A MelanieM Review: The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (Least Likely Partnership, #3) by A.J. Thomas

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

A year has passed since ex San Diego homicide detective Christopher Hayes’s brother committed suicide. Christopher is still recovering from the injuries he sustained when attacked by the main suspect during the investigation. The closing of the case saw more changes in Christopher’s life as he moved in with his lover, Montana police officer Doug Heavy Runner. But instead of the wonderful life Christopher thought he would be living, instead he finds himself deeply depressed by his isolated new location, surrounded by a small town’s blatant racism and homophobia. No one will hire him, he has made the seething racism his lover Doug Heavy Runner faces at work worse by adding homophobia to the mix, and his most recent jog through town ends when two gay-bashing teenagers hit him in the head with a rock.

Deputy Sheriff Doug Heavy Runner has never overcome the abusive relationship that traumatized and shattered him as a young cop. The memories, the lingering shame, and the fear he has never acknowledged have left him resigned to endure the discrimination he faces in Elkin. But he can’t stand it when Christopher becomes a target for that same hatred even as he is blind to the other issues Christopher faces in town.

A vacation in San Diego is cut short when the mutilated body of one of the boys who assaulted Christopher is found in Doug’s garage. Christopher and Doug return to Montana to find they must uncover a tangle of secrets, lies, and tragedy lurking beneath Elkin’s small-town façade. With their relationship at a crossroads, they’ll have to work together to catch the killer and maybe find a paradise of their own.

The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise by A. J. Thomas returns the reader back to the hidebound small town in Montana, and the lingering aftermath of the original case that brought Christopher Hayes, Doug Heavy Runner, Elliot Belkamp and Ray Delgado together in a series of related, horrific cases. The story opens a year later with Christopher and Doug still dealing with the consequences of that case and their decision to move in together. And none of it has turned out as either had hoped it would.

Elkin, Montana is that typical small minded town that exists all over America. Mired in the past and the tight incestuous connections that small town living breeds, Elkin is the last place in the world to welcome a gay couple in their midst, especially one where one partner is a Native American and the other a gay ex SDPD detective. Add to that unpalatable combination (to the townspeople) the fact that Christopher’s pedophile brother committed suicide there, a horrific case whose aftermath is still causing reverberations throughout the community, and you have a recipe not only for rejection but outright shunning and hatred. A. J. Thomas brings this putrid little town alive in all its homophobic, racist, closed down ways. From glares from citizens who cross the street rather than walk near Christopher to the acts of hatred such as thrown rocks when Christopher runs, its feels nauseatingly believable and authentic in every way. Yes, there are a few individuals that are bright spots of acceptance and friendship, but they are few indeed.

Living in this town has not helped either Doug or Christopher come to grips with the horror of the case or their past history that’s getting in the way of their relationship. Doug won’t talk about his trauma from his time in Miami, and Christopher is still using running to race away from his issues with Doug, the town’s treatment of Doug and himself, and the blatant racism and homophobia that no one seems to want to do anything about. He’s deeply depressed, a condition he knows he’s prone to and it’s getting worse because he can’t get a job, no matter his outstanding credentials because of the town’s prejudice against him. This is a complicated, angst driven couple in trouble and each is hiding their fears about their situation and relationship from the other. Is this an explosive situation? Absolutely! And Thomas makes us feel every shiver of dread and stomach turning bit of angst as the characters proceed through the story.

Christopher and Doug have fallen from one emotional precipice only to end up on another. It’s painful, its sometimes hard to read, but the promise and endurance of Doug and Christopher as well as Christopher’s ability to work through to the truth, will keep you glued to this story and the rocky path in front of them both. You want these two to succeed but the chances of that happening is never clearly set. Even when they finally acknowledge some of the issues facing them, its clear that love may not be enough to keep them together unless drastic changes occur. Thomas understands relationship dynamics in the manner in which Doug and Christopher have to work through the past and present problems in order to have a future.

A highlight here is the trip they take to San Diego. I don’t want to spoil it but it brings Ray Delgado and Elliot Belkamp back into the picture (not that they ever left). This section was the icing on a cake, the bubbles in the champagne. And I loved it!

The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (love that title and the way its explained) also contains another series of horrific murders and suicides. That they come about due to the festering attitudes and influences of small town bigotry will surprise no one. However, the cases are gripping, the action quick and surprising, and the ending explosive. I wouldn’t expect anything less from this amazing series and author.

Thankfully, this is not the last of the series. On the author’s website, Thomas states that an as yet untitled fourth story is in the works. Be still my heart! I can’t wait.

Are you new to this series? Run and pick up the first story, A Casual Weekend Thing, and work your way through books 2 and 3. All are on my Must Have, Must Read list and will end up on my Best of lists this year. Love complicated, angst driven men? Love layers, twists and turns to your romance and stories. Already a fan of this series? Then be prepared to love this story. The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise and the other books in the Least Likely Partnership series (listed below) are written for you. I highly recommend them all!

Cover artist Brook Albrecht. I really like this cover, its my favorite of the three so far.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 204 pages, available also in paperback
Expected publication: March 27th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632169785
edition languageEnglish
url http://ajthomasromance.blogspot.com/p/the-intersection-of-purgatory-and.html
seriesLeast Likely Partnership #3

Books in the Least Likely Partnership Series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters, timeline and relationships:

A Casual Weekend Thing (Least Likely Partnership, #1)
Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (Least Likely Partnership, #2)
The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (Least Likely Partnership, #3)
Untitled Four Book coming…

Is It The End for Ty and Zane? Find out With Crash & Burn by Abigail Roux (Cut & Run Series Finale Tour and Contest)

∞∞

Its Time To Say Goodbye to Ty and Zane! Crash & Burn is the Cut & Run series finale by Abigail Roux. It’s a book we’ve all been equally anticipating and dreading. Abigail Roux and Riptide Publishing is giving us all a chance to wave farewell to this couple we’ve come to love so much. Follow along at each stop of the tour so you don’t miss out on the special farewell goings on!

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words will say our goodbyes next week with our reviews and thoughts on Ty, Zane and the Cut & Run series. Meanwhile, here’s Abigail Roux on the tour, the series, and the special prizes she has in store:

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Hello and thank you for joining me as I bid a fond farewell to Ty and Zane on the Crash & Burn virtual tour! For the next five days, join me on my virtual stops to help me say goodbye to the Cut & Run series with cut scenes, playlists, behind the scenes looks at the process of writing this last book, and a peek at the original plan for the series and the twists and turns it took on its journey to the end.

Did I mention the prizes? I have incredible prizes for two winners; a go-bag put together by one B. Tyler Grady. Each bag has over $370 worth of goodies in it. For more detail on the contents, you can click the link at the end of this post! Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing to win one of these bags. Entries close at midnight, Eastern Time, on April 4, and winners will be announced on Monday, April 6th. Contest is valid worldwide.

About Crash & Burn (Cut & Run #9):

It’s been five years since Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett first worked together to solve the Tri-State murders, and time has been both harsh and kind. Engaged now, they face the challenge of planning a deeply uncertain future together. Zane is at the pinnacle of his career with one last mystery to solve, while Ty is at sea in a world where he’s no longer the tip of a spear.

There’s just one more hurdle in the way of their happy ever after: a traitor from their inner circle who threatens to burn their world to the ground.

Squeezed between the Vega cartel, an unknown mole, and too many alphabet agencies to count, Ty and Zane must gather all their strength and resources to beat the longest odds they’ve ever faced. To make it out alive, they’ll need help from every friend they’ve got. Even the friends who might betray their trust.

About Abigail Roux

Abigail Roux was born and raised in North Carolina. A past volleyball star who specializes in sarcasm and painful historical accuracy, she currently spends her time coaching high school volleyball and investigating the mysteries of single motherhood. Any spare time is spent living and dying with every Atlanta Braves and Carolina Panthers game of the year.

Abigail has a daughter, Little Roux, who is the light of her life, a boxer, four rescued cats who play an ongoing live-action variation of Call of Duty throughout the house, a certifiable extended family down the road, and a cast of thousands in her head.

If you care to follow me more closely, you can find me on Twitter, Facebook, and Tumblr.

Follow this link to find detailed info on the go-bag prizes, but make sure you comment here to enter! You must be 18 years of age to enter. Prizes provided by Abigail Roux and Ty and Zane!

http://abiroux.tumblr.com/post/114770668923/the-book-nein-blog-tour-prizes-tys-go-bag-when

Some of the items in Ty’s Go Bag….

Thanks for stopping by! You can follow the entire tour by going to Riptide Publishing Cut & Run Tour page.

A MelanieM Review: Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (Least Likely Partnership #2) by A.J. Thomas

Rating: 4.75 rounded up to 5 stars out of 5

San Diego homicide detective Ray Delgado never gets a chance to forget where he comes from, a wide spread criminal dynasty whose members are often linked to Ray by blood. So far Ray has put a number of cousins and uncles behind bars, making him persona non grata with his family, immediate and otherwise. Only two family members have remained close, his aunt and his cousin, Sophia, who Ray helped raise. When Ray’s crime lord cousin, Alejandro makes a violent late-night visit, Ray is in for a number of unpleasant surprises. Alejandro wants Ray to find his sister, Sophia, who disappeared from the UC San Diego campus, something Ray was unaware of. And Alejandro wants it done before the FBI digs too deep into his business. Why? Because millions of the Cartel’s money is missing and it looks as though Sophia, a computer whiz, is involved.

Special Agent Elliot Belkamp spent his entire life jumping from one place to another, including his last assignment which took him to Montana and an white hot encounter with the deeply closeted but oh so sexy Det. Ray Delgado. Now his new assignment assisting a FBI task force offers him a chance to settle down. It San Diego, California home to a certain homicide detective.

When Elliot catches a missing person’s case as his first assignment, the last person he thought to find poking around the victim’s dorm room is Ray, his one time hook that ended badly…at least for Elliot. After discovering Sophia’s disappearance is linked to a massive computer-based theft that has two powerful crime families ready to declare war, Elliot focuses on his investigation and tries to ignore Ray. As the search for Sophia turns dangerous, Elliot and Ray discover that tackling organized crime might be easier than resisting the intense attraction both still feel for each other.

Back in 2013, A.J. Thomas debuted her first novel, A Casual Weekend Thing (Least Likely Partnership #1) which went on to winner a Rainbow Award for that year. This novel was also the first in a remarkable series, Least Likely Partnership. Thomas’ story was brutal, raw, and realistic. It involved child abuse and the effects it had on its victims as they aged. It involved pedophiles within families, suicide, murder, mystery and much, much more. And once I started I couldn’t put it down no matter how wrenching the story got, and it was plenty traumatic on many levels. And introduced as secondary characters in that story were San Diego Homicide Detective Ray Delgado, a closeted officer obsessively crushing on his partner Detective Christopher Hayes, a main character and deeply damaged man. And who did Ray hook up with during the case that Christopher was involved with up in Montana? That would be FBI special agent Elliot Belkamp. They spent one hot and heavy week in a hotel in Montana after the case was over. Then Ray’s mouth and closeted status ended their relationship before it could get out of the motel. But somehow, the pull between these two was so intense that the reader just knew or perhaps hoped, that they would get another chance. And they finally do here in Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (Least Likely Partnership #2).

Was it worth the wait? You betcha! Once again, A.J. Thomas hooks you in immediately as Ray jumps vividly to life from page one. Ray, Ray, Ray! Ray, Ray. The energy, that spark of magic, determination and power, that Thomas builds into Ray Delgado is impossible to resist. He’s part jerk and part obsessed super cop. And even when he’s berating his fellow officers for not following some procedure or safety protocol (and he’s brutal with his verbal dressing downs), they also know he is right, they won’t repeat that mistake, and that he’s really doing it for their benefit. Of course, he’s still a jerk about it. But you just can’t dislike this guy. He’s charismatic, he’s caring, and he has to try extra hard because he’s a cop from a hispanic crime family that he has a love/hate relationship with. And everyone knows it. Ray Delgado is one beautifully fleshed out characters, so real that you forget he’s been fabricated for a story.

Quietly intense, and Ray’s equal in power and authenticity is Special Agent Elliot Belkamp. Elliot is out, unlike Ray, and ready to settle down in every aspect of his life. He wants a home after multiple transfers, he wants a life partner, and well, he wants a life and relationship just like his parents have. Elliot is the one holding out for a fairy tale and won’t settle for anything or anyone less. And he’s chosen San Diego as the place to get started on the next phase of his life. Or rather the FBI has with its creation of its new crime syndicate task force based there. Elliot is a far more subtle creature than Ray but just as fascinating. Because as much as they differ, Thomas has also made them alike in some fundamental ways. They believe in family, and the determination to be the best law enforcement officers they can be, no matter the personal costs. They are highly intelligent and thorough. And its that respect they have for each other and their jobs, along with the intense physical attraction they feel that keeps them returning back to each other. A.J. Thomas makes their interplay and attraction real and compelling and she does so through intelligent, sometimes snappy dialog and believable law enforcement procedures where each plays off the other during the course of this convoluted case and investigation.

Elliot and Ray are among the least damaged of the two couples but they still carry plenty of baggage, especially Ray. And that includes the cultural and familial reason Ray has remained in the closet. With just a telling look from a doorman, Ray gets put in his “Hispanic” macho regulated place, and the fear and rationale behind Ray’s closeted status becomes clear. And when Ray finally decides to come exploding out of the closet, it gives the reader even more reason to cheer and celebrate. While Elliot is looking for his fairy tale and determined to get it, Ray is looking for a family to replace the one he lost when he chose being a police officer over the family business. That he finds a deep love surprises him because he never realized how much he wanted it.

Along with these outstanding characters, Thomas has created a cast of just as excellent supporting players. This includes Ray’s captain, Elliot’s boss (a sterling example of a strong woman), Ray’s fellow detectives, and so many more. Each a crystalline portrait of humanity as its best and worst. And yes, there is plenty of the “bad” to be found here, starting with Ray’s cousin Alejandro, a crime boss who could be Ray’s twin and was once as close as a brother to Ray. It’s one compelling character after another, and the situations and events that follow are as complicated and authentic as any in real life.

There will be horror and heartbreak, laughter and tears, revelation and exhilarating surprises for the readers here. I didn’t put this book down until 2 something in the morning. I couldn’t help myself. I had to know how it all ended. And it ended the way it had to, both heartbreaking and deeply satisfying.

I have to admit I have favorites. I love Ray and Elliot better than Christopher Hayes and Doug Heavy Runner. But that said, its a close race so I’m happy when I can get them all together. And that’s coming in the next book in the series, The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (Least Likely Partnership, #3). And yes, I have already read and am now ready for more. At least I hope there is more. I’m off to find out. Meanwhile if you are new to this series, start with the first story and work your way through. I know others will say its a stand alone novel, but its so much richer with the back history that the first story represents. I highly recommend this story and the author. She is on my auto buy list and this story is an excellent example why she should be on yours too!

Cover art by Brooke Albrecht. Not a fan of this or any of the covers in this series. I get the darkness, that works. But that model is far too young for Ray, surely there are older hispanic models out there to choose from.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 250 pages
Published May 9th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published May 8th 2014)
ISBN 1627987061 (ISBN13: 9781627987066)
edition languageEnglish
url http://ajthomasromance.blogspot.com/
series Least Likely Partnership #2

The Books in the Least Likely Partnership series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the timeline, events and relationships:

A Casual Weekend Thing (Least Likely Partnership, #1)
Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (Least Likely Partnership, #2)
The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise (Least Likely Partnership, #3)

A BJ Review: Perfect Day by Josh Lanyon

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

On a camping trip, Wyatt lets the L word slip big time during a hot and heavy session. Unfortunately, he’s well aware that his lover, Graham, is far from over his last boyfriend, Jase, and thus his declaration isn’t going to sit well.

What ensues is a short, sweet and perfect little story that had me teary eyed nearly from page one. In only twenty-eight pages, this ran the gamut from breaking my heart to making it soar and came complete with all the tentative stages of hope in between! Josh Lanyon writes beautifully. Darn it all, I wish I could use words like this for just one day… now that would be my perfect day.

Cover Artist: ?Simple but fitting cover that epitomizes the title. The addition of the bee makes it perfect.

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

Book Details: 28 pages
Published May 28, 2012 by JustJoshin Publishing, Inc

New Authors, New Books, Sequels, and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

New Authors, New Books and More For The TBR Pile!

How I love it when the reviewers here bring new authors and books to my attention and yours. Stella brought us the Neon White series by Wulf Francu Godgluck, as well as other authors. Now BJ is reading and loving the stories of Lia Black (several of which will be reviewed this week) as well as James Lear’s The Hardest Thing. PaulB loves the paranormal genre and has a whole slew of new authors he’s reading, including Andrew J. Parker’s Werecat series. Barb loves audio books, contemporary romance, perhaps with a little kink as well as all things foodie while Mika reaches out for new authors with each new book request. Sammy’s books range far and wide as you will have noticed by her book reviews. Did you read Sammy’s review of The Song of the Lonesome Cowboy by Lynn Kelling last week? And Aurora, our YA reviewer? Aurora just finished a YA series by James Erich which will be running every Saturday this month and the next! Do we have the books for you, in every possible genre? Why, yes we do!

Now for Something New: Also you’ll occasionally notice a One Book – 2 Review posting, a sort of Double Dipping on our part. We are a diverse group so it’s not unusual for one reviewer to love something about a story that another reviewer doesn’t see or visa versa. This week, Yes by Brad Boney gets double the attention, double the reviews. The week after next, BA Tortuga’s Ever The Same is in the 2 review spotlight. Will Mika and I agree to disagree? Stay tuned! lol Still trying out names as to what to call this new feature. If you have any ideas, please let us know.

In the Familiar, Wonderful and Excited to See Them Back Category! What else am I excited about? The Pulp Friction gang’s New Orleans series (did you catch my review of The Devil’s Bedpost?) and the fact that Catherine A Noon and Rachel Wilder have finally written a sequel, Emerald Keep, to their story Emerald Fire, which I loved. That’s been 3 years coming.

Old Favorite Series and New Stories! And finally what else has me over the moon? A.J. Thomas’ has 2 stories out in his Least Likely Partnership series, which I adore. That would be Holding Out for a Fairy Tale and The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise. If you are reading, AJ, more I want more!!!! Chris Owen and Tory Temple has a new book out (a combined Bareback and Firefighters), well…now I’m into April and getting ahead of myself. And yes, loads more coming including the last in Abigail Roux’ Cut & Run series…stay with us and chime in with the books you are most looking forward to reading!

Now here is our schedule this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:

Sunday, March 29:

New Authors, New Books, Sequels, and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, March 30:

A Stella Review: He’s Just Knot That Into You by Nico Jaye
Paul B Review: Werecat: The Rearing by Andrew J. Peters
A MelanieM Review: Stokes & Ford (Storming Love: Blizzard #6) by Jackie Nacht
A BJ Review: Wedding Favors by Josh Lanyon

Tuesday, March 31:

In the Book Spotlight: Whispers of Home by April Kelley (contest)
A Stella Review: The Fifth Son by Blaine D. Arden
A Paul B Review: For a Dragon’s Redemption (Highland Dragons #5) by Charlie Richards
A Melanie M Review: Death by Dragon by Madeleine Ribbon

Wednesday, April 1:

A Catherine Noon and Rachel Wilder ‘Emerald Keep’ book blast and contest
~~A MelanieM Review: Emerald Keep by A Catherine and Rachel Wilder~~ Moved closer to release date
Double Dipping Reviews: Mika and Stella Review: Yes by Brad Boney.
A BJ Review: Perfect Day by Josh Lanyon

Thursday, April 2:

The Island Keepers by Kristopher Quentin tour and contest
A Paul B Review: A Rose for Paul’s Protector by Charlie Richards
A MelanieM Review: Holding Out for a Fairy Tale (Least Likely Partnership #2) by A.J. Thomas
A BJ Review: The Hardest Thing: A Dan Stagg Mystery by James Lear

Friday, April 3:

In the Book Spotlight: Room 1024 by Racheline Maltese and Erin McRae (contest)
Crash & Burn, Cut and Run # 9 by Abigail Roux – Series Finale Book Tour and contest
A Sammy Review: Taken (Taken #1) by J. C. Owens
A MelanieM Review: The Intersection of Purgatory and Paradise by AJ Thomas

Saturday, April 4- YA Saturday is Back!:

An Aurora YA Review: Fire (Dreams of Fire and Gods #2) by James Erich

A MelanieM Review: The Devil’s Bedpost: Four of Clubs (Pulp Friction 2015: Altered States) by Parker Williams

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Detective Ben Nelson’s not happy with the new world order. He’s stubbornly refusing to believe in the supernatural beings that the world now knows to be real ever since a vampire burst into flames on a city street and a cop sat up in his coffin at his funeral. Now Ben has a chilling new case that frustrating them all and breaking their hearts. It involves seemingly unconnected people—men, women, children—who disappear from their beds and are later found beaten to death. When evidence leads to an offhand comment about voodoo, Ben refuses to admit that there might be something unreal about it all until his boss orders him to visit a seer named A. Middleton or hand the case over to the Odd Squad—the federal bureau charged with investigating supernatural crimes.

Artie Middleton lives alone in a huge house, able only to be physically close with his dog. Why? Because with one touch, Artie Middleton can see, feel, and relive the stories held by objects, and some of those stories are very bad indeed. The last missing person’s case he assisted on left him bedridden, recovering from the same wounds as the victim. His power is one that few would envy.

When a disbelieving Ben arrives at his door, needing help to find a missing seven-year-old boy, Artie is torn. He fears what might happen if he agrees but knows the fate of the child if he doesn’t. Even more troubling for Artie is the detective’s effect on him. While Artie can’t allow skin-to-skin contact with a person for fear of what he might see, Ben makes him want to break all the rules he has in place to protect his sanity.

When the two begin working together, they find much more than they expected. And if they can’t stop the perpetrators, the body count will increase.

Parker Williams joins the Pulp Friction team this year and The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs #1),his tale of supernatural beings, love and mystery, folds itself seamlessly into the others, meshing a new world order that recognizes the existence of supernatural beings and their effect upon the city, its politics, and its people.

Just as it would occur in real life, there appears someone who stubbornly refuses to believe in the changes that have so rapidly occurred. That’s NOPD Det. Ben Nelson. He’s an overworked hard driving cop, short on sleep, and even shorter on tolerance and belief in magic and those that wield it. And he’s in the midst of a case that heartbreaking and lacking in clues. The one lead they available is the last one Ben wants to follow up on because it contains supernatural elements to it. I absolutely believed in Ben Nelson from his first appearance. Parker Williams has built so many believable layers to this man that he’ slides easily to mind and into our hearts. And the case he’s working on tugs at our emotions, especially as it involves children being kidnapped, and tortured before being killed.

To offset the mundane, everyday and oh so human routine of the police force, the author gives us A. Middleton, also known as Artie to his friends. A potter who turns out museum worthy art pieces, Artie is also a seer specializing in psychometry. Artie can touch an object and immediately he is flooded with memories and scenes and emotions of those the object belonged to. At once it becomes clear that such a talent is more curse than gift. When those memories and events are horrific, involving physical damage that happened to the person the object belongs/belonged to, that same damaged is felt and physically manifests itself on Artie. Definitely not the sort of thing someone would want to be able to do. It has caused Artie to retreat from all physical contact with others. The only touch he can tolerate is that of his dog. What a lonely existence and yet, Parker Williams has developed Artie to such a realistic degree that Artie has found a way to have others in his life, no matter how restricted it might be. You will fall deeply in love with Artie just as I did.

The case that ties these two men together is horrific, grounded as it is in the kidnapping of children and a few adults who vanished from their bedrooms without a trace. The mystery of their disappearance combined with the fact that when their bodies are eventually found, the manner of their deaths add terror to the mixture. The police work drudgery feels authentic and the suspense and buildup satisfyingly haunting and addictive. And that ending…..

Yes, it’s a cliffhanger, something I have come to expect from the Pulp Friction serialized stories. Be prepared to yell “noooooooo” at the end. I did. Along with a “argh”, and “hell no, he didn’t end it there”. A few comments like that may have flown out of my mouth! But I loved every word of this story even as Parker Williams twisted my heart and stomach into knots during the telling.

But don’t take my word for it. Run out (or over to your computer or eReader) and get it right now. You need to be ready for the next installment. I am. And while you are at it, pick up the other two Round One stories already out. This is going to be one wild ride, and I can’t wait for more.

Cover art by Laura Harner. I love these covers, perfect for branding the group of series and introducing the characters.

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

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 73 pages
Published March 13th 2015
ASINB00UP4SBCA
edition languageEnglish

About Pulp Friction 2015
Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ Parker Williams ~ Laura Harner

The Pulp Friction 2015 Altered States Collection.
Four authors.
Four Series.
Twenty books.
One supernatural finale.

Spend a year with the creatures that go bump in the night…fighting for their rights to exist and protecting the innocents of The Big Easy. A diverse group of friends trying to find their place in a world they never had to “fit” into before.
Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment.
Round One:
Drawing Dead (Jack of Spades: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blind Stud (King of Hearts: 1) by Havan Fellows
The Devil’s Bedpost (Four of Clubs: 1) by Parker Williams
Diamonds and Dust (Ace of Diamonds: 1) by Laura Harner

A Mika Review: Signs by Anna Martin

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

After spending most of his life in special schools, Caleb Stone now faces public high school in his senior year, a prospect that both excites him and threatens to overwhelm his social anxiety. As a deaf teenager, he’s closed himself off to the world. He speaks a shorthand with his parents and even finds it hard to use American Sign Language with people in his local deaf community. But Caleb finds comfort in his love of photography. Everything he can’t express in real life, he posts on his Tumblr.

Struggling to reconcile his resentment for his father’s cruelty with the grief of losing a parent, Luc Le Bautillier scrolls through Tumblr searching for someone who might understand his goth look and effeminate nature. When Luc reblogs a photo by Caleb, sparking a conversation, they both find it easier to make friends online than in person.  Luc and Caleb confront their fears about the opinions of the outside world to meet in New York City. Despite Caleb’s increasing confidence, his parents worry he’s not ready for the trials ahead. But communication comes in many forms—when you learn the signs.

Anna Martin’s writing usually goes two ways for me. I either love it enough that it’s a 5 star read, or it’s a DNF for me. I was super skeptical of reading this because of the blurb. My main weakness is hurt/comfort, throw in a disability and I’m trapped. I read this book and one sitting and I feel in love with the characters.

I love the main characters of the story, not so much the execution. I’m giving 5 stars for Luc & Caleb because this was a love story between two sweet boys. That’s my basic description of the story. I’m not really sold on the writing aspect as much as the character development. Let me explain; she was able to bring the most vulnerable boys together and put them together to show they had the strength and determination in them all along.

Luc is this short, emo/goth twink who was just living. Not really doing anything but waiting for high school to be over and move to Seattle to face his dreams. He is closed off to the world, and most of it is because that’s they way he wants it. He grew up with no comfort, love from his parents except from his sister who basically was his surrogate mother. I love Ilse… his sister was so supportive. I definitely liked her as soon as she entered the picture. Caleb was the total opposite of Luc he is this 18 year old boy in Boston, who lives with his parents who are his biggest support system. Caleb wants the normal, he wants the friends at school, he wants to answer question when the teachers ask them. They meet through Tumblr through Caleb’s photography blog and Luc’s music blog it’s sweet and mostly innocent. From there we definitely see the characters develop really fast. Caleb has this protective streak for Luc, it’s adorable. It is a definite re-read for me.

They meet, fall in love with each other and we just see them shine in different roles. I loved that Luc feels the need to take charge on some things regarding Caleb’s well being. I like the Caleb knows Luc well enough to expect unexpected visits. I fell in love with these two boys. That’s it, that’s all there is for me. I would have really liked to see what happened after the summer. Where do these two go? What happened to the question Caleb asked Luc using finger ASL? I would have liked an epilogue for these two, but again they bring a smile to my face just writing this review.

Cover Art by. Ethan James Photography. I loved this picture so much, it definitely reminded me of Caleb all the way. He is one of my favorite characters by this author.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Expected publication: March 20th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632168115
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinn

Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Light from the Dark by Mercy Celeste

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

I really like Mercy’s Celeste’s work so it’s not unusual for me to expect a good story from her, but this one is the best I’ve ever read! My first thoughts upon completion: awesome, complex, convoluted plot, extremely damaged yet loveable MCs, an intriguing mystery, amazing sex, and a story that will remain with me for quite a while.

The blurb doesn’t do justice to the full scope of this story, but in a nutshell—former US Marshal Micah Beasley, tired of living with the guilt and negative thoughts of the disaster his last job took, decides to accept a job offer as bodyguard for what he assumes is a spoiled rich kid who can’t (or won’t) leave his house. Thinking it will be a cakewalk, when asked what salary he’d like, he asks for a million dollars. Imagine his shock when he gets it!

Christopher (Kit) Auberon is all that’s left of the very wealthy and powerful Auberon family. Unable to speak, scarred from spending two years in prison for the attempted murder of his uncle, white-haired from that same imprisonment, he’s also a brilliant computer gamer. Loner doesn’t begin to describe his isolated existence, however.

Unfortunately, recent break-ins at his supposedly secure estate, coupled by escalating memories of a time when he was kidnapped as a child after seeing his parents killed, are sending Kit into a place in his mind from which he may never return.

The scope of the story is so huge that I need to break it down a bit to do justice to a review. Starting with the MCs—first, Micah Beasley, blond, muscular, with a scar that slices his face on one side, former US Marine, former US Marshal, not out to his family, burdened by guilt connected to his last case when his work partner, Heath, was killed along with the child they were protecting. Heath was also his lover, and Micah feels that if they hadn’t taken fifteen minutes for a quickie before picking up the little girl, she wouldn’t have been killed, Heath wouldn’t have died, and Micah might have some semblance of a career left. Instead, his affair with his married co-worker comes out in the investigation, and Micah is relieved of duty, retired quietly, and sent on his way. Stewing over all of this for over six months, he’s shocked when his name is suggested for the bodyguard position but realizes it might be just what he needs to join the living again.

Kit Auberon was only eight years old when he was kidnapped from the scene where both his parents were murdered and their home burned to the ground. When he later wanders into a convenience store, covered in blood, he’s unable to speak and has no memory of what happened or where he’s been. And if that isn’t bad enough, we learn that he has psychotic episodes in which he shuts down completely after exhibiting violent behavior. During one of these when he was only a young teen, he attacked his uncle with scissors and nearly killed him. His uncle refused to back off and Kit was sent to a horrible mental institution for two years during which he was physically and mentally abused. When he was finally released to the custody of his grandfather’s chosen guardians, his hair had turned completely white, he had scars all over his body, and he faced a long road back to recovery. The experiences this young man went through in the past and goes through in the present in this story, are heartbreaking and tragic. This reviewer came to love him, his strength of character, his will to continue to fight his demons, his brilliance in putting his intellect to work by creating computer games and tweaking artificial voice controls in order for him to communicate with those around him. He alternates between sign language and the computerized voice, and I found myself wishing I could be there to help him in some way.

Over the course of the first week that Micah is with Kit, Micah discovers that Kit is highly intelligent, sweet and innocent in regards to relationships, definitely a virgin, impotent, and someone with whom Micah could easily fall in love. In fact, he’s one of the only people Kit trusts in his inner circle, outside of the few household staff who have been with him most of his life, and Kit begins to have feelings for Micah as well. Kit’s nickname for Micah is Beastly, not because of the scar which slashes across his face, but because of his lion-hearted strength and his rough blond good looks and hairy body. The two develop a rapport that runs much deeper than either expected, and it’s Micah who is finally able to help Kit fight his darkness and find his way back to stability when their safe environment goes to hell in a handbasket.

The mystery surrounding the childhood kidnapping is eventually revealed in all its complex twists and turns, as is the time Kit spent in the psychiatric facility, and the details of Micah’s own past with the complex situation which led to his dismissal from the department. I swear I was going to get out my spreadsheet and plot a few graphs to help me get through the cast of characters and their relationships to each other, to Kit, and to the mystery itself. At the heart of the last few chapters of the story is the deep and abiding love that Micah has developed for “Chris”, and the mutual understanding and reliance upon each other as they battle their demons and ghosts, both past and present.

I can’t begin to express how very much I enjoyed this story. It’s much more than a simple M/M romance. It’s a journey of two men’s struggles to come out of the depths of despair and fight for stability and happiness in a situation which seems virtually hopeless. I highly recommend this one to lovers of M/M romance, mystery and intrigue, and those who want to have an opportunity to stretch their imaginations to new lengths. Don’t miss this one!

~~~
Cover Art by Reece Notley is a photo of a gruff-looking man in a suit as he holds the jacket closed, showing tension in every line of his body. This is a good representation of MC Micah Beasley and the tension under which he has been living.

Sales Links: Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 246 pages
Published March 6th 2015 by MJC PRess (first published March 5th 2015)
original titleLight from the Dark
edition languageEnglish
url https://mercyceleste.wordpress.com/

A Stella Review: Guns ‘N Boys: Homicidal Instinct by K.A. Merikan

Rating 5 stars out of 5

— You can take a killer’s memory, but not his instinct —

  All Seth wants is to live free with the man he loves. But escaping death at the hands of the mafia is just the beginning of an uphill struggle. When Domenico wakes up from his impromptu surgery and doesn’t even remember Seth’s name, Seth’s world falls apart. Suddenly it’s him who has to plan an escape from New York City and navigate their way to Mexico. All that without even knowing if the man of his life will ever love him again.

Domenico doesn’t know who to trust and what to believe. The man who introduces himself as his brother seems to hide dark secrets behind a cheerful smile. With the mafia breathing down their necks, there is no time to piece together the puzzle of Domenico’s life, and each time he thinks he’s solved it, a new part appears to be missing. Dom needs to find out who he really is, what he’s capable of… and what is the real story hidden behind Seth’s intense eyes.

Review Note: (contain spoilers on the previous books)

I love the Guns ‘n Boys series, I think it’s one of my all time favourite series. I find it so addictive, every time I have my hands on the another book I get so excited I lose my mind. This one overwhelmed me in some parts, definitely in a good way.

This book starts where Guns n’ Boys: Book 1, Part 2 (Guns n’ Boys, #1.2) ended, with Dom almost dead after being shot by the Mafia and Seth taking care of him, thanks to the help of his ex boyfriend Peter. It’s absolutely necessary that Dom recovers very fast because they have the Mafia one little step behind them and they need to escape to Mexico. Since Dom can’t remember anything, even his brother/lover’s name, Seth needs to be the one in control, to be the man Dom needs him to be. Now, if you have read the previous books you know who is Seth and what he is (incredibly) capable of, so you know what to expect. I knew Seth, the sweetest mafioso ever, but I can admit I wasn’t ready for him to be so stupid! The things he did in Homicidal Instinct, really, sometimes I so wanted to jump in the book and shoot to him myself. He not only thought but actually did some things so improbable I’m still not sure how the authors were able to make them realistic and believable to me.

Dom too is our lovely Dom, even without his memory he is still arrogant, bossy, and badass. He’s lost his memory but not his modesty: “I could have been a model” (looking at his photo). I love them together, especially when they are bitching at each other, about a stupid leather jacket or about their not so sane jealousy.

I don’t want to spoiler but I’d like to say that I’m really happy I got a couple of explanations or revelations, a little part of me was disappointed but even if I tend to forget the things that bothered me in this series, I was glad to see them resolved.

What I loved more about this book 2 was Dom and the fact that I could see new traits of his character, the tenderness and a light insecurity, sweeter in some scene but still hard and violent in others. The book is a rollercoaster of emotions and new adventures and in my opinion it’s more focused on Seth and Dom as a couple. In some ways I found it a relaxing reading. That’s why I wasn’t ready for the ending part, it caught me unawares and left me shaky.

Every time I read a new book written by these two girls, I always think it’s their best one. They write so well together, every scene is unique and precious, every detail so perfect. I can’t praise them enough. Apart from the story, I do love their style, beautiful and fluent. Some dialogues, like the one between Seth and Neil, are so hilarious and over the top, like only K.A. can do. Plus, they are planning so many books in the series, I’m so curious where my heroes will be in the future and how Dom could resist the temptation to shoot Seth and his stupidity.

Highly recommended!

Cover art by Natasha Snow. It’s a well done cover but I’m in love with the cover of the previous book and I’m sorry to say this one can’t compete with it.

Sales Links: Smashwords All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

Published February 5th 2015 by Acerbi & Villani ltd.
ebook, 208 pages
ISBN13 9781310927164
Edition language English
Guns n’ Boys Series in the order they were written and should be read;
Guns n’ Boys: Book 1, Part 1 (Guns n’ Boys, #1.1)
Guns n’ Boys: Book 1, Part 2 (Guns n’ Boys, #1.2)
Guns n’ Boys: Paris (Guns n’ Boys, #1.3)
Guns n’ Boys: Homicidal Instinct (Guns n’ Boys, #2)

A Mika Review: The Bridge of Silver Wings (More Heat Than the Sun #3) by John Wiltshire

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Nikolas and Ben discover that bonds aren’t forged with blood or scars but in the hearts of men strong enough to love.   Ben discovers the truth of the adage, ‘be careful what you wish for’. Nikolas has exorcised his demons, but when they end up stranded in Russia, the monster inside needs to be let loose. Siberia in winter isn’t a place for good men. There is nothing Nikolas won’t do to keep Ben alive.   Home again, Nikolas then faces an enemy he can’t defeat: Ben Rider himself. Discovering a new family, Ben realizes he’s been living too long in the shadows cast by Nikolas’s all-consuming love. For the first time, life apart from Nikolas is possible. Is Nikolas strong enough to let Ben go?

Talk about unexpected events. I could never in a billion freaking years imagine going through the things that Sir Nikolas and Ben went through. I know for sure I wouldn’t have the sanity, resilience or even strength to see the light at the end or put my faith in one person so much. We pick up book three right after the events of Conscious Decisions of the Heart, and the couple are, literally, off on an adventure in this book. Terrified would be might one word description of the first half of the book. Who goes through things like this? It’s been a good month since reading this, and I wondering what the other people’s family thinks happened, I mean I guess the plane could make sense but where is all the freaking PTSD from that situation. I didn’t see a way for them to survive, and in all this darkness Nikolas persevered and became the dark angel with the brightest shining I’ve ever seen. Certain circumstances, he literally put his life on the line. He is such an amazing character who is so intense, and closed off but has this way about him that just draws you in. I love John Wiltshire for that, I’m all about the damaged hero and he just made my top ten list.

Wiltshire puts them in situations where they are confronted with the possibility that a tomorrow isn’t a promise to me, and in situations like these; these two guys always do something that turn my insides to mush. It might not be the healthiest or sanest ways but it’s why I love them. It was a scene in this book where Nik basically had to put his foot down and didn’t really care about Ben’s feelings. That was one of my favorite quotes ever in this entire book.

“I love you enough to hit you until you get on that thing. Do not make me do it, because this is hurting me more than you.- Nikolas”

Wiltshire takes his readers on a vivid journey and reading it is like watching it unfold right in front of you. These emotions that he seems to bring out of you are gut-wrenching, I cried off and on during the last 45%. He’s able to have two strong men with sordid past and have them fall so deeply in love with each other that no amount of distance or strife will keep them away. This book definitely became my favorite out the series so far. Second half had me not really liking Ben, but as usual he comes out victorious. I wasn’t mad for the reason most people would be, I was mad because I understand him needing to feel like he can stand on his two feet and needing the space to do it. I was mad at the circumstances surrounding certain situations, but it’s my fault really because I doubted Ben and it’s not something we made need to do. While as Nikolas is this dark angel with a vengeful way about himself; Ben is the total opposite. He’s this bright shining beacon who has the most endearing conscience around. I mean he cares for everyone’s well being. His heart is one of the reasons why many adore him, and only Nikolas has him.

Cover Art by Deana Jamoz. This cover is everything that happened in the book. Being in the darkness but fighting your way out until you reach the light. I love it.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 290 pages
Published August 22nd 2014 by MLR Press (first published August 21st 2014)
ISBN13MLR1020140285
edition languageEnglish
seriesMore Heat Than the Sun #3

More Heat Than The Sun Series (should be read in order to understand the relationships and events)

Love is a Stranger (More Heat Than the Sun #1)
Conscious Decisions of the Heart (More Heat Than the Sun, #2)
The Bridge of Silver Wings (More Heat Than the Sun, #3)
This Other Country (More Heat Than the Sun, #4)
The Bruise-Black Sky (More Heat Than the Sun, #5)

Share this:

∞∞

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

About Crash & Burn (Cut & Run #9):

About Abigail Roux

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

New Authors, New Books and More For The TBR Pile!

Now here is our schedule this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:

Sunday, March 29:

Monday, March 30:

Tuesday, March 31:

Wednesday, April 1:

Thursday, April 2:

Friday, April 3:

Saturday, April 4- YA Saturday is Back!:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: