A MelanieM Review: Radiant Burn (Fighting Fire #5) (Pulp Friction 2014 #17) by Laura Harner

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Scott McGregor almost has it all. He’s finally living with the man he loves, Rob Hammond along with Rob’s children. And the group of diverse group of people who live at Mountain Shadows Campground have become a family to one another. But still problems lurk all around waiting to destroy his happiness and new life. His nightmares are increasing and Scott realizes that he needs to uncover the truth and face his fears before he can put that part of his life behind him.

Twelve years ago, Scott and Rob Hammond’s relationship exploded, and torn them apart. Now Rob and his children are happily living with Scott and Rob is about to leave his job to help Scott run Mountain Shadows. But even as Scott and Rob’s relationship continues to deepen, Rob must help Scott work through his PTSD and the path to recovery leads to Phoenix and the only other firefighter that survived that day.

As Scott and Rob struggle to help Scott finally put his past behind him, another danger appears on the horizon. Scott and Rob are so close to their HEA. Can they overcome the last obstacles and finally get the future they want and deserve?

So close. With Radiant Burn (Fighting Fire #5), we are so close to the HEA Laura Harner has been promising us since we first met Scott MacGregor and Rob Hammond in Firestorm (Fighting Fire #1). We’ve delved into their painful past, watched the tumultuous climb to a new relationship in the present and hoped for a bright future for them all. Now, its almost here and the anticipation and buildup is enough to make any reader a little crazy.

Why? Because as we all know, nothing is ever easy or straightforward in a Pulp Friction or Laura Harner series. There’s never just one barrier to overcome, more a veritable obstacle course of hurdles that the characters must leap over or work through to get to their HEA. That’s the joy and more than a little of the frustration (in a good way of course) that we find with these stories and characters.

One main element has been Scott’s PTSD. His days and nights are riddled with nightmares and flashbacks, which are providing a barrier of their own to a happy future. Scott needs to face the truth about that fire and the circumstances that caused his injuries and those of the only other survivor. Harner has dropped hints and clues about that fatal wildfire and now we are all about to get some answers. They will be startling, shocking even, while leaving Scott and the readers with a well earned sense of relief and closure. But as I said, with this series and Laura Harner at the helm, nothing is ever resolved that simply.

Why? Because there is a larger scheme at work at Mountain Shadows, one that has been alluded to in some scenes, hinted at in others. This mystery has no shape or definition yet. Instead it has been creeping like a dense fog over the campground and its inhabitants. And with each story and series, it has been gaining in complexity and size. What it is and who is behind it…well, we have no idea. Just vague suggestions and assumptions, nothing concrete. That’s to be left to the series finale, the last story to be written by all four authors to pull the myriad plot threads and relationships together in one explosive and ultimately satisfying crescendo of multiple tales.

Laura Harner’s Fighting Fire stories, Radiant Burn among them, has been a wonderful angst filled, sexy, white knuckle ride. Our companions have been men who have been believably complex human beings who continue to strive for a happily ever after, no matter what wounds life and experience has inflicted upon them. It’s been a wow of a trip and we are almost at our destination. One final station to go….I can hardly wait.

Radiant Heat (Fighting Fire #5) and the entire Elemental Connections Pulp Friction 2014 joint series is one of Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words most highly recommended reads. They will all occupy a special place on our Best of 2014 List this year.

If you are new to the series or Pulp Friction 2014, run, don’t walk, to the first stories in each series. I have listed them all below for your convenience. This is one spectacular journey you won’t want to miss! Happy Reading!

Cover Art by Laura Harner. Terrific cover that works to brand the series and the characters Scott and Rob.

Sales Links: All Romance eBooks (ARe) amazon Buy it Here

Book Details:

ebook, 69 pages
Published September 12th 2014 by Hot Corner Press
ISBN139781937252892
edition languageEnglish
seriesPulp Friction 2014 #17, Fighting Fire #5
charactersScott McGregor, Rob Ham

About Pulp Friction 2014

Pulp Friction 2014 Authors: Laura Harner ~ Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ T.A. Webb
The Pulp Friction 2014 Collection. Four authors. Four Series. Twenty books. One fiery finale. Spend a year with an eclectic group of strangers brought together through circumstances, as they are tested by life, and emerge as more than friends.
The strongest bonds are forged by fire, cooled in air, smoothed by water, grounded in earth.

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment. All stories have been read and reviewed at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

The Pulp Friction 2014 series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters, events and plot:

Round One:
Firestorm (Fighting Fire: 1)by Laura Harner
Cold Snap (In From the Cold: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blown Away (Whispering Winds: 1) by Havan Fellows
Higher Ground (Earthquake: 1) by TA Webb

Round Two:
Controlled Burn (Fighting Fire #2) by Laura Harner
Cold Comfort (In From the Cold #2) by Lee Brazil
Blown Kisses (Whispering Winds #2) by Havan Fellows
Moving Earth (Earthquake #2) by TA Webb

Round Three:
Backburn (Fighting Fire #3) by Laura Harner
Cold Feet (In From the Cold #3) by Lee Brazil
Blown Hard (Whispering Winds #3) by Havan Fellows
Tremors (Earthquake #3) by T.A. Webb

Round Four:
Flare-up (Fighting Fire #4) by Laura Harner
Out In The Cold (In From the Cold #4) by Lee Brazil
Blown Chance (Whispering Winds #4) by Havan Fellows
Aftershocks (Earthquake #4) by T.A. Webb

Round Five:
Radiant Burn (Fighting Fire #5) by Laura Harner
Cold Day in Hell (In From the Cold #5) by Lee Brazil
Final Blow (Whispering Winds #5) by Havan Fellows
Terra Firma (Earthquake #5) by T.A. Webb

Sixth Book Series Finale Written by all the Authors coming in December.

Side Stories or Interludes:

Taking Chances by Lee Brazil (a In From the Cold story)
Wicked Winds (Whispering Winds 3.5) by Havan Fellows – bonus book, Whispering Winds
Frankie’s Knight (Elemental Connections: IV) (Earthquake #3.5)
Kismet & Cartwheels – bonus book, Fighting Fire

A Aurora YA Review: Under the Stars by Geoff Laughton

Rating: I give this book 5 out of 5 stars

DSP : “Ethan Tanner is an out and proud, fastidious, and fashionable sixteen-year-old vegetarian who likes theater and musicals. This year, it’s his sister’s turn to pick the vacation destination, so he ends up on a dude ranch he knows he is going to hate. What with the dirt, animals, and germs, he can’t possibly be happy.

Jason McCoy is the closeted sixteen-year-old son of the ranch owners and is trying to find his place in a world that doesn’t seem to fit him. He takes an interest in Ethan, shows him around, and gets him to ride a horse. When he invites Ethan camping, Ethan thinks Jason must be joking. But Ethan takes a risk, and the two boys bond under the stars.

After that, Ethan and Jason are inseparable. Their friendship grows into something deeper as they begin to figure out what they want from life. But Ethan’s home is in Chicago, and the distance might be more than the two teenagers—and their blossoming relationship—can withstand.”

Under the Stars follows a sixteen year old boy, Ethan, as he goes on a vacation with his parents and little sister to a ranch. At first, Ethan is reluctant to go and doesn’t think he’ll enjoy the trip much at all, but because it was his sister’s turn to choose where they wanted to go, he didn’t have much choice. When he actually arrives at the ranch, Ethan quickly connects with the owner’s son, Jason, and the two of them develop a close relationship.

As someone who isn’t usually much of a fan of contemporary, I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. Within the first few pages I was completely drawn in, and I related to Ethan immediately. One thing I absolutely loved about this book was the representation of Ethan’s parents and the close relationship they had, even though they didn’t all necessarily agree throughout the entire book. It didn’t go the route of representing parents as being completely unsupportive, which I think could be a great thing for young adults who are reading this book and might be considering coming out to their parents to see that positive dynamic represented.

Jason and Ethan were both great characters who I loved seeing interact with each other, and all of their discussions and the things they did seemed very real. Ethan’s growth, especially, throughout the book, was something I really enjoyed, because he did change, but he held onto who he was and he didn’t make a one-eighty turn around. All in all, I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely read it again any time.

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

The cover art is simple, but pretty and well suited to the book. I think the dark color scheme definitely makes it appealing, while the bright color of the fire draws the readers eyes to the bottom of the page where the artist wants them to look.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner ebook & Paperback All Romance eBook amazon Under the Stars

Book Details:

ebook, 180 pages, YA young adult title
Published October 9th 2014 by Harmony Ink Press
ISBN139781632163080

A MelanieM Review: Then the Stars Fall by Brandon Witt

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In the four years since the death of his wife, Travis Bennett has become a shell of the man he used to be. Travis raises his three children, manages his business, and works as a ranch hand, his only companion his dog, Dunkyn. The hole inside Travis feels as deep and recent as the day she died, a situation that often leaves him depressed and unable to shake off the moods it leaves him in.

Fond memories of the small Ozark town of El Dorado Springs and the need to leave his broken relationship behind, find Wesley Ryan moving into his grandparents’ old home and temporarily taking over the local veterinary clinic while that owner goes on a much needed sabbatical. But while the loving memories remain, the small town atmosphere isn’t exactly conducive to his colorful clothes and admittedly “gay” nature. Wesley is feeling pretty lonely until Travis brings in his corgi for treatment.

Travis’ reaction to Wes’ recommendation of surgery is far beyond Wes’ expectations. Travis is adamant that Dunkyn, his dog, be treated without surgery, something Wes knows the dog needs. Wes is sure he will be seeing the duo again. Travis, dog and all, is exactly the type of man Wesley goes for. But with three kids and a beloved wife in the past, Wes is sure he is straight. Or is he? Wes does know he came to El Dorado to get away from his man issues and he’s not looking for a relationship,, especially one with someone as complicated and loaded down with baggage as Travis Bennett. Fate, however, has plans for Travis and Wesley whether they want it or not…

First that gorgeous cover and then the synopsis drew me to this book but it’s the story within that has kept me thinking and repeatedly revising my overall connection to and perception of Then The Stars Fall by Brandon Witt.

So many elements about this story had me off balance right from the start. The plot is situated in a small (pop 3000 plus) conservative town, El Dorado Springs, in Missouri. There some of the citizens, including main characters, think nothing of dropping words like “faggot” and “retard” frequently into their conversations. These offensive terms are thrown about so carelessly that I almost put the book down before I had gotten past the opening chapters. That the main character, Travis Bennett, and his best friend are the main offenders made it worse. Yes, they were called on it, by Caleb,Travis’ oldest son, but did it stop? No. And I was appalled that the author thought I would be able to connect with a man such as Travis. But I did….eventually. Because Travis for all his faults (and there are so many) comes across as a complex human being, a realistic work in progress, especially at age 42. The world of pain, loss, and conflict in his background, combined with episodes of good deeds and even better behavior will have the reader flip flopping like a fish out of water in their opinions of this tormented man.

Next up his crude, loud and over the top best friend, Jason Baker, who spews such slurs,derogatory remarks, and unfair judgements with an equally unsettling ease that again I couldn’t believe we were supposed to like him. Quite frankly, I was afraid that was never going to occur but it did as well. Between Jason and Travis the almost constant barrage of offensive terms and slurs almost derailed this story. Luckily, the author balanced such raw characters with ones that were easier to empathize with and enjoy. Characters such as Wesley Ryan, Travis’ sister Wendy who I adored,, the Bennett children, and even the Corgis Dunkyn and Dolan, all lined up to pull the reader along the rippling narrative and keep us afloat until most of the people of the town combine to win us over. Quirky, obstinate, surprising and recognizably human, the folks of El Dorado Springs continue to show new facets of their personalities each time they appear in the story. And it’s these layers that will make the reader grow fond of the town and fonder of its people.

What else threw me off? The constantly changing point of view. After a while it felt more like the play Our Town than a novel. Everyone gets a chance to chime in here, even Dunkyn the dog. I have to admit at times I thought him far more admirable than some of the others characters, but then Corgis are like that. That large number of voices took some time getting adjusted to, but when you do, then this strange format enables the reader to get a real, intimate feel for El Dorado, its history, its present, and hopefully its future. We get a sense of community and that’s necessary for the reader to achieve because this town is so much a part of its people that it acts as just one more main character in a story full of them.

Looking back I can’t even remember when the shift of perspective started, when the affection I felt towards the characters and story outgrew my irritations until those faded away. It was a slow changeover for me, and yes, for Wesley as well. This is a town that takes a lot of getting used to. In Brandon Witt’s Authors Notes, he writes about his childhood which prompted this story. Here it is in his words:

I KNEW I would return to the world of The Shattered Door, the town I grew up in, one day. I wasn’t sure when or how, but then Travis and Wesley showed up, asking to be with Dunkyn and Dolan—or maybe it was the other way around. Shattered told the tale of the pain, fear, guilt, bullying, etc. that I felt growing up. However, there was another part during those years in El Dorado Springs. Lightning bugs. Thunderstorms. My grandpa’s buffalo. My chickens. Friends that I loved dearly. Simone’s Drive-in (if you’re ever driving on 54 and pass through El Do, you have to stop and get a burger. They’re perfect!). Despite the pain I felt a lot of the time, there was so much good, as well. So much beauty and love. I hope I was able to capture that aspect of El Do with Then the Stars Fall.

By the end of this story, Brandon Witt had really captured it all. The joys, the hardship and pain, the gorgeous memories and the manner in which a town grows a part of you, no matter your age or location. It was quite the emotional journey that Then the Stars Fell and its characters took this reader on. It constantly challenged me to think about the people, Wes and Travis’ romance, and the town as well as my own opinions and judgements. It held me firm to the story until I was completely won over. It’s a journey you shouldn’t miss. Then the Stars Fell by Brandon Witt is one of Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words must reads of the year. If Brandon Witt isn’t on your list of authors whose stories are automatic buys, he should be and this is just one more example why he belongs there. Grab it up today!

Cover Artist: Anne Cain. What an astonishing cover. So evocative of the farm and township of the story. One of the best of the year.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) amazon Buy it Here

Book Details:

ebook, 350 pages
Published September 29th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1632162598 (ISBN13: 9781632162595)
edition languageEnglish
url http://www.brandonwitt.com/

The Gift of Giving: Choosing the Charity Contest & The Week Ahead at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Start Your Gift Giving Early by Helping Choose the Charity to benefit from Riptide’s Share the Love Collection!

This week we have the first of three holiday story book tours from Riptide Publishing. Riptide has a holiday bundle of 3 stories, Share the Love collection, whose proceeds benefit chosen charites. Now its time for Share The Love 2014 and the first tour, Three Hearts by Kelly Jamieson kicks off the Choose the Charity Contest for 2015.

Here is the blog release from Riptide Publishing:

Each year, Riptide Publishing releases a holiday collection in support of an LGBTQ charity. Twenty percent of all proceeds from the Share the Love collection will be donated to the It Gets Better Project.

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a $25 Riptide Publishing store credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 7. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries.

Every year, Riptide Publishing releases a Holiday charity bundle with themed stories by bestselling authors. Twenty percent of the net proceeds of each bundle goes to a charity that serves the LGBTQ population.

Royalties from Riptide’s 2013 Home for the Holidays charity collection have raised over $14,000 in nine months for the Ali Forney Center, and continue to yield several hundred dollars per month in royalties donations. Our 2014 Share the Love charity collection will be raising money for the It Gets Better Project, and we hope to report even better results than in 2013.

For 2015, the theme will be Holiday Surprises, and we’ll have stories by HelenKay Dimon, Christine d’Abo, and Marie Sexton. But we don’t have a charity yet.

We need YOUR help to choose the 2015 charity. Nominate your favorite LGBTQ charity and Riptide might choose it as the 2015 Holiday bundle charity!

The chosen charity for 2015 will immediately receive a $5,000 advance against royalties (paid in 2015 on announcement of the award recipient). The charity will continue to receive 20% of all lifetime net sales income from the 2015 holiday charity collection, in the form of a monthly royalty check.

Three honorable mention charities will each receive a $250 donation.

This collection would not be possible without the talent and generosity of its authors, who have brought us the following 2014 holiday stories:

Three of Hearts by Kelly Jamieson (releasing November 17)
Lucky Strike by Jane Davitt (releasing November 24)
Three the Hard Way by Sydney Croft (releasing December 1)

Check out Kelly Jamieson’s tour on Thursday, the 20th!

✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍

This schedule this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:

Monday, November 17:

Shannon West’s “Moonstruck” Book Tour and Contest
Book Tour: “Across Worlds: Collision” Author: S.A. Snow (contest)
MelanieM Review: Forgiving Thayne by J.R. Loveless

Tuesday, November 18:

“Saving Crofton Hall” by Rebecca Cohen book tour and contest
Rick R Reed’s” Third Eye” Book Tour and Contest
A MelanieM Review: Saving Crofton Hall by Rebecca Cohen

Wednesday, November 19:

A Sammy Review: The Eskimo Slugger by Brad Boney
A MelanieM Review: The Shearing Gun by Renae Kaye
A Mika Review: Damaged Package by S.A. McAuley

Thursday, November 20:

Three of Hearts by Kelly Jamieson – Choose the Charity Tour and Contest by Riptide
Chestnuts Roasting Anthology by Mischief Corner Books Authors (contest)
A MelanieM Review: The Best Corpse for the Job by Charlie Cochrane

Friday, November 21:

Riptide’s Book tour and contest for Gabrielle’s City by Layla Hunter
Into the Thick of Things with Lee Brazil ‘Cranberry Pi’ (book tour and contest)
Virtual Book Tour for Patricia Logan’s The Superstar (contest)
A MelanieM REview: And Then The Stars Fall by Brandon Witt

YA Saturday,, November 22:

Liam Livings Blog Tour from Love Lane Books (contest)
An Aurora Review: Under the Stars by Geoff Knight

A MelanieM Review: Final Blow (Whispering Winds #5) (Pulp Friction 2014 #19) by Havan Fellows

Ratings: 5 Stars out of 5

Rowen Smithe fought his demons, in this case the people who turned a 14 year old boy into a warped nightmare of a man. But Rowen escaped them but never the darkness they created inside him. Now, with the events of the past weeks behind them, Rowen is finally prepared to start living again, this time with Mick, the man who helped free his soul and stole his heart. But in the aftermath of the horror and killing, things have changed and now its Mick that the darkness has swallowed and Rowen is uncertain how to help the man he loves regain what he has lost.

Mick Rutger was a happy-go-lucky type of guy, a feeling he liked. But his encounters up close with Rowen’s past and the events that followed have left Mick with feelings of hatred and rage, feelings he is unprepared to deal with. Drowning under his fears, nightmares, and anger, Mick closes himself off to the outside world in a drastic measure of protection. Just when Rowe has finally opened up to him and Mick had hopes for their future together.

Both men will have to battle the darkness one more time if they hope for that HEA and trust that their sanity won’t be lost forever.

Final Blow is the penultimate story in Havan Fellows’ Whispering Winds (PF2014) series. I have loved both of her characters, but especially the damaged Rowen Smithe from the very start. Mick Rutger was Rowe’s opposite, always he seemed to be that affable and lighthearted golden bouncing after the haunted, dark soul that was Rowe. It was Mick who drew Rowen out of the cabin, or down from his tree, ever so slowly out of the silence and isolation that Rowen had wrapped himself in. It was a beautiful balance between the sun and the night, a twilight journey the reader was thrilled to be on along with Mick and Rowen. For every heartbreaking reveal from Rowen, Fellows gifted us with an endearing scene of Mick beckoning Rowen further out of his shell. Remember this scene from Blown Kisses?

Huh?

Rowen sat quiet for a second, wondering where the extra noise came from when it happened again, and he looked up to the right.

“Shit…” he muttered under his breath. Someone was knocking on his door.

He turned his body, slowly moved the curtain out of the way, and with only his right eye, peered out the window. He couldn’t see the front door from this window, but he wondered if a certain.

Two clear pale blue eyes stared back at him, crinkled around the edges undoubtedly because of the smile Rowen couldn’t see from this close. Mick moved back enough to lift up Filigree—no, the stray cat—and wave her paw at Rowen.

I laughed about that scene all the way through the terrors that followed, and the glimpses of hope for a future together that the author allowed us to see. Consistently, just when things were at their worst, Fellows incorporated lighter elements to alleviate the heaviness and strain that has been a major factor in this series. And always it was Mick who was the bearer of light tidings.

But in Blown Chance, there was a major reversal of roles between Mick and Rowen, the dynamics of which are just being felt here in Final Blow. Now we see the trauma and rage those acts have visited upon Mick as well an uncertain Rowen trying to reach out and save the man he finally acknowledges that he loves. It’s an unsettling turnabout for all and it heightens the vulnerabilities and frailties of both characters like we have never seen them before.

Havan Fellows reveals Mick as a character far more complex and layered then he originally appeared to be. It makes the relationship we have seen develop between the tortured Rowe and Mick more authentic and believable. If there is to be a yin to his yang, then it also needs to be on equal ground with matching complexities and overtones. The author accomplishes that hard-won balance in Final Blow. Here her characters find themselves in situations that require them to achieve a certain amount of emotional growth and healing in order to move forward, hopefully together. It was painful and wonderful and immensely satisfying to see characters we have come to love reach out for each other and more, much, much more.

I love Final Blow as I have all the preceeding stories in this series. But there is one last story to come. There are still monsters at play and demons to vanquish. Who and what they are is still to be revealed. I can’t wait for December to come.

But until then, grab up this marvelous series if you haven’t already. Make the acquaintances of Rowen Smithe (who definitely give Wicked Templeton a run for the money as favorite Fellows character) and Mick Rutger. Start at the beginning, enjoy the journey to love and HEA. Its one of the top series of the year, along with its interconnected Pulp Friction 2014 series, all of which are listed below.

Cover artist: Laura Harner consistently delivers a great branding job with the series and the PulpFriction 2014 logo.

Sales Links: All Romance eBook (ARe) amazon Final Blow

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 50 pages
Published October 14th 2014 by Appleton Publishing Avenue
original titleFinal Blow (Whispering Winds #5) (Pulp Friction 2014 #20)
ASINB00OII4ZRE
edition languageEnglish
seriesPulp Friction 2014 #19, Whispering Winds

About Pulp Friction 2014

The Pulp Friction 2014 series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters, events and plot:

Round One:
Firestorm (Fighting Fire: 1)by Laura Harner
Cold Snap (In From the Cold: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blown Away (Whispering Winds: 1) by Havan Fellows
Higher Ground (Earthquake: 1) by TA Webb

Round Three:
Backburn (Fighting Fire #3) by Laura Harner
Cold Feet (In From the Cold #3) by Lee Brazil
Blown Hard (Whispering Winds #3) by Havan Fellows
Tremors (Earthquake #3) by T.A. Webb

Sixth Book Series Finale Written by all the Authors coming in December.

Side Stories or Interludes:

A MelanieM Review: Terra Firma (Earthquake #5) (Pulp Friction 2014 #20) by T.A. Webb

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

With everything that has gone down in the past months, Charlie Turner would rather take a bullet than hurt the man he loves, Amos Greene . But Charlie is in possession of some knowledge that he’s not sure Amos wants to know about. And the indecision and secrecy is killing him.

Amos Greene grew up in a series of foster homes that left him abused, hardened, and closed off. Meeting Charlie Turner changed his life. Now Amos is part of a family. But there’s still a little bit of him that wonders who he really is. Little does he know that Charlie has a file in his possession that will change everything for both of them.

Now all Charlie and Amos need is a little more courage and trust to see them through to the ending they both deserve and desire.

Terra Firma by T.A. Webb has settled into my heart like the warm glow of a crackling fire on a cold winter’s night. The warmth and light draws you in after leaving the cold and dark behind. You appreciate it so much more because of the past surroundings and the journey you took to hearth and home. Terra Firma feels like that. It feels like coming home.

Through a remarkable four stories we have watched Charlie Turner and Amos Greene struggle with commitment, trust issues, bigotry, horrific abuse, and a family in tatters. And cheered as each man faced the obstacle in front of them and survived, as individuals and, finally as a couple we have learned to love. Along the way, Charlie and Amos became a family, along with Charlie’s younger brother, Damon. Still there always seems to be one more barrier to overcome, one more secret to surface before things can become sane and happy once more.

T.A. Webb drops us into Charlie and Amos’ life just as another wave of change approaches. And while Charlie sees this one coming, what it will leave in its aftermath is anyone’s guess. All three of the main characters that make up this complex family have been wounded by life, yet Webb meshes their damaged natures and needs into a whole that feels real and intimate. Terra Firma is that place Charlie, Amos and Damon have been looking for, emotionally and physically and now it seems that another barriers has to be faced, although this time they do it together.

Earthquake has always been a series played out on a smaller stage, with the cast of players decreasing story by story until this last installment is almost a cast of three. It’s a warm, close knit group that now feels as familiar as old friends. The last hurdle? A file folder containing information about Amos’ background and history, something that has caused him profound pain and determined his life path towards Flagstaff and Charlie. As the scene plays out, the dynamics between Amos and Charlie, Charlie and Damon, and Damon and Amos, step onto the stage, each unfolding with believable interchanges and loving dialog. And as the men grapple with the information, the cloak of family falls over all of them, and makes it possible for them all to move forward.

As I said, Terra Firma, the solid foundation Charlie, Amos and Damon have been seeking, has arrived and it is my favorite story of them all. It’s comforting, warm, and embracing. Its love, family, and the future you always wanted rolled into one. How amazing that T.A. Webb accomplished so much in only 40 pages. That’s the power of succinct storytelling and a depth of characterization that continues to pull you in line after line. That’s a beautifully constructed and well written narrative doing the job it is supposed to do and then some. That’s Terra Firma by T.A. Webb, short story writing at its best. Dont miss out on this amazing book. But start at the beginning, enjoy the journey. It will make this happy ending so much more satisfying as well as one to remember.

Cover art by Laura Harner. Another great cover in a series of covers. The branding is especially effective.

Sales Links: All Romance eBooks amazon Terra Firma

Book Details:

ebook, 40 pages
Published October 31st 2014 by A Bear on Books
ISBN139781311836977
edition languageEnglish
seriesPulp Friction 2014 #2

About Pulp Friction 2014

Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment. The Pulp Friction 2014 series in the order they were written and should be read to understand the characters, events and plot:

Round One:
Firestorm (Fighting Fire: 1)by Laura Harner
Cold Snap (In From the Cold: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blown Away (Whispering Winds: 1) by Havan Fellows
Higher Ground (Earthquake: 1) by TA Webb

Round Two:
Controlled Burn (Fighting Fire #2) by Laura Harner
Cold Comfort (In From the Cold #2) by Lee Brazil
Blown Kisses (Whispering Winds #2) by Havan Fellows
Moving Earth (Earthquake #2) by TA Webb

Round Three:
Backburn (Fighting Fire #3) by Laura Harner
Cold Feet (In From the Cold #3) by Lee Brazil
Blown Hard (Whispering Winds #3) by Havan Fellows
Tremors (Earthquake #3) by T.A. Webb

Round Four:
Flare-up (Fighting Fire #4) by Laura Harner
Out In The Cold (In From the Cold #4) by Lee Brazil
Blown Chance (Whispering Winds #4) by Havan Fellows
Aftershocks (Earthquake #4) by T.A. Webb

Round Five:
Radiant Burn (Fighting Fire #5) by Laura Harner
Cold Day in Hell (In From the Cold #5) by Lee Brazil
Final Blow (Whispering Winds #5) by Havan Fellows
Terra Firma (Earthquake #5) by T.A. Webb

Sixth Book Series Finale Written by all the Authors coming in December.

Side Stories or Interludes:

A MelanieM Review: Cold Day in Hell (In From the Cold #5) (Pulp Friction 2014 #18) by Lee Brazil

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

You’ve got to kiss a lot of frogs…

Cannon Malloy has been through hell and back, from the horrific events in Atlanta to the loss of his career as a surgeon in that aftermath. But moving to Arizona has changed him. Mountain Shadows campground has given Cannon not only a new family of friends, but a man he has come to love like no other, Finn Lorensson. But recently Finn has been acting remote and secretive. Just when Cannon is ready for the final commitment for them both.

Finn Lorensson is in trouble. His big heart and concern for Cannon allowed him to make some poor judgements that have put himself and his relationship in danger. But what is he to do? All he wants is a future with Cannon but now that seems to be in jeopardy. One thing Finn realizes is that it will be a cold day in hell when he lets the man he loves walk away. Now if only he had a solution for their problems…

Here we are, Cold Day in Hell – Story 5 (or 18 depending upon how you are counting), and the stakes have never been higher for both of our remarkable main characters. It has taken two series, with more heartache and pain than any character should go through, to get Cannon Malloy to this point in his life. Lee Brazil has taken us on a journey that saw the reader disliking Cannon because of his treatment of Chance (PF2013) of Chance’s Are, then slowly bring about this character’s evolution. Cannon has grown from a self centered story irritant to a complex man finally coming out of the closet and into his personality. It has been a rough and tumble sort of metamorphosis that involved a psychotic killer, a Dom, a lot of regret and finally a move to Flagstaff, AZ. And every painful step forward that this complex, intelligent man has taken moved the reader closer to him as an individual and a part of the Cannon/Finn coupledom,

If you had told me I would end up loving Cannon Mallow after my initial impressions, well, let’s just say my disbelief would have been huge! But Lee Brazil has skillfully made this progression of feelings towards Cannon resolve itself into one of compassion for and understanding of a man in transition at a later point in his life. We now “get” Cannon, his issues and the road he had to travel to become the man that Finn Lorensson loves today. And that was partially made possible by the marvelous character of Finn Lorensson himself. What a noble (overly so), self sacrificing (yes too much), hugely brilliant Viking of a man! Brazil has constructed a man you want to jump because of his brain and body, and then smack upside the head because of his actions. Is Finn believable? Absolutely, which makes it both hilariouis and frustrating when the actions run counter to those the readers want to happen. And sometimes that behavior turns the story dark and scary.

Pulling the pieces of their various pasts back into the picture and their relationship is a large element of this story. Cannon’s children, Finn’s past actions…it all needs to come out and coalesce for Cannon and Finn to have a future together. How Lee Brazil does that is both the charm and the terror of this story. What a dichotomy! Cannon’s grown children need to see the man their father has become and the life he has made for himself in Arizona. Finn needs to resolve the mounting problems he created, out of the best intentions of course, that now threaten everything he loves and has worked for. Family and threat to family, loving relationships balanced by those that were never meant to happen. And while we (and our heartstrings) are zigging and zagging along the many plot twists Brazil has in store for us, the siren song of Cannon and Finn’s love has never been stronger. It is that ocean swell that carries us and the men along to that final story and, hopefully, their HEA.

Yes, one more group story to go. Just one. One to tie up all the loose ends (and there are many). Bring all the lovers, their famlies together for a resolution we can cheer for because we have so much invested in these characters and their stories. So look forward to December and in the meantime, if you are already along on this journey, get prepared by reading Cold Day in Hell by Lee Brazil. It’s a heartgrabber, just like the men it revolves around. If you are new to the series, back, back, I say! Go to the beginning and start there with this series and all the rest. Don’t miss out on a story, not one.

Cold Day in Hell takes it’s place among the top stories/series of the year for Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. See you back here in December for the finale! Happy Reading.

Cover art by Laura Harner. These covers are wonderful. The artist does a great job branding the series with the logo and the model works for the character.

Sales Links: All Romance eBooks amazon Cold Day in Hell

Book Details:

ebook, 51 pages
Published October 1st 2014 by Lime Time Press (first published September 30th 2014)
ISBN13LBRZL0201441
edition languageEnglish
seriesPulp Friction 2014 #18, In From

About Pulp Friction 2014
Laura Harner ~ Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ T.A. Webb
The Pulp Friction 2014 Collection. Four authors. Four Series. Twenty books. One fiery finale. Spend a year with an eclectic group of strangers brought together through circumstances, as they are tested by life, and emerge as more than friends.
The strongest bonds are forged by fire, cooled in air, smoothed by water, grounded in earth.

Round One:
Firestorm (Fighting Fire: 1)by Laura Harner
Cold Snap (In From the Cold: 1) by Lee Brazil
Blown Away (Whispering Winds: 1) by Havan Fellows
Higher Ground (Earthquake: 1) by TA Webb

Round Three:
Backburn (Fighting Fire #3) by Laura Harner
Cold Feet (In From the Cold #3) by Lee Brazil
Blown Hard (Whispering Winds #3) by Havan Fellows
Tremors (Earthquake #3) by T.A. Webb

Sixth Book Series Finale Written by all the Authors coming in December.

Side Stories or Interludes:

A MelanieM Review: Sleigh Ride (Minnesota Christmas #2) by Heidi Cullinan

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Arthur Anderson is just plain unhappy. His roommate, best friend with benefits, Paul, has decided to move out, leaving Arthur’s house cold and lonely. Paul wanted more from Arthur after years of living together and casual sex (at least that’s how Arthur looked at it). The town’s mill has closed, albeit temporarily, leaving Arthur without a job and his mother wants Arthur to act as Santa and ride a sleigh for a benefit for the town’s library. And to top it all off, his mother wants to fix him up with the librarian who so clearly despises Arthur. No, Arthur is not a happy man at all.

Shy, lonely, and cut off from the community he serves as the town librarian, Gabriel Higgins isn’t happy either, unless he is seated among children at storytime or busy with all things books. When Arthur is mentioned by Arthur’s mother (and member of the library board) as the benefit Santa, Gabe doesn’t want him, either—as a Santa, as a boyfriend, as anyone at all. But when Arthur’s efforts to wiggle out of the fundraiser lead to getting to know the man behind the storytime idol, he can’t help but be charmed.

One things leads to another and soon the men find themselves happy and sort of involved. But a small town is full of pitfalls as well as positives. Can Arthur and Gabe surmount all obstacles, including the ones they raise themselves, to find a sleigh ride to HEA?

This story absolutely threw me. I started off unsure about the characters, the town, and the unlikeliest of romances but before I knew it, Heidi Cullinan had pulled me into her world of quixotic characters, small town life and a burgeoning love affair between two such dissimilar men and kept me happily there for hours. I ended up loving this story completely and for so many different reasons.

Talk about your odd pairing! That would be short, bearish, red-headed Arthur Anderson, a gruff, handyman with certain needs, and the tall, slightly built, curly haired librarian, Gabriel Higgins. Gabe is eloquent, shy, and literary in his conversation. He too has hidden needs that will surprise all. Even their backgrounds couldn’t be any more different from each other. Arthur’s family is a delight. Gabe’s? Not so much. Arthur is actually hard to like at the beginning, He comes across as rude, boorish, and intractable. Not someone who endears himself to the reader immediately. No, Arthur has to slowly reveal the elements to his personality and the facets that he shows only to those he trusts before the reader starts to first like, and then finally fall deeply in love with him. Gabriel’s true self is hidden under a shell of protection Gabe has erected, so its hard to see at first that he has an inner fire and strength that comes out at the library where he feels safe and secure.

The scenes with the children and the stories at the library as well as the feeling of the library as a small town hub are conveyed realistically here. The authenticity of the setting and the references to childhood stories and graphic novels made this story so believable that I felt I had been there before. Cullinan is able to show the many facets of a librarian’s profession that few see past the person reshelving the books or stamping them out as you leave. It’s a lovely reveal and it makes Gabe’s character so much more interesting, giving him a depth that plays off nicely against the alienation Arthur feels from his past experience with books and reading.

And that pull of opposites is one of the major charms of this story, it’s the joy of watching the men slowly move towards each other and a future together. Loved that, truly I did. Mingled with scenes and relationships of those around them, they are pushed and pulled, tugged and marched towards each other until something gives.

Another highlight here is the relationship between Arthur and his nephew, Thomas, a sensitive child who loves a babydoll named Soupy. Aspects of their relationship, including Gabe’s part in making Thomas feel understood and accepted had me in tears. A book titled William’s Doll, a mesmerized group of children and some childhood companions combine to deliver a powerful message and turn what a mother perceived as an embarrassment into riches. Heartwarming, totally heartwarming. It also shows the ability and power of the written word (or pictures as the case might be) to change a situation as well as perspective. It was an enchanting scene that has continued to stay with me.

Cullinan has packed this story full of such dramatic and moving moments. In addition we have the exploration of two compatible if kinky sexual needs, desires that both men have trouble revealing. That difficult part of Arthur and Gabriel’s relationship is handled with the same sensitivity and thoroughness of other elements in this story while not discounting how sexy and hot it is.

So much joy and discovery, so much love and acceptance. I adored this story and all its well defined and all too human characters. It had been a while since I read Let It Snow, the first Minnesota Christmas story. It was only until I was halfway through Sleigh Ride that I realized I knew Marcus and Frankie already. I don’t think its necessary to read that story before this one. Just consider it a perk and pick it up later. You will enjoy watching Marcus and Frankie get together, while bringing back memories of this story all over again. You really can’t go wrong with either story. So get them both!

I love Heidi Cullinan, her stories always so full of heart and understanding. Sleigh Ride contains all the wonderful Heidi Cullinan trademarks with a great plot and a small town you just might want to put on your next itinerary. Consider this one of Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words highly recommended reads.

Cover artist: L.C. Chase. Love that cover, just as heartwarming and wonderful as the characters and story within.

Sales Links: Samhain Publishing All Romance eBook (ARe) amazon Sleigh Ride

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: November 11th 2014 by Samhain Publishing, Ltd.
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.heidicullinan.com/sleigh-ride
seriesMinnesota Christmas #2

Minnesota Christmas series:

Let It Snow (Minnesota Christmas #1)
Sleigh Ride (Minnesota Christmas #2)

Barb, a Zany Old Lady, Review: Starstruck (Bluewater Bay #1) by L.A. Witt

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

I’ve been “starstruck” by an amazing storyteller named L.A. Witt. The author put together the best and longest slow burn- ust story I’ve ever read, and when the two MCs did finally come together, they exploded in a supernova!

Levi Pritchard, aging (late 30’s), former Hollywood superstar, is known best for his role as Chad Eastwick—an action hero role he despised because it completely stifled his creativity and smothered his acting ability. He also despised the whole Hollywood scene, especially the press vultures who refused to let him live his own life—a gay man deeply closeted who only wanted to be allowed to love his partner Dylan, but instead had to deny him to the world, bringing about their eventual breakup. He’s also the victim of two alcoholic parents who, though now in recovery, are still critical of his life and would never accept him as gay so he can’t find the courage to out himself and force the expected estrangement. In short, Levi is a deeply closeted, frustrated man who is running away from the career he loves and running to the family he hates, rather than being true to himself. When he’s offered a chance for a small role in Wolf’s Landing, the successful show that’s been filming in his town, Bluewater Bay, he’s considering it for two reasons. The first is that his good friend, Anna Maxwell, is the highly esteemed director and the second is Carter Samuels, a young actor who caught Levi’s eye when he first came on the Hollywood scene a few years before.

Carter Samuels is thrilled when he learns that Levi Pritchard, his idol and the man on whom he’s had a secret crush for years, is going to be joining the cast of Wolf’s Landing. In fact, Levi is the reason Carter became an actor. He first fell in love with Levi and Levi’s talent when he was exposed to several indie films in which Levi starred in his early career. Even once he was typecast as Chad Eastwick, Carter saw through the constraints that role placed on Levi to the talent hidden below the surface. Now, to have a chance to work with him, whether it’s for this first “walk on” role, or whether the role becomes ongoing, Carter has all he can do to contain himself.

When the two meet, there’s a definite sexual chemistry, though neither wants to acknowledge it. A chance private encounter brings them together in a kiss that neither can ignore. They do acknowledge that the kiss happened and that it was good, but they make a conscious decision to avoid the entrapments of a relationship. They’ve found that they have a lot in common, including a love of obscure indie films, and want to focus on their friendship because they each accept that Levi is firmly in the closet and not interested in coming out. Spoiler alert: Continue reading “Barb, a Zany Old Lady, Review: Starstruck (Bluewater Bay #1) by L.A. Witt” →

November is Here and the Week Ahead at Scattered Thoughts!

“O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being.
Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead
Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing.”
– Percy Bysshe Shelley

Yes, November has arrived along with the falling colored leaves and winds that briskly move them over the landscape to hide the few flowers that remain of summer and the ordered gardens where they reside. The last of the plants that migrate indoors and out have returned to their wintering places inside and all the pups have gotten their new sweaters to ward off the approaching cold.

I love this time of year, the month that Emily Dickinson always called “..the Norway of the year.” The cold sets in, birds swarm in flittering layers looking for warmth and food, and the days grow shorter until the sunlight feels fleeting indeed. It’s a wonderful time for reflection, reading, writing, and knitting. Of cosy rooms and closeness. Its Thanksgiving, family gatherings and sharing. Its quiet, and dark, and contemplative. So many things to so many people.

For the terriers, it’s the deer in the backyard munching on acorns and the remnants of the hostas. It’s the squirrels, and raccoons, and possums at the feeders, sharing along with the birds and odd field mouse. And always watching in the background, still and opportunistic, wait the fox, the hawk and the owl. Even as the pups voice their objections to our visitors, I love the interplay I can observe and the many places they all find within the confines of my gardens and trees.

Even now as the wind whips by and the threat of our first frost appears, I love that it’s November.

I hope you all had a wonderful October. There were so many great books released that your lists should be bulging by now. If you missed it, check out our October 2014 Summary of Reviews and Best Covers. Let me know what covers you loved that we missed and what books you have added to your pile of novels you’re swearing to get to now.

Here is this week’s schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:

Monday, November 3:

A MelanieM Review: The Devil Lancer by Astrid Amara
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Starstruck by L.A. Witt

Tuesday, November 4:

Riptide tour: Cornelia Grey’s Circus of the Damned Tour
A MelanieM Review: Circus of the Damned by Cornelia Grey
A MelanieM Review: Sleigh Bells: Minnesota Christmas by Heidi Cullinan

Wednesday, November 5:

Book Tour: Jude Dunn’s One Thing Leads (contest)
Riptide Book Tour: L.A. Witt’s Starstruck
A MelanieM Review: Heat by Chris Quinton and RJ Scott

Thursday, November 6:

TB Tour: LM Brown’s Between Heaven and Hell
A MelanieM Review: The Best Corpse for the Job by Charlie Cochrane
A MelanieM Review: Cold Day in Hell by Lee Brazil (PF2014, story 5)

Friday, November 7:

RJ Scott Book tour: Darach, book 2 in the Fire Series
DESERT FOXE: A Skyler Foxe Mystery‏ Haley Walsh Book Tour (contest)
A MelanieM Review: Off Course by Bailey Bradford

YA Saturday, November 8:

An Aurora YA Review: Carnival-Decatur by Zoe Lynne

We are still looking for reviewers. If you are interested, please email me at melaniem54@msn.com.

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Rating: I give this book 5 out of 5 stars

Sales Links: Dreamspinner ebook & Paperback All Romance eBook amazon Under the Stars

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Check out Kelly Jamieson’s tour on Thursday, the 20th!

✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍✍

This schedule this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:

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Ratings: 5 Stars out of 5

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Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Sales Links: All Romance eBooks amazon Terra Firma

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Rating: 5 stars out of 5

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Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Minnesota Christmas series:

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Rating: 5 stars out of 5

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Here is this week’s schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words:

Monday, November 3:

Tuesday, November 4:

Wednesday, November 5:

Thursday, November 6:

Friday, November 7:

YA Saturday, November 8:

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