And Still More 2019 Best Of Lists and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

And Still More 2019 Best Of Lists

Here we are mid January and the cold is upon us. After mid temperatures, it is finally feeling like winter here. Our look at last year’s wonderful stories continues this week with our reviewer Alisa’s choices for her Best of 2019. Check them out below:

From Our Reviewer Alisa:

2019 Best ebooks

Blood Wine by Aimer Boyz

Kept in the Dark by Charlie Cochet

The Hands We’re Given by O.E. Tearmann

Surviving the Shadows by Miranda Turner

Mason’s Run by Mellanie Rourke

All or Nothing by Riina Y.T.

The Twelve Dates of Christmas by Andi James and Lila Wilde

The Sweetest Thing by E.M. Denning

At Home by Carly Marie

His Two Alphas by Anna Wineheart

Best audiobooks

Untamed by Carly Marie, narrator Bolton Hill

Homeward Bound by HJ Welch, narrator Nick Russo

Mr. Frosty Pants by Leta Blake, narrator John Solo

Nothing Special V by AE Via, narrator Aiden Snow

The Swap by Annabella Michaels, narrator Michael Pauley

Best Series

Finding Home by Carly Marie

Davey’s Rules by Susi Hawke

My Truth by Ann Grech

Brotherhood of Ormarr by Jacki James, Michelle Frost, Steph Marie, Bobbie Rayne, Michele Notaro and Sammi Cee

Bid Bad Wolves by Queenie Wise

—

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 19:

And Still More 2019 Best Of Lists and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday,January 20:

Cover Reveal Loose Ends (Badlands Book 4) by Morgan Brice
Review Tour – Served with a Twist by Jet Lupin
BLITZ Out of Time by C.B. Lewis
An Alisa Review Forbidden Bond by Lee Colgin
A Free Dreamer Review: Time Turns (Out of Time #4) by C.B. Lewis

Tuesday, January 21:

Release blitz Adam Bomb by Kilby Blades
BLITZ Winter Masquerade by Kevin Klehr
An Alisa Review Don’t Ask Don’t Tell by Miski Harris
A MelanieM Review The Edge of the World by Garrett Leigh

Wednesday. January 22:

Release Blitz – Fade In (A Tales of Bryant Romance) – V.L. Locey
Release Blitz – Loose Ends (Badlands Book 4) by Morgan Brice
A Melanie Review Consorts of the Red King by Eden Winters
A Melanie Review Fade In (Tales of Bryant #3) by V.L. Locey

Thursday, January 23:

Release Festivities for Powder & Pavlova by Jay Hogan
AUDIOBOOK TOUR – Love’s Trials by Janice Jarrell
A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Rescuing Kyle Special Forces: Operation Alpha by Lynn Michaels
An Alisa Audio Review:All the Way to Shore (Stories from the Shore #1) by CJane Elliott, Tim McKiernan (Narrator)

Friday, January 24:

Release Blitz Ted of the d’Urbervilles by Rob Rosen
Blog Tour – Hathornatum (Pleletus #1) by Taylin Clavelli
A Stella Review: Powder and Pavlova (Southern Lights #1) by Jay Hogan
A Free Dreamer Review: Hathornatum (Pleletus #1) by Taylin Clavelli

Saturday, January 25:

A MelanieM Audio Review:All I Want Is You by DJ Jamison and Wyatt Baker (Narrator)

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Review: Vespertine by Leta Blake & Indra Vaughn with Michael Ferraiuolo (Narrator)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

I sat on this review for a few days because I needed to absorb just how much the story meant to me. I was overwhelmed with not only the plot but with Michael Ferraiuolo’s performance. Let’s say I know which audiobook I’m nominating for best performance next year.

On the surface, this looks like it will be a book about a priest who yearns for the love of a rock star, but it’s far from that. It’s the story of a young man who loved another young man in their teens, but not enough to overcome his desire to enter the priesthood. Add to that some (poor) advice from his mother, who focused on the wrongness of loving another man rather than the rightness of having the freedom to love whoever he chooses in whichever way he chooses, and you have a gay priest who is an LGBTQ advocate. He also runs a center for homeless LGBTQ teens supported in part by the church and in part by grants and charitable donations.

The boy he loved, Nicholas Blumfeld, had been adopted at birth by two loving and supportive parents, but Nicky ran from them and his ghosts when Jasper turned from him, and he ended up as Nico Blue, lead singer and songwriter for Vespertine. After the demands of his career, his tour, and his manager lead him to one drug too many, he ends up in rehab and ultimately returns home to the parents who still love and support him.

Nicky and Jasper renew their friendship and ultimately their love for each other. We readers have the pleasure of watching that unfold as Nicky struggles through his recovery and Jasper struggles with his decision to continue as a priest or give it up for the man he realizes he still loves. The teens in the shelter play a major supportive role in this story as does Nicky’s family and Ramona, one of his bandmates. All were well-developed characters, some of whom I’d love to meet. The authors did a beautiful job of bringing this story to life and of showing the internal and external struggles both Nicky and Jasper faced—individually and together. This is one of those love stories I will remember for a long time. In fact, I loved this audiobook so much I bought the e-book as well. I’ll be rereading and relistening for a long time to come.

The beautiful cover design by Dar Albert features a handsome bare-chested man, a church window in the background and a guitar-playing, sunglasses-wearing rock star to the right—attractive and perfect for the story.

Audio Sales Links: Amazon | Audible

Audio Book Details:

Audiobook

Published December 16th 2019 (first published September 7th 2015)

Original Title Vespertine

ASIN B082QSFYS8

Edition Language English

Characters Nicholas Blumfeld (Nico Blue), Jasper Hendricks

setting Maine (United States)

More Best of 2019 and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

More best of 2019 Lists

We are continuing on this week with more best of lists. This time from our reviewer Chaos Moondrawn! Let’s check out her Best of 2019!

Chaos Moondrawn Best Of 2019

The Best Of The Best

This year I read approximately 200 stories/books, although I didn’t review them all. If you have been reading my reviews, both here and on my own blog, you’ll know I like quirky–books that do things a little differently than the status quo. They still have to make sense, connect with me emotionally, and tell a good story. I gave 5 Stars, without rounding up, to these books that were published this year:

Digging Deep, Digging Deep 1, by Jay Hogan

This book gave a realistic depiction of being in a relationship with a chronically ill person with humor, honesty, and dignity whilst still managing to be a romance. The author didn’t cover over the gross or inconvenient things about illness the way most books do.

The Ghosts Between Us, The West Hills 1, by Brigham Vaughn

People handle grief differently and sometimes they fall in love at completely the wrong time with someone others might deem inappropriate. Oh well, that’s their problem.

The Story Of Us by Logan Meredith

Literally, no one agreed with me about this book featuring an older prudish, judgmental man falling in love with a young student and porn star. With breaking the fourth wall and only one point of view, some people didn’t dig it.

Best Covers

The Witchstone Amulet cover by Tiferet Designs, Healing Glass cover by Jackie Keswick,

The King’s Dragon cover by Natasha Snow, Taji from Beyond the Rings by R. Cooper cover by Lyn Forester, Anhaga by Lisa Henry cover by Tiferet Designs, Hell and Gone by Tal Bauer cover by Danonza, Clean Break by Erin McLellan cover by Natasha Snow, Ramen Assassin by Rhys Ford cover by Reece Notley, Earth Fathers Are Weird by Lyn Gala cover by Lyn Gala.

The Best Of The Rest

Best Contemporary

Arctic Sun, Frozen Hearts 1, by Annabeth Albert

Best Behavior by Matthew J. Metzger

Heated Rivalry, Game Changers 2, by Rachel Reid

Ramen Assassin by Rhys Ford

The Other Book, Those Other Books 1, by Roe Horvat

We Still Live by Sara Dobie Bauer

Best Fantasy/Paranormal/Science Fiction

Anhaga by Lisa Henry

Dead Man Stalking by T.A. Moore

Empire of Light, Voyance 1, by Alex Harrow

Healing Glass, Gifted Guilds 1, by Jackie Keswick

Space Train by David Bridger

The Shoreless Sea, Liminal Sky 3, by J. Scott Coatsworth

Best Holiday

A Faerie Story by Barbara Elsborg

Best Dark Themed/Taboo

Sick And Tragic Bastard by Rowan Massey

Please read the tags and get ready for a big, fat, ugly-crying meltdown if you have a soul. Then, read or watch the fluffiest, sweetest stories you can find for a week after.

Best Rerelease

Release, Davlova 1 and Return, Davlova 2, by Marie Sexton

This dark romance duology (pay attention to the tags) was originally released under the name A.M. Sexton. I don’t think there are any substantial changes. Expect rich, bleak, dystopian world-building.

Honorable Mention

The King’s Dragon, Fire And Valor 1, by W.M. Fawkes and Sam Burns

The Stone Amulet by Mason Thomas

I read so much fantasy this year. These two books stayed with me even though I rated them lower than the others. Why? Maybe I didn’t have enough coffee.

Dec 31, 2019

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 12:

More Best of 2019 and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, January 13:

Blog Tour Rules to Obey by Susan Hawke
BLITZ Breaking the Surface by Rebecca Langham
Review Tour – Con Riley – Saving Sean
A Stella Review : Saving Sean (Seattle Stories #2) by Con Riley
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Tough Guy (Game Changers #3) by Rachel Reid

Tuesday, January 14:

Release Blitz His Fake Prison Daddy by Thursday Euclid and Clancy Nacht
BLITZ Unraveling by Rick R. Reed
An Alisa Review: Rules to Obey (Davey’s Rules #5) by Susan Hawke
A Free Dreamer Review: Wren and Oak (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #9) by Sam Burns

Wednesday, January 15:

Cover Reveal – Hold Me Up by Colette Davison
Book Blast – Damaged Hearts by Jan St. Marcus
Vlog Tour for Unexpected by KM Neuhold
A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Rebound (Overtime #1) by V.L. Locey

Thursday, January 16:

TOUR Howling on Hold by EJ Russell
Release Blitz – Dravyn’s Garden (D’Vaire, Book 15) by Jessamyn Kingley
Release Blitz Garrett Leigh – The Edge Of The World
An Ashlez Review: Star and Fire by R Parr

Friday, January 17:

Cover Reveal – A Summer of Smoke and Sin by TJ Nichols
BLOG TOUR International Banker, Beach Boy by Mia Terry
A MelanieM Review: Head in the Game by Jeff Adams
A MelanieM Review: Consorts of the Red King by Eden Winters

Saturday, January 18:

A MelanieM Review: The Hunt for Red Fluffy (Brimstone #6) by Angel Martinez

Announcements and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Announcements and Less Than Scattered Thoughts

Announcement 1:

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is Going on Hiatus as of February 1, 2020. We intend on returning June 1, 2020.

Real life has been complicated and incredibly time consuming of late. The effects of aging is often not kind, and it’s hard to see it’s impact upon one’s parents. And then have to deal with it.

Sometimes the change is gradual, and then, without notice, like some out of control vehicle, the changes speedup rapidly, veering off in directions you least expected, leaving you scrambling for time, plans, and someone to provide assistance for you and them.

And it all takes time.

I have tried handling this, my life, and the blog. And it hasn’t been going well. So for now, Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words will go on hiatus February 1 until June. Our intention is to return then, restored and recovered.

I hope you will return as well. Trust me, this was a very difficult decision as I love this blog, our reviewers, authors, and readers so. We make no money off of STRW and do it solely out of love.

We hope you will stay with us all through January and return to us in the summer.

Announcement 2:

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Does Not and Will Not Support Dreamspinner Press Through Tours or ARCs, now or in the future.

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words has not worked or accepted tours or ARCS since October 2019, and will not, (even if they manage to pull off some sort of restructuring deal and avoid bankruptcy) from Dreamspinner Press, its owner Elizabeth North, and any of its associated presses. Like other bloggers, readers, and tour owners, we too had hoped originally that DSP would turn things around. Then began the long parade of authors out of Dreamspinner, the lengthy tweets and tales of unpaid royalties (still unpaid royalties and unreturned emails), the impact DSP”s action’s have had on these author’s lives, the immeasurable pain and stress that’s been caused, and, their latest maneuver, makes any support impossible.

I am sorry for those authors still remaining at that firm for whatever reason. If any of you have ARCs that are self published or published with another press, we will be happy to help you promote those upon our return in the Summer and this January.

On a hilarious side note, when contacted by a certain author for Dreamspinner, asking if we wanted to continue with their tours/ARCS, we politely said not at this time. And were then informed we were put on their blacklist. lol A company that acts in such a (insert word of choice here) manner, imo, and acts towards to many authors but has a blacklist? That’s irony. #payyourauthors

A last note on this subject here.

We also fully throw our support towards those blogs, authors, and readers who have been so brave and vocal in supporting the LGBTQIA+ authors who left Dreamspinners and have been outspoken about the reasons why and the impact on their lives and writing. This includes Jay of Joyfully Jay, RJ Scoot, Avon Gale, TJ Klune, BA Tortuga, Jodi Payne, Julia Talbot, Sean Kennedy, Sean Michael, Anna Zabo, among others. There are over 80 ex DSP authors, all with the same story. They need our support. We will be here to help them through January and again in the summer when we return.

Plus I will be reading all through my blog’s hiatus so I will have a backlog of books to review come return time! None of which will be DSP!

Now on a more positive note.

Here is Lila’s Short Best of 2019 List:

From Lila:

Best Cover – I Was a Gay Teenage Zombie by Alison Cybe

Best Novel – Not Dead Yet by Jenn Burke

Best Audiobook – Salt Magic, Skin Magic by Lee Welch: narrated by Joel Leslie

Overall Best – Bishop by A.E. Via

Now onto this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 5:

Announcements and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, January 6:

BLITZ Love on the Spectrum by Alec Nortan
BLITZ Life Minus Me by Sara Codair
Blog Tour – Inheritance (Deadly Curiosities #4) by Gail Z. Martin
A Melanie Review Inheritance (Deadly Curiosities #4) by Gail Z. Martin

Tuesday, January 7:

Cover Reveal Signal – Fade In (A Tales of Bryant Romance) – V.L. Locey
Reveal Blitz Shots on Goal (Stick Side #3) by Amy Aislin
BLITZ Lord of Thundertown by O.F. Cieri
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Devil’s Hour by Aimee Nicole Walker

Wednesday, January 8:

BLITZ Boiling Over by Thea McAlistair
AUDIO BLITZ All the Way to Shore by CJane Elliott
REVIEW TOUR – A.E. VIA – PROMISES: PART 1 (BOUNTY HUNTERS #1)
An Alisa Audio Review A.E. VIA – PROMISES: PART 1 (BOUNTY HUNTERS #1)

Thursday, January 9:

BLOG TOUR Devil’s Hour by Aimee Nicole Walker
A MelanieM Review: The Hunt for Red Fluffy (Brimstone #6) by Angel Martinez

Friday, January 10:

Release Blitz – Biker Daddy (The Grimm Tales of Smoky Vale Book 1) by Gianni Holmes
A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Forbidden Bond by Lee Colgin

Saturday, January 11:

A MelanieM Review: Head in the Game by Jeff Adams

A Stella Review: For Sam, times infinity by Suki Fleet

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

After growing up in care, all Sam wants is to make a home for him and Tommy, his kid brother by choice. But it’s not as easy as he thought, especially when his social worker finds him a job miles away. And falling for the surprising boy at work only makes things harder.

Evra is different, his past a mystery. Being truly himself is not something he’s ever felt safe enough to be with anyone, not until Sam, the shyest boy ever, saves his life at work and Evra finds himself inexplicably trusting him. Wanting him.

Problem is, Sam is leaving, unable to stand being so far away from Tommy. And Evra can’t leave, not when he has consequences to face.

Making things work might seem complicated, but sometimes falling in love has its own consequences.

Reading For Sam, times infinity truly killed me, it was a beautiful journey, but I hurted. I felt the characters and their problems with this world and I so wanted to hug and shelter them. Evra and Sam were made to be with each other, a couple so well fitted and balanced. And since I read their first scene together I saw how much love was going to happen in their lives. I feared for both of them when they were alone, especially for Evra, he was at a point in his life where he really couldn’t take it anymore, and Sam was finally the right meeting that will help Evra to change everything, for himself, for Sam, and not only.

I so wanted to have more about these characters, I need to see more of their adult lives, more about Tommy, Sam’s brother, that took all my heart.

Apart from the characters and the plot, what conquered me was the writing, so well done, my reading almost sounded and rhymed as a poetry, it was musical. For Sam, times infinity is a sweet novel, emotional and thoughtful, I will surely reread it in the next future. And I just realized this was my first book from this author, I need her previous releases now. Highly recommended.

The cover art by Suki Fleet is lovely, simple and sweet

SALE LINKS Amazon

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 216 pages

Published November 15th 2019 by Stars and Ink Press

ASIN B07ZXHZ8GN

Edition Language English

Lucy Review : Dances Long Forgotten by Ruby Moone

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

On Christmas Eve, Dylan, the man of James Pell-Charnley’s dreams, is on the point of walking out. Then they hear the faint strains of a waltz in the library of the empty abbey. The music is said to be heard only by those truly in love, and it gives James the courage to tell Dylan the story.
In December 1841, Lord Hugo Pell-Charnley is in a terrible mess. The youngest son of the late Marquis, youngest brother of the incumbent, never felt to fit. When his life comes crashing down, and his life and his family are threatened, he is forced to face his elder brother and confess his deepest secret. When he arrives at Winsford Abbey he finds he must also confront the shame from his past in the form of Lyndon Cross. The boy he’d loved but betrayed in school.
As they clear the ghosts from the past, they dance in each other’s arms in the library to the soft strains of the waltz, but long buried secrets threaten to destroy their happiness.
Two hundred years later, can those dances long forgotten give James and Dylan the courage to hold on to love?

This is a story within a story. James, the current Marquis, must tell the story of Hugo and Lyndon to his own love, Dylan, in order for Dylan to understand how James feels about him. So we have the modern beginning and end sandwiching the historical story and that worked very well for me.

Hugo is the youngest of the Pell-Charnley family and he believes himself to be nothing spectacular. He had a terrible time at school, can’t do the one thing he really wants to with his life (own a bookstore) because it is beneath people of his class, and now is being blackmailed. Things just go from bad to worse when he shows up at his family estate for Christmas only to find three of the bullies from school present, as well as someone he used to like at school, someone who he didn’t treat well because of the bullies. Lyndon Cross.

It’s funny how people assume things. Winston, Hugo’s older brother, believes Hugo to have an unencumbered life in London. “You seemed perfectly happy as you were…” while never realizing “I hated every moment of school. I never fit in. I was bullied, beaten, terrified…” He was bullied to an extreme degree, as was Lyndon. Now they may have a chance to be together, if only short term. Of course nothing is that easy.

No secret that I am a huge fan of historical romance but I need it to be believable. This one hit all my switches. Sympathetic characters, plot that made sense and with twists that I completely didn’t see coming, and an ending I felt was plausible.

I was thinking four stars for this story until another plot twist showed up, one that I wasn’t expecting yet again, and I had to raise it up. My heart was breaking for Hugo at that point. “…had talked about him, speculated about him, made him queasy inside.” I so understood that feeling. I was angry at people for him – more than he was even! Hugo is a good person and handles things so much better than he believes he does.

“Every Christmas we should definitely waltz in the library.” “Until we are too old to move….I’ll hold your hand and we’ll sway in time.” That made me happy, as did the sweetness of the epilogue.

This was so interesting, so sweet and so wonderful. I especially appreciated a bisexual character in a historical, which may be the first time I’ve read of one in this genre.

The cover, showing Dylan and James dancing against the backdrop of Hugo, is perfect.

Sales Links: Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 145 pages
Published December 19th 2019
ASINB082QQ7QGF
Edition LanguageEnglish
Other Editions
None found

Announcements, Best of 2019 Lists, and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

I am pushing back the announcements I intended to make until next Sunday. Time, RL, and the holidays got away with me as they have been doing so often lately. We will be posting a reduced schedule to allow everyone here to enjoy all their holidays, whatever they may be.

We will be sharing our Best of Lists through the end of December and all through January, starting with our reviewer Lucy’s. See how her list compares with yours, and do you see some that you can add from hers to yours? I hope so. Let us know what you think we should be on our Best of Lists too. We love and value your input.

Best of 2019 Lists

From Lucy:

In no particular order:

Yuletide Treasure by Eliot Grayson

Hidden Hearts by Clare London

Made for You by Anyta Sunday

Reluctant Husband by Eliot Grayson

Finders Keepers Audio by NR Walker, Narrated by Joel Leslie

Twice Shy by Sally Malcolm

Puzzle Me This by Eli Easton

Happy for You by Anyta Sunday

Team Luker by Nell Iris

Nothing Ventured Audio by Jay Northcote

Full Bodied by Shea Balik

Love Around the Corner by Sally Malcolm

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, December 22:

Announcements, Best of 2019 Lists, and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, December 23:

Review Tour – J. R. Lawrie – Let Your Heart Be Light
Release Blitz – Nell Iris – Four Christmases
A Stella Review Model Christmas by Jaime Samms
An Alisa Review : Let Your Heart Be Light by J. R. Lawrie

Tuesday, December 24:

A Christmas Yarn by CC Bridges AUTHOR TOUR
BLITZ Forbidden Bond by Lee Colgin
A MelanieM Review: Earnest Ink by Alex Hall
An Alisa Review The Detective’s Angel by J.B. Buell

Wednesday, December 25:

BLITZ Life Minus Me by Sara Codair

Thursday, December 26:

Review Tour – RJ Scott & V.L. Locey – Christmas Lights (Owatonna U Hockey #4)
Release Blitz – Sam Burns – Wren and Oak (Rowan Harbor Cycle #9)
Release Blitz Unexpected by KM Neuhold
A MelanieM Review: Christmas Lights (Owatonna U Hockey #4) by RJ Scott & V.L. Locey
A Chaos Moondrawn Review A Christmas Yarn by CC Bridges

Friday, December 27:

99c Book Blast – Little Red (Big Bad Wolves Book One) by Queenie Wise
A ;MelanieM Review: Window Dressing by Jodi Payne and BA Tortuga
A Stella Review Socks for an Otter by Posy Roberts

Saturday, December 28:

A MelanieM Audio Review: RDH3 by NR Walker and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

A MelanieM Review: Boys of Summer (Hot Off the Ice #5) by A.E. Wasp

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Teammates, roommates, friends with benefits. What could go wrong?

Boys of Summer is a book about finding the perfect person to ride shotgun with on the crazy road trip called life. It contains a Dolly Parton lookalike, an unfortunate deer versus car incident, and poorly-timed epiphanies.

Everybody leaves. That was the first lesson Thunder goalie James McVicker ever learned. The second lesson was that if you don’t want to hurt, don’t let yourself get attached. Patrick O’Reilly is the best friend Vicky’s ever had. So obviously when Vicky finds himself possibly, maybe stupidly, falling in love with the guy, it only makes sense for him to leave first, right? So why does it feel like he’s just made the biggest mistake of his life?

Patrick O’Reilly loves being in love. He loves the romance and hearts and flowers of it all, but he hates the way it always seems to end. Friends are simpler. Friends don’t break your heart. Luckily, he has the greatest best-friend-slash-teammate-slash-roommate in the world. Hanging out with Vicky is as easy as breathing, and despite Paddy’s initial fears, adding some epic benefits of the sexual kind to their friendship only makes it better. He’s certainly not going to ruin things by doing something as stupid as falling in love. Obviously, Vicky isn’t in love with him. He’s just confused by all these stupid weddings. If Paddy can get him to talk, they can work all this out and get back to being friends again.

The course of true love never did run smoothly, but maybe with the help of their friends and family and some last-minute divine intervention, what started as a road trip could turn into the adventure of a lifetime.

I am desperately hoping that this is not the end of the series for our boys of summer because I am hopelessly addicted to this cast of characters, this team, and this series. With each story and couple, A.E. Wasp has kept this series fresh, lively, and invigorating. Wasp beautifully combines her love and ability to write the fast paced, complex game of hockey with a gift for capturing the believable dynamics of a wide range of developing relationships and lay them out before her readers in such a way as to pull us in and make us love these people.

And with each story I declare the men and their relationship my favorite novel.

Boys of Summer (Hot Off the Ice #5) by A.E. Wasp with Vicky and Paddy is my favorite story and they are my favorite couple. Of course.

Here is a novel that has friends to lovers, awakening sexuality, deep friendships, layered characters, familial and found families, and a game that combines, no demands the best of the men playing it. That’s intellectually understanding it’s demands at a high rate of speed, a flexibility of mind and body, the ability to endure its exhausting schedule and indignities inflicted upon bod and soul, all the while keeping the passion for the game burning. It’s rare and Wasp highlights the game in all its facets through the eyes of its players and coaches, and sometimes their SO’s.

The series has started with a veteran retiring to here, two of the youngest players on a team. We’ve effectively gone backwards in perspective in what it means to be gay or bi or LGBTQIA+ and playing on a NHL or NHL associated hockey team. From coming out to still figuring out who you are sexually, and the journey in between.

One of the many elements that has always drawn me to the stories of AE Wasp is the author’s characters. They are so well constructed, multidimensional and real. But more than that it’s the dialog that accompanies them. It sings of personalities so full of life that the Kindle can barely contain them! I laugh and sometimes cry with them, I see them so clearly as the words flow out of their mouths. I know these men, and love them.

It’s why I want to see more of them and want this series to continue so I can see them, all of them once more. Hear them smash up against the boards, the swoosh of skates across the ice, and the love of one player for the game, his team, and the love of his life. Whoever that may be.

Boys of Summer was everything, Hot Off the Ice is incredible, and author AE Wasp one of my favorite authors. Pick up the entire series and find out why I am recommending all three so highly.

Cover art is lovely and still working to brand the series.

Sales Link: Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 544 pages
Published September 28th 2019 by Kelpie Press
ASINB07YK3SG2Z
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series I Hot Off the Ice #5

Hot Off the Ice Series

Hot Off the Ice Boxed Set: Books 1-3

Best of 2019 Lists Being Compiled and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Best of 2019 Lists Being Compiled and Upcoming Announcements

Heading towards the holidays and the New Year, we here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words are working to pull together our Best of Lists for 2019. Those books that made our year, those characters that we still hold so close to our hearts.

I’m hoping that you all will have some of your own to contribute as well.

Also coming? An announcement about our revised review and tour policies, one we have waited to announce as we finished with our previously scheduled tours. Our readers may have noticed certain changes back at the first of November but we wanted to makes our announcement at the end of December in keeping going forward with the New Year. This will pertain to our relationship or current lack of one with Dreamspinner Press, specifically arcs and tours. More on that to come in our official announcement next week.

So we are making our lists, checking them twice, wrapping presents, and as always reading and listening to some wonderful stories.

What’s happening over in your reading nook? What is on your Best of List this year?

Jot them down and send them in. Let’s see if we match up or if we have new stories to put on our TBR pile.

In the meantime, be safe, be happy, and happy reading and listening.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, December 15:

Best of 2019 To Come and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, December 16:

Release Blitz The Rise of Virginie by Katey Hawthorne
Blog Tour Starlight by Lisa Henry
Release Blitz Devil’s Hour by Aimee Nicole Walker
A MelanieM Review: Angels Sing (Daddy Dearest #2) by Eli Easton
A Lucy Review: Stealing Gifts by Mere Rain
A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Starlight (Dark Space #3) by Lisa Henry

Tuesday, December 17:

Release Blitz – Inheritance (Deadly Curiosities #4) by Gail Z. Martin
Release Blitz – What Works For Us by Colette Davison
An Alisa Review: What Works For Us by Colette Davison
A Lucy Review: This Christmas by J.R. Hart
A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Unveiled by Jaime Craig

Wednesday, December 18:

BLITZ Rialto (Unbreakable Bonds #8) by Jocelynn Drake & Rinda Elliott
Review Tour – A.E. Via – Prophesy II: The Bringer of Wrath (The King & Alpha Series)
Release Blitz – Roe Horvat – The Layover
A Stella Review – A Boyfriend For Christmas by Jay Northcote
An Alisa Audio Review Review: Prophesy II: The Bringer of Wrath (The King & Alpha Series) by AE Via

Thursday, December 19:

AUDIO BLITZ – A.E. VIA – PROMISES: PART 1 (BOUNTY HUNTERS #1)
Release Blitz – Ruby Moone – Dances Long Forgotten
An Ashlez Review: Anyone But You by Brien Michaels
An Alisa Review: Angels Sing by Eli Easton
A MelanieM Review: Boys of Summer (Hot Off the Ice #5) by A.E. Wasp

Friday, December 20:

Release Blitz – RJ Scott & V.L. Locey – Christmas Lights (An Owatonna U Novella)
RELEASE BLITZ Nicki’s Fight by Mellanie Rourke
An Alisa Review Forbidden Omega by Caitlin Ricci
A Chaps Moondrawn Review: Captivating (Elite Protection Services #2) by Onley James
A MelanieM Review: Score (Men of Hidden Creek – Season 1, #6) by A.E. Wasp

Saturday, December 21:

A MelanieM Audio Review: Red Dirt Heart 3 by NR Walker and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

A MelanieM Review: Back Door Into Purgatory (Soul Shares # 9) by Rory Ni Coileain

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In the final installment in the M/M Celtic SoulShares series, author Rory NiCoileain weaves together the myriad threads of this compelling paranormal romance in a climax that crosses time and space.

Sometimes Fae love stories aren’t what you expect.

The Marfach—devourer of magick, long-imprisoned mortal enemy of the Fae race—is free of its Antarctic prison.

The Demesne of Purgatory—Fae, humans, a Fade-hound puppy, a Gille Dubh, and a darag—is all that stands between the monster and the power it needs to destroy both the Fae Realm and the human world.

The only clue they have as to how to kill the unkillable is a cryptic note from the Loremasters:

“Osclór, Nartú; Tobar, Soladán; Nidantór, Breathea; Glanadorh, Coromór, Farthor; Scian-omprór, Nachangalte; Crangaol, Síofra; Gastiór, Laoc, Caomhnór; Fánadh, Ngarradh.”

Opener, Strength; Wellspring, Channel; Unmaker, Judge; Cleanser, Equalizer, Sentry; Blade-bearer, Unbound; Tree-kin, Changeling; Binder, Warrior, Guardian; Wanderer, Sundered.

As they rebuild Purgatory from the rubble the Marfach left behind, they have to stand together, using everything they know—everything they are to their partners, lovers, husbands. Everything SoulSharing has made them.

And not everyone who enters the final battle will leave it.

I have been reading and addicted to this series for eight, no, now nine books, and this, Back Door Into Purgatory (Soul Shares # 9) by Rory Ni Coileain,, presumably last novel, is the masterstroke, the showcase as to why I have become such a devoted fan of this author and series.

I was absolutely bawling my eyes out halfway through this story. Heartbroken.

And I was prepared I thought for the worst because this has been a grand saga! Of souls reunited over immense odds, of a undying monster so vile that its acts actually had me shuddering on numerous occasions throughout this series, of terrifying journeys to find and keep one’s soul share, and even stories of self revelation intertwined with deep impactful love. Plus the saving of two worlds and magic. Tons of magic and sex.

All done through some of the most memorable and fantastical of characters, and a place called Purgatory that goes through several transitions but always acts as a focus for all our characters and the drama needed to see the story move forward.

There is little I can say here about the arc because of its complexity and the author’s amazing ability to bring the Fae and Gaelic language fully to life. There is a dictionary at the end thats lovely to refer to but fans of this series have grown use to many of the terms used within the series here. The language has been a vital part of the characters and a necessary element to the world building. I can’t imagine Soul Shares without it.

All the books should be read in the order they were written to understand the universe, the timeline, and the couples and characters part in the flow of the series and story overall. This is an outstanding series, not to be missed. The worldbuilding is complex and so imaginative, the characters beautifully written and flawlessly constructed, and oh, that ending. Yes, I was sobbing again.

It’s made me start to go back to the beginning to read it from the top and flow through it now to what I imagine is the finish. Those new to the series are now lucky enough they can do the same. I highly recommend you read them all in order…now. Make it a holiday gift to yourself.

Cover Art really works for the story and character. Great job and very dramatic!

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 221 pages

Published October 1st 2019 by Riverdale Avenue Books

ASIN B07YMNQ9TH