A MelanieM Release Day Review: In Enemy Hands by MA Church

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Two very different civilizations—one bathed in bright sunlight, and the other veiled in shadow.

Bad decisions, declining resources, and a king on the brink of madness force Prince Varo Kutchif, third son of the royal family and a starship captain, to attempt the impossible: barter for Black Phospolrock, an energy source the mysterious Helkan kingdom has in abundance. Varo opens a line of communication with Adlar, an intriguing Helkan who seems to reciprocate Varo’s interest. He hopes so, because if negotiations collapse, Varo has orders to attack.

The Helkans preside over a planet shrouded in perpetual darkness. Several species have tried to exploit its natural resources through trade with them, but all have failed. Adlar Mondur is the older brother to the Helkan ruler. An assassin of the highest order, he’ll do anything to protect his king and his people—including tracking down the Yesri prince who crash-lands on their planet, leaving an ugly scar across its untouched beauty.

Thus begins a journey where two men from disparate civilizations grow from enemies to lovers.

In Enemy Hands by MA Church was a story I never wanted to end. Great world building to the extent that you felt you were walking along side Varo, seeing the planet’s marvels and dangers through his eyes, the flora and fauna each and every one detailed and enticing. And the Helkans are every bit as intriguing and captivating as their planet. Church has naturally carried through to from a planet wreathed in darkness to its peoples. They are pale, dark haired, yellow eyes, strong and, just as beautiful and lethal as their home. The Helkans view their resources, including the precious Black Phospolrock, in a manner the rest of the galaxy does not. Church lays out their society and culture clearly.

What little we learn of the Yesri, they are the opposite in every way. Industrialized to the point that they have destroyed their planet’s habitats and resources, their planet is covered in sun as is their high born people who are tanned, white haired with brown eyes. Heavily divided into class systems, the disparity between them is getting greater, and desperation is driving the commands behind Varo’s mission into space.

Was I hooked? Oh you bet!

And once the two met? Even better. Because every time I came up with an issue with the way I thought Varo should be acting (perhaps more assured, whatever), Church was there ahead of me, anticipating my questions about his behavior, putting forth answers through Adlar…well, it was amazing. I’m not one of those readers who enjoy a captive situation but this made great reading. It was a slow learning process for both men, no hurt/comfort, just discovering who each one was under a stressful situation. Adler giving Varo space to grow and Varo being able to see past his prejudices. Plus the two of them together? Sexy as hell.

There’s intrigue of course, and danger. Enough here for two books. I believe the author has left open enough possibilities that should Church wish too she could revisit this planet and couple easily. Or we could see how Wrief, Varo’s brother got on. After this, I’m up for anything to do with the Halkans and its ruling family.

As I said this was an amazing story. I loved it. If you are a lover of science fiction, romance, M.A. Church, or all of the above, pick it up and start reading. I highly recommend it.

Cover art by Anne Cain is perfect for Adler.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 214 pages
Expected publication: December 30th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634776089 (ISBN13: 9781634776080)
Edition LanguageEnglish

A VVivacious Advent Calendar Review Day 28: Teddy Bears (2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug) by Brandon Witt

Rating: 5 Stars out of 5

James Olsen is a handsome bear of a man who visits the bathhouse where Brian works.

Brian is a geeky chubby guy who hates Christmas and can’t wait for it to be over. But an accidental meeting with James at a toy store might just have Brian believing in Christmas Miracles.

I don’t know why I ever doubted that this story would not be good, I mean it is written by Brandon Witt and for those of you who don’t know the author should seriously consider checking his books out.

This story was 49 pages long (according to my reader), in which the effective length of the story after you factor in the blurb, author’s info, publication details and the cover comes out to be 40 pages and in just 40 pages the author had me so caught up in the story that I was crying by the end of it which was so surprising for me. I only cry in stories that really touch me and it is so rare for a short story to do that for me because of the limitation of their length but looks like I have been seriously underestimating short stories.

I loved this story because it caught me so off guard there were just so many little things in this story that were just so unique. I am actually finding it very hard to describe this book with my limited vocabulary.

This story is lovely, it transcends the holiday spirit and it leaves you with a warm feeling inside. I really don’t want to say anything more for fear of spoilers but know this, this story was awesome.

Cover Art by L. C. Chase. I loved the cover which is a depiction of an actual scene in this story and yes, this book does feature Teddy Bear hamsters.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 47 pages
Published December 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1635331900 (ISBN13: 9781635331905)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug

BA Tortuga on Writing and her release, Catch and Release (The Release #3) (author guest blog)

Catch and Release (The Release #3) by B.A. Tortuga
Dreamspinner Press
Cover art by Bree Archer

Available for Purchase at

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have BA Tortuga here talking writing and her latest release, Catch and Release, one of our highly recommended novels. Welcome, BA!

Hey y’all!

BA Tortuga here, the resident redneck and Andrew Grey’s favorite lesbian, and I’m blogging about my new release, Catch and Release, which is the third book in the Release series.

Lord, my editor would be all over me about repetition there! Sometimes it really is deliberate.

Just like picking the next book in a series.

When I was trying to come up with the third book in the Release series, I decided I wanted to use Adam Winchester’s security firm. Win is in book one with his ex-con lover Sage, and I was like, I need to explore Win’s friends some.

Yeah. So I plotted it out on cards. I do that. Each scene gets a card. There’s an author with agoraphobia. A security guard. A big adventure. I tried to write it.

It didn’t fit, y’all. Not at all. See, the Release series is all about re-entering society. In book one, The Terms of Release, Sage gets out of jail and re-joins the world. In book 2, The Articles of Release, Eric comes back from the military injured, and has a tough time getting into the swing of civilian life.

So I was all, sure, the writer will get back out there. Except he didn’t want to, and the security guard didn’t want to work for Win, and it was just a mess. I despaired. I ranted and my wife. I railed against fate.

Then I took some time off to go to the Coastal Magic convention in Daytona Beach. I was standing outside the coffee shop with Andrew Grey, bemoaning the lack of words on Catch and Release. He looked at me and rolled his eyes. “That’s because you’re writing the wrong book,” he said. “You need to write something more like Sage and Win. I loved them.”

I blinked. I nodded. I asked a bunch of questions.

By the time the wife came over with coffee I had the book all planned out in my head. Dakota was there, talking in his quiet, unassuming way.

Andrew was totally right. With a series, you have to pick the right book.

I sure hope y’all love Catch and Release as much as I do.

Much love, y’all,

Catch and Release

The Release Series: Book Three

Dakota Landry just got out of prison after twelve years. If anyone can understand how that feels, it’s his new friend, Sage, who is determined to help him get used to life on the outside—and believes Dakota didn’t commit the crime he was in for.

Jayden Wilson is a former prosecutor who agrees to look into the case at the request of Sage’s lover, Adam. He sets out to prove Dakota is just another “innocent” ex-con, but once they meet, Jayden is more and more convinced Dakota just didn’t do what everyone thinks he did.

Trouble follows Dakota, and nothing is easy as he struggles to figure out how to live, now that he has choices. And Jayden isn’t sure how Dakota, or any lover for that matter, fits into his life. Their path from friendship to romance is a slow one, but Dakota begins to believe he deserves a chance at life, and Jayden falls a little more for Dakota every day. Now they just need to tell each other how they feel.

Dreamspinner Press: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/catch-and-release-by-ba-tortuga-7903-b

You can find BA at:

Website: http://www.batortuga.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/batortuga
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/batortuga
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/batortuga/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/batortuga
Blogger: http://batortuga.blogspot.com/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/batortuga/
Tumblr: http://batortuga.tumblr.com/

BA Tortuga bio:

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds and her beloved wife, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head.

A Melanie Release Day Review: Chosen Pride (L’Ange #3) by Mary Calmes

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Jon Slade finally met his mate, but instead of it being the happiest day of his life, it became the saddest when wolf shifter Kelvin MacCurdy chose his obligations over their fated bond, leaving Jon to pick up the pieces of his shattered dreams. Lucky for him, Roman Howell, his boss and the owner of L’Ange, saw promise in the forlorn lion and put him to work so he wouldn’t have time to sit around and lick his wounds while he waited for his wounded spirit to heal.

Then the wolves make an official visit to L’Ange, and Jon finds out Kelvin’s pining for him is taking its toll on his position as the king’s champion. Though Kelvin’s training and the expectations of others steer him toward an intended mate, Jon has an unbreakable hold on his heart, and it’s no longer possible for Kelvin to keep himself from where he truly belongs.

But the conclave brings more than Kelvin to the château. It also brings a challenge to jackal alpha Quade Danas, a threat that Quade and Roman, Arman and Linus, and Jon and Kelvin may have to fight in order to keep L’Ange’s family intact. Jon never wanted to lead a pride, but the loyalty and devotion to one is ingrained in him. Kelvin was raised to punish anyone who questioned his king, but the calling to protect others runs through his veins just as deeply. To come out on the other side of the battle together, Jon and Kelvin will have to hold the darkness of solitary pride and broken hearts at bay—and find strength in belonging to something bigger than themselves.

Mary Calmes’ L’Ange series became a favorite of mine from the very first story Old Loyalty, New Love. An old chateau, a mix of shifters, dark men with mysterious and painful pasts? Yes, yes, and hell yes! And as with my deeply loved Mary Calmes stories and series, a connecting story thread that both pulls at your heart and mind. A vast estate that seems to beckon to isolated, wounded shifters and an Alpha set to rule them all. An estate huge enough to hold the promise also of mates for them all as well.

Jon Slade, a lion shifter, was one such lone male without a pride who was taken in by Roman and Quade (after a rocky start). His story began in the last amazing tale,Fighting Instinct (L’Ange, #2). Chosen Pride picks up in the resulting aftermath.

If you had to ask me why Mary Calmes has such a large and loyal following, I would point to her ability to create characters such as Jon Slade. Golden, strong, and unbelievably beautiful on the outside and yet now broken by the rejection of his mate. Calmes makes Jon and his heartbreaking situation so real, so painfully cruel that you almost bleed for Jon, Doesn’t matter how pretty, how strong Jon is because those qualities won’t help him here. Not even the strength of a lion can bring him his mate. The irony. The author has the reader so invented in Jon and his plight that you can’t even think about putting this book down, not for a minute.

There is also an equal tragedy going on with wolf shifter Kelvin MacCurdy. He’s caught up in a vicious tradition that regards him as little more than a beast within his society, something to be breed for size and strength, nothing more. We’ve gotten to know him during the last story too and become wrapped up in his complicated life and turmoil that led to him rejecting Jon to Jon’s and our astonishment and pain.

In Chosen Pride, Calmes brings out the best in her characters, and her series thread. Other main couples appear in strong supporting roles necessary to both this story and the series. There also a fox shifter that’s a sexy delight. The minute I finished the story and went back and started it all over again wanting to see what details I had missed the first time around.

There’s several clues here, about the journey to another kingdom, the perils that await there. I expect that Mary Calmes will use that in an upcoming book. She doesn’t lay false trails. Now I’m anticipating a journey that will make my heart stop and angst as well. I can’t wait.

This is an amazing series. So don’t start here. Go to the beginning story and proceed from there. It will become a favorite of yours as it has mine. Its one I highly recommend.

Cover Artist: Reese Dante. Such a gorgeous cover. Its perfect for Jon and I love it.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 240 pages
Expected publication: December 26th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634779010 (ISBN13: 9781634779012)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Series L’Ange:

A VVivacious Advent Calendar Review Day 26: Scrooged Over (2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug) by David Connor

Rating – 5 Stars out of 5

Deke and Dudley are radio jockeys, co-hosts of the ‘Deke and Dudley Morning Show’. When Deke starts of on his post-Thanksgiving anti-Christmas tirade Dudley the yuletide overachiever is shocked. An on-air argument leads to a wager that whoever gets more listeners on their side wins and the loser needs to spend an evening with a blind date of the winner’s choice.

As Dudley gears up to prove Deke wrong, things don’t work out as planned – the Christmas lights don’t work, the cookies go bad, Dudley’s cats puke on his wrapping paper and his holiday cards don’t get sent out. As Dudley’s Christmas looks like it is headed towards disaster, he submits himself to the blind date, all the while hoping that the blind date will turn out to be Deke himself…

This story makes for an awesome read. I loved how this story set the record straight on what Christmas is all about. I especially liked how the author managed to send out the message despite the consumerism that surrounds Christmas nowadays. I also liked the fact that this story manages to show us that Christmas means the same things to people even if they find themselves participating in its rampant consumerism, even if they drive themselves crazy trying to get everything perfect because they work that hard because they want to make Christmas as memorable as they can for their loved ones. In this story there is a point where Deke tells Dudley that Deke and his siblings don’t let their parents buy them anything for Christmas because of the one Christmas they ruined by being very ungrateful, so nowadays they send their parents for a cruise every Christmas. This is followed by Dudley’s statement that probably Deke’s mother would love to give them gifts because that’s how she would want to spend her Christmas, making her kids happy.

I loved a lot of nuances in this story. I loved how Deke and Dudley end up together. I especially loved how Dudley stood up for himself and for his love when he made it clear that he wanted to be with Deke.

This story is really amazing. I loved the characters in this story. They were all very amazing, what with Dudley who fits the phrase yuletide overachiever to a tee and Deke who is busy rampaging against all things Christmas. Also, I loved Dudley’s grandfather he was like the cherry at the top of the cake pushing and prodding Deke and Dudley together without being subtle about it in the least.

I really loved Dudley. This story is written from Dudley’s perspective and by the end of the story I had fallen in love with his character, the guy who is trying so hard because he wants to make this Christmas special for the people around him.

This story is a splendid take on the spirit of Christmas and it will have you smiling till the very end.

Cover Art by Bree Archer. I loved the cover; it really captures the spirit of this story.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 69 pages
Published December 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1635331889 (ISBN13: 9781635331882)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug

Merry Christmas, More Announcements and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Merry Christmas and More Announcements

Merry Christmas all. This will be a short post this morning as I’m busy with all things family and the holidays. I hope you all are having a safe, happy, and wonderful holiday as well, no matter where you are.

Announcements

✒︎Our first major announcement is that the author with the most votes of our poll is Ross Common who wrote Christopher. If you want to read Christopher or any of the other stories, go to our Flash Fiction header in the menu and you can find them all there. Congratulations to Ross Common for his amazing story. Our thanks to all the authors and for their wonderful flash fiction. We intend to do this again next next. Stay tuned!

✒︎Second announcement. The reader randomly chosen to receive the $10 Dreamspinner Press gift card after voting and leaving a comment was Suze294. Congratulations to suze294.

Merry Christmas everyone and here’s our schedule.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, December 25:

A Melanie Advent Calendar Review Day 25: Don’t Let the Light Go Out by L.A. Merrill
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Saving Jason by KC Wells
Merry Christmas, More Announcements and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, December 26:

DSP GUEST POST Peter Grover
An Alisa Review: Russian Blau by Emily Carrington
An Ali Audiobook Review A Fortunate Blizzard by LC Chase
A Caryn Review: Boots by Angel Martinez
A Melanie Release Day Review: Chosen Pride by Mary Calmes
A VVivacious Advent Calendar Review Day 26: Title Surprise

Tuesday, December 27:

DSP GUEST POST Raine O’Tierney on The 12 Days of Hipster
DSP GUEST POST Jeff Adams
An Ali Review: The Road To Frosty Hollow – RJ Scott & Meredith Russell
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS by Joe Cosentino and Narrated by Joel Leslie
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Advent Calendar Review Day Review Day 27: Title Surprise
A Caryn Review: Wild Rose, Silent Snow by Angel Martinez
A VVivacious Review The House Guest by Asta Idonea

Wednesday, December 28:

DSP GUEST POST BA Tortuga on Catch and Release
DSP GUEST POST David Connor and E.F. Mulder
Cover Reveal for Hipster Brothel by K.A. Merikan
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Deefur And The Great Mistletoe Incident by RJ Scott
A Stella Release Day Review: Jackass Flats by Julia Talbot
An Ali Release Day Review: Whiskey Business by Avon Gale
A VVivacious Advent Calendar Review Day 28: Title Surprise

Thursday, December 29:

DSP GUEST POST Paul Comeau on More Things in Heaven and Earth
Review Tour – Posy Roberts – Analog to Digital
A Caryn Review: Bridge Over Troubled Water by Vivien Dean
A VVivacious Review: Under my Bed by T. A. Chase
A Lila Audio Review Fish Out of Water by Amy Lane
A Paul B Release Day Review: Analog to Digital

Friday, December 30:

Blog Tour: “Accused” by Leona Windwalker
Cover Reveal Regeneration by Louise Lyons
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Champagne Kisses by Lynda Aicher
A Lila Release Day Review: More Things in Heaven and Earth By Paul Comeau
A Melanie Release Day Review: In Enemy Hands by MA Church
A VVivacious Advent Calendar Review: Title Surprise

Saturday, December 31 (New Year’s Eve):

A Stella Advent Calendar Review Last Day: First New Year’s After the Apocalypse by Jessica Payseur

An Alisa Release Day Review: Love and Snowball Fights by J.R. Loveless

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Lane Freeman supposed there were worse places to be dumped than a place named Christmas Valley. After being ejected from the foster care system, he spent the past five years hitchhiking and moving around. But six months of a steady job at Tal’s Bar and Grill, an apartment, and even a three-legged cat have him almost ready to risk putting down a few roots when Tal’s brother comes home for the holidays.

Dallas firefighter Trey Jenkins reluctantly accepts that Lane isn’t like the other drifters who’ve come through his brother’s place. A fragile attraction begins to bloom between them in spite of the many reasons they each have to fight it. Trey wants to give Lane a family, but experience has taught Lane to depend on no one but himself. Will winter love burn hot in the town called Christmas Valley or will Lane return to his wandering ways?

This was a wonderful story. Lane is perhaps one of the sweetest guys in the world and so debilitating shy you can’t help but love him. Trey is very self assured and will to anything to protect his family. They become friends and bond a little while working at Tal’s bar. When they are forced together during a snowstorm it is hard to hide their attraction.

Not many stories cause gut wrenching reactions, but this story definitely affected me (it even had me in tears at one point). Lane’s complete lack of self worth is heartbreaking to see. We see through his eyes how he has been affected by his parent’s death and his continuous denial in the foster care system, he can’t see how he could be worth or wanted by anyone. Trey makes him see that maybe there is a possibility of something more for him. I loved that we got to see Lane and Trey together after the holidays and see how they are adapting to their relationship in their real lives.

Cover art by Bree Archer is great and give a great visual of the characters.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 116 pages

Published: December 21, 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781634778145

Edition Language: English

An Alisa Advent Calendar Review Day 20: Simple After All (2016 Advent Calendar – Bah Humbug) by Yolande Kleinn

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Noah Fiore, contracts attorney and dedicated curmudgeon, spends every Christmas with his family on the shore of Lake Superior. It’s practically tradition for his sister to invite a tragic tagalong to the festivities. But this year Kara’s guest is no pity case. Riley Coto is a friend, and his warmth and charm quickly win over the Fiore family.

When Riley overhears Noah complaining about Kara’s habit of bringing home strays for the holidays, he feels more than a little out of place. But Riley finds himself drawn to Noah. Something tells him there’s more to the man than the bad attitude he shows the world. With Christmas coming fast, Riley is falling for Noah, and there’s nothing simple about that.

Yolande Kleinn did a wonderful job with this short story. Noah has a constant frown on his face, but that doesn’t mean that he is necessarily cranky. Riley is drawn the quiet man and both find a quiet friendship with the other. Noah has been hurt by lovers in the past that can’t get past his serious attitude when they realize it isn’t an act and he is afraid Riley will grow tired of him.

For a short story these characters both have great depth and have both been hurt in the past. There are many secondary characters in this story, but they compliment these two wonderfully. It’s wonderful for them to both find the other person that compliments them perfectly.

Cover art by Bree Archer is perfect for this holiday story.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 49 pages

Published: December 20, 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

Edition Language: English

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Catch and Release (The Release #3) by B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

The Release series from BA Tortuga has followed individuals, in this case a young man, released from prison and their adjustment to freedom. The second story, The Articles of Release (The Release #2), varied slightly from this format, in that the person was adjusting to civilian life who came into the circle of friends containing the original couple of Adam (Win) Winchester and Sage Redding from Terms of Release. But here in Catch and Release, Tortuga returns to her heartrending baseline of a teen thrown into prison, in this case an innocent, for twelve years on a trumped up case of rape. This author doesn’t shy away from exactly what those years entailed for Dakota. We may not get the raw details, but what the author delivers is gut wrenching enough. Laundry whore, scars, first night in prison. Its enough to make you run and find the commode yourself. And it should be as these facts of prison life are delivered matter of factly by Dakota when asked. Yes, there are some nightmares but after 12 years? He’s had to come to terms. Well, you’ll get the picture. Now its freedom that’s scary, returning to a life of choices, change and constant judgement.

This story and these characters pack an emotional punch that hits you not only in the heart but then goes for the mental hit too. It makes you think about your own judgements about the judicial system and prison sentences. About the percentages of innocent people that actually are incarcerated and the high price they pay. Dakota comes alive here and stands in for all those who have paid such a price. Trust me when I say his story will make your heart weep with the pain his character has suffered because you know that there are those who have gone/are going through the exact same thing. Tortuga has done her research well.

As Dakota struggles through his adjustment, with help from Sage, Jayden, and others, you are standing along side him, hoping for a better life and maybe even justice. I liked how frank the discussions were between Dakota and Jayden, nothing hidden. How could there be when the scars are carved into your body? And your files something Jayden has access to? No, everything here is adult, realistic and believable. Even some parts at the end, where I wanted to say, ‘no, you can’t leave it at that’, made me acknowledge the fact that things don’t end up with everyone getting the answers they wanted, all tidy and neat. Life’s not like that. And for this story to stay raw, gritty and real, that ending had to stay that way too.

Don’t get me wrong, I loved that ending. You will too. But some of you will want it to be perfect. And it can’t. As Dakota would say, you can’t take back 12 years in prison. That doesn’t go away. He will always be an ex-con with those experiences in his head and on his body. Fair? No, but that’s life. What’s joyful is the journey that Tortuga had him make after prison that led to love and a better life.

The Release series just keeps getting better with each story. I can’t recommend Catch and Release (The Release #3) and the series itself highly enough. That goes for B.A. Tortuga too.

Cover art by Bree Archer is alright, but it seems more generic than pertinent to the story and character.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 230 pages
Expected publication: December 19th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634778863 (ISBN13: 9781634778862)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesThe Release

A MelanieM Release Day Review: The 12 Days of Hipster (The Avona Tales #2) by Raine O’Tierney

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Sequel to Bowl Full of Cherries

Last Christmas, Tyler Lang accidentally accepted David Griffith’s invitation for dinner. Yes, it was an accident. See, hipster (don’t call him that!) Tyler doesn’t date guys, and even if he did, he certainly doesn’t date jocks. A rude and hasty exit right when the date was getting good left things awkward between them.

David Griffith isn’t really a jock. Well, he’s a former athlete who loves sports, but “jock” has a certain connotation that doesn’t quite fit the intelligent, hardworking store owner. A jock wouldn’t have given Tyler Lang the time of day. But even after that little, ahem, stunt with the fire escape, David can’t stop thinking about the hipster a year later. Which would be fine if fate didn’t keep butting her nose into their business, making it impossible for the jock and the hipster to avoid each other this Christmas.

A hilarious holiday romp, set to the music of the Winter Sounds.

Wow, how did I miss this series from Raine O’Tierney? The 12 Days of Hipster is the second story in The Avona Tales and now I’m playing catchup because I love, loved this book! Not only did the author give me one of the most enjoyable tales this December but she also introduced this fellow Christmas music “whore” to the wonderful lyrics and melodies of The Winter Sounds. Be still my heart. This story moves to their music!

The first story (which I missed and will be going back to pick up) was about Tyler Lang’s brother Rell and his best friend, Owl. Here, Tyler, now living with them, and very hipster indeed, accepts an invitation from David Griffith, a multifaceted individual in jock’s clothing. This is their story, a funny, tumultuous path to romance and love.

Tyler is a wound up hipster type complicated person. Full of worries about implications over how he’s perceived from actions to outerwear, he’s really sort of frail, always ready to sprint away at the first signs of emotional commitment and serious decisions that involve him and his heart. And run he often does, literally. He’s exhausting to himself, his brother (with whom he’s often combative at worst and at best irritating), and best friend, Owl, who’s trying to stay calm and non-judgmental. I loved this character. So human, with all his faults, beard, twirly mustache, suspenders and well, all things hipster. You just can’t help it. And neither can David.

David Griffith, another splendid main character, easy to love and full of his own issues, some of them the same as Tyler’s. Watching these two adjust to each other, its a dance that pulls you into their lives and circle of friends. You also get the problems and issues happening in the lives of Rell and Owl. Argh, I need their story. And its Christmas, a time for family, and tension, and stress, and love. And Raine O’Tierney gets that and its amazing. Plus its puts to the soundtrack of The Winter Sounds (yes I pulled it up on SoundCloud and it became my companion for this read just as the author mentioned in her foreword).

The 12 Days of Hipster (The Avona Tales #2) by Raine O’Tierney is a must read story I absolutely recommend. Its full of love, romance and the holiday spirit. Its funny, has moments of sadness and joy, and a soundtrack to set you a singing! Plus now I have another book to go search out and read. Yes, it does work as a standalone but after reading it, who would want to pass on the first? Not me. Happy Holidays!

Cover art by Paul Richmond who couldn’t have gotten every aspect more perfect if he’d waved a wand. From the characters to the hawk, its spot on. A favorite of mine this year.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 240 pages
Expected publication: December 19th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1635331277 (ISBN13: 9781635331271)
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series The Avona Tales

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Catch and Release (The Release #3) by B.A. Tortuga Dreamspinner Press Cover art by Bree Archer

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Merry Christmas and More Announcements

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This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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Catch and Release (The Release #3) by B.A. Tortuga
Dreamspinner Press
Cover art by Bree Archer