickson introduces her readers to the vampires of the Gregorie clan and the women who love them. Just reading the premise had the paranormal junkie in me salivating. A brand new series that promises danger, excitement, and a heavy dose of vampire/human lust. What could possibly go wrong?

  The answer is ‘quite a bit’, as it turns out. Blood Guard is essentially a mishmash of every tired paranormal genre trope rolled into one book. Die-hard fans of the author may be willing to give this book a chance, but if you have never read Megan Erickson before, I would not recommend that you start here.

  The Mission in the series title refers to Mission City, New Jersey, the small town Tendra Parrish has called home for the last five years. One night, while working as a bartender, Tendra is disconcerted to find a dark-haired man staring at her from across the room. Even more shocking is the frisson of lust that courses through her veins. Checking it all up to the emotional upheaval she’s been going through as a result of her mother’s recent death, Tendra resolves to get some sleep. She’s certain she’ll never see the enigmatic stranger again.

  Fate, however, has other ideas. On her way home from work that night, she is knocked out by a sweet-smelling chemical. When she regains consciousness, Athan Gregorie – her assailant and mystery man from the bar – tells Tendra that he is a vampire from the Gregorie clan and that she is his Sanguivita – a woman who is destined to become the savior of his clan. Athan’s job is to take Tendra back to the Gregorie stronghold so she can be mated to their king, Idris, Athan’s older brother. According to the ancient prophecy, the Gregorie king that feasts on Tendra’s blood will gain the strength and power needed to vanquish his enemies. As the Gregories are currently engaged in a war with a clan of evil vampires that wants to destroy all humans, it is imperative that the prophecy is fulfilled as soon as possible.

  What follows is your basic road-trip romance strung together by cliched scenarios, illogical plotting, and a whole lot of info-dumping. As Athan escorts Tendra back to the Gregorie compound – and in between dodging vampire assassins – he fills her in on the history and customs of his people. While the world-building has the potential to be interesting, the way in which Athan narrates it to Tendra is anything but. Add to that a vampire/human orgy (for what is a vampire romance without a prerequisite orgy?), vampire saliva that contains a potent aphrodisiac, and a dying woman who can only be saved by a vampire bite, and what you have is a vampire romance that reads like just about every other vampire romance you’ve read before.

  As frustrating as the above flaws are, they pale in comparison to the huge plot holes that are peppered throughout the second half of the story. To list all of them would make this review about five pages long, so I will just mention the more egregious offenders. To get to the Gregories’ land, Athan and Tendra walk – first through the underground city the vampires have built using the city’s abandoned subway tunnels, then through the woods that lie between Mission City and the Gregorie House. Setting aside the implausibility of an underground city that has remained undetected by humans for so many years, the question I am left with is the same one that Tendra asked Athan: Why can’t they just drive? This nugget of wisdom, however, is nonchalantly brushed aside by Athan, who replies that cars make bigger targets. I suppose this is true, if it weren’t for the second, even more problematic conceit. If you are a human being hunted by a bunch of vampires, why would you put yourself in danger by sleeping during the day and traveling at night? Can’t Athan just give Tendra the directions to his house so she can drive there during the day when, you know, the evil vampires aren’t out to get them? Granted, this would have shortened Tendra and Athan’s journey to about three hours and deprived them of all the hot, steamy sex the two still manage to find time for. But I would think that the need to stay alive would trump, well, pretty much anything any day. And speaking of sex, the kind that happens here is energetic, loud, and full of profanity. While I don’t typically have problems with characters dropping an F bomb or two during sex, their usage here doesn’t feel natural or organic because I didn’t buy into the relationship.

  By far the best part of this book and what saved it from an even lower grade is Tendra. A sassy, tough-as-nails woman who is as dangerous with a switchblade as she is with a pair of stiletto heels, she is at first skeptical of Athan’s claim that she is the Sanguivita. She rails at the injustice of being expected to give up her future in the human world and live a life she did not choose among vampires. In true Tendra fashion, though, she does not allow herself to dwell on her anger for too long. Once she realizes that the Gregories need her help to defeat the Valarians, she not only agrees to accompany Athan back home but also becomes actively engaged in ensuring their survival. The fact that she is able to reach the Gregorie land unscathed is as much due to her prowess with a knife as it is due to Athan’s skills.

  Athan, on the other hand, is just your stereotypical stoic, much-maligned second son. The reason Tendra gives for falling in love with him – that he showed empathy for her plight and concern for her well-being during their journey – is hardly a sound basis for a relationship. As a result, I have a hard time believing that they are going to be happy spending eternity with each other after having known each other only a few days.

  Aside from a kick-ass heroine, I also enjoyed the chapters towards the end, when the author reveales a twist I didn’t see coming and when Idris is finally introduced. I found myself intrigued enough by Idris that I am even considering reading Blood Veil when it comes out. I suppose that counts for something but as a standalone book, Blood Guard lacks the believable romance and fresh world-building I have come to expect from authors of Megan Erickson’s caliber. Here’s to hoping that her next book will give the fangirl in me something to be excited about.
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  Book Details
  Reviewer: Sidney Young
  Review Date: October 22, 2017
  Publication Date: 09/2017
  Grade: C-
  Sensuality Warm
  Book Type: Paranormal Romance
  Review Tags: Mission series

• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/leveling-the-field/
  Word count: 533

  Leveling the Field

  Megan Erickson

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  Leveling the Field is the fourth and final book in Megan Erickson’s Gamers series. I think that it is on par with the three previous books; a middle of the road read. Erickson’s style is fun and sexy, but none of the Gamers books have tugged too hard on my heartstrings. I think that’s okay sometimes, so I was happy with this book.

  This installment deals with Ethan Talley, head of Gamers magazine and friend to Grant and brother to Chloe from Playing for Her Heart. Ethan was left badly injured by the car accident that killed his sister, and now he carries scars both inside and out. During a photo-shoot for the magazine, Ethan meets photographer Lissa Kingsman. Although it is a chance meeting for Ethan, Lissa is already familiar with him from his days as a YouTube video game commentator. She has also scoped him out and plans to ask him to pose for a series of photographs she is doing about scarred people, which has been inspired by her own sister.

  With Ethan’s guilt over being the driver in the accident that killed his sister, and Lissa’s guilt over her sister committing suicide as the result of a tragic accident that left her disfigured, there was plenty of angst potential, which, unfortunately wasn’t fulfilled. I know Erickson can do angst because she has dealt with heavy issues in the past, and her writing brought me to tears in Focus on Me. It could be that the length of this book is partially to blame, because 190 pages isn’t a lot of room to torture the reader. I say torture in a good way because I love a tormented hero who can bring a tear to my eye. I saw the seriousness of Ethan and Lissa’s backstories, but it never hit me where it hurts.

  What I loved about the book was Lissa herself, who is one of the most dirty-talking heroines I can recall. I think romance is rife with men that excel at dirty talk (Tessa Bailey’s heroes, anyone?), but ladies aren’t usually the aggressors in that arena. I enjoyed that Lissa gets to be forward and demanding about what she wants. This worked especially well with Ethan’s character because he is more withdrawn and self-conscious.

  There was a moment where I feared the story was heading into Big Misunderstanding territory, and I was prepared to groan, but Erickson saves it through Lissa’s sense of agency. When Ethan gets emotional and wants to lash out, she is there to stand her ground and not let him run away. Bravo, Megan Erickson!

  I’ve enjoyed the entire Gamers series and Leveling the Field is no different. While they may not be books that I would put on my DIK shelf, they’re excellent for when I want something short and to the point, but fun to read. I look forward to seeing what Erickson has to come now that this series has wrapped.

• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/tied-to-trouble-4-jan-b/
  Word count: 620

  Tied to Trouble

  Megan Erickson

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  Okay, let’s all be honest with each other. If Megan Erickson’s name is on a book it will be good. She is excellent at bringing together sexy and silly, and Tied to Trouble is no different. Chad and Owen’s romance is fiery, nerdy, steamy, and sweet all at once.

  In this third installment of the Gamers series, we are reunited with Chad Lake, the wise-cracking brother of Marley from Changing His Game. Chad was introduced simply as Marley’s gay brother and readers demanded he get his own story. This book is, as I understand it, Entangled Brazen’s first male/male romance. Erickson is an excellent choice to bring m/m to the Brazen imprint, as she is a popular and well-established author of m/m romance.

  Free-spirited Chad meets uptight Owen at his sister’s work party. Chad shows up for the free food but he can’t help ruffling Owen a little when there’s an instant attraction between the seemingly opposite men. Owen may be interested in Chad, but he doesn’t enjoy having anyone shake him up, and the two do not get off to a good start. They’re thrown together again when Marley’s boyfriend asks them to help plan a big surprise proposal. Sparks fly, there’s sex in public places, and suddenly Chad and Owen cannot get enough of each other.

  Since this is from Brazen, the high sexuality level is to be expected. However, I felt like Chad and Owen did more pouncing on each other than I’m used to from Erickson’s other characters. There was chemistry between them, but I wanted to see it teased out a bit more before they actually took it all the way. I could see Chad’s character as being more reckless about sex, but I felt like Owen would have been somewhat more reluctant and made him wait. As a result, I wasn’t able to get as emotionally invested in the characters as I normally like. There needs to be some drawing out of the sexual tension before the big release (pun intended) where I yearn for the characters to finally do the deed. That just didn’t happen with these two.

  Perhaps it was just the short length of the book, but I felt as though I barely got to know the couple before they were getting down to business. That said, Tied to Trouble is a fun and wholly readable story. Chad and Owen were interesting enough that I wanted to read about them, even if I wasn’t quite emotionally invested in their happily ever after. Maybe I’m just used to Erickson breaking my heart like in her In Focus series – but I would still recommend this book to anyone who wants something light and quick to read that has plenty of heat.
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  Book Details
  Reviewer: Haley Kral
  Review Date: April 28, 2016
  Publication Date: 2016/01
  Grade: B-
  Sensuality Burning
  Book Type: Queer Romance
  Review Tags: Gamers series
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• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/out-of-frame/
  Word count: 752

  Out of Frame

  Megan Erickson

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  Megan Erickson’s Out of Frame is the third book in her marvellous In Focus series. The author continues the series’ road-trip theme, but this time sets the majority of the plot on board a cruise ship during Spring Break. This rite of passage for American students is a bit of a mystery to the British or European reader, but it isn’t hard to work out the attraction of this holiday for them.

  Quinn and his best friend Jess have booked to spend their week on a cruise ship that is also hosting the last fling of a reality show calledTrip League. The show has two cast members that Jess and Quinn each have a crush on. Jess makes no secret that she fancies the blonde haired, blue eyed, all American dude Casey Arlington, whilst Quinn keeps his crush on J.R. Butler a secret even from Jess. The reason is that Butler, the supposed bad boy of the show, is straight and has a well-talked about girlfriend, Andrea.

  Quinn is such a sweet character who is completely swamped by his over-protective parents, who have transferred their fears to him. He bemoans that he isn’t Kate Winslett but – … a ginger college student who needed at least SPF 50 so I didn’t broil red like a lobster. Jess is determined that Quinn is going to let go on this holiday, as she certainly intends to. She quips that Quinn has an old soul and he thinks – We hadn’t even gotten on the boat and I was prepared to wear Sea-Bands, a hat, and zinc on my nose. I should just get out my loafers and be done with it. Join AARP and buy a Buick. Alcohol, of course, comes to his rescue, and his inhibitions start to fade. After meeting J.R. Butler on deck, Quinn gives him his Sea-Bands, as the sick cast member needs them far more than Quinn. Their encounter sparks a very strong attraction between them, one that J.R. Butler cannot act upon, as he has signed a contract to play straight for the show.

  As the story progresses, the pair finds it harder and harder to keep their hands off each other, but with live feed cameras all over the ship and confusions to overcome – all is not plain sailing on this cruise ship. Megan Erickson writes sexual tension really well, and the sex scenes are not only sexy but also very tender and revealing of the protagonists’ emotional states. This is a very sweet romance between twenty-somethings during a drunken spring break on a cruise ship with live camera feeds – what could possibly go wrong?

  There are some really good secondary characters; in particular, Quinn’s best friend Jess, and the cast members Casey and Levi. By the end of the cruise, with the help of good friends, the two principals are in love, but real life intervenes. J.R. Butler (Jay), hopes to further his acting career, but is also earning much needed money to help a family member. He thinks, probably realistically, that a black, bisexual American is less likely to get work in the acting profession than a black, straight guy. Quinn must also find the courage to break away from his parents and accept the offer of the job he wants – rather than the one that will keep him near home. I like that the troubles and tribulations that affect these characters are fairly everyday ones, but ones which are difficult to face nevertheless.

  Personally, I liked Trust the Focus and Focus on Me slightly better than this, but Out of Frame is still a sweet, enjoyable romance from a good, confident writer that I feel happy recommending to all.

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  Book Details
  Reviewer: BJ Jansen
  Review Date: March 12, 2016
  Publication Date: 2016/03
  Grade: B
  Sensuality Warm
  Book Type: Queer Romance
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• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/strong-signal-2/
  Word count: 503

  Strong Signal

  Megan Erickson

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  Kai and Garrett. The soldier and the You Tube star. Two different voices written by two different authors. The setup could, if handled tritely, be eye-rolling—Kai is a semi-professional online gamer, and Garrett runs into him while playing Fallen World Online from his bunk in Afghanistan. Garrett fixes military vehicles and has been in the army since he got out of high school. Kai is agoraphobic and lives in his own cocooned world earning income by demonstrating new video games for his huge online audience. Big tough soldier and slender fragile gaymer.

  “Oh, please!” you say. But no. Erickson and Hassell write very different kinds of books, and neither one is inclined to stick to the increasingly tired formulas that form m/m fiction’s foundation. To be totally honest, both Kai and Garrett start out as types, and their pairing up is also a familiar trope in the m/m world. I admit freely that both types AND their pairing have particular appeal ; the big tough guy with a gentle heart, and the smart-but-damaged twink both work for me. So, needless to say, putting these guys together has great potential, if handled thoughtfully and with good writing.

  This is where the authors do such a great job creating three-dimensional people out of gay romance archetypes. Kai, empowered by his self-imposed isolation, has made money doing solo sessions for a virtual audience very different from his gamer fans. Garrett, trapped by the macho culture of the army for eight years (even post DADT), has resigned himself to unsatisfying quickies with straight guys who are “tour homos,” which in the olden days went by the name situational homosexuality. Both young men are desperately lonely, without real friends. Neither one has ever had anything like a relationship. As their friendship is sparked online and moves to the real world, both Kai and Garrett are continually forced to reevaluate who they are and what is important, in light of what they each learn about the other. This isn’t “love is blind” romance, but more like “love is redemptive and healing.”

  Strong Signal is the first in a series called Cyberlove and it promises to be a rewarding and satisfying addition to the new kind of m/m fiction. I’ll be there, for sure, when book two appears.

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  Reviewer: Ulysses Dietz
  Review Date: March 5, 2016
  Publication Date: 2016/02
  Grade: B+
  Sensuality Hot
  Book Type: Queer Romance
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• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/strong-signal/
  Word count: 819

  Desert Isle Keeper
  Strong Signal

  Megan Erickson

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  Strong Signalis the first novel from authors Megan Erickson & Santino Hassell, and this collaboration is damn good. Happily, this is also the first in a series by the pair called Cyberlove. Writing in collaboration seems to mellow Santino’s usual gritty, cynical angle on love and sex somewhat, while adding a little raunch to Megan Erickson’s writing. Having two very different authors works perfectly with the structure of this novel; the main characters are separated for a lot of the story, so we have two first person narratives alternating throughout.

  Garrett is an army mechanic in the last nine months of his deployment in Afghanistan and after eight years, he doesn’t intend to re-enlist, this last tour having convinced him it is time to get a civilian job. Garrett is also a gamer, and he has spent a lot of money on his laptop ensuring he can indulge in style. Even with the bad reception on the base, Garrett spends all his downtime playing Fallen World Online. Although, he has the occasional sexual encounter with another soldier, he schedules his work so he can be around for in-game events online based on the East Coast of America.

  During one such session, he is thoroughly beaten by an ‘Orc’ who does a victory dance over him on screen. Garrett is furious and finds out who is behind this ‘Orc’. The gamer turns out to be a slim, lithe ex-dancer called Kai, who has a live gaming stream on ‘Twitch’, and is quite the legend in the gaming world. Garrett feels more annoyed that he has been humiliated by a hot little twink. In front of his thousands of viewers. He begins by leaving sarcastic comments on Kai’s chat, but he when he clicks on a link that shows Kai has also made money in the past from online porn, masturbating for the camera, Garrett begins to become obsessed with him.

  While Garrett’s true personality is revealed slowly – he seems just a horny, gruff, musclebound army hunk – Kai is adorable, intelligent and cute from the beginning. He lives his life online, and makes good money testing early copies of games and getting donations or subscriptions from his thousands of online fans. The authors don’t shy away from the problems that online relationships can cause. They also touch on the problems relating to virtual anonymity and the dangers of grooming activities. Through Garrett and Kai, the reader is made aware of the differing attitudes on-line celebrities can have towards their fans and vice-versa. There is no need for potential readers to have previous knowledge of gaming, which may have been an issue if handled by two less confident authors.

  Both these authors know how to write beautifully nuanced, three dimensional characters. As Garrett falls in love, his lovely, protective, complex nature is revealed, and he became my favourite character. As someone who spends a lot of my life online, Kai’s story is a little disturbing on occasion. It is convenient to buy groceries online, talk to friends online, and if you find a way to earn money online, too, it is easy to see how social phobias can develop.

  Kai suffers from social anxiety and panic attacks. When we meet him, his gaming stream and beta testing are providing him with a good living, although sadly, it has facilitated an increase in the severity of his disabilities, too. The representation of his mental illness is sensitive, accurately portrayed and very touching to read. Megan Erickson has a track record for writing sensitively about mental illness. In the excellent Focus on Me she tells an exemplary story of a young man suffering with anorexia. Strong Signal – and the construction of the issues confronting Kai bear the hallmarks of her work.

  When Garrett and Kai’s relationship transfers from virtual to real life, this does not mean the difficult part is over. There are more issues to overcome than expected, especially from Garrett’s PoV. I love the scene when Garrett surprises Kai on his return to the US; my emotions were all over the place. I think I fell a little in love with Garrett during that perfectly written scene.

  There is a sigh-worthy epilogue – is there anything more adorable than a reticent, muscular man in love? Kai and Garrett have an ending I never thought I would see Santino Hassell write, and it works beautifully in Strong Signal. I made it a DIK because I missed the duo as soon as I finished their story, even though it felt perfectly complete. I thoroughly recommend everyone to read this novel – the first from what promises to be a wonderful partnership between these two authors.

• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/focus-on-me/
  Word count: 813

  Desert Isle Keeper
  Focus on Me

  Megan Erickson

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  I had a chance to see Megan Erickson on a panel, and meet her briefly, at the RT Convention in Dallas. She was super funny, and charming, and I couldn’t wait to read one of her books. When I heard she was writing gay romances I thought it was about time to give one a try. Flash forward to me devouring Focus on Me in a single day and weeping alone in my bed. I know the weeping part might sound bad, but that is a big compliment from me.

  Collin and Riley meet at a gas station at the brink of big transitions in both of their lives. Collin is leaving college in California, having decided he wasn’t cut out for academia, and driving home to his family in North Carolina. When he sees the somewhat stranded Riley, he offers him a ride to the Grand Canyon. Collin is in no hurrying to get back home and face his future working in his parent’s barbeque restaurant. He feels like a failure for dropping out of college and knows that the reality of his choice will hit once he has to face his parents. So, going a bit out of his way to see the sight with the model-handsome Riley is no hardship.

  Riley is on the run from his past, and from himself. He is hoping this road trip will be what it takes to wake him up and help him to overcome his inner demons. He has a sort of bucket list of things he would like to see and do, believing that one of these might be monumental enough to help him out of his depression.

  I absolutely loved the way the romance blossoms between the two men. They are in close quarters driving together, and crashing in motels, but experiencing their road trip adventures is what begins to bond them. They start falling for each other in small ways that make you really believe it. Since the book is told in first person, with no alternating view points, I appreciated Riley’s emails to his friend Landry, since they helped us to see how he was feeling and how the relationship is developing in his eyes.

  Besides the romance, and some very sexy bedroom scenes, this book will rip your heart out. It was obvious from early on that Riley was struggling with something, and I had guessed what it was. However, I expected Erickson to brush it off and have Riley magically healed by the power of Collin’s love. I have seen similar plots in romance novels before. That isn’t the case here. Riley is truly struggling within himself with his depression and eating disorder, and there’s no easy fix. His dependence on Collin becomes somewhat manic, as though he is depending on the other boy for his happiness. The fantastic part of this story is that Collin realizes that is a problem. He can’t “fix” Riley just by caring for him and wants him to seek professional help.

  I have personally been through depressive moments in my life, although not to the extent that Riley does, so reading about his pain tore me up. I wanted so badly for everything to be okay and easy, but that’s not real life. This journey was also important for Collin to grow. He had to realize that he and Riley were both worthy of being loved, and that sometimes love means making hard choices.

  If you have been on the fence about trying out a male/male romance like I was, let me highly recommend Focus on Me. I had never ventured into any LGBT romances, I think, because I wasn’t sure where to start, but I think this was the perfect foray into the genre. Erickson shows her writing chops in creating characters that are believable, well rounded, and moving. This is the perfect road trip, heartbreaker romance. Just get your tissues ready!

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  Book Details
  Reviewer: Haley Kral
  Review Date: September 3, 2015
  Publication Date: 2015/07
  Grade: A+
  Sensuality Hot
  Book Type: New Adult
  Review Tags: LGBTQ+ romance | M/M romance
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• All About Romance
  https://allaboutromance.com/book-review/trust-the-focus/
  Word count: 705

  Trust the Focus

  Megan Erickson

  Buy This Book

  After reading Focus on Me and being blown away, I was so excited to pick up the first book in the series. While Trust the Focus is a good book in its own right, I think it was overshadowed by how much I enjoyed Focus on Me.

  Justin’s father passed away while he was in college, leaving him a beat up Winnebago and a love for photography. So, after college graduation, Justin is going to set out on a road trip to some of his father’s favorite places, spreading his ashes along the way, and photographing the urn at each spot. His conservative politician mother disapproves of the journey, but is willing to allow him a summer respite to do as he likes before he returns home to settle in to work with her.

  Landry, Justin’s long time best friend, joins him for the road trip as emotional support and to blog their adventures. However, the pair’s friendship has become strained over the last few years. Neither guy knows why the other has withdrawn. As it turns out, Landry, who is openly gay, has always had feelings for Justin. He has been trying to keep that a secret because, as far as he knows, Justin is straight. Justin, though, has been hiding his own sexuality for fear that his mother would disapprove. The emotional strain of dealing with his father’s loss, and the close quarters with Landry spur Justin to finally confess his feelings for his best friend.

  I think one of the biggest issues I had with Trust the Focus was that I never truly liked either character. Justin is moody and wavers between irrationally angry with Landry (when he is really angry at himself) and desperately in love with him. I can understand that coming to terms with being gay and the affect that coming out will have on his life would cause some inner turmoil, but I got sick of reading the arguments between Landry and Justin. Landry never totally clicked for me either. His character came off a bit immature and childlike. I wanted to care more about these boys individually so that I could commit myself to their relationship, but it didn’t happen.

  The conflict in this book stems mainly for misunderstandings between the boys, between Justin and his mom, etc. If there had been a little more conflict besides that it would have been a stronger book overall. I just needed something besides people arguing to help me stay connected to the story.

  However, I really enjoyed the road trip element and how it was to honor Justin’s father. I think it was a great metaphor for the journey that Justin needed to go through within himself. Part of the trip was saying goodbye to his father and accepting that void in his life. Justin also needed to accept that he had to say goodbye to his former “straight” self in order to live his true life. I think that the journey to self-acceptance and letting go of a lie you’ve been living can be as much like grieving as the loss of a loved one. In addition, I thought it was sad but believable that Justin’s mother had to struggle with accepting her son as gay. Although in an ideal world, all parents would welcome their children’s lifestyles with open arms, the reality is that it doesn’t happen that way.

  I think if I had read Trust the Focus before the sequel, I would have been able to love it so much more. Sadly, Justin and Landry’s characters just didn’t feel as real or immediate to me as what I had just read in Focus on Me. That said, I do think this is a sweet story.
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  Book Details
  Reviewer: Haley Kral
  Review Date: August 28, 2015
  Publication Date: 2015/03
  Grade: C+
  Sensuality Hot
  Book Type: New Adult
  Review Tags: Gay Romance

• Smexy Books
  http://smexybooks.com/2018/01/review-zero-hour-by-megan-erickson.html
  Word count: 1027

  Review: Zero Hour by Megan Erickson

  January 30, 2018 By Mandi 2 Comments

  Zero Hour by Megan Erickson (Wired and Dangerous #1)
  Released: January 30, 2018
  Romantic Suspense
  Forever

  Reviewed by Mandi

  Favorite Quote: “Those fingers can penetrate a fire wall and make me come.” She opened her eyes and grinned a filthy smile. “Got me a man who can do both.”

  Start of a new series about hackers, and I’m excited. I really enjoyed this book. It has a very grumpy hero and he loves his best friend’s little sister, which pisses him off even more. Oh Roarke, I love you so much.

  Roarke’s brother’s death was ruled a suicide, but he knows he was murdered. His brother wanted out of the hacker lifestyle and took a job with computer security software company called, Saltner Defense. Shortly after his brother discovered a malware-type virus in a big operating software, he was found dead. Roarke wants revenge on Arden Saltner, the head of the company who he knows hired someone to kill his brother. It’s his only goal in life. To do this, he needs dirt on Saltner and he assembles a team of hackers that are willing to risk their lives to help out their friend. Roarke’s best friend, Erick is a hacker, and has a little sister that Roarke has known most of his life. He has loved Wren forever, but wanted her to go live a good, wholesome life. Guess what? Wren has her own set of hacking skills, and also wants revenge on a Saltner – but not Arden, his son, Darren.

  Darren is a very bad man who runs black market sex rings out of his clubs. Wren saw first hand what Darren can do to girls and is determined to take him down. So why not take down his father too? She demands to be part of Roarke’s team, and he basically has a coronary telling her no.

  “Fuck it. This is why it kills me to see you involved in this, because all I wanna do is see you safe. I cared back then when you were young, and I still care now that you’re back, all woman and hot as fuck and still so goddamn untouchable.”

  He doesn’t want Wren to get hurt. But Darren Saltner has a thing for Wren, and she knows she can get close to him – which means close to his father, and Roarke can’t let that opportunity go.

  Roarke, Wren, her brother Erick and a few others on their team get their knuckles cracking on some hacker skills, while Wren puts herself up as bait for Darren. All the while, Roarke walks around in an extremely bad mood, secretly lusting after Wren.

  Like I said, I had so much fun reading this book. Roarke and Wren are really engaging main characters with great sexual tension and romance. I’m so weak for well done grumpy heroes. I don’t know why, but they are my favorite!

  Roarke snatched her latte and took a big gulp. He grimaced as he set it down. “What the fuck is that?”

  “A chai latte that was hot about an hour ago.”

  “Tastes like Christmas and grass. And I fucking hate Christmas.”

  I also fell in love with the supporting characters too! Erick, their co-hackers Jock and Dade. Marisol. GIVE ME ALL THEIR HEAs. They might not be all best friends – hackers tend to be more on a loner type with big egos that don’t always play nice together, but they all intrigue me I need them all to live happily ever after. To start this book, Roarke and Erick have to literally jump on Dade and fight him to the ground to convince him to work with them. They all have secrets and don’t like to share with the group. But – they were all on board for the mission to take down the Saltners. They might be a bit secretive, but they came together and could trust one another when shit hit the fan. I loved that.

  Wren is a woman who has persevered through life. After seeing the horrors of what Darren could do to vulnerable women, she has made herself strong and doesn’t take no for an answer. Roarke’s need to protect her and keep her safe is never-ending, but I love that she never stops telling and showing him that she is capable. At the same time, she relies on the team to help her and never goes out on her own and does anything stupid just to prove something. YAY. Growing up with parents that are first generation Korean Americans, she’s had a strict upbringing and had to hide her hacker life from her family. But this is something she is proud of and needs Roarke to take a step back and respect her for it.

  The suspense and romance are well-balanced in this one too. Great sexual tension, as Roarke finally admits his true feelings for Wren. We also learn that he has basically been tracking her every movement most of her life, even hacking into certain systems so she would get a raise or win a contest. I could have lived without knowing that information about Roarke. But he is super intense, and that fits in with his personality. Still – a little icky.

  Megan Erickson has created a really fun, gritty, sexy world, with just enough humor to balance it all out.

  Roarke is even grumpy in the epilogue. I can’t get enough of him!

  Grade: A-

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  Related

  Review: Daring Fate by Megan EricksonNovember 14, 2016In "B Review"

  Review: Dirty Thoughts by Megan EricksonJune 16, 2015In "Avon"

  Review: Dirty Deeds by Megan EricksonDecember 9, 2015In "Avon"

  Filed Under: A Review, Hackers, Megan Erickson, Romantic Suspense

• Harlequin Junkie
  http://harlequinjunkie.com/review-zero-hour-by-megan-erickson/
  Word count: 1046

  REVIEW: Zero Hour by Megan Erickson

  Posted May 26th, 2018 by Sara @HarlequinJunkie in Blog, Review, Romantic Suspense / 3 comments

  In Zero Hour (Wired and Dangerous #1) by Megan Erickson, all Roarke Brennan wants is revenge against the person responsible for killing his brother, but the only way he figures he’s going to get it is to accept help from the one person he’s always done his best to protect – Wren Lee, his best friend’s sister. However, the more invested they get into the operation, the more Roarke finds himself falling for a woman that should be off-limits to him. Yet, both know there are no guarantees in life. Will they take a chance on each other, or will the bad guys threaten their chance of happy ever after?

  =”Everyone just shut up, for f***’s sake,” Roarke growled. “Swear to God, this is like herding cats.”
  Well,” Erick pointed out, “we’re your cats. That you handpicked from the shelter. So that’s on you. I prefer wet food by the way.”
  “My catnip is for medicinal purposes,” Marisol piped up.
  Roarke breathed in through his nose and out through his mouth before he committed multiple homicide. “All right, enough. I got you all together. Some of you know the basics, and some of you know next to nothing.” He glanced at Dade who stared back impassively. “So listen the f*** up, okay?”=

  This first book launches a fantastic start to Ms. Erickson’s Wired and Dangerous series where the hero and heroine are determined to get revenge for what happened to the hero’s brother; the main characters were very engaging and had me reading quickly, determined to discover how much danger they’d find themselves in when the time came, as the heroine has her own reasons for going after the person responsible for killing the hero’s brother; and the dialogue had me on the edge-of-my-seat, especially towards the end. Will the team come out on top against the bad guys? Will the hero and heroine be able to overcome the tough obstacles they face to be together?

  The way this story started had me sympathizing with the hero and I could understand his need for revenge and the fact that he doesn’t want to involve his best friend’s sister in their plans. Will Wren get her way? Moreover, both the hero and heroine were enjoyable characters that have been through tough times in their past and need each other to heal and I liked that the hero took a chance on Wren by finally giving into the intense chemistry that exists between them. I also liked how resilient and courageous the heroine was and that she didn’t crack under pressure. Really, she’s quite good at what she does, which is proven by her skills as a hacker and her ability to do undercover work.

  =”Your brother and Marisol are the best social engineers on the team although, I have to admit, you’re better than I thought you’d be.”
  “That’s called a backhanded compliment, Roarke.”=

  While the hero, being the one in charge of the group isn’t easy at times, but he definitely knows how to make the tough decisions, especially when things don’t go according to plan. Furthermore, he’s confident in his skills and I liked how protective he was of the heroine, especially because of everything she’s already been through in her life that he wasn’t able to protect her from. Yet, there were times where I could sympathize with the heroine because the hero feels conflicted in believing he should be loyal to the fact that Wren is his best friend’s sister, and yet, he wants her so much. Will he realize how much he wants Wren in his life before it’s too late? Will Roarke be able to keep her safe?

  Overall, Ms. Erickson has delivered a really good read in this book that kept me entertained from start to finish because of the risks the heroine was willing to take to help the hero and because of her need to right the wrongs of her past; the secondary characters have me looking forward to more of this series; and the ending had me on the edge-of-my-seat, as the danger closes in for the main characters. Will Roarke be able to keep Wren safe? Yet, what I liked most of all about the ending is that Roarke and Wren achieved their happy ever after because love and happiness is too precious to let slip away and no one knows that better than these two after what happened to the hero’s brother. However, it was the epilogue that wrapped this story up brilliantly, because of how the warning they receive will make things interesting for the next book. Will they be able to keep everyone safe? I would recommend Zero Hour by Megan Erickson, if you enjoy romantic suspense, the brother’s best friend trope, or books by authors Laura Kaye, Tessa Bailey, Catherine Anderson and Jennifer L. Armentrout.

  Book Info:

  Publication: January 30th, 2018 | Forever | Wired and Dangerous #1

  The Fast and the Furious meets Mr. Robot in USA Today bestselling author Megan Erickson’s thrilling new romantic suspense series.

  Hacker extraordinaire Roarke Brennan lives each hour – each breath – to avenge his brother’s murder. His first move: put together a team of the best coders he knows. They’re all brilliant, specialized, and every one an epic pain in his ass. Only now Wren Lee wants in too, threatening to upset their delicate balance. The girl Roarke never allowed himself to want is all grown up with sexy confidence and a dark past … and she’s the wild card he can’t control.

  Roarke might still think she’s a kid, but Wren’s been to hell and back. Nothing and nobody can stop her – especially the tatted-up, cocky-as-all-hell hacker. But when years of longing and chemistry collide, Wren and Roarke discover that revenge may be a dish best served blazing hot.

• Dear Author
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  Word count: 750

  REVIEW: Trust the Focus by Megan Erickson

  JiaB+ Reviews / Recommended Readscoming out / Contemporary / friends become lovers / LGBTQ / m/m romance / New Adult / Penguin Random House / Photographer / road trip8 Comments
  Recommended Read

  trust-the-focus-erickson

  Dear Ms. Erickson,

  Sometimes we pick up books for random reasons. When I learned your main character was a photographer, I lit up with interest. I guess I’ve been interested in reading more photographer-characters that aren’t related to tabloid journalism. Your novel, Trust the Focus, is an M/M new adult romance. I’ve heard this is an expanding area in the category, so I was intrigued to see how it would tackle key tropes and conventions.

  Freshly graduated from college, Justin Akron is ready to embark on a cross-country road trip to scatter his father’s ashes. Accompanying him is his best friend, Landry, who wants to share the experience. It’s also Justin’s last hurrah. In the fall, he will assume the life’s path his mother laid for him: that of campaign manager for her Senate bid.

  The only problem is that Justin’s been living a lie. His true passion is photography, not running a political campaign. He’s also extremely closeted—partially out of fear for disappointing his conservative, controlling mother. He’s aware of this fact; he’s not really in denial. Justin’s merely prepared to live that lie, except a summer-long cross-country trip with his extremely out gay best friend might put that intention to the test.

  I had a lot of sympathy for Justin. He’s in love with his gay best friend. He’s aware of his sexual attraction to guys—and love for one specific guy—even though he’s unwilling to admit it out loud. He’s just planning to live in the closet for the rest of his life. I found that extremely sad, mind you, but I understood his reasoning.

  On the other hand, I do shake my head at him. Landry is so obviously in love with him, too. There were interactions early in the novel where I squinted and said, “Purely platonic friends don’t really do that. Gay, straight, or whatever.” Seriously, I was having flashbacks to the last 10 minutes of the Legend of Korra series finale.

  (I realize some people misinterpreted those last 10 minutes and said it was about friendship. Let’s ignore them, because they’re wrong.)

  I liked that Justin’s struggle and acceptance with himself didn’t go smoothly. He had made some mistakes and backslid occasionally. I also appreciated the negotiation between being proud of your sexual identity and staying safe in unfamiliar places. In a perfect world, LGBT people wouldn’t have to worry about such things, but we don’t live in that world. Trust the Focus acknowledges that.

  There’s an incident from Landry’s past that he keeps secret from Justin. I don’t know how to feel about this. It’s not that I think it shouldn’t be included. I don’t think it was gratuitous. I acknowledge these things happen, but I felt like it didn’t have enough weight. I get that it’s Justin’s story, not Landry’s, but it affects them both. The handling seemed clumsy and more trope-reliant at times.

  Justin and Landry’s relationship progressed in a realistic way for me. There’s the concern over transforming a friendship into something romantic. There’s Justin’s finally coming out of the closet. And there’s Landry’s fears that Justin is going to retreat back into it at the first sign of difficulty. These were all believable, valid conflicts and they wove together in a compelling way.

  Along those lines, I liked the resolution between Justin and his mother. It’s not bleak, but it’s also not all rainbows and glitter either. It was realistic, with a smidge of hope. That’s all I could ask for.

  I’m not the biggest M/M reader, but I’m glad I took a chance on this book. (Photographers, FTW!) I also supremely glad this is not a gay-for-you book, because I hate that trope with a passion. Definitely worth a look, especially if you’re a new adult or M/M reader. B+

  My regards,
  Jia

• Cultress
  https://culturess.com/2018/02/05/review-zero-hour-megan-erickson/
  Word count: 534

  Review: Zero Hour, Megan Erickson
  by Cheryl Wassenaar3 months agoFollow @haegorgeous
  Megan Erickson’s Zero Hour manages to not make a common romance plot feel oddly creepy, but it doesn’t quite nail the balance of romance and thriller.

  It might not quite be Valentine’s Day yet, but romance novels are published year-round, and arriving just yesterday was Megan Erickson’s Zero Hour, sent my way by Forever, Grand Central Publishing’s romance imprint. If the title doesn’t tip you off, this novel trends more into the romantic thriller/suspense side of things. The two can mix very well — both rely on being able to believably sell tension more than other genres do. However, it’s sometimes difficult to strike that perfect balance, and Zero Hour has this problem sometimes.

  To begin, let’s meet our cast of characters: Wren and Roarke are our main couple. Erickson uses the old “childhood friend / best friend’s little sister” trope for the basis of their relationship and chemistry. Fortunately, it’s not done with a massive age gap — Wren’s younger than her brother, Erick, and Roarke, but not by much. Our actual main characters do have chemistry, too.

  In fact, Erickson actually interrogates the idea of men protecting women who neither need nor want protection pretty well here. Without spoiling the story, it goes beyond the simple man trying to shield a woman without her consent to a degree that would probably inspire at least a restraining order in the real world. But it is a romance, and at the end of the day, we do expect the couple to get together — and Roarke doesn’t know everything that’s happened to Wren still.

  Ultimately, the hot-and-cold relationship blooms into something particularly steamy (which shouldn’t be a surprise) that ends up being one of the best parts of the novel. Unfortunately, that runs into the other major problem with the novel: the other plotline.

  The overarching story deals with Roarke, Wren, Erick, and assorted other hackers doing their best to take revenge for the death of Roarke’s brother by infiltrating and rendering a security flaw he was killed over absolutely useless. And, to Erickson’s credit, even a non-techie can probably follow along pretty well. However, it also seems as though sometimes that plot bleeds too much into even the narration of the characters. Although it does emphasize how much hacking plays into Roarke’s character in particular, it also ends up seeming a bit too on-the-nose.

  Wren’s relationships with some of the other hackers make up the other best part of the book. She’s not just the tagalong kid; instead, she has relationships with other members of the team, like Deke and Marisol, and neither of them are solely there to inspire jealousy in the main romantic couple or just provide advice.
  Next: 8 young adult book releases to look for in February

  At the end of the day, Zero Hour is perfectly fine. It does have some balance issues, but there’s something good here.

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