Focus on : Taylor V Donovan
Every author has a flagship series or book whose story and characters the author is most recognised for. Taylor V. Donovan is no exception.
Sam, Mac, kitten, 515, K-squared, lamb, Logan ….. just a few of the many words which mean one thing to me – By Degrees.
This series, like no other, has had me scrambling for a notebook and pen to jot down notes to try to untangle the wonderful literary web which has been spun. And yet they don’t help me!! I have theories which have kept me awake at night … not since high school algebra have 6 Degrees lead to such a meltdown in my brain 😛 and I loved maths! To say I am chomping at the bit for the next instalment in this series is an understatement. I. Can. Not. Wait.
But…… There is more to TVD, so much more! Her story “Heatstroke” was such a great twist on historical stories, that even I (who never reads historical) just loved the story. Then “Disasterology 101” showcased her ability to tackle a theme which could have been sad or depressing but ended up being uplifting and oh-so-powerful. Cedric is a character who takes root and stays with you forever ❤ “Bylaws” is the beginning of another world in which readers can immerse themselves!
Very soon we will be getting her new offering “Heavy Hitters” and I am sure that it too will become a knockout read from this wonderful author. TVD is, for me, an absolute must read. Below are all her books, along with links to those which we have reviewed here at LYLBTB. If you haven’t yet read anything by TVD then I recommend that you rectify that as soon as possible. You won’t be disappointed.
SIX DEGREES OF LUST (By Degrees #1) :
New York City FBI team leader Samuel Shaughnessy lives for his immediate family and his job. After a marriage gone wrong he has stuck to a firm rule when it comes to relationships: he doesn’t have them. Sexually active and emotionally unavailable keeps him satisfied, especially now that he is in hot pursuit of a serial killer targeting gay men.
Former firefighter Machlan O’Bannon now manages a successful sports bar in Houston and after years of waiting he’s ready to stand up and be the man he always wanted to be: out, proud and drama-free. His politically-aligned family wants to keep him locked in the closet, but Mac just wants to meet the man of his dreams.
One man is as high strung as the other is laid back. A chance meeting brings the two men together, and one night of passion ignites a fire neither can fight. Their lives are not only miles apart, but as different as day and night. They don’t want to get involved…but will they be able to stay apart?
Note from the author:
Six Degrees of Lust is both an ensemble novel and the first installment in the By Degrees serial. This means there are several point of views and the story will continue. Thanks.
389 pages I Published by MLR Press, December 2011.
SIX DEGREES OF SEPARATION (By Degrees #2) :
In the sequel to Six Degrees of Lust, F.B.I. team leader Samuel Shaughnessy and bar manager Machlan O’Bannon are exploring a new phase in their non-relationship. The intention is to take it slowly but power plays are still their favorite activity, and it isn’t long before lines begin blurring. After ending their friends with benefits agreement no rules are left in place to guide them, and soon enough the only thing that’s clear is that neither man is fighting hard enough to reestablish the boundaries.
Their particular situations haven’t improved in the three months since their first encounter. Sam is still focused on his immediate family issues, and everything indicates Mac will have to go to war with his own family before he can reclaim his freedom. The last thing they need is additional complications.
But when the opening of a night club brings Mac to New York City and a break in the Leviticus investigation leads Sam to Houston, they discover how closely their worlds have been connected from the very beginning. Hiding from the life-altering collision is not an option. Will they take the easier road and go their separate ways, or will they come to terms with their past and take a chance on each other?
Note from the author:
By Degrees is an ensemble serial with continuing story lines. Six Degrees of Separation is the second installment, and it must be read after Six Degrees of Lust. Thanks.
350 pages I Second Edition – Published by Dreamspinner Press, May 22nd, 2015.
SIX DEGREES OF AGONY (By Degrees #3) :
Book 3 in this engrossing series….. release date, blurb, final cover…. all highly anticipated!! ❤
Note from the author: By Degrees is an ensemble serial with continuing story lines. Six Degrees of Agony is the third installment, and it must be read after Six Degrees of Separation.
Thanks.
TBA pages I To be Published by Dreamspinner Press
SOUTHERN WINTERLAND (By Degrees #0.5) :
From the By Degrees Universe meet Christian and Remy, close friends who may be destined to be something else…
Christian Murphy is out, proud and very often loud.
Remy Benoit is an equal opportunity flirt, but he swears guys are not his thing.
Different lifestyles had never interfered with their close friendship, but after too much alcohol and almost kissing under the mistletoe a year ago they’ve started to drift apart.
A special holiday event brings the men together, and this time around they might have to acknowledge that mutual admiration and respect are not the only things making them seek each other out.
33 pages I Published by MLR Press, December 6th, 2011.
60 PERCENT PROOF (By Degrees #1.5) :
Sam Shaughnessy knows what he wants from Mac O’Bannon: monthly, uncomplicated casual encounters.
Mac is on the same page. For two months they have been enjoying each other’s company, never forgetting that their agreement leaves zero room for long-term commitment.
But a visit to a local gay club during a weekend getaway in South Beach tips the scale, and it isn’t long before Sam starts showing how much he really doesn’t like to share.
Firmly placed rules get suspiciously bent, and by the end of the night only two things are clear: body shots are conducive to extreme displays of arousal and possessiveness, and anything can be blamed on tequila.
28 pages I goodreads free download, May 15th, 2013.
HEARSAY (Bylaws #1) :
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: The following description of the Bylaws trilogy was originally posted on my website March 4, 2014.
“Hearsay” is the first installment in “Bylaws,” my new series about attorneys working for Acosta, Bradford & Chadwick, LLP, a fictional lawfirm located in NYC. It is also part of a trilogy within the series, soon to be followed by “Gainsay.” and “Daresay.” All three titles will feature the same couple, Roman Bradford and Derrick Swain, and will follow their journey as they deal with damaging rumors, the judicial system, and life’s curveballs while they make their way toward coupledom.”
Thanks!
Senior associate attorney Derrick Swain wants it all: a loving husband, a fulfilling career, and a couple of kids. After years of hard work he’s on the fast track to a promotion. He’s also met the man of his dreams. A week of daily lunch meetings in Central Park provides the perfect setting to get to know him better, and Derrick thinks it won’t be long before they take the next step and go on a date. But instead of asking him out, the object of his affection stops showing up without explanation, leaving him to wonder what went wrong.
As part owner of one of the most prestigious law firms in New York City, Roman Bradford knows that professional success isn’t the be all end all. Although he’s been lucky in life, true love has eluded him for the most part. One too many failed relationships have caused him to be leery of trying again, until he meets a man that can only be described as temptation personified. A few conversations is all it takes for Roman to start believing things will be different this time around. It doesn’t matter that they are boss and employee, or that he’s feeling too much, too fast. Not when he can see the same emotions in Derrick’s eyes. Then life turns on a dime, and Roman has no option but to let his chance at happiness go.
A battle of wills ensues when a life-altering case brings them together a year later. Roman wants to do the right thing by not letting anything happen between them, and Derrick is determined to prove they’re meant to be together. Evidence will be presented and final arguments will be made. Will they be able to come to an agreement, or will they opt to have their potential relationship dismissed?
299 pages I Published by TVD Books, 2014.
HEAVY HITTERS :
His toughest opponent is himself.
World Boxing Champion Santino Malavé has been fighting since he was a kid. Poverty, domestic violence, and emotional abuse were early contenders. Guilt and self-loathing were beaten into him at an impressionable age and now machismo, an integral part of the Latino culture, rules his life. In the ring he’s undefeated. Outside the ropes life constantly hits him below the belt. It takes a sucker punch from his best friend to finally knock the denial out of him and force him to face his true nature like a real man.
A natural born entertainer, Luca Genaro Betancur has grown up serving God, performing, pursuing fame, and celebrating life among his tight-knit family under the scorching Puerto Rican sun. Singing the wrong note on stage is not a mistake the multi-platinum award-winning singer would ever allow. Falling in love with a man is not a transgression his devout family may ever accept. The ties that bind him are strong, but the pull toward his childhood best friend may just be enough to tear it all to shreds.
Anger, mistakes, bigotry, and the need to conform put up a good fight throughout their life journey. Their religious and chauvinistic society constantly challenges their pursuit of happiness, and only time will tell if their relationship will survive the battles, or if they’ll lose each other by technical knockout.
TBA pages I To be Published by TVD Books, 2015.
DISASTEROLOGY 101 :
Kevin Morrison had it all. A house he worked hard for, a loving wife, and three beautiful children. But it wasn’t until his marriage ended that he realized what the void he’d felt almost all his life meant. Coming out as a gay man at thirty-six is not an easy feat, but he is determined to be true to his heart. Meeting a man who shares his values, and is good with his children would be a bonus, but when the guy arrives in a uniquely wrapped package, and has very specific handling instructions, Kevin needs to decide if he’s up for that kind of love.
Obsessed with order and symmetry, and a paralyzing fear of germs, Cedric Haughton-Disley has lived with isolation and loneliness as long as he can remember. Desperate to be normal, he makes some much-needed changes in his life. If he can commit to his treatment, he might very well be able to procure some quality of life… even if that’s all he can get, as finding love and having a relationship are only possible in Cedric’s wildest dreams. But when a chance encounter leaves Cedric wishing for more, he decides to take a leap of faith, and pursue the guy he wants.
Together the two men make an unlikely match. Cedric needs organization, and Kevin represents chaos. In order to stay together they both need to compromise, but will they be able to deal with Cedric’s issues and the potential disaster, or let it break them apart?
362 pages I Published by MLR Press, July 17th, 2013.
HEATSTROKE :
At twenty-one years old, Richard Lewis Bancroft was on the fast track to fame and fortune. An award-winning start on the Broadway stage led him to the silver screens of Hollywood, where his star began to rise, and his heart fell hard for professional baseball sensation, Manuel Guzman. But there was no script for living out loud with the man of his dreams in the world of 1964.
Then Richard disappeared without a trace.
Forty years later, Michael Spencer discovered a journal in his grandmother’s attic that would change his life forever, and quite possibly, solve the mysterious disappearance of Richard Lewis Bancroft.
120 pages I Published by CreateSpace, October14th 2013.
CAPITAL LOSS :
NOTE FROM THE AUTHOR: This short has no blurb. The description below is the prompt that accompanied the picture I chose for this event. It is my intention to expand this story into a full novel and give Cole and Eduardo time to grow as characters. The title for that story will be “Fixed Assets” and it will have a blurb.
Dear Author,
How did things get so bad? I thought I had it all, a great job that I loved, a wonderful home by the beach and you. All of that is gone now. I found out the hard way all you wanted from me was my money. You left me the minute you found out I lost my job and lost the money when the financial bubble burst. Now I have nothing, I feel like I’m nowhere, no one. I don’t feel like living anymore. Will anyone save me?
Photo Description:
A naked man kneeling and covering his face and head with his arms, his body language hinting desperation and emotional distress.
This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love Has No Boundaries” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice. Authors of the group selected a photo and prompt that spoke to them and wrote a short story.
63 pages I Published by M/M Romance Group @ goodreads, September 13th, 2013.
About the Author
Taylor V. Donovan is a compulsive reader and author of m/m romantic suspense. She is optimistically cynical about the world; lover of history, museums and all things 80s. She is crazy about fashion, passionate about civil rights and equality for all and shamelessly indulges in mind-numbing reality television.
When she is not making a living in the busiest city in the world or telling the stories of gorgeous men hot for one another, Taylor can be found raising her two daughters and their terribly misbehaved furry baby in the mountains she calls home.
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