An Ali Audiobook Review: Chase the Ace (London Lads #1) by Clare London and Seb Yarrick (Narrator)

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars
Newly single in his late twenties, and bored with his quiet life in a London suburb, Daniel Cross soon discovers the lure of social media. Excited at the chance of tracking down his old mates from a schooldays sports club, he launches a personal quest to find out what kind of man each boy has become. 

Dan’s first mistake is chatting online to a complete stranger—friending the wrong Carson brother on Facebook. But Nick Carson isn’t offended and offers to accompany Dan on the trip to find the others. It’s the first step to friendship and something more for both of them. 

For Dan, the reunions with the “ Gang of Four” range from startling and heartening to disturbing. Nick’s company is a constant support, though neither of them are prepared for the exposure of personal secrets they’d thought long hidden. Dan begins to suspect he’s really looking for a direction in his own life—and the excitement and purpose he craves may be closer to home than a quest with its roots in a boyhood dream.
I found the plot of this a little confusing.  Not really in the way it was written but just overall.  Nothing that happened really made sense to me or seemed at all realistic.  I didn’t understand Daniel’s desire to see these guys from his past, I didn’t understand why Nick lied, I didn’t understand how a guy in his 20’s had such a poor understanding of social media, I didn’t understand why Daniel would go on a road trip with a stranger, the list goes on.  Once I decided to just let all that go and roll with the story, it got a little better.
I enjoyed the concept of the book and feel that if it had been a longer, more detailed story I probably would have enjoyed it more.  I would have liked to see more relationship development also.
This book was narrated by Seb Yarrick who was a new narrator for me.  I thought he did a really good job and I liked him a lot.  His narration definitely added to the story and he is a narrator I will definitely listen to again.
The cover was done by Valerie Tibbs of Tibbs Design.  I liked the cover a lot and I think it does a very good job of showing what the book is about.  It captures the plot and the vibe of the book perfectly.
Audiobook Details:
Listening Length: 2 hours and 55 minutes
Audible Audio
Published June 22nd 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published December 16th 2012)
ASINB072W728TV
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesLondon Lads #1

A Lila Audiobook Review: Personal Secrets (Personal #3) by K.C. Wells and Narrator: Cornell Collins

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Blake Davis and husband Will are delighted when Ed Fellows turns up at the hospital the night their daughter is born—even if he is covered in mud from playing rugby and drunk out of his skull. Team-mate Colin is the Good Samaritan who drives him there, and when Colin takes Ed home, Colin finds himself on the receiving end of a blow-job. He has no problem with that whatsoever. He’s been in lust with Ed since Ed joined the rugby team some fourteen months ago. Only thing is, Colin’s assumed up ’til now that Ed is straight. Except the man sucking him off certainly didn’t seem straight….

Talk about the morning after the night before…. Ed awakens to find a nearly-naked Colin asleep on his sofa. The problem is that for some reason, he can’t get Colin out of his mind. Okay, so it wasn’t the first blow-job Ed’s ever gotten from a guy—or given, for that matter—but that was a long time ago, right? And why does Ed now want more?

With friends Rick, Angelo, Blake and Will to advise him, Ed finds himself on a completely unfamiliar road, as he struggles to accept that maybe the line he is walking isn’t as straight as he’d first imagined….

Personal Secrets is a lovely romance about two men whose friendship transformed into a blossoming relationship. It wasn’t easy but Colin was more than patience with Ed. Their love was simple and their everyday interactions let the reader see how they fall for each and how Ed changed the more time they spent together.

I enjoyed how naturally Ed’s sexuality evolves during the story and how his friends are there when he has questions. There’s no internalized homophobia or traumatic experience. He acknowledges his attraction for Colin and flows with it. There are some misunderstandings between them, but in the end, they were always willing to talk it through.

The story has many sweet and spicy moments and in occasion, I wanted to skip some of the sex scenes to learn more about the plot, but in the end, it worked considering Ed’s new found interest in men and not so straight sexuality.

Plus, we get several updates on Blake’s and Will’s relationship and Rick’s and Angelo’s. They are part of Colin’s and Ed’s story too, not just a figure in the background. The rest of the cast is excellent and we even get a small villain cameo. Overall, a nice addition to the series.

Cornell Collins did an excellent job with the narration. One of my complaints about book #1 was trying to read Ed’s dialogues. The audiobook definitely added to the appeal and highlighted Ed’s personality and attitude.

The cover by Meredith Russell is different than the e-book version, but it has a similar air. It’s easy to identify Colin and Ed, plus, it adds their love for rugby.

Sales Links:  Amazon | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Cornell Collins
Length: 6 hours 37 minutes
Published: June 12, 2017 (Audio Edition) by Island Tales Press
ASIN: B071ZSX7D4
Edition Language: English

Series: Personal
Book #1: Making It Personal
Book #2: Personal Changes
Book #2.5: More Than Personal
Book #3: Personal Secrets

Audiobook Review Tour for Personal Secrets by KC Wells

 

 
Length: 6hrs 37mins
 
Narrator: Cornell Collins
 
Blurb
 

Blake Davis and husband Will are delighted when Ed Fellows turns up at the hospital the night their daughter is born-even if he is covered in mud from playing rugby and drunk out of his skull. Teammate Colin is the Good Samaritan who drives him there, and when he takes Ed home, Colin finds himself on the receiving end of a blowjob. He has no problem with that whatsoever. He’s been in lust with Ed since Ed joined the rugby team some 14 months ago. Only thing is, Colin’s assumed up ’til now that Ed is straight. Except the man sucking him off certainly didn’t seem straight….


Talk about the morning after the night before….Ed awakens to find a nearly-naked Colin asleep on his sofa. The problem is that for some reason, he can’t get Colin out of his mind. Okay, so it wasn’t the first blowjob Ed’s ever gotten from a guy – or given, for that matter – but that was a long time ago, right? And why does Ed now want more?


With friends Rick, Angelo, Blake, and Will to advise him, Ed finds himself on a completely unfamiliar road, as he struggles to accept that maybe the line he is walking isn’t as straight as he’d first imagined…

 

Author Bio

Born and raised in the north-west of England, K.C. WELLS always loved writing. Words were important. Full stop. However, when childhood gave way to adulthood, the writing ceased, as life got in the way. K.C. discovered erotic fiction in 2009, when the purchase of a ménage storyline led to the startling discovery that reading about men in love was damn hot. In 2012, arriving at a really low point in life led to the desperate need to do something creative. An even bigger discovery waited in the wings—writing about men in love was even hotter….

K.C. now writes full-time and is loving every minute of her new career. The laptop still has no idea of what hit it… it only knows that it wants a rest, please. And it now has to get used to the idea that where K.C goes, it goes.

And as for those men in love that she writes about? The list of stories just waiting to be written is getting longer… and longer….



K.C. loves to hear from readers.
E-mail: k.c.wells@btinternet.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KCWellsWorld
Twitter: @K_C_Wells
Website: http://www.kcwellsworld.com

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Really? Can it Be Almost August? This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words!

 

Really? Can it Be Almost August?

Really? Can it Be Almost August? Hard to believe and yet, we’re into the dog days of summer clearly with our temperatures rising into the near 100’s and the muggy’s hitting early this year.  It’s hot and oh so steamy outside.  Sirius is rising in the morning, the Dog Star bright in the skies if you’re up early enough.  That’s the brightest first magnitude star we can see and the one that the Dog Days of Summer are named for. Sirius is one star in a group of stars that form the constellation Canis Major, meaning “Greater Dog.” It’s no surprise, then, that the nickname of this big, bold star is Dog Star.

Sirius signaled the beginning of the hot season, which brought drought, disease, and more. Some people believed that the summer swelter was due to the combined heat from Sirius and the Sun. These uncomfortable, unhealthy days were called the dog days, named after the (innocent) Dog Star. It makes sense that the name of the Dog Star, Sirius, means “scorching” in Greek.

How fitting then, that the first weekend in August brings another smaller celebration. That of International Beer Day on the 4th,  which is quickly followed on the 5th by International Hangover Day.

What are you going to do  going into August?

Don’t forget we still have our contest going on to rec our fav science fiction and historical warrior/soldier stories….

Part II – Soldiers/Warriors ~ Historical and Science Fiction Recommendations

There are so many wonderful stories that involve the past and the future with warriors and soldiers.  Let’s start our next series of lists.  Whether the author is Charlie Cochrane or Aleksandr Voinov, their stories will have you under their spells of soldiers past and future.

Some of my recommendations:

Memory of Scorpions series by Aleksandr Voinov (Science Fiction)

Song of the Navigator by Astrid Amara (Science Fiction)

The Borders War (5 books) by S.A. McAuley (Science Fiction)

Promises Made Under Fire by Charlie Cochrane (historical)

The Devil Lancer by Astrid Amara (historical/fantasy)

More on mine later…..more coming!

Comment with recommendations and your email address and  two readers will be picked to receive a $10 gift cert from Dreamspinner Press or Amazon, your choice.  Giveaway ends next Saturday, August 5.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Also Again….

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is still looking for reviewers.  If you want to review or know of anyone who reviews, please let us know.  Contact us at scatteredthoughtsandroguewords@gmail.com

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words!

Sunday,  July 30:

  • Really? Can it Be Almost August?
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words!
  • An Alisa Review: Stormy Nights by Jonas Duffy

Monday, July 31:

  • Audiobook Review Tour for Personal Secrets by KC Wells
  • DSP PUBLICATIONS TOUR: Anne Barwell on Comes a Horseman Sequel to Winter Duet
  • RIPTIDE TOUR & Giveaway: Heat Wave, Seasons of Love book 3, by Elyse Springer.
  • Tour: The Garden by Rosalind Abel / Brandon Witt (exclusive excerpt)
  • A Lila Audiobook Review: Personal Secrets (Personal #3) by K.C. Wells
  • An Ali Audiobook Review: Chase the Ace (London Lads #1) by Clare London and Seb Yarrick (Narrator)
  • An Alisa Review: Resistance by April Kelley

Tuesday, August 1:

  • DSP GUEST POST Julia Talbot on Sparkle and Shine
  • RELEASE BLITZ Trust with a Chaser by Annabeth Albert
  • A Melanie Release Day Review: Out of the Ashes (Asheville Arcana) by Ari McKay
  • A Melanie Release Day Review: The Teddy Bear Club (The Teddy Bear Club #1) by Sean Michael
  • A Stella Review: After the Sunset by Lilah Suzanne
  • An Alisa Audiobook Review: Wrapped in Chains by Cindy Sutherland and Narrator: John Anthony Davis

Wednesday, August 2:

  • DSP GUEST POST Parker Williams on The Runner
  • Release Blitz and Giveaway – RJ Scott’s Gabriel (Legacy #2)
  • DSP GUEST POST Ari McKay on Out of the Ashes
  • A Caryn Review: All Wheel Drive (Bluewater Bay #18) by Z.A. Maxfield
  • A Lila Audiobook Review: Plaid Versus Paisley (Fabric Hearts #2) by KC Burn and Narrator: David Ross
  • A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Valentine’s Day Resolution by Ava Hayden

Thursday, August 3:

  • Susan Mac Nicol “Revival” Tour and Giveaway
  • Review Tour: The Necromancer’s Dilemma by S J Himes
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Spectred Isle (Green Men #1) by K.J. Charles
  • A MelanieM Review: Knight Errant (Legends of Osaire Book 2) by T.A. Creech
  • An Ali Audiobook Review: Unbreak My Heart (Unbreak My Heart #1) by K-lee Klein and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)
  • An Ali Audiobook Review: The Necromancer’s Dilemma (The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #2) by S.J. Himes and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

Friday, August 4:

  • BOOK TOUR Crimson Storm by V.L Moon & J.T Cheyanne
  • DSP GUEST POST Sean Michael on The Teddy Bear Club
  • DSP GUEST POST TJ Nichols
  • Blog Tour When Heaven Strikes by F.E Feeley Jr
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Red Fish, Dead Fish (Fish Out of Water#2) by Amy Lane
  • An Alisa Review: One Heart, One Destiny by Pelaam

Saturday, August 5:

  • Release Blitz for Amy Aislin’s As Big As The Sky
  • A MelanieM Review: Christopher Wild by Kathe Koja

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Pent Up by Damon Suede and Christopher Kipiniak (Narrator)

Rating:  3 stars out of 5

 

PENT UP: Mix business with pleasure and take cover.

 

Ruben Oso moves to Manhattan to start his life over as a low-rent bodyguard and stumbles into a gig in a swanky Park Avenue penthouse. What begins as executive protection turns personal working for a debonair zillionaire who makes Ruben question everything about himself.

 

Watching over financial hotshot Andy Bauer puts Ruben in an impossible position. He knows zero about shady trading and his cocky boss lives barricaded in a glass tower with wall-to-wall secrets and hot-and-cold-running paranoia. Can the danger be real? Is Andy for real?

 

What’s a bullet catcher to do? Ruben knows his emotions are out of control even as he races to untangle a high-priced conspiracy and his crazy feelings before somebody gets dead. If his suspicions are right, Andy will pay a price neither can afford, and Ruben may discover there’s no way to guard a heart.

 

This was an interesting story.  Ruben and Andy spent so much time circling each other and not saying what they were wanting (personally or for business) it made the story start off slow.  Unfortunately it didn’t seem to really pick up until close to the end.

 

I felt so bad for Ruben; he is trying to pick up his life and his reactions and feelings for Andy are throwing all of his beliefs and previous experiences out the window.  We could see Ruben’s confusion and how he didn’t understand his own reactions let alone those of Andy.  It takes Andy actually getting hurt for either of them to actually express and acknowledge their feelings to each other.  I was glad to see them stop dancing around each other and finally working together.

 

Christopher Kipiniak did a nice job narrating this story.  I was able to keep track of the story and characters which is always nice.  I enjoyed the different voices he used for the characters however he seemed to have a bit slower of a talking speed which made the slow start of the book seem even slower,

 

Cover art by Paul Richmond is nice and I love the visual it gives of Ruben.

 

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press |  Audible | Amazon |  iTunes

 

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 12hrs 46min
Published June 19, 2017 (eb

A Lila Audiobook Review: Tall, Dark, and Deported by Bru Baker and Dorian Bane (Narrator)

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Crossing the border into love.

Snap decisions and misguided ideas bring Portuguese national Mateus Fontes and businessman Crawford Hargrave together at the Canadian border crossing.

Mateus is caught in a catch-22. With his almost-expired tourist visa, entrance to Canada is denied, but the US won’t let him back in either. Crawford thinks he’s solved things when he tells the border agent they’re engaged, and it works—except now they have to actually get married before either of them can get back into the United States. But Crawford has been burned by marriage once, and he’s determined not to make that mistake again.

Neither of them expects real feelings to bloom out of their fake marriage, but they do. And the two of them have to learn how to be honest with each other to make things work, which is especially hard when their entire marriage is based on lies.

Tall, Dark, and Deported is the perfect example of green card “fake marriages” trope stories. In that aspect, the author met all the expectations, creating an entertaining love story with three-dimensional characters and beautiful settings.

I love the premise of this story and how their first meeting went. The way they take turns taking care of each other is lovely and their relationship with their family members add to their appeal. This is a slow burn, sweet, fluffy goodness story. Perfect if you want something light and engaging without much angst.

I really like Crawford and Mateus individually. They’re nice characters with great depth, and a lot of potential, but have a hard time connecting to each other. The plans they have for their relationship and what they want from each other work, but when they try to put it together there’s no chemistry. It’s like having two good friends trying to make a relationship work. It gets resolved in the end, but it takes time.

In some parts, it reads a CliffsNotes version of a longer book–rushing to achieve an HEA–when the reader wanted the same amount of detail than before. It felt a little superficial, but it has to do more with length restrictions than lack of development. Overall, this isn’t a detrimental to the actual love story.

Dorian Bane’s narration worked for the story. All the characterizations fit well except for Mateus’s. He sounded more Hispanic than Portuguese, but overall, it was enjoyable.

The cover by Bree Archer follows the Dreamspun series and shows Mateus in front of an orchard–fitting for the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Dorian Bane
Length: 6 hours 30 minutes
Published: June 19, 2017 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press
ASIN: B071GV8BCT
Edition Language: English

Audiobook Release Blitz for The Necromancer’s Dilemma by S J Himes and Joel Leslie (Narrator) ~giveaway

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Title: The Necromancer’s Dilemma
Author: SJ Himes
Narrated By: Joel Leslie
Length: 7 hours 47 minutes
Series: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #2
Release Date: July 21st 2017
Genre: MM Paranormal Romance, Fantasy

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BLURB

Even love can die without trust.

Angel’s brother, Isaac, has returned home, and the pair begins to make slow and awkward attempts back to each other. Learning how to be a brother to a grown man instead of a parental figure has Angel adjusting his behaviors and habits, and Isaac still remains a mystery. Was it merely entering adulthood that turned Isaac away from an overprotective Angel, or does Isaac carry a secret that will keep them from finally being a real family?

Daniel Macavoy, Angel’s new apprentice, is torn between his bond with Angel and the grasping machinations of his father. Dealing with a traumatized apprentice with dangerous holes in his magical education, saving Daniel may be harder than Angel first thought – especially since the biggest problem is not revenge, but guilt.

The one shining beacon in his life is Simeon, Elder vampire of Boston’s only Bloodclan. Four hundred years old and sexy as sin, Simeon is warrior and sage, patient and cunning. The strength Angel draws from Simeon’s devotion and the newborn mate-bond between them is steadfast and true – and the fount of death magic that animates the undead lord places Angel in the midst of a power struggle for control over himself, his lover, and his family.

Through it all, Angel is beleaguered by the unwanted attention of a troll-hybrid, the adventures of a dragon in the city, and a serial killer has decided to hunt the back alleys and midnight streets of Boston.

Contains male/male sexual content. Violence, gore, sex, vampires. A cute dragon and some snark. Okay, lots of snark.

Purchase: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK | iTunes

Find The Beacon Hill Sorcerer series on Goodreads

EXCERPT

The entire back of the boy’s hand was split open by the intense heat, the skin white and thick, the flesh beneath cooked by the magic spike that turned the kettle and its contents into a kitchen supernova. The heat curled in his fingers, and the flesh was weeping fluids. Blisters distorted the edges of the worst of it, the flesh red and warped all the way up the back of his hand to his wrist. The curling of the hand was so severe he couldn’t see how badly Daniel’s palm was injured.

“Isaac, never mind, I need you here.” A burn this bad was not life threatening— not yet— Daniel was going into shock, but he wasn’t hovering on the edge of death, so Angel was unable to heal him. This injury was caused by intense and powerful heat— and so was under the purview of any practitioner with fire affinity. “You need to heal this.”

“I’m not a healer!” Isaac gasped out, but he came anyway. Angel grabbed his brother and yanked him down so they were both kneeling by Daniel’s hand. Angel held Daniel’s arm aloft, and put his other on Isaac’s shoulder.

“Isaac, all you need to do is settle into your inner sight, look at Daniel’s hand, and call to the heat in the injuries. The actual temperature has nothing to do with healing— this is a mental exercise that relies on how your brain interprets and processes the injury in his hand. It was caused by heat, and you can reverse the damage,” Angel instructed. He squeezed his hand on Isaac’s shoulder when a wave of uncertainty crossed his features. “No room for doubt. I taught you how to heal fire and heat based injuries before you even got your driver’s license, so don’t lie to yourself and think you can’t do this.”

“How… his hand… how can I fix that?” Isaac whispered, looking sick.

Book One

Title: The Necromancer’s Dance
Author: S J Himes
Series: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer #1
Narrated by: Joel Leslie
Length: 8 Hours 8 minutes
Release Date: 21st March 2017
Genre: Paranormal, Fantasy, MM Romance

1 Necromancer's Dance Audio Cover

BLURB

In a world where magic is real and evil walks amongst humanity, a young sorcerer is beset by enemies, both old and new.

Angelus Salvatore is the only necromancer in all of Boston, and his name is whispered warily by the undead and fellow sorcerers alike. He and his brother Isaac are the lone survivors of an attack by an army of the undead, in which Angel used a spell so powerful it forever marked his place in history. Now, years later, Angel struggles to balance his career as a teacher of the higher magical arts, his role as big brother, and a tenuous relationship with an Elder vampire from the local clan. When his brother’s boyfriend is used as a pawn in a mysterious plot to draw Angel out, Angel is once again drawn back into the old hostilities that fueled the Blood Wars and led to his family’s death.

Leaning on others for help is something Angel cannot do, and while he searches for clues as to who may be targeting him and his brother, Angel finds his heart steadily growing occupied with Simeon, Elder and vampire. Dealing with death magic and vampires on a daily basis may leave Angel jaded when it comes to life and staying that way, but the more time he spends fending off the ancient vampire’s attention and affections, the more he realizes he wants to give in.

Can Angel find out who wants him dead, and keep his heart safe in the process? How can he fall for a vampire, when his whole family was torn apart by an army of the undead? Death stalks the streets of Boston’s historic Beacon Hill…and there is no one more suited to battle against death than a necromancer.

Purchase: Audible US | Audible UK | Amazon US | Amazon UK I iTunes

Listen to an audio teaser from The Necromancer’s Dance at Soundcloud.

About the Author

I’m a self-employed writer who stresses out about the silliest things, like whether or not I got my dog the best kind of snack and the fact my kindle battery tends to die when I’m at the best part in a book. I write mainly gay romance, erotica, and urban fantasy, with occasional forays into contemporary and paranormal. I love a book heavy on plot and character evolution, and throw in some magic, and that’s perfection. My current series are: The Beacon Hill Sorcerer, Bred For Love (as Revella Hawthorne), and The Wolfkin Saga. My last two novels in the Beacon Hill Sorcerer won 3rd Place in the Gay Fantasy category for the 2016 Rainbow Awards.

I live in New Orleans, where the personalities are big and loud and so are the bugs! New Orleans is rich in cultural history, and the flavor and music of the City is impossible to hide. Before that, I lived all over the United States: Tampa, Western Massachusetts, Indianapolis, and on and on…. I’m a nomad, and I’ve yet to find a place that calls to me strongly enough to become home. My faithful travel companions are my dog Micah, the numerous voices in my head who insist they all get put on paper, and the wind at my back.

Links: Website | Blog | Facebook | Facebook Fan Group | Twitter | Amazon

About the Narrator

web version joel arm

Joel Leslie is a UK transplant, growing up with American parents in a British commonwealth. A classically trained actor with an MFA in theatre from USC, he is often cast for his unique ability to deliver native, authentic combinations of American and British sounds. His great range and ability to bring characters to life with honesty, wit and versatility delights producers and listeners alike.

He is proud to have a strong following with m/m listeners and an ongoing relationship with some of the finest writers in the genre. He loves that every day he gets to share these beautiful, inspirational and empowering GLBT characters with the world. When not in the booth he spends his time chasing after two loquacious wiener dogs.

Find a list of Joel’s books on Audible

Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter

Giveaway

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The prize is a $10 Amazon Gift Card.

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An Ali Audiobook Review: A Day Makes by Mary Calmes and Greg Tremblay (Narrator)

Rating: 2 out of 5 stars
Mob enforcer Ceaton Mercer has killed a lot of people in a lot of different ways – he stashed the last two bodies in a toolshed belonging to a sweetheart marine researcher in an idyllic island community – but he’s really not such a bad guy. Over time he’s found a home of sorts, and he even learns he’s found a place in the hearts of the people he works with…at least enough so that they won’t put a bullet in his head because he’s outlived his usefulness to the boss.

But he never thought he’d find one day could change his life, and he’s about to discover how wrong he is.

Because in a single day, he meets the man who looks to be the one, the love of his life. It’s an improbable idea – a man who deals in death finding love – but it’s like it’s meant to be. That single day gets weirder and troubles pile up, forcing Ceaton to take a hard look at his dreary life and accept that one day can change everything, especially himself. His future might be brighter than he expects – if he can stay alive long enough to find out.
 
Lot’s of my friends love this author.  I always see her books with 5 star reviews all over Goodreads.  So about every two years I feel like I’m missing something so I try one, thinking that this will be the one I connect with.  It never works out for me.  It’s time I admit defeat.  This writer’s story telling style just does not work for me.
This story begins with Ceaton meeting a mob boss and going to work for him.  This was where I first had to suspend belief.  Ceaton’s character was discharged from the military for not following orders and he did that because he was so full of integrity that he couldn’t follow an order that would kill people, but now we’re supposed to believe he’s thrown all those morals away to work for the mob and kill people?  The suspension of belief needed to follow this plot was just too much for me.
The story was slow and repetitive.  Lot’s of killings and mob related things.  Ceaton doesn’t meet the other MC until the later part of the book and then it is an insta-love thing.  I found the ending to be even more far-fetched than the beginning.
The narration was done by Greg Tremblay and I thought he did a very good job.  There are a number of different characters and a number of different accents that needed to be done for this story.  Some of the accents were Serbian and Russian and I do not know if they were accurate but they did sound different and distinct and I enjoyed the narration a lot.
I rated this based on my enjoyment of the book which isn’t completely fair.  I disliked the story itself a great deal but on the flip side I feel like the narration was probably a 5 star.  If you typically enjoy this author then I definitely recommend this on audio.  I think you will enjoy it.
 
This cover was done by Reese Dante and I think it’s a great cover.  I really like it alot and it was part of the reason I chose to try this book.
Book Details:
Audible Audio
Published June 19th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press LLC (first published April 19th 2017)
ASINB0721R5PTF
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Kai Audiobook Review: Summer Heat by Jay Northcote and Mark Steadman (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

When Adam is dumped by his boyfriend, a week away at a beach resort seems like a great opportunity to get over his ex. Sun, sea, and no-strings sex will be just the boost he needs to move on with his life.
Adam’s best friend, Finn, agrees to accompany him at short notice. Finn’s had a crush on Adam for years but is determined to put his feelings aside and be the perfect wingman in Adam’s time of crisis.
A spontaneous threesome with another guy forces Adam and Finn to confront their attraction to each other. Having a holiday fling together wasn’t part of the plan, and as their trip heats up, they soon realize that one night of fun won’t be enough for either of them.
The passion might be scorching, but their hearts and friendship are on the line. If their romance is going to survive the flight home, they have to be honest about what they want.

This story was a delight! A perfect hot summer read. And although I am in winter right now (sadly), this was just what I needed. It was a light, lown-angst and hot friends to lovers.

Jay Northcote brought two great characters to live and with a really simple plot put me smiling almost the entire narrative. It was well written and fluid: fast paced but not rushed.

I loved the scenario where the story took place and I have to confess I was so envious of Adam and Finn. I want so much go to a resort in a sunny Spain right now. (Thanks Jay for putting it in my dreams travels plans)

Finn and Adam were remarkable. They were sweet, real, HOT (yes, yes!) and simply perfect for each other. I was just so glad they gave it a try even with the fear of ruining their long time friendship.

This would be a perfect book for a holiday at the beach or at the pool or, just like was for me, to make you smile and remember the summer always come back. Lol

Mark Steadman did a great job narrating this novel. I just loved so much his voice and interpretation. Oh, and the accent was just lovely and sexy.

Highly recommend this audiobook!

The cover art by Garrett Leigh is hot and perfect for the book.

 

Sales Links

Audible: https://www.audible.com/pd/Romance/Summer-Heat-Audiobook/B073HJHFQR

 

 

Audiobook Details:

 

Published July 3rd, 2017 by Jaybird Press (first published June 9th, 2017)

Written by: Jay Northcote

Narrated by: Mark Steadman

Length: 4 hrs and 43 mins.

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Devotion (Forbes Mates #1) by Grace R. Duncan and Joel Leslie (Narrator)

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

When Finley Cooper met his true-mate while he was still underage, he thought nothing of what that might mean for their future together.  Handsome, alpha-to-be, Tanner Pearce was everything a young gay werewolf might want in a man, but he gets a shock when Tanner refuses to claim him until he’s “of age.”  So when Finley turns eighteen, and Tanner still refuses to claim him, he assumes the worst—the man of his dreams doesn’t love him.

In reality, Tanner is afraid that finalizing their bond when Finley is still young and inexperienced may lead to Finley changing his mind later. Tanner wants to be absolutely sure before he goes forward. After all, didn’t that happen to his childhood friend? He wouldn’t survive if Finley left him after they were bonded. 

I really enjoyed this story, and to be honest, I believe that a major part of that enjoyment was the life Joel Leslie infused into the characters in this audiobook version. They became real to me and I got caught up in the adventure when Finley felt so lost that he headed out west to visit his grandparents, rather than face a future in his hometown without Tanner.  I also appreciated the author’s infusion of new twists into the werewolf story, including their difficulty in being “trapped” in a plane or train while traveling. 

And the drama and chase that ensued when Finley thought Tanner was hurt created the perfect amount of adventure to keep the story moving and keep the excitement up.  The second half of the story was pretty darn hot, I must say.  Personal fan warning: the amount and level of heat that occurs when these young wolves get together is pretty darn high, never mind the excitement generated by vocalizations from a quality voice artist like Joel Leslie. 

This one should definitely go on your list of audio listens.  I’m looking forward to the next in the series that will feature Jamie, the secondary character from this one—the guy who almost got to have sex with Finley in his bid for independence.  Lovers of MM paranormal-shifter romance, fated mates, knotting (!), age gap, and audiobooks will all benefit from adding this to their TBR. 

The very attractive cover by Reese Dante features both two wolves and head shots of two young men kissing—all against a background of mountain scenery.  It’s perfect for this story.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible| iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio
Published June 23rd 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published September 11th 2015)
ASINB072YHRPWH
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesForbes Mates #1