Category: 5 star Rating

Happy Halloween and It’s Into November! This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Happy Halloween and It’s Into November!

 

Yes,it’s almost Halloween.  Pumpkins are out, so are the decorations.  How is your house and neighborhood looking?  Spooky?  Chilling and trendy enough for all the trick or treaters that will be calling this week?  

I have been busy getting in my treats while reading SJ Himes marvelous Beacon Hills Sorcerer series, perfect for Halloween.  Full of vampires, sorcerers, ghouls, ghosts, lichs, and everything else you can think of.  Even hellhounds.  I’m loving it and will be reviewing every book in the series starting on Saturday.  More holiday books are coming your way as well, so be on the look out. Til the season….and we are hopping right in.

But I’m leaving you with the most fun traditions…pumpkin carving.  Here are some of the 2019 pumpkin designs.  Any here you would like to try ?  Check them out…

 

Yep, that’s one for ages! lol  Here is another.

A Landtern fish pumpkin.  I need that.  Next to Dory!

Eye see you!

 

There you go…..a smattering, a gathering of gross, silly, wonderful ideas of all things pumpkin.  How did your pumpkins turn out this year?   Let me know!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, October 27:

  • Happy Halloween and It’s Into November!
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, October 28:

  • Review Tour – Anna Martin – Something Wild
  • BLITZ Sons of Rome by Karrie Roman
  • Blog Tour for HIVE OF SECRETS AND SPELLS by Ellen Jane
  • A MelanieM Review Something Wild by Anna Martin
  • A Lila Review A Long Road to Love by Dakota Storm
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Review: A Faerie Story by Barbara Elsborg

Tuesday, October 29:

  • BLITZ for He Dreams Magic by Emme C. Taylor
  • Blog Tour Nuts by SE Jakes
  • Tour for The Dragon CEO’s Assistant by Jenn Burke
  • A Stella Review Pumpkin Rolls and Porn Sounds by Kris T. Bethke
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Nuts  (Ace’s Wild #2) by S.E. Jakes
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Review: Nova Praetorian  by NR Walker and Joel Leslie (narrator)

Wednesday, October 30:

  • Review Tour – Rain Carrington – 33 Degrees of Separation
  • Audio Blitz – Nothing Special V – AE Via
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Natural Disaster (Storm Chasers #1) by Erin McLellan
  • A MelanieM Review: The Dragon CEO’s Assistant by Jenn Burke
  • An Alisa Review: The Boyfriend Trap by J.B. Buell
  • A MelanieM Review:33 Degrees of Separation (Legacy Book 3) by Rain Carrington

Thursday, October 31:

  • That Time I… Survived My Teens by Craig Barker Michelle, Blog Tour
  • BLITZ Claiming Marcus by Jocelynn Drake
  • Book Blast – Memoirs of the Human Wraiths Box Set and Omnibus by F.E. Feeley Jr.
  • An Ashez Review: Doctor’s Orders (Paint #3.5) by Emma Jaye
  • A Lila Audio Review: One-Eyed Royals (Seven of Spades #4) by Cordelia Kingsbridge, Wyatt Baker (Narrator)
  • A Lucy Review: Clueless Cabot by André D. Michaels

Friday, November 1:

  • Review Tour – Nightside: An Erie Vampire Tale – V.L. Locey
  • Release Blitz Stocking Stuffers by Erin McLellan
  • Release Blitz Rules for Santa by Susan Hawke
  • Audio Review Tour – Two Man Advantage – V.L. Locey
  • An Alisa review : Nightside: An Erie Vampire Tale by V.L. Locey
  • A Melanie Review Insatiable (Witches of the Big Easy 0.5) by Shannon West and T.S. McKinney

Saturday, November 2:

  • A MelanieM Review: The Necromancer’s Dilemma (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #2) by S.J. Himes

A MelanieM Review:Tallowwood by N.R. Walker

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Cold cases, murder, lies, and an unimaginable truth.

Sydney detective August Shaw has spent the last decade of work solving cold cases. Since the death of his boyfriend eight years ago, August works alone, lives alone, is alone — and that’s exactly how he likes it. His work is his entire life, and he’s convinced a string of unsolved cold-case suicides are linked to what could be Australia’s worst ever serial killer. Problem is, no one believes him.

Senior Constable Jacob Porter loves his life in the small town of Tallowwood in the middle of the rainforests in northern New South Wales. He runs summer camps for the local Indigenous kids, plays rugby with his mates, has a close family, and he’s the local LGBTQIA+ Liaison and the Indigenous Liaison Officer.

When human remains are found in the camping grounds at Tallowwood Reserve, Jake’s new case turns out to be linked to August’s cold cases, and Jake agrees they’re not suicides at all. With Jacob now firmly in August’s corner, they face one hurdle after another, even when more remains are found, they still can’t seem to gain ground.

But when the body of a fellow police officer turns up under the same MO, it can’t be ignored anymore. August and Jake must trace the untraceable before the killer takes his next victim or before he stops one of them, permanently.

I am a huge fan of NR Walker’s, finding her through her contemporary romances like her Red Dirt Heart series (still my all time  go to fav), Imago series, and Spencer Cohen (new fav) to name just a few.    But here she comes with a murder mystery and I have to say, I was just as enthralled with the characters and plot as I was with her other tropes.  I really shouldn’t be surprised.

Her gift of characterization  doesn’t stop at story trope or have specific plot requirements they need to fit into.  Walker writes people that have situations happen to them.  Sometimes good, sometimes great, and sometimes, as in Tallowwood, horrifically, tragic things occur that forever change someone’s life.

Here it’s Detective August Shaw whose life has been derailed by tragedy.  Maybe derailed momentarily and then shifted onto another track.  That of solving cold cases and becoming a closed off person, dedicated to his job and the victims of the crimes he’s investigating.  Initially, August Shaw is something of an enigma himself, but as the case he is working on enlarges, he meets young Constable Jacob Porter, and starts to emersh himself into the smalltown life of Tallowwood, the reader watches the man change and start to live again.  Reluctantly, ever so slowly, August Shaw returns to life.  And, oh my, it’s so wonderful.  Because you are with him every emotional step of the way.

A huge part of that is the joyful, intelligent, highly engaging character of Jacob “Jake” Porter and his town or village of Tallowwood.  How I wish it was real.  I would be heading there myself to get a feel for the warmth and smalltown dynamics that Walker pulls you into and makes the reader a daily part of.  It’s magnetic and you easily understand it’s pull on Shaw.

You also understand his attraction to Jake and their relationship, based as it is on chemistry, intelligence, and the feeling of equals.  I love them!

The murder plot.  What can I say?  No spoilers here. But it has so many nice twists and turns and a hell of a suspense race to the finish that’s a white knuckle, stomach churner to leave everyone happy.  Especially about the outcome.  Such a evil air about it all, the reader’s skin will be prickling trying to guess who exactly is the killer here!

I would actually love to see a Tallowwood series with both August Shaw and Jake Porter investigating more murders or other crimes in the area.  I would find that fascinating.  Plus all the wonderful aboriginal culture insights and elements the author added were amazing.    More please, much , much more.

Cover art is eye catching but that’s not my idea of either mc.

Sales Links:  Amazon

Book Details:

Buy for $3.99 or try Kindle Unlimited to read over a million titles
Kindle Edition, 375 pages
Published September 23rd 2019 by Amazon Digital Services LLC
Original Title Tallowwood
ASINB07YB6LCVK
Edition Language English

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Review: Deal Maker (Mixed Messages #2) by Lily Morton and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Jude and Asa are at the top of my favorites right now. And their son, Billy—not every author can create a precocious five-year-old and keep him from being annoying, but between Lily Morton’s writing and Joel Leslie’s delivery of Billy’s adorable voice, I’m sold on Bill as my favorite child of 2019.

This audiobook made the original story even better with Joel Leslie’s vocal interpretation of Asa and Jude and the rest of the cast of characters. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—these people become real to me when I can hear their emotions expressed in their voices. There’s drama, humor, anger, and sadness in this story, and every voice is so distinctive there’s never a doubt about who is speaking, especially Billy—what a great voice he was given!

Asa, an older well-known actor, is a gentle soul who loves his son and is extremely protective of his privacy. His heart was broken by a former model after a four-year relationship. So when Jude shows up needing a place to stay and willing to take a PA job to help Asa out, he’s shocked when he’s despised just because he’s an empty-headed male model.

Jude is normally pretty even keel but he can do revenge with the best of them so he proceeds to show Asa just how airheaded a model can be. The author opens each chapter with a note from Asa, written by Jude, in answer to fan mail. The notes are so witty, snarky, and downright decadently humorous, it’s hard to keep from laughing out loud in public places.

We met Jude in the first book, as he’s Dylan’s BFF. His character is much more fully developed here and he’s simply a wonderful person. Caring and concerned for his parents, whom he helps financially, always ready to help a friend in need, and with a great sense of humor, and a huge love for Billy, but his fear of commitment nearly destroys his chance at happiness.

Of course, the author gets them to their happy place, but Jude’s stubbornness does not make the HEA very easy to achieve. I love the way the author handled the last few chapters to bring them together. And the epilogue? Couldn’t be better!

An outstanding audiobook with a super performance by Joel Leslie. I very highly recommend it.

As for the cover by Natasha Snow, the handsome man on the colorful cover definitely attracts attention.

Audio Sales Links:  Amazon | Audible

Audio Details:

Audible Audio, 289 pages
Published September 28th 2019 (first published December 22nd 2017)
Original Title Deal Maker
ASINB07YGTGJWV
Edition Language English
Series Mixed Messages #2

A Lila Review: Bishop by A.E. Via

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

At only thirty-two, Bishop Stockley has lived a hard-knock life. His gang was his family, the streets his home. Until the crew he’d always called his brothers betrayed him. After doing five years in a federal prison, Bishop is back at his dad’s trailer and working for his landscaping company, thrust into a legit world where he’s no longer the alpha—a world where a criminal record is the least of his disadvantages, because Bishop can’t read or write. Illiteracy had never been an obstacle for him on the streets, he didn’t need to know how to read Moby Dick to survive, he needed to know how to read people… and that was a hustle he’d learned hard and fast. Now, he had to change his life.Bishop’s only support system was a young, inexperienced dad who’d insisted he call him Mike all their life—since they looked more like brothers than father and son. And his hot-tempered, childhood, best friend from ’juvie, Trent. Bishop already had the deck stacked against him, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work to change his situation, and he did want to change. Especially after he encountered Edison Scala, a kind-spirited office manager who didn’t hesitate to come to his defense… a man that saw past Bishop’s grass-stained coveralls. A man who wasn’t intimidated by his stern features and his silence.

Edison hadn’t grown up the way most of his peers had. He’d been raised by a single father who’d owned an old-fashioned barber shop where Edison was taught how to not only shave with a straight razor, and shine shoes, but also how to treat others, to not judge, to be a gentleman, to be respectful and speak without profanity. But, the biggest lesson he’d learned, was to always be himself. His lack of friends and a social life wasn’t his fault. No matter how much weight he gained, no matter how many times his staff called him a square, Edison did not need to change.

Bishop knew Edison was off-limits. He’d made personal vows to himself when he was released from prison, ones that he never intended to break. But, when Edison asked him about providing landscaping services at his home, there was no way he could refuse. He hadn’t expected Edison to feed him, praise him, encourage him, and look at him the way he did—as if Bishop was somebody. Mike and Trent warned him not to mix business with pleasure and he didn’t intend to.

Bishop is all I expected from this author and so much more. It’s been a while since I have rated a book 5 stars but this story deserved it. It was hard to put down and I loved the characters, flaws and all.

It’s nice to read a book were the characters have similar values even when raised in different circumstance. Yes, Bishop had a tough life, but he’s not much different from Edison. They both want to be seen and love for who they truly were.

They had a good support systems but were limited by their insecurities. Their issues were a bit exaggerated and could have been handled differently but the story would have ended within the first 50 pages.

I loved the descriptions of their jobs, their days, and how they found happiness in the small details of their relationship.

There’s not much more I can say without spoilers since the book blurb is pretty extensive. Jut go for it, it’s worth getting to know Bishop and Edison.  Plus, the author set the next book in the series well. I want to read it now.

The cover by Jay Aheer is nice and goes with Bishop’s description but it can be the cover for any MM Romance. I guess it’s missing the light side Edison brings to the story.

Sale Links: Amazon | Nook | iBooksBook Details:

ebook, 395 pages
Published: September 27, 2019, by Via Star Wings Publishing
ISBN: 9781696594448
Edition Language: English

Series: A True Lover’s Story
Book #1: Bishop

A MelanieM Review: Pine Tree Mary by Ofelia Gränd

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Detective Quinn Manning wants nothing more than to see Diamond Dace, one of Fagerdal’s most notorious drug lords, behind bars. After years of the man eluding the authorities, when Manning accidentally stumbles onto an opportunity to catch the powerful dealer red-handed, he doesn’t hesitate. But what should be a simple tail instead drops Manning into a real-life world of myth and legend.

Hush is a hulder, a forest spirit also known as a pine tree Mary. Since the beginning of time, his people have lived in the forest, feeding off the energy they derive from the lust and desires of passing hunters. But Hush is an abomination, the only male of his kind.

After a lifetime of starvation, Hush has struck a deal with a human. A simple trade that will give the human what he desires and keep Hush from wasting away completely.

When Manning saves a young man from Diamond and one of his men, his view of reality is altered forever. And Hush, who has never met anyone like Manning, finds the man’s attraction to him enough to finally stave off his constant hunger.

Together they set out to rescue Manning’s partner, and their connection to one another grows. But can a human detective have a future with a creature of the forest, a creature who isn’t supposed to exist?

It’s no secret that I am a fan of stories that contain mythological references and historical elements.  If both those items happen to be a tad obscure, even better. For it sends me running to gather more information about subjects I’m less familiar with and I love it when that happens.  And so it is with the quite marvelous story of Pine Tree Mary by Ofelia Gränd.  In all of the probably thousands of stories I’ve read by now, this is only the second story (that I can remember, tbh) that has a hulder in it. Not just as a main character, but in it at all.

And just like in that story, Pine Tree Mary sent me running to the reference books,  primarily because of the name.  Turns out yes, among the many names for this ancient forest being, the warden  or protector of a certain forest, is really Pine Tree Mary.

“Names include: huldra, huldrå, hylda, skogsrå or skogsfru/skogfru (meaning ‘lady (ruler) of the forest’ or ‘forest wife/woman/spirit’) and tallemaja (‘Pine Tree Mary’). They are often referred to as Ulda by the Sámi. The males are called Huldrekall (hulder man), huldu, or huldrekarl are often said to be hideous in appearance and have grotesquely long noses.

Both the male huldrekarl and female huldra are forest and mountain dwelling creatures that take the form of tall and very beautiful humans with long flowing hair.”*

Both can be kind or evil, depending on their own action and, of course, how you treat them.

Which lead me back to Pine Tree Mary.

The author folds a police crime story into a mythical romance and does so with to a heartfelt gritty effect. Grand gives a ruthless drug crime boss, a desperate police detective, and an abused male hulder in need and takes those elements and creates a tale you can’t put down.  The innocence of Hush translates so beautifully on the page,  from scene to scene, from the dialog to the descriptions, that you care for Hush and connect to him immediately.  It’s so easy to envision the life of pain and abuse he’s lived under his sisters, and yet, he’s still so pure in spite of that.

And the character of Detective Quinn Manning, aware of police procedures, trying to bring down one of the worst criminals he will ever face, comes across a being he has no explanations for.  The growth in feelings, acceptance of Hush and the preceding investigation all works.

Of course, there is never enough of the mythology for me.  I loved the communication with the animals, the birds and the moose.  The descriptions of Hush’s physical structure is so intriguing.

Basically, I just want a sequel!  I am really invested now in these characters and I want to know what happens next.  This is a HFN and I want nest.  You will too.  This is a fascinating story with characters that make you ask more questions and reach for the next story in their relationship.  Hopefully the author is listening.

Cover Art: Written Ink Designs is haunting and quite beautiful.  Perfect for this story.

Sales Links:  JMS Books LLC | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Kobo

Book Details:

ebook
Published October 5th 2019
ISBN139781646560967
Edition Language English

*Huldra, Folklore’s Lady in the Forest – Spangenhelm Publishing

 

 

Heading Towards All Hallows Eve and Our Spooky Recommendations. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Heading Towards All Hallows Eve and Our Spooky Recommendations

As we head toward Hallows Eve and the pumpkins and decorations are out in full display of one of my favorite holidays, Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words’ stories are trending towards the paranormal, the supernatural, and yes, the downright spooky!

From vampires to werewolves to other things that go bump in the night and are still seeking their own versions of HEA or HFN, I thought I would start sorting through some of our more chilling recommendations!  More to come next week and chime in if we have missed some of the new stories!

Story Recommendations for All Hallows Eve!

  • A Light Amongst Shadows by Kelly York
  • Spirits series by Jordan L. Hawk
  • Tyack & Frayne series by Harper Fox
  • P.S. I Spook You by SE Harmon
  • A Frost of Cares by Amy Rae Durreson
  • Whyborne & Griffin series by Jordan L. Hawk
  • Motel Pool by Kim Fielding
  • “Winter” by Josh Lanyon
  • The Tourist by Clare London
  • Lesser-Bred series by Adrienne Wilder
  • THE GERMAN by Lee Thomas
  • COWBOYS & VAMPIRES by Hank Edwards
  • MONSTER (Vertex #1) by Soren Summers
  • MAN & MONSTER (The Savage Land #2) by Michael Jensen
  • In a Dark Wood by Josh Lanyon
  • Mummy Dearest by Josh Lanyon
  • All In Fear: A Collection of Six Horror Tales by Steve Berman, et al
  • Unhinged by Rick R. Reed
  • A CHARM OF MAGPIES series by K.J. Charles
  • FALLOCAUST series by Quil Carter
  • COLD FINGERS by Amy Spector
  • THE BOOKS OF BLOOD Vols. 1-6 by Clive Barker
  • INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE by Anne Rice
  • A DENSITY OF SOULS by Christopher Rice
  • DUST OF WONDERLAND by Lee Thomas
  • THE WOLF AT THE DOOR by Jameson Currier 
  • LOST SOULS, & DRAWING BLOOD, by Poppy Z. Brite
  • Ally Blue Down
  • Sarah Waters Affinity (f/f)
  • Bump In the Night series from Riptide
  • Jacqueline Rohrbach Speak With the Dead
  • The Werewolf on Lowre Few Lane by Bryce Bentley-Tales
  • Green Death by Madeleine Ribbon!
  • Ground of Insurrection (Wizard Wars, #1) by Mell Eight

 

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Word

Sunday, October 20:

  • Heading Towards All Hallows Eve and Our Spooky Recommendations.
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, October 21:

  • Spotlight Tour and Giveaway for Dancing with the Lion: Rise by Jeanne Reames
  • Release Blitz – LEGENDARY LOVES Volume 2
  • Blog Tour Minuet” by A.M. Leibowitz
  • A Stella Review All at Sea by JL Merrow
  • An Alisa Review: For a Unicorn’s Happiness (Legendary Shifters #2) by Catherine Lievens
  • A Caryn Review: Rise (Dancing with the Lion #2) by Jeanne Reames
  • A Lucy Review LEGENDARY LOVES Volume 2 (In My Arms Again by Nell Iris The Murky Depths by Kassandra Lea Weekend at Bigfoot’s by Addison Albright)

Tuesday, October 22:

  • Convicted” by Kim Fielding Cover Reveal
  • Blog Tour Rules to Break by Susan Hawke
  • Release Blitz for Anna Martin – Something Wild
  • A MelanieM Review Pine Tree Mary by Ofelia Gränd
  • A Lucy Review : Wrangling a Groom (Marital Bliss #2) by D.J. Jamison
  • A Lila Audio Review: Their Bounty (Four Mercenaries #1) by K.A. Merikan and Wyatt Baker (Narrator)

Wednesday, October 23:

  • Release Blitz – Nightside: An Erie Vampire Tale – V.L. Locey
  • Blog Tour Rules to Break by Susan Hawke
  • Book Blitz – Adira August – Psychic Men
  • First Priority by Este Holland Blog Tour
  • An Alisa Review :All or Nothing by Riina Y.T
  • A Lila Review: Bishop  by A.E. Via
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review Best Man (Close Proximity #1) by Lily Morton

Thursday, October 24:

  • Release Blitz – Their Special Agent (Thistle Hearts #1) by Mel Gough
  • POST The Captain’s Flighty Fireworks by Eleanor Harkstead and Catherine Curzon
  • Blog Tour Second Song by Edie Danford
  • A Chaos Moondrawn Review: Shot in the Dark (New Amsterdam #3) by Kelly Wyre
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Review: Deal Maker (Mixed Messages #2) by Lily Morton and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

Friday, October 25:

  • Release Blitz – Precariously Mated (D’Vaire, Book 14) by Jessamyn
  • BLOG TOUR Wrestling With Hope by DH Starr
  • An Alisa Review Wolf, en Garde by A.F. Henley
  • A Stella Review What We May Be by Vivien Dean

Saturday, October 26:

  • A MelanieM Audio Review:  Spencer Cohen 2 by NR Walker and Narrated by Joel Leslie

 

A Stella Review: After Ben (Seattle Stories #1) by Con Riley

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

A year after the sudden death of his longtime partner, Ben, Theo Anderson is still grieving. The last thing he’s looking for is a new lover. But as Theo soon discovers, sometimes life has other plans.

While Theo experiences a powerful physical attraction to fellow gym member Peter, it’s his new online friend, Morgan, who provides the intellectual challenge to make him come alive. Morgan is witty, brave, and irreverent, and Theo is ready to take the plunge… until he discovers Morgan might be half his age.

Theo’s late partner was significantly older—enough to strain Theo’s relationship with his family—and the potential of another relationship being cut short leaves him gunshy. Theo needs to lay Ben’s memory to rest, reconcile with his family, and rekindle neglected friendships if he’s to start afresh with a new lover. But Theo isn’t the only one with a past.

His biggest challenge, in living after Ben, might not be his to face.

After Ben is one of my favourite books in the mm genre and the first audiobook (in English) I listened too, even if my English isn’t good enough for it. I have no clue how many times I read this novel and each time I am overwhelmed by the emotions I get. And here lays the reason why I love the author, and all her works, so much: the feelings she puts in her stories are always so strong and real. In particular, as you can understand from the blurb, After Ben is not exactly a light story, there is a lot of grief and hurt to manage, Theo needed time to process and try to overcome the death of his beloved Ben. He’s not sure how to do it, still he’s trying, some days more than ever. Until a moment, where different events happens all together: the meeting and sudden attraction with Peter, the long chats online till late night with Morgan, the changes at his day job. And then it’s time to say goodbye to Ben while trying to reconcile the past with the present.

Although it’s not a light story, it was still a pleasure to read, cause the plot, the scenes, the characters, are all so well done the reading didn’t become heavy or too stifling. I could feel an air of positiveness and joy for the future, that ease the important themes the book tells.

I can’t recommend After Ben enough, you won’t be disappointed. And be sure to check Con Riley works, all of them are awesome.

The cover art by Natasha Snow is lovely and fitting, this artist is a guarantee.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Universal Link  Exclusive to Amazon and Available to Borrow with Kindle Unlimited
 

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 2nd edition, 344 pages

Published October 5th 2019 by Amazon Digital Services (first published July 1st 2012)

ASIN B07Y6ML8CN

Edition Language English

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audio Review: Rule Breaker (Mixed Messages #1) by Lily Morton and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

Rating:  5 stars out of 5

What a wonderful story! And the audiobook made it even better with the fantastic performance of Joel Leslie, who brought Dylan, Gabe, and the rest of the cast of characters to life. Listening to a book narrated by Joel is like watching the story unfold on the big screen. The voices become real characters. There’s drama, humor, tears (he does crying scenes so well!) and every voice is so distinctive that there’s never a doubt of which MC is speaking.   


The story of Gabe and his personal assistant, Dylan, is filled with the angst of falling in love with an unlovable man, but it’s also laced throughout with humor, much of it dry Brit wit and snark. The author opens each chapter with a note or memo from either Dylan to Gabe or Gabe to Dylan, and many provide laugh-out-loud moments and/or embarrassing barks or snorts in public places.

Gabe is smart, sharp, gorgeous, and wants no part of relationships or feelings with anyone whatsoever, even his current boyfriend. In fact, it’s nothing for them to engage in a threesome with a stranger and afterwards both leave Gabe to his own devices. Dylan is sweet, cute, snarky, and can see through the shell Gabe keeps locked tight around his heart. Their banter is a very important part of this audiobook and keeps readers like me constantly smiling.

Throughout much of the story, although they were attracted to one another, they didn’t act on it since it would break Gabe’s no-sex-with-employees rule. And then it happened and they couldn’t get enough of each other. Some of those locations and situations were funny, but then over time, Dylan loses his heart and Gabe refuses to take it.

Be ready with tissues for this one because Dylan’s heart was literally in pieces all over the floor. And the sobbing and anguished dialogue brought to life by Joel were painful to hear. And yet, I hurt for Gabe as well. His backstory, when we learn it, is heartbreaking and it’s no wonder he refused to share his love with anyone.

Of course, our guys get together in the end, helped along by Dylan’s bestie (who gets his own book next). The epilogue was long enough to tie all the loose threads together in a way that leaves readers knowing this couple is solid and well on the way to their HEA.

I highly recommend this 9.5 hour audiobook to all my friends who enjoy Brit humor, hot sex, angst, love, and redemption, and of course, a very well-deserved HEA.

The handsome man on the colorful cover by Natasha Snow definitely attracts attention.

Sales Links:   Amazon | Audible

Audio Details:

Audible Audio
Published April 15th 2019 (first published August 17th 2017)
ASINB07QM1RCM7
Edition Language English
Series Mixed Messages #1
setting London, England

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Deosil (Whyborne & Griffin #11) by Jordan L. Hawk

Rating: 5+ stars out of 5

I’m so sad today. Last night I finished one of my all-time favorite series. Whyborne and Griffin have become important to me. They are not only sweet and strong and fearless, they are my ideal couple—two halves of a whole—and that can readily be seen in this final story. I read this sooo slowly because I didn’t want the story (or the series) to end. I’m not ready to say goodbye to Griffin Flaherty and Percival Whyborne. Hmm…perhaps I’d better start reading it all over again from book one, Widdershins.

In this last installment, all the pieces of the puzzle come together as the maelstrom faces the masters with Whyborne and Persephone who are the only ones who can stop the other-worldly beings. But it’s never an easy task, as we readers all know, and the author takes us through a clever labyrinth of emotional highs and lows with tragedy and trauma, heartache, and fear, before, finally, success.

The entire cast of characters plays a role in this one—everyone from Heliabel, Persephone, and the other ketoi, to the dweller of the deep, the umbrae, and the Queen of Shadows. Then there’s the librarians, the sheriff’s deputies, the Endicotts, Griff’s brother Jack, Niles Whyborne, and the founding families. All are ready to defend Widdershins. Widdershins knows its own, and those of Widdershins are willing to die to defend what they have. Topping the list is a very pregnant Christine and her husband Iskander, and of course, Griffin Flaherty and Percival Whyborne—all united as family of the heart.

I can’t begin to say how very complex and clever each and every book in this series is. Over the years, the author’s storytelling skills have amazed me, charmed me, and engaged me in the adventures of a young man who started as a mousy virgin librarian, unsure of himself, unwilling to go along with what his family expected, and with little self-esteem—a young man who became a force to be reckoned with as he defends Widdershins—the town, the people, and the maelstrom from other-worldly creatures. He stands tall and confident with the respect of those around him and the rock-solid love of his husband, the man who stands beside him always, his darling Griffin.

Don’t miss a chance to read this book if you’ve started the series.  And if you haven’t started, why not? This is simply exceptional.

A word about the cover by Lou Harper—it’s bright and attractive and features our two heroes in motion, ready for the masters. Perfect for this story.

Sales Links:  Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Kobo

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 244 pages
Published October 11th 2019
ASINB07XYBC854
Edition Language English
Series Whyborne & Griffin #11

Whyborne & Griffin series (Goodreads)

An Alisa Review: Bishop: A True Lover’s Story by A.E. Via

Rating:  5 stars out of 5

At only thirty-two, Bishop Stockley has lived a hard-knock life. His gang was his family, the streets his home. Until the crew he’d always called his brothers betrayed him. After doing five years in a federal prison, Bishop is back at his dad’s trailer and working for his landscaping company, thrust into a legit world where he’s no longer the alpha—a world where a criminal record is the least of his disadvantages, because Bishop can’t read or write. Illiteracy had never been an obstacle for him on the streets, he didn’t need to know how to read Moby Dick to survive, he needed to know how to read people… and that was a hustle he’d learned hard and fast. Now, he had to change his life.

Bishop’s only support system was a young, inexperienced dad who’d insisted he call him Mike all their life—since they looked more like brothers than father and son. And his hot-tempered, childhood, best friend from ’juvie, Trent. Bishop already had the deck stacked against him, but he wasn’t afraid of hard work to change his situation, and he did want to change. Especially after he encountered Edison Scala, a kind-spirited office manager who didn’t hesitate to come to his defense… a man that saw past Bishop’s grass-stained coveralls. A man who wasn’t intimidated by his stern features and his silence.

Edison hadn’t grown up the way most of his peers had. He’d been raised by a single father who’d owned an old-fashioned barber shop where Edison was taught how to not only shave with a straight razor, and shine shoes, but also how to treat others, to not judge, to be a gentleman, to be respectful and speak without profanity. But, the biggest lesson he’d learned, was to always be himself. His lack of friends and a social life wasn’t his fault. No matter how much weight he gained, no matter how many times his staff called him a square, Edison did not need to change.

Bishop knew Edison was off-limits. He’d made personal vows to himself when he was released from prison, ones that he never intended to break. But, when Edison asked him about providing landscaping services at his home, there was no way he could refuse. He hadn’t expected Edison to feed him, praise him, encourage him, and look at him the way he did—as if Bishop was somebody. Mike and Trent warned him not to mix business with pleasure and he didn’t intend to.

I continue to love all the books I have read by this author and this one was no exception.  Bishop and Edison have been hurt by life in different ways.  Bishop doesn’t feel he is worthy of pretty much anything, having grown up in a gang and going to prison and being illiterate makes him feel like less of a person.  Edison grew up as an outsider and it doesn’t seem to have changed as an adult but he still longs for a special connection with someone.

I hated to watch Bishop struggle with his inability to read and how important he put that in his life.  I understand that his ex hurt him badly when calling it out to everyone but he does have great support from his dad and Trent.  He just has to take the step to make himself feel worthy enough to be with Edison.

I never quite understood why Edison allowed Skyler to continually get under his skin and even believe him to have changed at times.  I know some of it was Edison’s hope for friendship but at the same time we begin to see Skylar’s true motives as he sees Edison finding happiness.  I was so glad that Edison and Bishop stood by each other through thick and thin even if there was some drama associated with it.  I look forward to more stories in this series to see their relationship continue and even see Trent find someone.

The cover art by Jay Aheer is great and I love the visual of Bishop.

Sales Links: Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 395 pages

Published: September 30, 2019 by Via Star Wings Books
Edition Language: English

Series: A True Lovers Story #1