A Stella Review: THE LAST YETI by Tully Vincent

Rating 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

Loss. Sometimes it’s slow and inexorable. Sometimes it happens in an instant.

Jrake is a yeti-shifter who has lost contact with others of his ancient species. Emerging from years of self-imposed isolation, he’s desperate to find proof that he’s not alone in a world full of the humans he hates.

Rohn Sheldon lost everything that mattered to him in a devastating moment of inattention. Gone are his lover, his right arm, and his career. His belief in himself is at an all time low as he struggles to find his place in a world he’s no longer sure he wants to belong to.

Two men, one facing cataclysm, the other fighting his way back from it. Can they find hope in each other?

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” 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.

Dear Author,
Yetis are made to wander the wilderness mostly alone, and only meet up occasionally. For three long years I have searched the earth and, finally, I have accepted it: I am the last of my kind. I do not belong in the world of people or technology, but the only other choice is dying of loneliness. I have managed to create a life on the edge of society, terrified to come close, terrified of being recognized as the monster only little children believe in. Lately I have realized staying in the wilds may have been a less desolate life.

Can you maybe find me someone to be alone with together?

Photo Description:
A well-built man with dark facial hair stares into the camera, eyes piercing and expression uncompromising. He wears primitively constructed fur clothing that leaves much of his muscular, veiny arms and toned torso bared to the weather. Although his skin is damp from the snow, he seems unaffected by the cold.

This story may contain sexually explicit content and is intended for adult readers. It may contain content that is disagreeable or distressing to some readers. The M/M Romance Group strongly recommends that each reader review the General Information section before each story for story tags as well as for content warnings.

The Last Yeti by Tully Vincent is already on my “favorite shelf” because it was one of the few books I really felt lately. I was very curious about this story when it came out in the Love is an Open Road event on the MM group on Goodreads. For different reasons: first of all I had never read about a yeti shifter before so I was intrigued by this new world and how would have been shown by the author. Then, have you seen the cover? It alone deserves all the stars. I can anticipate to you that the story exceeded my expectations, not only from the writing part but especially in the emotional side. In fact I was caught in the story from the start, but what surprise me more was the pull I felt from both MCs, I was soon there in their lives and empathize with them. I felt them hurting and loving. In my opinion the author made an amazing work at characterizing Rohn and Jrake and leaving nothing unexplored.

Rohn is still mourning the loss of his life partner, Evan, dead two years ago in the same accident that took his right arm and his painter career too. Still recovering from an alcohol abuse, Rohn thinks to be a failure to everyone, to his dad who wants him to be his business’ heir. To Evan for letting him die in the accident. Now that he can’t draw anymore without his right arm, he’s a failure to himself too. Tired of feeling helpless and to be always babysitted, he has come to Alaska to show his dad and himself too that he can take care of himself.

Jrake is a yeti shifter. Desperate in his researches of another yeti, he is almost resigned to the fate of being the last yeti in the world when he smell another of his kind just in Alaska, his home country, but he cant find it. His coldness versus the human world led him to live a life mainly in his preferred form, the yeti one, alone and far away from the humans. When he first met Rohn I admit it was a little hard to watch him to be so indifferent at the beginning, before he saves Rohn from dying in the iced river, even if he should have let him go and die since Rohn saw him as a yeti. Jrake is tired of being alone but he is so used to push his human side aside, it’s not easy to thrust and let him find a closeness with the man who came into his world unexpected.

The story is heartbroken, sweet and emotional. It is detailed and never once shallow about Jrake and his yeti world. Everything is well explained, I followed him in his hunting, fishing and shifting. I particularly liked The Last Yeti is not the usual shifter story about destined mates I’m used to read, on the contrary, Jrake isn’t really looking, not even hoping, for a partner.

The writing style is my favorite, with two different POV, the use of the third person past. It made the reading quick and the words flew easily and there was never a pause in the story. Behind their meeting and spending time together there is a lot going on around the MCs.

Moreover I liked the story a lot cause I was able to see every little thing in my head. There are some parts that are so evocative. Plus, the sex scenes are hot and sexy just as I like them to be. I loved the ending part but I loved more to know that there is a WIP sequel already. I can’t wait to see them together and to know how they will be able to live their lives as a couple, I’m hungry for more. Well done!

Cover art by Tully Vincent*. It’s perfect in every detail, it was eyecatching to me.

Book Details:

ebook, 201 pages
Published August 26th 2015 by MMRomanceGroup.com
Edition Language English
DOWNLOAD LINK (free) http://www.mmromancegroup.com/the-last-yeti-by-tully-vincent/

Note: Tully Vincent is also our reviewer BJ for purposes of clarification.

A Paul B Review: Betrothed: A Faery Tale by Therese Woodson

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars ★★★★★

After the war between the faery kingdoms ended, it was decided that heirs to the three victorious kingdoms would intermarry to prevent another war from occurring. When Prince Chrysanths of the Earth kingdom is informed of his upcoming marriage to the prince of the Air kingdom, he runs away preferring to marry for love. Will he change perform his duty or will this lead to the next faery war?

Prince Chrysanths is the heir apparent to the throne of the Earth faery kingdom. However, some in the kingdom believe he is not fit to sit on the throne, as he is actually also half human. One day while he taking lessons on the history of the great faery war, he is summoned to meet his mother. She informs him that the marriage clause is being invoked since the announcement of the engagement of the Water prince and an Air princess has been announced. Chrysanths is to be wed shortly to the prince of the Air kingdom. Chrysanths, who prefers to be known as Puck, sees this as an interference of wanting to marry for love and decides to run away to the human world and visit his father to wait out the engagement period and marriage date.

Prince Sky of the Air faery kingdom takes his duty seriously. While he is not thrilled with his impeding marriage, he sees no option but to go through with it. He figures that it could be worse…he could be marrying the Water prince. He travels to the Earth faery kingdom for the three-week engagement period to learn more about his betrothed. When Sky finds out that Puck has run away to the human world, he decides that he must go after the wayward prince and convince him to perform his duty and come back for the wedding. However, he finds that Puck is less than enthusiastic about the arranged marriage. The one bright spot seems to be Puck’s father Jim. He overhears Jim giving Puck advice about the situation and Sky is somewhat encouraged that things might work out after all. When Sky gets ill like his deceased father, will he be marrying Puck just to leave him a widow a short time later?

I found this modern day fairy tale thoroughly entertaining. It hits most of the themes of both a good romance and fairy tale. In a twist to the classic fairy godmother helping out the main character, it is Puck’s human father who fills that role. Sky fills in the character that is out of their element when he travels to the earth realm and finds things not totally to his liking. The Fire faeries, which were defeated in the faery war, also make their presence known. The only disappointment with that part of the story is that they seem to give up too easily once it becomes clear their plans did not work out. After working so many years to try to retake the faery kingdoms, you would think that their leader would do more than the equivalent of “Oh well. I tried my best” and give up.

The cover art by Anna Sikorska shows a shirtless man in blue jeans with dots where his missing wings would be. The young man has blue marking on his upper arms. I assume that this is possibly Sky with those markings but I’m not sure. It’s a nicely done cover for the book.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book details

ebook, 200 pages
Published September 23rd 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634765168 (ISBN13: 9781634765169)

First Lines in Novels and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

As September winds down to the start up of October, so many things start to cram themselves into my head. Where is the dancing skeleton dressed like a Venice dandy? And the pumpkin headed schoolboys that talk? But somehow, as I watch the leaves turn colors and fall, often brown because of the lack of rainfall, a line jumped into my head….”To wound the autumnal summer…”. An opening first line of a science fiction story of the 90’s, that returns to me time and again even if the rest of the book doesn’t. [Note: Can I find the book on my many shelves at the moment? No, I cannot. It will be credited as soon as I can find the damn book or someone can send me the title or my memory kicks in…which ever comes first.]

First lines are like that, good ones, bad ones, really good bad ones. Standing there looking at the fall leaves swirl made that one pop back up and now, like a earworm, it will be stuck there all day. I know I’ve had that happen with first lines from other books as well, from the sublime to the ridiculous. “Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.” Yep, that’s another one that has stayed with me along with the story’s imagery. Thank you, Daphne du Maurier and “Rebecca”. The first line has a huge job to do. It has to hook the reader in, intrigue you, be memorable enough in its content or language to make you continue to read on… And some do it unbelievably well.

How about these? Can you place these to the author and novel? One of them even has a famous bad writing contest named after it and is often featured in a comics with a beagle. Some might be easy, others a little obscure and pulled from my library (and favorite authors).

“It was a dark and stormy night…”

“Call me Ishmael.”.

“All children, except one, grew up.”

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times…”

“There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.”

“All this happened, more or less.”

“It was a pleasure to burn.”

“It was love at first sight.”

“When I finally caught up with Abraham Trahearne, he was drinking beer with an alcoholic bulldog named Fireball Roberts in a ramshackle joint just outside of Sonoma, California, drinking the heart right out of a fine spring afternoon.”

“We were somewhere around Barstow at the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.”

[Answers below this week’s schedule.]

It got me thinking which the novels you’ve all recently read have had first lines that have stuck with you? Any of them? Let me know if you can think of any novels you’ve read where the opening lines have made you sit up and take notice! In the meantime, here is our upcoming schedule this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, September 27:

First Lines in Novels and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, September 28:

Cover Reveal for Jaye McKenna’s ‘Lethe Blade’
Return to Lake Lovelace with Rough Road by Vanessa North (contest)
Book Spotlight: Raine O’Tierney & Debbie McGowan’s ‘Where the Grass Is Greener’ (excerpt and giveaway)
A Stella Review: Rough Road by Vanessa North
A PaulB Review: Betrothed by Therese Woodson

Tuesday, September 29:

Best Books of September 2015
A BJ Review: Rattlesnake by Kim Fielding
A Stella Review: The Last Yeti by Tully Vincent
A F.D. Review: Late Summer, Early Spring by Patricia Correll
A MelanieM Review: High Stakes (Four of Clubs 4) by Parker Williams

Wednesday, September 30:

Best Book Covers of September 2015
A Stella Audiobook Review: Just Desserts by Mary Calmes
A BJ Review: Chasing Death Metal Dreams by Kaje Harper
Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review : Model Citizen by Lissa Kasey
A MelanieM Review: Brimstone Owned and Operated by Angel Martinez

Thursday, October 1:

Natalie-Nicole Bates ‘Everything Anise’ book blast and giveaway
Book Spotlight: Annabelle Jacobs is Back with ‘The Altered 3‘ (excerpt and contest)
A Mika Review: Where Wishes Go by S.A. McAuley
A MelanieM Review: Flax’s Pursuit by Bellora Quinn and Angel Martinez
A Wynter Review: Kaminishi by Jan Suzukawa

Friday, October 2:

S.A. McAuley ‘Where Wishes Go‘ book blast and giveaway
A Solitary Man by Shira Anthony and Aisling Mancy Cover Reveal
AF Henley’s ‘Wolf, WY’ Book Release Guest Blog and Giveaway
A Stella Review: The Last Nights Of The Frangipani Hotel by Bey Deckard
A Sammy Review: The Ultimate Team by Tricia Owens
A MelanieM Review: The Firebird and Other Stories by R Cooper

YA Saturday, October 3:

A Free Dreamer YA Review: This Book is Gay by James Dawson

Some Famous First Lines:

“Call me Ishmael.” —Herman Melville, Moby-Dick (1851)

“It was a dark and stormy night; the rain fell in torrents, except at occasional intervals, when it was checked by a violent gust of wind which swept up the streets (for it is in London that our scene lies), rattling along the house-tops, and fiercely agitating the scanty flame of the lamps that struggled against the darkness.” —Edward George Bulwer-Lytton, Paul Clifford (1830)

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair.” —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities (1859)

“There was a boy called Eustace Clarence Scrubb, and he almost deserved it.” – C. S. Lewis, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader (1952)

“All children, except one, grow up”. -, J.M. Barrie. Peter Pan (1911)

“It was a pleasure to burn.” —Ray Bradbury, Fahrenheit 451 (1953)

“All this happened, more or less”. —Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse-Five (1969)

“It was love at first sight.” —Joseph Heller, Catch-22 (1961)

“We were somewhere around Barstow at the edge of the desert when the drugs began to take hold.”- Hunter S. Thompson, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas.

A Melanie M Review: Texas Wedding (Texas #7) by R.J. Scott

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

Sometimes Riley and Jack have to be the ones to fight other people’s battles and stand up for what is right.

Faced with the life changing prospect of a yes vote from SCOTUS on the issue of same sex marriage, Riley and Jack realise they have decisions to make. Add in some distressing family news and the very real possibility that old secrets may resurface, and this last book in the Texas series pulls together as many threads as the boys can manage to handle.

But through all the ups and the downs, children, family events, laughter, and tears, there is nothing as special as the forever love between these two men.

With a vote from SCOTUS, RJ Scott was able to bring her Texas series to an end with the wedding story it deserves in Texas Wedding. And she does it in a way that is layered with elements both sweet and bluntly realistic.

Through seven books, Riley and Jack have gone from hatred to tolerance to lust to deep and abiding love. They have been married three times. But in only once of those ceremonies, have their hearts been engaged. They have four children, a large extended family and a growing list of charities, one of which is based at their ranch. Life hasn’t slowed down at all but instead the increasing hectic pace is getting to them. In Texas Wedding, RJ Scott brings all the characters we have grown to love together to celebrate the lives of Riley and Jack Campbell-Hayes, their children and to tie up loose ends.

I have always loved the realistic manner that RJ Scott folded Max, Jack and Riley’s adopted autistic child, into the family. Now Jack and Riley have further challenges in helping a older Max to adjust to changes in his environment and schedules, including those that happen at school. In the story, that means that Jack and Riley need a support group, to try to “see” an issue from Max’s standpoint. Its a wonderful side story, and it helps to show how the future might work out for Max and his family. No magic pills to cure Max, just support and working things through as a family. Same goes for their daughter, Haley, who has a health crisis that is dealt with common sense and the facts. Its hard to part with this family that I’ve grown so fond of just as the twins are getting older, Haley is starting to date, and the boy she is determined to marry is….well, let’s not go there…save it for the book. Let’s just say I miss them already.

All the side couples, some in flux, some not, are here. One or two old plot threads return to be tidied up, not neatly, life’s not like that. But enough so, that it works here at the series end.

Jack and Riley. Still at the heart of the series. Still hot. Still sexy. And still so very in love with each other. While their start may have been more of a “fairytale”, the way they go out is filled with authenticity, heart and realism. Overworked dads, (ok, extremely wealthy overworked dads) who need to make time for each other, adoption issues (Texas again), children problems, so many things ring true for this parent, and all these elements, all the various subject matters hang on a foundation of hope. And love. That final ceremony had me in tears. It was the perfect ceremony to end this book and the series. So many different things included here and all perfectly balanced with RJ Scott’s warm scripted narrative, full of heart and intelligence.

Is RJ Scott done with Jack and Riley? Maybe. Perhaps. At least she is for now.

We have seven books to remind us how much we love these two men and their story and we can revisit them as much as we want. Start at the beginning and continue on. It only gets better. Meet up at Texas Wedding! Its an ending you will treasure! I highly recommend them all.

Cover art by Meredith Russell. My only problem with this is that the models haven’t aged but Riley and Jack have. Maybe they should have been put in frames or something. It doesn’t work here.

␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣␣

Sales Links: RJ Scott Blog | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 216 pages

Published September 25th 2015 by Love Lane Books Limited

edition language English

url http://rjscottauthor.blogspot.co.uk/2015/08/texas-wedding-texas-7-blurb-reveal.html

series Texas #7

Texas Series:

The Heart of Texas (Texas, #1)

Texas Winter (Texas, #2)

Texas Heat (Texas, #3)

Texas Family (Texas, #4)

Texas Christmas (Texas, #5)

Texas Fall (Texas #6)

Texas Wedding

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Other Side of the Line by Marguerite Labbe

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

This was a sweet, nostalgic walk down memory lane as Caleb Hudson and Hal Zimmer recall the first day they met sixty years before, and with the urging of their children and grandchildren, relate the long, sometimes painful road they traveled to find the balance necessary to merge that friendship with love and long-term commitment.

In 2023, at a family reunion held in honor of Caleb and Hal, who are now husbands, their children and grandchildren presented them with a memory book filled with photos, letters, and other memorabilia that symbolized the time they spent together and apart in their early years. Prompted to tell tales of what happened at various points of their lives, readers are treated to what is surely one of the best stories this reviewer has read all year. I must admit, though, it may be partially because the story encompasses my own history, taking place over the course of time in which I grew up and grew old. But from that perspective, I can also guarantee the authenticity of the flavor of the times.

In 1963, when Caleb Hudson first attended what used to be an all-white elementary school in Charleston, South Carolina, his early days were fraught with negativity and racial prejudice—from both the students and the teachers. Though he dreaded going to school each day, he knew that he and others like him had to step up to the task so segregation would be something others would read about in history books and not experience in real life. Fortunately, a new kid—a Northerner—joined his class, and some of the attention was diverted from him onto this new kid. Hal Zimmer, an adorable, friendly redhead, couldn’t understand why his parents moved from New York to a place where he was not only an outsider, but was shunned for not being a native. When the bullies cornered him after school, he thought he was a goner until another kid showed up to help him and scared the bullies away. Caleb was that other kid and from that moment on, they became best friends for life, and neither of them ever dreaded going to school again.

As the boys mature, Hal comes to realize that he is gay, and shunned by his father for his “sissy ways,” he acts out by joining the antiwar movement, hanging out with hippies and others in the Village once he gets to college in New York. In the meantime, Caleb is becoming aware that he has feelings for Hal that are more than brotherly, but rather than embrace those feelings, he denies them. But when he’s drafted and sent to Viet Nam, he extracts a promise from Hal that Hal won’t protest against the soldiers returning home. If he must protest the government, that’s fine, but not the men who have no choice but to go to serve their country.

Once Caleb is back and the two are reunited, sparks fly between them, Caleb confesses his attraction to Hal, and they have their first look at how hot they can be together. But it doesn’t last, and circumstances separate them yet again as Hal decides to join the Peace Corps and serve two years in Ghana. It’s not until he returns from there that the two men finally face their demons, but they have to fight against outside forces, former lovers, family, and friends to be able to forge their way to what they really want and need.

Thank you, Ms. Labbe, for ending this story, not with a tragedy, but with hope for a long future together as the men look forward to making good use of their time in retirement. There are few stories in which the MCs grow old together, and even fewer in which the seniors look forward to a happy future. Twenty-four hours after completion, my emotions are finally settling into a warm and fuzzy ball in my tummy after having been on a rollercoaster throughout the book. There are heartbreakingly poignant moments in this story, periods of worry and concern, and times of angst-filled distress, yet there are times of joy and happiness as well, and I’m left with a feeling of awe from having just read a book that will live in my memory for a long time to come.

I highly recommend this story to all lovers of M/M romance. If you love a good tale, or a story of an interracial couple, or if you simply enjoy a walk back through history, please don’t’ miss your chance to read this story.

~~~

Cover Art by Catt Ford depicts an interracial photo of two young boys, one with his arm around the other, another photo of two hands being held—the same young boys—books, and various memorabilia collected throughout their lives. The cover is perfect for the content of this story which spans this couple’s love and friendship over the past sixty years.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 330 pages, also in paperback

Published September 18th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press

original title Other Side of the Line

ISBN 9781634765

edition language English

What are you all reading now – part I- and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

What are you all reading now?

I was over at J Scott Coatsworth’s Queer Sci Fi Facebook group (if you love fantasy, science fiction, the discussions held there will blow you away). Any how, that day authors of some gay graphic novels were there talking about their latest couples and releases. I thought the pictures and storylines were hot, hot, hot.

Now I love anime’, cut my teeth on comic books and early graphic novels. Found Yaoi, never looked further, which was a mistake. So I took a quick “run” around the web and found some pretty neat LGBTQIA graphic comics out there. ALEX WOOLFSON and ADAM DEKRAKER: Queer Sci Fi ran interview/chat with the creators of The Young Protectors as part of their wonderful Graphic Novel Week. That started August 25. Check out the entire week’s contributions when you have the time. But that made me wonder?

Do you all read graphic comics? If so, which ones? Which authors? I’ve included a small poll to see how much we read and follow graphic novels. Please feel free to chime in with your comments as well. Thanks.

Now on to this week’s schedule after the poll.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, September 20:

KC Wells ‘First’ book blast and contest
What Are You All Reading and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, September 21:

Enter the Dystopian World of Bane by Amelia C. Gormley (Riptide Tour and contest)
Beany Sparks ‘Shades of Power’, book blast and giveaway
Coffee Sip and Book Break with Lisa & TJ Oliver’s ‘Uncaged’ (excerpt and contest)
A BJ Review: The Complications of T (The Actor’s Circle #1) by Bey Deckard
A Free Dreamer Review: The Demon You Know by Barbara Elsborg

Tuesday, September 22:

In the Spotlight: Draven St. James ‘Lost in the Fire’ (excerpt and giveaway)
Special Cheryl Headford Guest Post with Character Interview (giveaway and excerpt)
A Barb The Zany Old Lady Review: Fit To Be Tied by Mary Calmes
A Mika Review: Unbreak Broken by J.K. Hogan
A PaulB Review: Not A Line of Bull by Charlie Richards

Wednesday, September 23:

Whistlestop Book Blast for Alyssa Astra ‘Fiery’ (excerpt and giveaway)
In the Book Spotlight: Chris McHart ‘Small Steps’ (excerpt and contest)
Its Hot, Its Sexy, Its the Manchester Ménage Collection with Nicole Colville ‘Discovering Dalton’ (excerpt and giveaway)
A Barb The Zany Old Lady Review: Other Side of the Line by Marguerite Labbe
A PaulB review: Kissed by Nemesis by Andi Anderson
A Free Dreamer Review: Such a Dance by Kate McMurray

Thursday, September 24:

Coffee Sip and Book Break: Fai Marie Dawson ‘Please Understand’ (excerpt and giveaway)
Time to Heat Things up with H.C. Brown ‘Stalked’ (excerpt and giveaway)
A Stella Audiobook Review: Going Up by Amy Lane (Audiobook)
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Empty Nests (Nested Hearts #1) by Ada Maria Soto
A MelanieM Review: Tequila Mockingbird (Sinners #3) by Rhys Ford

Friday, September 25:

Its Release Day for RJ Scott’s Texas 7 (contest)
Coffee Sip and Book Break: Theresa Hissong’s It Takes Two Tour (excerpt and giveaway)
A Jeri Review: Beautiful Thunder by Louise Lyons
A MelanieM Review: Sloe Ride (Sinners, #4) by Rhys Ford
A Stella Review: ACID by Wulf Francu Godluck

Saturday, September 26:

A MelanieM Review: Texas Wedding (Texas #7) by RJ Scott

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Author Discovery: BJ on Author Lia Black

BJ on Author Lia Black

With the plethora of competent m/m authors around these days, we fans have a daunting variety to choose from. I’ve sampled and enjoyed a book or two from hundreds of authors, but there’s only a handful whose books I just can’t seem to get enough of. Their books call my name the second they’re released. Lia Black is one of those authors.

She’s published five m/m novels to date, and I’ve devoured every single one with relish. All were five star reads with one exception that I rated 4.25, not because of the writing… oh, wait a minute, maybe it was the writing. Because what else was it but her brilliant writing that got me so thoroughly invested in (or should I say in love with?) the two main characters that I just couldn’t stand it when they were separated for a portion of the book? The frustration of that separation made me want to scream. And that right there is a key to why she’s one of my favorite authors.

Lia Black’s storylines suck me in; her characters fascinate me; and her writing always works its way deep down into the recesses of my neglected, dusty, middle-of-nowhere heart and plucks at my emotions. Hard.

Lia’s writing is a bit hard to pigeonhole. Her goodread’s author page states that her work is fantasy, sci-fi, LGBT romance. But that doesn’t quite tell the whole story. You see, Ms. Black does tend to live up to her name. There are dark parts in each and every story I’ve read by this author. Sometimes very dark indeed. So, if you want light and fluffy with a cherry on top, you should probably look elsewhere. But if you’re okay with a story that can make you gasp, that can smash your heart into the gutter and step on it, then ever so tenderly and exquisitely rip it to shreds before putting it back together—read on. You won’t be disappointed.

This author’s characters are sometimes broken yet not angsty, glamorous yet sad, weird yet beautiful, extreme and even gross yet still awesome and cool in their own right. Some of them even have long hair (well, what can I say, long-haired men are a thing for me so I had to mention that!)

And her writing makes me feel… a lot. Sometimes that means quivering in disgust and wanting to roll into a ball like a pill bug and hide but being too entranced to put the book down and do it. Sometimes it means aww moments when my heart wants to melt in my chest cuz I’ve just fallen in love with a character she breathed such life into that I have a clear picture of them in my head, not of a generic sexy man that could fit for a character in any number of stories I’ve read, but someone I feel like I could pick out in a crowd… one I could pick up my paint brush and paint a portrait of except I usually don’t, because I wouldn’t do him justice since I paint dogs and not people.

Lia Black’s stories leave emotional paper cuts on my heart. They’re by turns exhausting, frustrating, horrifying, amazing, fascinating, and touching. But always riveting, and always, in the end, healing. Deliciously dark stories that somehow light me up inside.

I think this excerpt from my review of Fidelity sums it up well: “Not for the faint-hearted, one particular scene at the beginning took my breath away with its grisly, shocking cruelty. But amidst the bloody battle scenes, there is humor, small joys, and sweet tenderness. Amidst the dismantling, I was put back together. The ride to get there was gut-wrenching, heartbreaking, and painful to read. I absolutely loved it.”

So if you’re looking for something different, something to expand your boundaries or to touch on places that maybe you haven’t explored, something to make you feel and not always in a fluffy, sweet way—look no further. Read Lia Black. And if you need help picking which of her books to start with, check out the links to my full reviews below.

Oh, I have one other thing to say about her writing, and I really hope she’s reading this. I desperately need to read more.

About The Author

Lia Black tends to do everything the hard way; beginning with being born backwards into the world and now raising a teenage daughter by herself in conservative Upstate NY. Her career choices are no less extreme, including occupations of fine artist, computer geek, firefighter, and mortician’s assistant— just to name a few.

A fellow Author describes Black’s mind as “a glorious kaleidoscope of f*ckeduppery”; she loves the challenge of writing about people who probably have no business being together on the same planet, and who occasionally deal with questionable sanity/morality. It’s fun to glue broken things together and try to make something interesting and new.
–She especially loves broken boys who have lots of fascinating pieces.

Her characters often suffer through the worlds she creates for them, which leaves them a little cranky and sometimes less lovable than others in a romance genre. Yet Black swears that someday, “there will be comedy.”

Follow Lia Black at: Goodreads | Website | Twitter |

BJ’s Reviews of Lia Black’s Novels

Goodreads Link BJ Review Link

A King’s Ransom BJ’s Review

Spiretown BJ’s Review

Fidelity Link to BJ’s Review

Where Willows Won’t Grow Link to BJ’s Review here

Happy Labor Day, Announcements and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Happy Labor Day!

I’ll be raising a glass to Rosie later on in the day! Join me, won’t you? But before our celebrations start… a few announcements. First, we have a new reviewer at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Please welcome Free Dreamer. Her reviews should start to appear by the end of the month. Another reviewer looks to be coming on board as well. More on that later. Now watch me do the happy dance as Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words expands once more.

Here is a small part of her bio:

“Hey there! My name’s Free Dreamer. I’m in my early twenties, I live in Vienna and recently started working in a book shop. I’m not a native speaker, but I lived close to London for about 10 months, so English very much feels like a second mother tongue.

I love my books to be dark and gritty. My favourite M/M author is Cornelia Grey, amongst others. I’m not easily squicked and I like books with plenty of plot outside the romance. So I really like Fantasy and Sci-Fi/Dystopian books. Though I do enjoy the occasional contemporary story and historical romance set in Asia. Basically, I’ll read pretty much anything, as long as it’s not full of teeth-rotting fluff or PWP.

Outside of M/M my favourite author is Brandon Sanderson. Should I ever have the honour of meeting him in person, I shall fall to my knees and declare him God of Fantasy. I’m not a typical romance reader, so I very rarely read M/F Romance. Mostly, I stick to Fantasy, Sci-Fi and the occasional historical novel set in China or Japan.”

For the rest of Free Dreamer’s bio – check her out on our Reviewers page here.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, September 6:

Announcements and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Box Set Bonanza! The Brazen Boys Series by Daryl Banner (Books 1-4) (excerpt and contest)

Monday, September 7 – Happy Labor Day to those in the U.S. and ex pats overseas

Cover Reveal for Sloan Johnson’s Triple Play (excerpt and contest)
Book blast for Lee Brazil’s ‘Keeping House’ (excerpt and contest0
A Stella Review: To Love A Traitor by J.L. Merrow
A MelanieM Review: Blind Hearts by Havan Fellows
A BJ Review: Love Starved by Kate Fiero

Tuesday, September 8:

Into the Spotlight: Wolf Creek by Nikko Lee (excerpt and giveaway)
A Mika Review: All Man by Jay Northcote
A MelanieM Review: Buttermilk Ranch by Patricia Logan
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Three’s Company by N. R. Walker

Wednesday, September 9:

Coffee Sip and Book Break: Brad Vance ‘Werewolves of Brooklyn’ (excerpt and giveaway)
A Stella Review: White Lies by Jack Byrne
A Paul B Review: Into the Dark Void by John Simpson and Robert Cummings
A MelanieM Review: Sinner’s Gin by Rhys Ford

Thursday, September 10:

Aria Grace ‘Best Gay Romance’ box set Book Blast (excerpts and contest)
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Running With Scissors by L.A. Witt
A Jeri Review: The World As He Sees It by A. M Arthur
A MelanieM Review: Winter Wonderland by Heidi Cullinan

Friday, September 11:

Cover Reveal – Blind Redemption by Denise Dearth and Amy Gillen‏ (contest)
In the Spotlight: Articles of Release by BA Tortuga (excerpt and giveaway)
Kage Allen’s Book Blast and Contest
A Mika Review: Lovers & Fighters by Nash Summers
A Jeri Review: Not Safe for Work by L. A. Witt

YA Saturday, September 12:

An Aurora YA Review: A Hard Days Night by Mia Kerick

A BJ Review: Give An Inch by K.D. Sarge

Rating: 5 stars out of 5 ★★★★★

This story was written as a part of the M/M Romance Group’s “Love is an Open Road” event. Group members were asked to write a story prompt inspired by a photo of their choice, and all the stories are edited by the group and given away FREE. This particular story was written for the prompt I submitted! Woot!

Prompt:

Dear Author,
The court settlement left me with enough money to buy a house as isolated from other people as I could get. I vowed I’d never let anyone close again and spent my days fixing the place up and trying to forget. Then a feral cat dropped her litter in the shed out back and disappeared. I couldn’t leave newborn kittens to die, but a city boy like me had no clue how to care for them. Thank goodness for Google. Supply list in hand, hair tucked under a hat that shadowed my face, and eyes covered by glasses, I dared to venture into town. I met him (picture) at the local feed store. I guess he’s not into watching the news, since he didn’t seem to know who I am. He helped me save the kittens. He’s dyslexic, which he thinks makes him stupid. He’s far from that. He’s kind and gentle, and he’s starting to slip under my barriers. Starting to make me crave his touch. But how can I bare my body to him after what they did to me? What they made me?

Tully

Photo Description:
A young man in a beanie lies on a couch, a gray-and-white kitten asleep on his chest and a black-and-white kitten exploring. He smiles at them.

I was extremely excited when K.D. Sarge chose my prompt as I knew I could expect to get something special. I’m going to try not to give away too much of the plot in this review because I think its something best experienced in the slow bits of insight given. For that reason, I won’t say much about Marlow’s background, but as the story opens he’s purchased a secluded home in a rural area and has found a litter of NINE kittens abandoned by their mother. NINE! How can he possibly care for that many little critters on his own, right? Thankfully, young Pax who works part-time at the feed store rides into the picture on his trusty bike. Marlow had forgotten one of his bags of purchases at the store and Pax came to deliver it in person. Like Marlow, Pax is sucked in by the little furballs and is soon on board with the fight to save them… and maybe Marlow, too.

Wonderfully written story that gave me all the sweet adorableness I’d hoped for offset by some lovely touches of dark. I enjoyed reading this and am thankful to the author for bringing my prompt to life so eloquently!

Both Pax and Marlow are interesting characters. The story did end a bit abruptly for me, and left me longing for a sequel or expanded version to show more. I must know if the guy’s initial hook up continued and what ended up happening to the kittens. Did they keep one? Basically, it was completely intriguing and I was totally not ready for it to end. MORE please.

The cover was created by the DRitC team as part of the event and doesn’t relate specifically to this story.

Free Story to be Found Here

Book Details:

ebook, 52 pages
Published August 30th 2015 by MMRomanceGroup.com
edition languageEnglish
url http://www.mmromancegroup.com/?p=278481

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best Books and Covers of August 2015

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Best Books and Covers of August 2015

Looking back at our August 2015, never have I seen so many wonderful books as we read and reviewed this month. Normally I would include those books with a 4.5 or higher rating, but we had so many excellent 5 star novels this month that I had to stop somewhere and left those off this time.

Did you miss out on any of our reviews listed below? Give them and the books another look now. These stories are too amazing to be missed. And don’t forget the covers that we loved just below that. Does it match your own lists this month? Write us and let us know!

Best Books of August 2015 – ★★★★★

Get Your Shine On by Nick Wilgus (A Stella Review on 8/5)
Redemption by Eden Winters (A MelanieM Review on 8/7)
Evolution by Lissa Kasey (An Aurora YA Review on 8/8)
Definitely, Maybe, Yours by Lissa Reed (A Mika Review on 8/11)
Diamond Edge by Laura Harner (A MelanieM Review on 8/12)
The Harder They Fall by Lisa Henry and Heidi Belleau (A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review on 8/13)
The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune (A Stella Review on 8/14)
The Pillar the Kim Fielding (A BJ Review on 8/14)
Lucky Linus by Gene Grant (A Mika Review on 8/ 15)
The Homecoming by J. Scott Coatsworth on 8/21 (A Paul B Review)

Audiobooks:

Nowhere Ranch by Heidi Cullinan, narrated by Iggy Toma (A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review on 8/17)

End of a Series:

A Piece of Cake by Mary Calmes (Jory and Sam) (A MelanieM Review) on 8/14

Favorite Covers of August 2015

Shadows and Ink by Rhys Ford, cover art by Anne Cain
Definitely, Maybe. Yours by Lissa Reed, cover art by Buckeyegrrl Design -made Mika want to read the story,
The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune, cover art by Paul Richmond, powerful and unique
The Pillar by Kim Fielding, cover artist is Shobana Appavu. Stunning and rich as the story
Lucky Linus by Gene Grant, cover art by Paul Richmond, photograph is again the reason Mika wanted this book
The Homecoming by J. Scott Coatsworth, cover art by London Burden, Paul thinks its one of the most gorgeous covers he’s seen all year.

Special Mentions to Kate McMurray’s The Rainbow League Series, cover art by Aaron Anderson. Wonderful.

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This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, September 27:

Monday, September 28:

Tuesday, September 29:

Wednesday, September 30:

Thursday, October 1:

Friday, October 2:

YA Saturday, October 3:

Some Famous First Lines:

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This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, September 20:

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Tuesday, September 22:

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Thursday, September 24:

Friday, September 25:

Saturday, September 26:

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BJ on Author Lia Black

About The Author

BJ’s Reviews of Lia Black’s Novels

Goodreads Link BJ Review Link

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Happy Labor Day!

For the rest of Free Dreamer’s bio – check her out on our Reviewers page here.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, September 6:

Monday, September 7 – Happy Labor Day to those in the U.S. and ex pats overseas

Tuesday, September 8:

Wednesday, September 9:

Thursday, September 10:

Friday, September 11:

YA Saturday, September 12:

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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Best Books and Covers of August 2015

Best Books of August 2015 – ★★★★★

Favorite Covers of August 2015

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