A MelanieM Review: Wild Bells by Charlie Cochrane

 

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

wild-bellsWild Bells, two historical novellas.

The Shade on a Fine Day:
Curate William Church may set the hearts of the parish’s young ladies aflame, but he doesn’t want their affection or presents, no matter how much they want to give them to him. He has his sights set elsewhere, for a love he’s not allowed to indulge. One night, eight for dinner at the Canon’s table means the potential arrival of a ghost. But what message will the spirit bring and which of the young men around the table is it for?

The Angel in the Window:
Two officers, one ship, one common enemy.
Alexander Porterfield may be one of the rising stars of the British navy, but his relationship with his first lieutenant, Tom Anderson, makes him vulnerable. To blackmail, to anxieties about exposure—and to losing Tom, either in battle or to another ship. When danger comes more from the English than the French, where should a man turn?

Charlie Cochrane is one of our top m/m historical fiction authors.  Her stories center us and her characters in their era and cultures effortlessly, plunging us into the niceties of teas, obligation,and  respectability. A place of insular cultures and a society where loving a man and sodomy will get you and your lover hanged. In Wild Bells, Cochrane offers us up two stories.  Each beautifully written, a treasure of romance, and love found within the strictures of the laws and ways of that time period.

The Shade on a Fine Day sees the journey of one young curate to what it is he really wants and the courage to reach out and ask for it.  For the author, she always keeps in mind what is plausible and what is not within that time frame and sensibilities.  When her story plays out, as it does gently, sweetly and with love, you can see it happening and you believe in it.  I loved this story.

The Angel in the Window is a friends to lovers story that is anything but simple.  Layered and deep, the story of Alexander and Tom’s relationship is colored by the fear of discovery.  That even the hint of something less than reputable could lose them their reputations,their Commissions, their standings, even their lives.  Its the law of the land and its followed strictly.  How Alexander and Tom work through this is another Cochrane hallmark and its one that had made me a fan since I first discovered her through her Cambridge Fellows Mysteries.

This is a wonderful two story treasure.  Its perfect for the holidays but really any time of the year.   Pick up it and revel in the lovely writing and romances of Charlie Cochrane.

Cover art is simple yet effective.

Sales Links

7104e-waxcreative-amazon-kindleBook Details:

Kindle Edition, 131 pages
Published December 1st 2016
Original TitleThe Shade on a Fine Day and The Angel in the Window
ASINB01NA785ID
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Stella Release Day Review: Lunch with the Do-Nothings at the Tammy Dinette by Killian B. Brewer

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

lunch-with-the-do-nothings-at-the-tammy-dinetteWhen Marcus Sumter, a short order cook with dreams of being a chef, inherits a house in small town Marathon, Georgia, he leaves his big city life behind. Marcus intends to sell the house to finance his dreams, but a group of lovable busybodies called the Do Nothings, a new job at the local diner, the Tammy Dinette, and a handsome mechanic named Hank cause Marcus to rethink his plans. Will he return to the life he knew, or will he finally put down roots?

Marcus Sumter is used to move around a lot, he grew up in the diners (a lot of them) where his mother worked as a waitress, and there, while doing his homework or napping on a booth while waiting for his mum to finish his shift, he learned how to cook the cheesiest and greasiest food, the best comfort food ever. Now he is on the road trying to reach Marathon, when he has a car accident and wakes up in the emergency room of the town hospital, with no car or phone, his only hope and way of transportation is a crazy woman, Helen, who talks and talks and talks. Marcus is actually in Marathon cause his grandmother just died and left him everything she owned and a house, “so that maybe, just once in his life, that poor boy can have a real home”. The grandmother Marcus has never met. Maybe the only person who loved him more than anything else in the world. More than alcohol or men.

Marcus needs to stay in town just to sell the house and then he will be on the road again. Of course what he wants means nothing when he has the Do Nothing girls beside him to take decisions  in his place. And then he ends working as a cook at Tammy dinette. Just to save same money and pay gorgeous mechanic Hank the repairs of his car and go away, right? But it seems the Do Nothings have other plans for Marcus.

I knew I was going to give this book 5 stars since from the first couple of chapters. Although Lunch with the Do-Nothings at the Tammy Dinette is just the second novel published by Killian B. Brewer, I have to confess I’m deeply in love with  this author’s writing and characters. Each person he puts in a story is always a main character even if in the story they are just a secondary one. Each character is well depicted so the reader is able to know them as well as the MCs. There are a lot of secondary characters, all the Do Nothings ladies, Priss, Inez, Helen, then there’s Skeet, I adored him, he was flirty, joyous and I would so love to read his own story. I have to say I’m not a huge fan of Hank, I simply didn’t like him, he seemed to me a little judgmental sometimes, he wasn’t great at listening and he wasn’t available to Marcus needs or wishes, he just wanted things to be done in his way.

It was really a pleasure to read this novel. It was quick and easy. The dialogues were so great, hilarious, yes they were a lot and long but so well done, I, not once, got lost in them. I followed the characters’ voices and found myself in a world so different from mine nonetheless I so wished I could live in Marathon and have all the Do Nothings as my neighbours.

The stunning combination of characters and dialogues is in my opinion one of the unique traits of Killian’s writing. I found the same style in his first story, The Rules Of Ever After (https://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com/2015/10/17/a-stella-ya-review-the-rules-of-ever-after-by-killian-b-brewer/). And I can’t honestly have enough of it. I’m already eagerly awaiting a new story.

I highly want to recommend Killian B Brewer works.

The cover art by CB Messer is awesome, this artist couldn’t have represent this book with a better cover. Well done.

Sales Links

Interlude Press | Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Ebook 232 pages

Publication Date: January 12th 2017 by Interlude Press

ISBN: 978-1-945053-28-3

Edition Language English

A MelanieM Recent Release Review: Perfect Catch by N.R. Walker

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

perfect-catchCalvin Lynch and Troy Hoffman have been best mates since they were fourteen years old. They’re both hard-working tradesmen, both love weekends away fishing, both gay, but have never been single at the same time. Until now.

What is supposed to be a weekend away fishing with a group of mates, changes at the last minute when friends bail out in an attempt to give Cal and Troy some alone time.

With more than just hooks on the line, can these two see what’s been right in front of them the whole time?

The Perfect Catch is a short story about falling for your best friend hook, line, and sinker.

A 20K short story which was part of the It Was Always You anthology.

I missed out on this anthology somehow but I thrilled that I got to read NR Walker’s Perfect Catch as a standalone.  This is as close to perfect a ‘friends to lovers’ story can be in a short format.  The author gives us Calvin and Troy’s background as tight mates from their teens, their circle of friends, who by the way have long recognized how much these men have loved each other, and the deep, abiding bond that exists between Cal and Troy.   One weekend of camping and fishing, something the men have always done together, brings out all the hidden feelings, all the longing, all the revelations in a way that I can only call the NR Walker way.  Its superb, heartwarming, and delightful.

Told from Calvin’s pov, we get the sense of old friends working effortlessly as they prepare for their camping trip, the Ute packed, gear stowed as it has hundreds of times.  Yet this trip? New thoughts are churning in Cal’s head, and perhaps, Troy’s too.  Put there by their friends who deliberately backed out of coming with them and their own desires.

Slowly, bit by bit, over the trip, as they fish, eat, and watch each other, the sexual tension and knowledge that things are changing builds.  Its delicious, we want it to never end and we want it to stop immediately.  Because we have fallen in love with these men and we want them to be happy.

Oh, those sex scenes are hot when they finally happen.  Fans self.

Only the ending kept this from being 5 stars.  It was either too long or not long enough.  I still can’t decide.  Probably not long enough.  It is N.R. Walker after all.  I can never get enough of her stories or couples.

If you  missed out on the anthology, or this story,   grab it up immediately.  This is one you definitely won’t want to miss!  I’m on my way to rereading it once more.

Cover art is perfect for the story and couple

Sales Links

65a2f-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

 

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 63 pages
Published January 10th 2017
Original TitlePerfect Catch
Edition LanguageEnglish

A MelanieM Recent Release Review: Drama Cruise (Nicky and Noah Mystery #3) by Joe Cosentino

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

drama-cruiseTheater professors and couple, Nicky Abbondanza and Noah Oliver, are going overboard as usual, but this time on an Alaskan cruise, where dead college theater professors are popping up everywhere from the swimming pool to the captain’s table. Further complicating matters are Nicky’s and Noah’s parents as surprise cruise passengers, and Nicky’s assignment to direct a murder mystery dinner theater show onboard ship. Nicky and Noah will need to use their drama skills to figure out who is bringing the curtain down on vacationers before it is lights out for the handsome couple. You will be applauding and shouting Bravo for Joe Cosentino’s fast-paced, ribald, edge-of-your-seat entertaining third novel in this delightful series. Curtain up and ship ahoy!

Of the three Nicky and Noah Mystery romances Joe Cosentino has written in this series so far, Drama Cruise has turned out to be my favorite.  Each one is a wonderful mixture of sex, comedy, romance and murder but when Cosentino took it to an Alaska cruise and the high seas, well, it tossed it up into theatrically delicious magic.

A cruise ship is a self contained city/village depending upon the size of the ship and the circle of people you know abroad.  For Nicky and Noah, it starts off with themselves and another couple from the college as they direct murder mystery dinner theatre show on board the ship.  Ah, such innocent beginnings.  Because like any terrific slapstick/comedy, things start to spiral out of control immediately with the unexpected entrance of people Nicky and Noah are familiar with.  I won’t spoil the wonderful element of  surprise here but its hilarious and continues to be one of the best and funniest aspects of this story.  You’ll shake your head in commiseration, laughter, and love.  And the bodies have already started to pile up!

Ah yes, the murders.  There are plenty of them.  Someone is offing the theater professors and there are plenty to go!  You never know who’s going to be next on the murderer’s hit list which is entertaining nor are you particularly attached to the ones you’ve met, so you’re not spectacularly sorry to see them go.  Plus there’s so much else going on as well…things are swirling around in Nicky and Noah’s love life as usual, other couples on the periphery are having their own issues that need resolution, and then there own those other people I love so much and refuse to mention.  This story is chock full of story threads and Joe Cosentino weaves them all together with a flair that’s hilarious and yet never fails to remember that this couple loves each other deeply.

Then there’s that outstanding ending.  That’s the best of all.

Sigh.

I loved this story.  I love this couple.  What on earth is going to happen to them next?  I can’t wait to find out.

Cover art is reminiscent of a movie poster.  I think it works great.

Sales Links

65a2f-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Lethe Press

myBook.to/DramaCruise

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/drama-cruise-joe-Cosentino/1125194754?ean=9781590216231#productInfoTabs

 

 

Book Details:

ebook, 190 pages
Published November 30th 2016 by Lethe Press
ISBN139781370108633
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesNicky and Noah Mystery #3

An Ali Audiobook Review: Between Ghosts by Garrett Leigh and Narrated by Craig Beck

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars
betweenghosts_audiobook2400In 2003, journalist Connor Regan marched through London to add his voice to a million others, decrying the imminent invasion of Iraq. Eight months later, his brother, James, was killed in action in Mosul.

Three years on, Connor finds himself bound for Iraq to embed with an elite SAS team. He sets his boots on the ground looking for closure and solace—anything to ease the pain of his brother’s death. Instead he finds Sergeant Nathan Thompson.

Nat Thompson is a veteran commander, hardened by years of combat and haunted by the loss of his best friend. Being lumbered with a civilian is a hassle Nat doesn’t need, and he vows to do nothing more than keep the hapless hack from harm’s way.

But Connor proves far from hapless, and too compelling to ignore for long. He walks straight through the steel wall Nat’s built around his heart, and when their mission puts him in mortal danger, Nat must lay old ghosts to rest and fight to the death for the only man he’s ever truly loved.
I first read this around this time last year.  I was excited to get the opportunity to try this on audio because I had loved the story so much when I read it.  I’m happy to say that it was just as good on audio.  Connor is a journalist who has been an anti-war protester in the past. After his soldier brother dies Connor feels that he never really knew James and he fears James didn’t know how much he loved and respected him. Trying to find some peace in regards to his feelings about his brother Connor finds himself on a mission to Iraq with a SAS team. He’s going to do a series of articles showcasing what it is that the soldiers do and how they feel about their jobs.

Nat is the leader of that team and he’s been in war zones for years. He’s lost a lot of friends, as well as big pieces of his heart. He’s not happy about being stuck with a journalist but he quickly finds himself drawn to Connor and he’s challenged to start opening up the emotional parts of himself that he thought were long gone. Nat’s lost men in his command before that he feels responsible for and he’s consumed with fear that something might happen to Connor on his watch and that’s something he can’t live with.

The story is mostly set in Iraq so there is fighting and bloodshed. I didn’t find especially violent though and I do not think it will be an issue for most. There are some social and political issues raised but nothing that makes it preachy in either pro or con views. The war as a back drop to a budding romance just served to highlight the beauty of these two men’s relationship.

The highlight of this book are the relationships. Not just between Connor and Nat but between each of them and the other men in the group. Also important are the “ghosts” in their pasts. The brother that Connor lost and the best friend who’s death Nat feels responsible for. I loved both Connor and Nat and found them to be great MC’s. I empathized with what both of them were going through in the course of the story.
This is narrated by Craig Beck and I thought he did an excellent job.  There are a number of voices in this story and it was never difficult to tell them apart.  Also, there are a lot of emotions in this story and I think he did a great good making them all come through.  It added an extra level to what was already a poignant story.
This is an audio that I would highly recommend.  Everything about it is good.  It’s a unique story with an emotional plot and great characters and it is extremely well narrated.
The cover by Garrett Leigh:  I think this is a great cover and it fits the story very well.
Sales Links
Audiobook Details:
N/A

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best of Lists Continue along with This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

2016-2017-sign-posts

STRW Best of Lists for 2016

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best of Lists for 2016 continue this week.  I love how we are showing so many different authors and stories in our year end lists.  That’s a great thing in a year where there was so many wonderful books, covers, and authors to choose from.  We include best covers because they continue to play an important role for the readers.  We love them, hate them, feel meh about them and still choose our books based on them.  We love them to draw our attention, for the covers to speak to us, to be be unusual enough to make us want to read the those tales or listen to that story. And want to know more about those characters and their relationships!  The covers our reviewers have chosen have done their job and their artists have made such an impression it stuck with us all year long.  Do you have favorite covers?  Let us know which ones and why?

We are also delivering our best of stories, whether they are in eBook or audiobook format, or both.  Sometimes a great narrator makes us discover a story we’ve read before and makes us look at it anew.  We hear things when a book is narrated by a wonderful narrator that maybe we glossed over when we read it.  Over the emotions carry through more forcibly when beautifully acted.  Whatever the reason, a great narrator can make an audiobook sing and stay with us as these have all year long.  What audiobooks have done that for all of you?  Send in your choices for Audiobook of the Year or Audiobooks of 2016?  And your favorite narrators!

And yes, our great stories of 2016.  There were so many of them that its always hard to bring our lists under control.  So many that made you laugh, cry, nod your head in acknowledgement of some shared history or experience.  Perhaps its the beauty of the author’s language that got to you, or the imagery of the scenes?  Whatever the reason, these stories had staying power.  They stuck to your heart and mind, rising above all the others you read during the year.  Where  do yours fit in with some of our lists?  Do you share some of our choices?  Do you have different ones?  Our lists won’t be finished until the end of January.  So chime in with yours. Let us know which ones you would include.

STRW 2016 Best of Giveaway

We will pick one random reader who leaves a comment with their year end Best of (along with their email addresses) to receive a $10 DSP gift card.   Contest ends January 29, at midnight.  Must be 18 years of age or older.

 

Alisa’s List for Best of 2016

 

fiveminuteslonger_v2love-and-snowball-fightsDreamers' Destinypower-bottom-by-rowan-mcallister

 

 

 

 

 

 Alisa’s Best Covers of 2016

Five Minutes Longer by Victoria Sue, cover artist AngstyG

Love and Snowball Fights by J.R Loveless, cover artist Bree Archer

Power Bottom by Rowan McAllister, cover artist AngstyG

Hounded by Love by Pia Veleno, cover artist April Martinez

Dreamers’ Destiny by Tempeste O’Riley, cover artist Reese Dante

hounded-by-love

 Alisa’s 2016 Top Stories

 Alisa’s Best Audiobooks of 2016

Jeri’s Best Stories of 2016:

 books-into-snowpath

Now for our reviews and blogs this week.  We have so much going on. We still have winter along with holiday stories finishing up. We have our Release Day Reviews and Recent Release Reviews as as well as audiobooks.  So check them all out to see what you might want to add to your TBR or TBL  list this week.  Authors are here with interviews, guest blogs and giveaways, offering insight into their writing and characters.  You won’t want to miss out on those posts too!  We  have a full week here.  Stay with us every day to see what’s going on!

I hope everyone is keeping warm these days.  Its snowing here, a great time to be reading, listening and typing up more lists for all of you.  Mine’s still to come!

snowflake

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

finding-forever-by-shawn-lanelove-is-heartless-by-kim-fieldinglunch-with-the-do-nothings-at-the-tammy-dinetteswitched-by-nr-walker

Sunday, January 8:

  • Release Blitz & Review Tour – Amelia Faulkner – Lord of Ravens
  • Release Blitz Request – Matthew Robinson – Irish Eyes
  • Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best of Lists Continue
  • This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • A Caryn Review: Silent Night by Erin E. Keller
  • A VVivacious Review: Dare To by AKM (Miles +Dare’s Christmas Gift – Bonus short story)
  • A VVivacious Review: Reconnecting Christmas by Megan Slayer

Monday, January 9:

  • DSP GUEST POST T.A. Chase
  • Release Day Blitz January 9th for Off Base by Annabeth Albert
  • Wayward Secret by K. Renee Blog Tour
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Lagniappe by Mercy Celeste
  • A MelanieM Review: Off Base by Annabeth Albert
  • A Jeri Release Day Review:  There Has to be a Reason by Kate McMurray
  • An Ali Review: Light Up The Dark by Suki Fleet

Tuesday, January 10:

  • DSP GUEST POST KA Merikan on Writing and I Love You More Than Pierogi
  • Blog Tour for Exile Volume 1 by AF Henley (guest post and giveaway)
  • A Paul B Review: Breaker (Exile #1) by Kelly Wyre and A.F. Henley
  • A Caryn Review: Boyfriend Goals by Clancy Nacht
  • An Ali Audiobook Review: Between Ghosts by Garrett Leigh
  • An Alisa Review: Quarry by Elizabeth Noble

Wednesday, January 11:

  • DSP GUEST POST Hunter Frost on Cemeteries by Moonlight
  • Release Blitz – The Road To Frosty Hollow – RJ Scott & Meredith Russell
  • RIPTIDE TOUR Assassins: Nemesis by Erica Cameron (giveaway)
  • A Lila Review: Finding Forever by Shawn Lane
  • An Alisa Release Day Review: The Applicant (Busted Labs #1) by Aidee Ladnier
  • An Alisa Review: The Gift of Casey by Shawn Lane
  • A MelanieM Review: Wild Bells by Charlie Cochrane

Thursday, January 12:

  • DSP GUEST POST Bonnie Dee on The Mighty Have Fallen
  • Cover Reveal Blitz: Volley Balls by Tara Lain
  • A MelanieM Review: DRAMA CRUISE by Joe Cosentino
  • An Ali Review: Bullet by Garrett Leigh
  • A Stella Release Day Review: Lunch with the Do-Nothings at the Tammy Dinette by Killian B. Brewer

Friday, January 13:

  • DSP GUEST POST Lynn Lorenz
  • Blog Tour: Painted on My Heart by Kindle Alexander
  • Blog Tour: Kayleigh Sky on Doll Baby
  • A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: Love is Heartless (Love Can’t Series #2) by Kim Fielding
  • An Ali Review: Doll Baby by Kayleigh Sky
  • An Alisa Review: Night of the Blue Moon by Cassandra Pierce
  • A MelanieM Recent Release Review: Ash into Fire by Tully Vincent

Saturday, January 14:

  • DSP GUEST POST Tara Lain on Volley Balls
  • A MelanieM Review: Switched by NR Walker

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An Alisa Release Day Review: A Coal Miner’s Son (States of Love) by T.A. Chase

Rating:  5 stars out of 5

 

a-coal-miners-son-by-ta-chaseJames Callahan is the only son of Nicholas Callahan, owner of the Willow Hollow mine in West Virginia—but he’s never considered himself any better than the miners. He’s best friends with Owain Rees, one of the miners’ kids, and he’s been attracted to Cai, Owain’s older brother, for years. James gets the feeling he might not be the only one sensing the tension between them, but Cai avoids him religiously.

 

Cai has been working the mine since he was sixteen. He acknowledges James is cute, but he’s grown up privileged while Cai’s family has always been working class, and Cai fears that chasm is too wide to cross. When family drama pushes them together, will Cai and James see they’re more alike than they realized?

 

Take a leap of faith as two men from different worlds, employer and employee, rich and poor, discover that love transcends social barriers.

 

This was a wonderful feel good story.  James has worked hard to not be like his father and appreciates the people who work for him.  He has always been attracted to Cai, but knows that Cai doesn’t like him, no matter how he acts.

 

Cai acknowledges that James is making things better for the miners, but figures he is still like his father deep down.  When he actually gets to see him away from the mine and “in real life” he can see that everything Owain has said about James is true.  Seeing James care for his family and the community make Cai doubt what he has always believed.

 

This story gives us both characters’ views which goes a long way to help know them better.  James is fighting what feels like a losing battle with the board to make things better for the miners, I could just feel how passionate and caring he is in his actions and words.  I could see Cai’s stubbornness and also how much he cares for this family, he becomes conflicted with what he has always known and James helps him to understand his feelings.  I loved seeing them stand up together for their love to grow.

 

Cover art by Jennifer Vance is great works well for that characters in this story.

 

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon 

 

Book Details:

ebook, 107 pages

Published: January 4, 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781635332278

Edition Language: English

Series: A States of Love Story

A Stella Review: Falling Down by Eli Easton

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

falling-down-by-eli-eastonJosh finds himself homeless at eighteen, but he has a plan. He’ll head north on the bus to New England and spend October there for his mother’s sake. She always talked about going to see the fall leaves someday. And when the leaves are done and the harsh winter comes, Josh plans to find a place to curl up and let go. It will be a relief to finally stop fighting.

Mark spent his life trying to live up to the tough swagger of his older brothers until he pushed himself so far against his nature that he cracked. Now a former Marine, he rents a little cabin in the White Mountains of New Hampshire where he can lick his wounds and figure out what to do with the rest of his life. One thing was clear: Mark was nobody’s hero.

Fate intervenes when Josh sets up camp under a covered bridge near Mark’s cabin. Mark recognizes the dead look in the young stranger’s eyes, and he feels compelled to do something about it. When Mark offers Josh a job, he never expects that he’ll be the one to fall.

The snow is coming soon. Can Mark convince Josh that the two of them can build a life together before the flurries begin?

Trigger Warning: Suicidal thoughts

I probably already said this a thousand times, but I have to repeat myself: Eli Easton is a guarantee in the mm community. She is an amazing writer and each new story is a powerful gem. Like Falling Down.

I knew since I read the blurb, this new book was going to leave me as an emotional wreck for a long time, and it actually did, but with a gentleness and a lightness I wasn’t expecting. I’m pretty sure I will remember those characters forever. I have to say I fell in love with them from the start.

Josh took my heart and gave it back to me just at the end when I realized things were really going to work out well for him and his Mark. He is so young and depressed and it went through so much in his life. I could relate to him because I went through the same grief when I had his age and so he touched my heart deeply. And then there was Mark, who is everything a person should be, good, caring, strong willed , trusting, imperfect. Two lonely souls who fate put on each others path and although hard lives, painful pasts and dark thoughts, an HEA is coming their way.

Eli wrote a beautiful slow burn story, Mark and Josh became first friends, while working together on Mrs. Fisher house and let the old woman take care of them just how much they start caring for her and for each other. A slow burn story but full of chemistry, the attraction between them is clear and strong.

Yes the book is full of angst (read the warning!) but in my opinion the author was great at dosing it in the right way. Although the angst and more than one intense scene where I cried all the tears I had in my eyes, Falling Down isn’t heavy or oppressing at all. It’s full of emotions and it filled my heart so much, I just surrender and loved it. It deserves more than five stars. Highly recommended.

I like the cover art by Eli Easton very much in general but I can’t actually see Josh in the model, he simply is not like I had pictured him in my mind. That said the cover is very well done.

SALE LINKS

65a2f-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 252 pages

Published November 7th 2016 by Pinkerton Road LLC

ASIN B01MSIYOHB

Edition Language English

A Free Dreamer Review:O/s by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

os-coverContains non-con elements and scenes of violence.

Jax has the perfect job on the perfect world, looking after subs while their owners are away. But Brysen’s no ordinary sub and his owner Layne is a threat to the safety of every sub on the planet.

Dealing with the heartbreak of a failed relationship, Jax is slow to realize Brysen’s adoration for his stern owner passes all reason, and breaks every rule. By the time he does, there may be time to save Brysen, but in the process, Jax stands to lose everything from his job to his chance at love. Will the protective instincts that guide his actions hold steady or will the darkness Layne wakes within him prove stronger?

First of all: Do take those warning seriously. This story does get pretty dark.

I absolutely loved “O/s”. The concept was interesting. BDSM relationships are not only perfectly acceptable in this universe, the government has even installed a system to provide couples with a safety net. Every sub wears a collar that flashes in warning, if their vitals do something unusual. The collar is the substitute for safe words here. The collar is monitored by the police, so if such a warning is ignored, they immediately take action. This system provides subs and Owners alike with a safe environment to play in. You can’t mess with the collar without it giving off an alert.

Jax is a professional subsitter. If an Owner has to leave their sub alone for whatever reason, they hire Jax to look after them during their absence. Jax provides the sub with whatever they need, even if a lot of things aren’t what he would usually prefer. But he’s a pro and he loves his job. I really liked seeing him work with all kinds of subs and Owners. He takes his job seriously and takes very good care of every sub in his charge.

Brysen is in a relationship with Layne. He loves Layne. He loves everything Layne does to him. And he absolutely deserves all the harsh punishments Layne deals out. He tries so hard to be perfect for Layne, but he keeps failing. Brysen’s struggle was breathtaking. Everything was such a giant mind fuck, I was never quite sure about Brysen’s real feelings.

Actually, the whole book was one giant mind fuck. And that’s what made “O/s” so brilliant in my eyes. You’re always wondering, doubting, questioning and yet you’ll never guess the truth. It’s all so very twisted and fucked up and I absolutely loved it for that very reason.

Brysen wasn’t a whiny, needy thing that needed an Owner to survive. Layne fucked him up good, but he’s a strong man. I really admired Brysen. And Jax was wonderful as well. He always takes care of everybody and strictly sticks to what the Owners tell him about their subs. But Brysen is different and I loved Jax for picking up on that and taking care of him, without being patronizing. He doesn’t have a superhero complex, he really struggled with what he was seeing in Brysen, what he knows about the system and what Layne told him about Brysen.

The BDSM is fairly hardcore. So if you have mixed feelings about BDSM, “O/s” probably isn’t the book for you. I loved how obviously different Jax and Layne were. While Layne never shows any tenderness toward Brysen, Jax is strict but loving. The difference was vast.

The authors created a perfect balance between plot and world building. The explanations about the system were perfectly interwoven with the plot and felt absolutely natural.

Long story short: If you like violence, mind fuck and dub-con in your books and you’re not opposed to a BDSM sci-fi setting, then this is the book for you. If, however, you’re a bit dubious about BDSM and prefer your MCs to have a bit of kinky fun, then you probably won’t like “O/s”.

Personally, I absolutely loved it. Definitely won’t be the last book by these two for me!

Cover: The cover by April Martinez is very simplistic. I quite like it, though. Definitely better than your average BDSM cover with a sub in chains or something. An eye-catcher.

Sales Links

Loose id LLC

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Book details: ebook, 299 pages

Published August 2nd 2016 by Loose ID

Out with 2016 and Hello 2017 and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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Out with 2016 and Hello 2017!

Yes, its that time again. First day of the new year.  Time to shut the door on the old year and prepare to welcome in the new.  Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words turned 5 and got a whole new look!  We added reviewers and content hoping to provide more reviews as well as author and narrator interviews, giveaways and much more for all our readers.  I hope we’ve succeeded.

2016 held such promise.  LGBTQIA rights moved forward in the courts with marriage equality, transgender equality gaining ground in many states as laws were passed to protect peoples rights to live and love as they saw fit.  And so many of our stories reflected that hope and societal change.  It was wonderful and uplifting.  I loved reading about couples getting engaged and married while remembering stories reflected a reality not that long ago where that was not a possiblity.

Then came the elections.  Shock, disbelief, numbness,and so much more. Now we face an uncertain 2017 with a very different minded administration.  What will 2017 bring for the LGBTQIA community and the rest of us? And how quickly will we see that uncertainty and wide ranging emotions translated into our stories?  Will it be in our contemporary stories, science fiction, alternate universe or everything the authors can imagine and pour into their tales?  I can’t wait to read what 2017 will bring us with novels and short stories.

2016 saw the rapid rise of the audiobook as we mentioned during our month long series  where we interviewed audiobook narrators, authors and listeners.  This format is still rising in popularity and our reviews (and number of them) certainly reflect that.  We hope to be interviewing more narrators and talking more about this format in the coming year.  Do you have a favorite narrator?  Let us know and we’ll see if we can get them in for an interview!

We left off our Book Format series with the publishers view of  ebook publishing – how far its come, how its changed and where they think its going.  We hope to get back to that in 2017.

As we announced yesterday, several publishers are closing their houses.  All Romance is closed as of yesterday.  Torquere Press is closing but getting information about that is harder as all most people have is a message from the owners.  If you have more information, please let us  know so we can update our information to all our readers.  It would be greatly appreciated.

On the positive front, Samhain Publishing which once thought it would be closing, is staying open.  Great news for all.  Don’t forget to check them out as they now have over 2500 titles available to choose from.

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words also started our Flash Fiction Writing Month.  That will continue in 2017, although not in contest form.  Look to see it again towards the end of the year as it was this time.

So many thoughts swirling and scattered about in my head….not unusual this first day of the year.  It will take more than a day to process it all.  Look for my ramblings to continue each Sunday this month as we reflect back and forward on 2016 and 2017.  STRW will also be taking a look at our favorite stories and covers, reviewer by reviewer.  Today we start off with Barb the Zany Old Lady’s favorite covers and stories of 2016.  How do they match up with yours?  Have you missed some?  Start  your TBRandMissed List now!

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best of 2016

 From Our Reviewers!

 

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Barb the Zany Old Lady’s Top Ten of 2016 (in no particular order)

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Top 5 Covers:

  • Empty Net by Avon Gale– cover by Aaron Anderson
  • Wolfsong by T.J. Kllune – cover by Reese Dante
  • A Second Harvest by Eli Easton – cover by Bree Archer
  • Enjoy the Dance by Heidi Cullinan – cover by Kanaxa
  • Clickbait by E.J. Russell – cover by L.C. Chase

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*****

 Top Books & Audiobooks released in 2016:

Wolfsong by TJ Klune audiobook narrated by Kirt Graves

Absolution by Sloane Kennedy audiobook narrated by Joel Leslie

Dinner at Fiorelli’s by Rick R. Reed audiobook narrated by Joel Leslie

How to be a Normal Person by TJ Klune audiobook narrated by Derrick McClain

A Second Harvest by Eli Easton

Blank Spaces by Cass Lennox

Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews

Enjoy the Dance by Heidi Cullinan

Tied Up in Knots by Mary Calmes

Empty Net by Avon Gale

If you’re adding to your TBR pile, keep going with some of the books we’ve reviewed this week.   From Amy Lane’s The Virgin Manny to Tara Lain’s Death Dancer to Tal Bauer’s Interlude: First Noel in his outstanding series, The Executive Office, to Falling Down by Eli Easton, there’s something for everyone this week.  Have a happy New Year’s Day everyone!

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This Week in 2017 at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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Sunday, January 1, 2017 🎉 Happy New Years!:

  • Out with 2016 and Hello 2017 and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
  • Release Blitz  Tour – Amelia Faulkner’s Lord of Ravens (giveaway)
  • A Free Dreamer Review:O/s by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Virgin Manny (The Mannies #1) by Amy Lane

Monday, January 2:

  • Release Day Blitz for A Collision with Reality by Storm Duffy
  • Tour: From the Ashes by Xen Sanders (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Release Day Blitz for Oops Caught by Alli Reshi
  • A Jeri Review: Wolf in League by AF Henley
  • A Lila Review: Interlude: First Noel by Tal Bauer
  • A PaulB  Review: Interlude: First Noel by Tal Bauer
  • An Alisa Review: Honey Trap by Fyn Alexander

Tuesday, January 3:

  • Release Blitz & Review Tour – Suki Fleet’s Light Up The Dark
  • DSP GUEST POST Avon Gale on “Whiskey Business
  • A Jeri Review: Death Dancer (Dangerous Dancers #2) by Tara Lain
  • A MelanieM Review: The Next Competitor by Keira Andrews
  • A Paul B Review: Warrior Wolf and His Little Lamb (Pariah Pack #3) by Susan Laine
  • An Ali Review: A Collision with Reality by Storm Duffy

Wednesday, January 4:

  • Release Blitz Tour – Clare London’s Chase The Ace (London Lads #1)
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Crush by Caitlin Ricci
  • RIPTIDE TOUR: Assassins: Nemesis by Erica Cameron
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Saving Silas by S.J. Himes and Derrick McClain (Narrator)
  • A Jeri Review: Heart’s Gamble By S.J. Frost
  • A Lila Release Day Review: I Love You More Than Pierogi (World of Love) by K.A. Merikan
  • A Stella Review: Falling Down by Eli Easton
  • An Alisa Release Day Review: A Coal Miner’s Son by TA Chase

Thursday, January 5:

  • DSP GUEST POST C.L. Etta
  • DSP GUEST POST F.E. Feeley Jr on “The Haunting of Timber Manor
  • A Lila Review: Tartan Candy by KC Burn
  • A Paul B Review: Henning Box Set by Hayden Thorne
  • A Stella Review:  Idlewild by Jude Sierra
  • An Alisa Review: Under the Mistletoe by Shawn Bailey

Friday, January 6:

  • Cover Reveal for Fireballs by Tara Lain
  • AE VIA BLOG SPOT on Nothing Special
  • DSP GUEST POST Taylor V. Donovan on “Six Degrees of Lust
  • A Caryn Review:  Alpha Barman by Sue Brown
  • A Lila Review: Nothing Special V by AE Via
  • An Ali Release Day Review: Block & Strike by Kelly Jensen
  • An Alisa Review:  Defrosting Jack by Susan Laine

Saturday, January  7:

  • Release Blitz for Kayleigh Sky’s Doll Baby
  • DSP GUEST POST Thianna Durston on “Vespar
  • An Ali Audiobook Review: Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles by Eli Easton

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