Its Super Bowl Sunday,Top 10 Greatest Ancient Athletes and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Its Super Bowl Sunday and the Top 10 Greatest Ancient Athletes

Its Super Bowl Sunday, more than that, its Super Bowl 50 so all the celebrations, commercials have been kicked up a notch. I have to admit, I love the commercials. The Budweiser Clydesdales always slay me whether the commercials are in a funny vein or outright reaching for the heart. Horses, dogs…check and done. Helen Mirren on drunk drivers this year? Priceless as they say. Other than the commercials, none of my teams made it so my heart’s not in it…exactly. But millions of other peoples are. People are talking teams and favorite athletes. Who is faster, stronger, better and who will win.

And its always been this way.

Doesn’t matter if its hockey and the Ovetchkin or Sidney Crosby rivalry (Caps and Ovetchkin all the way) or the current Super Bowl teams and their quarterbacks, Carolina Panthers Cam Newton or the Denver Broncos Peyton Manning, their pros and cons, their physiques and ages, everything will be discussed ad infinitum.

But that’s nothing new. From the ancient Olympic games to the the favorite gladiators of the Coliseum, athletes have been written about and fawned over. Here is the top 10 list of ancient athletes (thank you, Theodoros II of Listverse (http://listverse.com/2013/04/14/10-greatest-ancient-athletes/). Don’t they cry out for a book about them? :

10. Orsippus of Megara was an ancient Greek athlete who won the stadium race of the fifteenth Ancient Olympic Games in 720 B.C. He became the crowd’s favorite, and he was thought to be a great pioneer for being most likely the first ever athlete to run naked. Pausanias, who very often reported on the ancient Olympics like a modern-day sports journalist, states: “My own opinion is that at Olympia he [Orsippus] intentionally let the girdle slip off him, realizing that a naked man can run more easily than one girt.” It also got him many pots with that scene pictured-the Instagram of that day.

9.Varazdat
Varazdat was an athlete from Armenia who won the Olympic boxing tournament during the 291st Olympic Games. We are aware of Varazdat’s victory from a memorandum kept in the Olympic museum in Olympia. The first historiography about Varazdat was written by Movses Chorenatsy in his Armenian History.In ancient Armenian royal and aristocratic families, the physical education of youngsters had a disciplined and orderly character. They were taught swimming, boxing, wrestling, weightlifting, and military exercises. Varazdat, with the benefit of this rigorous training, went on to be the winner of various boxing competitions held in Greece. He later achieved his greatest triumph, when he became the Olympic champion at the Olympics of 385.

8 Cynisca of Sparta
Although men were originally the only ones allowed to compete in the Olympic Games, this soon changed. Several women took part in the ancient Games, and even won competitions. The most famous of these was Cynisca of Sparta, the first woman to win at the Games. By her success, she paved the way for many other women, and helped usher in a new era in the ancient sporting world.Cynisca’s and her male team were successful in the four-horse chariot racing, winning in 396 B.C. and again in 392 B.C. Cynisca was the most distinguished female athlete of the ancient world, and many historians use her as a symbol of the social rise of women, and the beginning of the movement to give them equal rights and opportunities.

7 Polydamas
We don’t know much about the Olympic victor Polydamas of Skotoussa. His background, family life, and even the details of his Olympic triumph remain shrouded in mystery. Aside from the fact that Polydamas’ statue was remarkably tall and strong, we have no other information on his appearance.Like many athletes of his time, Polydamas was just as well-known for his non-athletic exploits as he was for his prowess in the Olympic games. Ancient authors tend to compare his feats to those of the legendary Greek hero Herakles. Polydamas once killed a lion with his bare hands on Mount Olympus, in a quest to imitate the labors of Herakles, who famously slew the Nemean lion. For similar reasons, Polydamas once managed to single-handedly bring a fast-moving chariot to a halt.These exploits soon reached the ears of the Persians. Their king, Darius, sent for Polydamas. After he was received by the Persian king, the athlete challenged three Persian “Immortals” to fight him, and managed to defeat them all in a single fight.In the end, however, Polydamas’ strength could not prevent his demise. One summer, Polydamas and his friends were resting in a cave when the roof began to crumble down upon them. Believing that his immense strength could prevent the cave-in, Polydamas held his hands up to the roof, trying to support it as the rocks crashed down around him. His friends fled the cave and reached safety, but the great wrestler was killed.

6.Onomastos of Smyrna
Onomastos of Smyrna was the first ever Olympic victor in boxing, at the twenty-third Olympiad in 688 B.C., when this sport was added. According to ancient historians, Onomastos was not only the first Olympic boxing champion, but wrote the rules of Ancient Greek boxing as well. Onomastos also holds a record which remains remarkable even today. After hundreds of ancient and modern Olympiads, he’s still the boxer with the most Olympic boxing titles, with four victories to his name. Laslzo Papp, the world’s greatest amateur boxer of the twentieth century, came close to Onomastos’ record—but he stopped at three Olympic victories before becoming a professional boxer.

5.Melankomas
The famously handsome boxer Melankomas was from Caria, a region in modern-day Turkey. In an effort to prove his courage, Melankomas chose to compete in athletics, since this was the most honorable and most strenuous path open to him. Amazingly enough, Melankomas was undefeated throughout his career—yet he never once hit, or was hit by, an opponent.His boxing style involved defending himself from the blows of the other boxer, and never attempting to strike the other man. Invariably, the opponent would grow frustrated and lose his composure. This unique style won Melankomas much admiration for his strength and endurance. He could apparently last through the whole day—even at the height of summer—and he would refuse to strike his opponents, even though he knew that by doing so he would quickly end the match and secure an easy victory for himself. In this manner he won the Olympic boxing tournament at the 207th Olympic games.

4. Chionis of Sparta
Ancient-Sports-Stars Chionis of Sparta was an athlete who caused much debate regarding his athletic achievements, with the most notable of these being his long-jumping records. Records suggest that in the Olympics of 656 B.C., Chionis jumped a record of seven meters and five centimeters. This feat would have won him the long jump title at the 1896 Olympic Games, and would have placed him among the top eight at a further ten modern Olympics, up to and including the 1952 Games of Helsinki. As well as his amazing achievements in long jump, Chionis was also renowned as a triple jumper—capable of reaching up to 15.85 meters.But the most remarkable fact about this man is that none of his jumps were enhanced by modern-day drugs or training equipment; his records were truly honest and honorable.

3.Diagoras of Rhodes
Diagoras of Rhodes might not be the greatest of ancient athletes, but his family is without doubt the greatest sporting family of the Ancient world. Diagoras won the boxing event in the Games of 464 B.C. He was also a four-time winner in the Isthmian Games, and a two-time winner in the games at Nemea. His sons and grandsons also became boxing and pankration champions. During the eighty-third Olympiad, his sons Damagetos and Akousilaos, after they became champions, lifted their father Diagoras on their shoulders to share their victory with him. Legend says that during Diagoras’ triumphant ovation on the shoulders of his sons, a spectator shouted: “Die, Diagoras, for Olympus you will not ascend”—the meaning being that he had reached the highest honor possible for a man and athlete.

2. Theagenes of Thasos
Theagenes was one of the first celebrities of the ancient sporting world. He became famous throughout the world at the tender age of nine. It seems that the boy was walking home from school one day when he noticed a bronze statue of a god in the marketplace ofThasos, Greece. For some reason, Theagenes tore the statue from its base and took it home. This act outraged the citizens, who perceived it as blasphemy against the gods, and they debated whether or not they should execute the child for his deed. One elder, however, wisely suggested that they should have the boy return the statue to its proper place. Theagenes did this—and his life would never be the same again.He went on to become one of the greatest athletes of all time. He was a successful boxer, pankratiast, and runner. He won the Olympic boxing tournament in the seventy-fifth Olympiad of 480 B.C., and in the next Olympics he won the title in the Pankration. In addition to his two Olympic victories, Theagenes won numerous honors in other sports and other games. Altogether he was said to have won over 1,400 contests in many different kinds of sport. His incredible achievements made him a living myth—to the extent that many people even believed that Heracles was his father.If we were to compare Theagenes with a modern boxing hero, such as Harry Greb (the boxer with most official victories (261) in professional boxing’s history) it would seem that Theagenes outnumbers him by nearly 1,250 victories.

1.Milo of Croton
Most historians agree that Milo remains to this day the greatest wrestler and fighter (from any combat sport) the world has ever known. Milo of Croton became an Olympic champion several times during his nearly thirty-year career. His size and physique were intimidating, and his strength and technique perfect—and many people accordingly believed that he was the son of Zeus. He was said to eat more than eight kilograms of meat every day. Some say that he even once carried an adult bull on his shoulders, all the way to the Olympic stadium, where he slaughtered and devoured it. Yet Milo was not merely a hulking wrestler; he was also a musician and a poet, as well as a student of the mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras.The greatest wrestler of the twentieth century, Alexander Karelin, was often called the modern-day Milo of Croton—but he himself acknowledged that he would not stand a good chance against the real Milo.

All of the ancient athletes above bring to mind the long line of warriors I’ve read about in stories I’ve loved and the sportsmen I’ve watched through the years and am still cheering on today. Whether your sport is rugby, soccer, football, or something totally different, think about the sports champions of the past as you cheer on the ones of the present. Have a great Sunday and Happy Reading.

Now for

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, February 7:

Its Super Bowl Sunday,Top 10 Greatest Ancient Athletes and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, February 8:

Cover Reveal for Forbes Mates #2 book, Patience. by Grace R. Duncan
Until September by Chris Scully – Riptide Tour and Contest
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Dom on the Side by Kate Aaron
A MelanieM Review: Dragon Deception by Mell Eight
An Ali Review: The Boys of Summer by Sarah Madison

Tuesday. February 9:

In the Spotlight: Victoria Sue’s The Promise (excerpt and giveaway)
Dreamspinner Tour: Dormant Heart by Lane Swift (guest blog, excerpt)
An Ali Review: Whistle Blower by Dev Bentham
A Stella Review: Until September by Chris Scully
An Jeri Review: Tackling the Tight End by Tara Lain

Wednesday, February 10:

Patricia Logan ‘The Brat’ Tour and Giveaway
Dreamspinner Author Tour: Project Ordell by Susanna Hays (author guest blog)
A Jeri Review: The Imperfection of Swans by Brandan Witt
A Lila Review: Forced Impressions by Piper Doone
A PaulB Review: Golden Son by Jeff Erno

Thursday, February 11:

Dreamspinner Author Tour: Some Assembly by Lex Chase and Bru Baker (author guest blog)
A BJ Review: Dancer of Death by Jordan L. Hawk
An Ali Review: Second Hand (Tucker Springs #2) by Heidi Cullinan and Marie Sexton, Iggy Toma (Narrator)
A MelanieM Review: Strength of the Sun by SA McAuley
A Paul B Audiobook Review: Lightning Struck Heart by TJ Klune (audio)

Friday, February 12:

Dreamspinner Author Tour: Foxes by Suki Fleet (guest post)
Dreamspinner Author Tour: Max MacGowan (Taking the Long Way)
LE Franks ‘Six Days to Valentine’ book blast and giveaway
A Ali Audiobook Review: Healing Hunter’s Heart by Charlie Cochet
A Stella Review:Naked Prince and Other Fairy Tales by Joe Cosentino

Saturday, February 13:

Dreamspinner Author Tour: Table for One by Ava Hayden (guest blog)
A Free Dreamer Review: Foxes by Suki Fleet

An Ali Review: Keys (City of Keys #1) by Amber Kell and narrator Derrick McClain (audiobook)

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My name is Octavius Septimus Stalk, but my friends call me Oss. I live in the City of Keys, a town of gears, keys, locks, and wonder. Our forefathers banished magic long ago, bolted the doors and locked everything up tight to keep people out and the town’s secrets in. Four Lock Lords control what information is left, and everyone else is left struggling to survive.

Despite what Thorne, my naïve lover, thinks, I was an orphan, but not a victim. When I walked the streets at the age of twelve, I learned fast where to steal the best food, how to use my daggers, and where to hide my would-be attackers’ bodies. No one suspected me of such violence. No one knew then or now that I have magic inside me.

Now, power hungry men intend to release the magic for their own benefit—at the expense of the rest of the city. We will stop them, even if Thorne must battle his own kin, even if I must reveal my hidden talents and the role I seem destined to play.

I really loved the world this author created. It’s a fantasy world where all locks are controlled by the Key Lords and key keepers. As a result they control the entire city and it has created a dramatic separation between the rich and the poor. Oss and Thorne are on opposite sides of this divide yet still love each other. The imagery was well done and I could envision the shop owners waiting every morning for a key keeper to arrive to unlock their business. The two main characters were enjoyable and I liked both of them. I also really liked that they were an established couple when the story begins. There was also a host of side characters that were interesting and the set up for the next two books was good. My only real complaint is there are many parts, especially at the beginning, where the prose is very purple. It is ridiculously flowery and overly descriptive. I wasn’t sure at first if I was going to like the book because of that but I ended up liking the world enough to over look it. I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.

I did this on audio and I enjoyed the narrator a lot. I thought he did a good job on all the voices and I will probably do the next one on audio also.

Cover by Anne Cain. I like the cover a lot. It’s simple, yet it captures the mood and feel of the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | iTunes | Audible | Amazon

Book Details:

Narrator Derrick McClain
Length 6 hours and 48 minutes
Categories: Audiobooks,Amber Kell, City of Keys by Amber Kell
Book Type Audiobook
Other Formats :eBook,Paperback

An Ali Audiobook Review: Another Way (Another Way #1) by Anna Martin and Narrator Brad Langer

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

On the surface, Jesse Ross is an average guy in an average relationship with his college sweetheart, Adele. But what his girlfriend doesn’t know is that he’s having an affair—with a man—and exploring his sexuality in ways she never could imagine. His compartmentalized life suits Jesse just fine, and he has no intention of coming out of the closet either as a bisexual or as a submissive.

However, Jesse takes a tumble when his Master, Will, admits to wanting more, wanting Jesse as his partner, not just his submissive. Suddenly Jesse’s conveniently pieced-together life isn’t quite so comfortable. In the end, Jesse has to lay it all on the line—for his girlfriend, for his lover, and for himself.

This is a hard review to write. I am reviewing two separate things in this. There is the plot of the book which I liked and the narration which I loathed. I’ve never had such a wide divide before. If I was only rating the book I would rate it higher. If I was only rating the narration I would rate it much lower. I literally could not finish this on audio and ended up having to switch to ebook to keep from abandoning this book. The narrator’s voices were really bad. His idea of a BDSM Dom was this ridiculous, deep, alpha voice and then his sub would get all high pitched like some mock characterization of a woman. The plot itself was a good portrayal of two men who start their relationship as only a Dom/sub but over time start to fall in love and then begin a romantic relationship. This story was a refreshing change from the typical BDSM story in the m/m genre where one MC is broken or damaged and they are using the BDSM to “fix” him (which is a trope I hate). I do recommend reading the story but I really don’t think you should try the audio version.

Cover art by Taria Reed is lovely and dark.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Book Details:

Narrator Brad Langer
Length 7 hours and 56 minutes
Published September 30th 2011 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleAnother Way
ISBN 1613721617 (ISBN13: 9781613721612)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesAnother Way #1

Its February, Where’s the Respect? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Its February, Where’s the Respect?

So its February and I thought I would look around for suitable quotes to herald in the second month of the Gregorian calendar. Oh, what a bag of woe and complaints I found.

Let’s start with this.

“February is a suitable month for dying. Everything around is dead, the trees black and frozen so that the appearance of green shoots two months hence seems preposterous, the ground hard and cold, the snow dirty, the winter hateful, hanging on too long.”
– Anna Quindlen, One True Thin

How cheery! Death, dead, black, dying….yep. Eeyore has nothing on Anna Quindlen. There are many more in that vein but I’m going to pass those by. I might have thought that about a couple of days ago but now? I’m thaaaat much closer to March but more on that later. Now how about this one, it totally cracks me up.

“Loud are the thunder drums in the tents of the mountains.
Oh, long, long
Have we eaten chia seeds
and dried deer’s flesh of the summer killing.
We are tired of our huts
and the smoky smell of our clothing.
We are sick with the desire for the sun
And the grass on the mountain.”
– Paiute Late Winter Song

I can hear it now. “Damn it I’m tired of deer jerky, you smell of bear fat, the hut stinks. If I have to eat one more damn seed, I’m gone to puke. Fat Groundhog Who Runs Like Rock is looking pretty good to me right now. I want Spring!” That’s really what that says. See? Not so different from the way many of us are feeling now.

Some see it as a mere stepping stone that must be passed over to get to March such as the next quote:

“February is merely as long as is needed to pass the time until March.”
– Dr. J. R. Stockton

And so many that remark on the fact that while its our shortest month, it feels like forever, such as these:

“Even though February was the shortest month of the year, sometimes it seemed like the longest.”

― J.D. Robb

and almost word for word

“Even though February was the shortest month of the year, sometimes it seemed like the longest.”

― Lorraine Snelling

“February – the month of love..?!!
No wonder the shortest one in the calendar.”
― Dinesh Kumar Biran

That last, yep. Valentine’s Day. And the ones that like February? Dreadful, at least not to my taste, such as this one:

“Wan February with weeping cheer,
Whose cold hand guides the youngling year
Down misty roads of mire and rime,
Before thy pale and fitful face
The shrill wind shifts the clouds apace
Through skies the morning scarce may climb.
Thine eyes are thick with heavy tears,
But lit with hopes that light the year’s.”
– Algernon Charles Swinburne, A Year’s Carols: February

I much prefer the brevity of Robert Byrne’s short winter perspective.

“Winter is nature’s way of saying, “Up yours.””
– Robert Byrne

I prefer to look at February as a time of transition, neither winter nor spring. We have time to plan ahead and still enjoy the season we are currently in or complain about it if that’s where the time takes you (see me last week when I was snowed in). Its Black History month which has never been more needed given current race relations, Valentine’s Day which many have a love/hate relationship with, the Super Bowl, Groundhog Day and for a little piece of history, the Supreme Court of the United States met for the first time on February 1, 1790. Plus Abraham Lincoln was born this month. There’s a lot going on in February and still it gets no respect.

So how about a little, hell yeah, happy to see, you, February. Plan a little, snuggle a little, write and read a little, enjoy it while its here. March is coming, so is Spring, Enjoy the sight of the Snow Junco below the feeders and the Winter Wren warbling merrily away before they leave. I will enjoy my February and plan some changes and read many more books. I’ll leave you with one more poem (still that Paiute one remains my favorite):

February

February knows his fortune well,
Even in the bitterness of dawn
Breaking in the coldest hour of hell,
Revealing but the worst that must be borne.
Underneath the ice the passions sleep
Ablaze with all the beauty of their burning,
Rendering a richness that will keep
Yet warm within the cavern of his yearning.

© Nicholas Gordon

Now for this week’s schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 31:

Its February, where’s the respect? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Louise Lyons ‘Favorite Toy’ book blast and giveaway

Monday, February 1:

Book blast and giveaway for Catherine Lievens ‘Benoit’s Christmas Surprise’
Coffee Sip and Book Break with Meraki P. Lhyne’s ‘Anchored In Stone (excerpt and giveaway)
Second to None by Felice Stevens Blog Tour and Contest
An Ali Audiobook Review: Another Way (Another Way #1) by Anna Martin and Narrator Brad Langer
A Lila Review: Romanus by Mary Calmes

Tuesday, February 2:

Its Release Time for J. Scott Coatsworth’s ‘The Autumn Lands’, a new MM Romance/sci fi/fantasy (excerpt)
In the Contemporary Book Spotlight: Lane Hayes ‘A Kind of Truth’ (excerpt and giveaway)
The Sub Club Continues with Pain Slut by J.A. Rock (giveaway)
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Pain Slut (The Subs Club, #2) by JA Rock
A Stella Review: Out! by JL Merrow

Wednesday, February 3:

Dusk Peterson ‘The Shining Ones’ Book Blast and Giveaway
Heidi Cullinan’s Clockwork Heart Blog Tour and Giveaway
A Lila Review: Clockwork Heart by Heidi Cullinan
A BJ Review: Stealing Innocents by Cari Waites
A PaulB Review: The President’s Husband by Michael Murphy (release day)

Thursday, February 4:

In the Spotlight: Alysia Constantine’s ‘Sweet’ (excerpt and giveaway)
A Paul B Review: Dangerous Territory by Cari Z
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Dangerous Territory by Cari Z
A BJ Review: Mocker of Ravens by Jordan Hawk
A MelanieM Review: Dirty Heart (Cole McGinnis #6) by Rhys Ford
A VVivacious Review: Save of the Game by Avon Gale

Friday, February 5:

Whistle Blower by Dev Bentham: Book blast and contest
Dreamspinner Tour: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Charlie Cochet (Guest Post and Tour)
A Stella Review: Out of the Past by Sean Michael
A Jeri Review: Catch a Tiger by the Tail by Charlie Cochet
A F.D. Review: Line and Orbit by Sunny Moraine and Lisa Soem
An Ali Review: Keys by Amber Kell (audiobook)

Saturday, February 6:

Dreamspinner Press Tour: My Man Walter by J.S. Cook (guest post and giveaway)
A MelanieM Review: The Case of the Purple Pearl (End Street Detective Agency #5) by Amber Kell and R.J. Scott

A BJ Audio Review: Not Fade Away (Hell and High Water #3.5) by S.E. Jakes and Adam North (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Truth or dare.

Ever since superspy Cillian moved into Prophet’s building, their game of Steal the Couch has been funny to Prophet, but a thorn in Tom’s side. Then Prophet gets bored one night during an ice storm and insists on playing another simple game with Tom: Truth or Dare. In exchange for one of Prophet’s truths, Tom steals the couch one last time.   But Prophet’s truths are never easy—Tom should know that by now—and this one raises questions neither of them quite know how to answer. In response, Tom finds himself laying claim to Prophet in the most basic way he knows how. And also finds that he doesn’t mind it in the least when Prophet returns the favor.

This one is entirely different than the others… it’s playful, fun and kinky without the usual action and guns. Considering this is largely a grouping of sexy interludes, the narrator did an exceptional job. The one thing that sorta bugged me in the narration was the way the “bebe” endearment was used… each time it sorta pulled me from the story. But totally just me, I think. Because he did an excellent job of making this a one-handed read.

The chemistry between Tom and Prophet was as combustible as even, and there was even a rare super sweet moment between them that was for me totally worth listening to the whole story just for that alone. Plus the secrets that are shared add just a bit of plot interest to the heat. Overall, more than anything, this little taste just left me wanting more. The final installment of Hell & High Water as well as the second installment of Dirty Deeds to learn more about Mal and Cillian.

Overall, this is an excellent audio series well worth listening to. The narrator stayed in character through. I dearly hope that the release of the four audios last month means that the rest of these series will finally be released this year. Crossing my fingers.

The cover by L.C. Chase fits those for the previous, it’s very sexy and it focuses on the leather band and the tattoo beneath. Love it.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing | Audible | Amazon
 Book Details:

1 hr 5 mins, Audible Audio, 2 pages
Published December 16th 2015 by Audible Studios (first published August 16th 2014)
Original TitleNot Fade Away
ASINB016WPXL8Y
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesHell or High Water #3.5, Extreme Escapes, Ltd.
CharactersProphet Drews, Tom BoudreauxDecember 16th 2015 by Audible Studios

An Ali Audiobook Review: Snowman by Isabelle Rowan (audio version)‏ and Narrator Brad Walton

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

We all find ways to run away. Some do it in seclusion, others in the arms of lovers.

Since the death of his long-time partner, Caleb Maguire lives a quiet life in Australia’s Victorian high country with only his dog and horses for company. Each day is the same. There are no surprises—good or bad—until a major snowstorm hits his mountain and Caleb is called out to rescue a stranded tourist. The late night snow brings with it a lost soul who forces Caleb to reassess his solitary life.

Paul Turner is a barista in the trendy Melbourne suburb of Carlton. He lives life totally in the moment, but a life of no commitments is about to change for this city boy. Three days is all it takes for Paul to fall hard for Caleb, and Paul returns to the city with a promise he’ll be back after turning his life around… but only when all the roads are clear.

This was an interesting story for me. Parts of it were so beautiful. Parts of it were slow and boring. It started off good with Caleb rescuing Paul from an accident and them spending a few days together until Paul can go home. The majority of the rest of the story is them apart. I liked both of them but I didn’t feel any chemistry between them and I really had a hard time believing they cared about each other so much after three days and sporadic texts. There was also a boring side story of Paul’s roommate which took up a lot his story time. The book is really about the two of them separately dealing with personal issues. Even at the end we barely see them together. What was the draw to me was the story of Caleb and his dead partner. Caleb often thinks back to the moments they had together and the moments leading up to Mike’s death from cancer. Those were some beautifully touching and heart breaking scenes. My eyes filled with tears more than once. Caleb’s grief is so strong you could feel it. I did this on audio and the narrator was average. His voice was nice and he did the different characters well but it all seemed slow. This was one where I truly could not tell if it was the story, the narration or a bit of both that was the problem.

Cover art by Garrett Leigh. I love this cover. I think it’s beautiful and a great representation of this story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon

Book Details:

Brad Walton
Length9 hours and 32 minutes
ebook, 276 pages
Published May 4th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
ISBN 163476028X (ISBN13: 9781634760287)
Edition LanguageEnglish

A BJ Audiobook Review: Daylight Again (Hell or High Water #3) by S.E. Jakes and Adam North (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Before Prophet Drews can have a future, he must first put his past to rest.

Prophet Drews is a man on the edge, and he’s pulling Tom Boudreaux, his partner on the job and in real life, right over with him. When his old CO calls in a favor, Prophet asks Tom to join the off-the-grid rescue. But the mission raises all of Prophet’s old ghosts: CIA assassins, the terrorist Sadiq, and most importantly, John—traitor, former teammate, and Prophet’s first love.

To help bury those ghosts for good, Prophet and Tom gather the members of Prophet’s former SEAL team . . . and a spook named Cillian who’s been tailing Prophet for years. In the process, Prophet is forced to face his team’s shifting loyalties, ghosts who refuse to stay dead, and scariest of all, his own limitations.

With everyone’s lives in danger, Prophet and Tom must unravel a tangled knot of secrets, including their own. Prophet must decide how much to reveal to Tom, while Tom must decide how far he’s willing to go to help Prophet lay his ghosts to rest.

With books one and two of this audio series, I’d already read prior to listening. This one I had not, and since it’s very complex with a ton of characters, I was worried I’d be a bit lost. I needn’t have worried. The narrator did an excellent job of keeping me in touch with all the characters and his voice was easy to listen to.

This book picks up about four months after the end of the prior book, and it does finally provide a few of the moments I’d been waiting for between Tom and Prophet, and they lived up to my expectations in traditional Tom/Prophet style. Whereas book two explored Tom more, this one we get to see more inside of Prophet. I loved seeing a bit of a softer side to Prophet. Yes, in this book we see Tom and Prophet’s relationship solidified but not with flowers and sweetness. The times when they weren’t having sex showed how the act helped them both to deal with their emotions. Enjoyed BDSM elements that came into play in this one.

Having read the first book of the Dirty Deeds series and waiting impatiently for book two for a while, I was pleased to see some bits of the relationship between Mal and Cillian come out in this story. It was also enjoyable to see more of Remy from book two and to finally see a few of the baddies get their due. Alas many more wait in the wings, including the ever-mysterious John.

As I’ve come to expect from this series, this book is packed with hot sex, action, ass kicking, fighting, interrogating, and even jumping out of airplanes. And the plot moved along very nicely in this one with quite a few of the questions about Prophet’s past with John being revealed, while still leaving much open and ending on a cliffhanger that will have me loading book 3.5 onto my iPhone tomorrow.

A few things I saw as inconsistencies kept me from giving it a higher star rating, such as in one of the final scene, Prophet’s wrists are tied behind his back and jerked viciously enough that he states he knows he’ll need them in casts again, but in the next chapter a few weeks later, they are not in casts and no mention that they had been. And the twist at the end didn’t sit “right” to me given what we know of all these men’s skills. Perhaps that will change as I read the next book, which I am eager to do, but I know that one is just a short and the knowledge that the final book in this series is unavailable at this time and quite a bit overdue makes me sad.

The cover by L.C. Chase fits those for the previous books in the series but isn’t as sexy as those prior.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing | Audible | Amazon

Book Details:

6 hrs 57 mins

Audible Audio, 7 pages
Published December 16th 2015 by Audible Studios (first published May 2nd 2014)
ASINB016WPY4R6
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesHell or High Water #3, Extreme Escapes, Ltd.

Snowmeggedon, Storm of the Century Part Deux and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sooooooo, its been snowing here in the MD DC VA area since Friday afternoon and doing a superb job of it. We are at 2.5 ft of snow here and climbing with snow expected to continue to fall through to midnight. Now I know you New Yorkers, Bostonians, Alaskans, Minnesotans, etc., are laughing and snorting and making sarcastic comments but hey, we don’t get this amount of snow. You all don’t do our high heat and humidity, we don’t do your freaking high amounts of snow and low temperatures. And yes, we don’t handle it well.

You may not see me until Spring. My dogs are not happy as you can imagine. At the backdoor, Kirby takes a flying leap towards the fence as the neighbors have decided to snowboard down their slope and ends up up to his chin in snow (and he’s not a small dog). Oh the wounded look on his face. I can’t even keep up with the feeders close to the doors either.

So its reading, writing, staring at the window and listening to the meteorologists tell me what I already know. We have a ton of snow on the ground and more falling.

What books are your fall back comfort reads? On days ( or its looking like weeks like this) what books do you curl up with that make you feel all warm and fuzzy, or just plain pull into that world so you can forget whatever is going on outside in real time? Let me know, turns out I have plenty of time to check them out…

Oh, I almost forgot…see? Snowbrain! We have a new reviewer here. I’m so excited to introduce VVivacious to you all. Here is her bio. Please give her a warm welcome. Her reviews will appear shortly.

VVivacious’ Bio:-

“I am a 21 year old girl studying in college and if there is one thing you should know about me it is that I love reading and I love sleeping, a fact that everyone around me can attest to.

As such I can’t attribute my love of reading to either of my parents, even though my father does read a lot, it was never something that was actively encouraged in me but I am almost glad it wasn’t because if I am this bad without any encouragement then God forbid what I would have become with a little bit of encouragement.

I remember vaguely that the first book I read was about a ragpicker – it was an older children’s book and it opened a whole new world for me, the door to which was pushed wide open with the influx of the Harry Potter series in my life. And just like that once I started I never stopped.

Romance is a bit of a later discovery for me but the whole assurance of a happy ending thing had me hooked on and on this whole wave of discovering romance and erotica. I came across Armed & Dangerous which was my first ever MM romance and I can’t think of anyone better than Ty & Zane to have ushered me into this world.

The only problem now that I have read so many MM romances is that, I find it hard to read anything else…”

Now on to this week’s schedule.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 24:

Snowmeggedon, Storm of the Century Part Deux and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Cover Reveal for Wolf by Rory Ni Coileain (Dreamspinner)

Monday, January 25:

Release Day Blitz – Will & Patrick Fight Their Feelings‏ (excerpt and giveaway)
Greek Gods and Rock n Roll with The Backup by Erica Kudisch (giveaway)
From Friendship to Love with Chase Potter’s The Music of the Spheres (guest post and giveaway)
A MelanieM Review: The Music of the Spheres by Chase Potter
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Horsefeathers by Caitlin Ricci

Tuesday, January 26:

Christian Baines “Puppet Boy” Guest Blog/Giveaway and Its Australia Day!
In the Spotlight: Nic Starr’s Rustic Melody (guest blog and giveaway)
A BJ Review: Tracefinder: Contact by Kaje Harper
A Stella Review: Haven’s Creed by Parker Williams
A MelanieM Review: The Case of the Purple Pearl (End Street Detective Agency #5) by Amber Kell and R.J. Scott

Wednesday, January 27:

Dusk Peterson ‘The Shining Ones’ Book Blast and giveaway
The Naked Prince and Other Tales From Fairyland by Joe Cosentino (guest blog and giveaway)
Pride Publishing Vegas Sin Tour and Contest
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Cherry Bomb by Samantha Kane
A BJ Audio Review: Daylight Again by S.E. Jakes, Narrator Adam North

Thursday, January 28:

Posy Roberts ‘Farm Fresh’ Part 1 (excerpt and giveaway)
Second to None by Felice Stevens Release Day Tour and contest
In Our Book Spotlight: “Connection” by Brigham Vaughn (guest post and giveaway)
A BJ Audio Review: Not Fade Away by S.E. Jakes, Narrator Adam North
A Free Dreamer Review: Kanaan & Tilney: The Case of the Arms Dealers by Katey Hawthorne & J. Rose

Friday, January 29:

Posy Roberts ‘Farm Fresh’ Part2 (excerpt and giveaway)
Its Release Day for Jaye McKenna’s Wildfire Psi (excerpt and giveaway)
Avon Gale ‘Save of the Game’ virtual tour and contest
A BJ Review: Wildfire Psi by Jaye McKenna
A Stella Review: Farm Fresh by Posy Roberts

Saturday, January 30:

A MelanieM Review: Danny’s Dragon by Sedonia Guillone

A BJ Audio Review: Long Time Gone (Hell and High Water #2) by S.E. Jakes, Adam North (Narrator)

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

When a tornado meets a volcano, nothing is safe.

Soldier of fortune Prophet Drews always worked alone—until Tom Boudreaux became his partner. But when Tom walked away three months ago, ostensibly to keep Prophet safe, Prophet learned the true meaning of being alone. Everyone knows that Prophet, a Navy SEAL turned CIA spook turned mercenary, can look after himself. Which means he must’ve driven his lover away.

Even with half a world between them, Prophet can’t get the man out of his head. Maybe that’s why he’s in New Orleans in the middle of a hurricane, protecting Tom’s aunt. But the only looter around is Tom, bursting back into Prophet’s life. It turns out that Prophet’s been stuck in Tom’s head—and heart—too.

Their explosive reunion gets even hotter when Tom is arrested for murder. As they fight to clear his name, they delve deep into his past, finding enemies among everyone they meet. Staying alive in such a dangerous world is hard enough, but they soon discover that fighting to stay together is the most difficult thing they’ve ever done.

Once again, I enjoyed the narrator’s performance and felt he added extra dimension to the story with the accents and drama he brought. The voices for each character were clearly discernable and well in character with the guys as I’d envisioned from having previously read this book. His pacing was never rushed and kept me eager to listen.

From the beginning, this story is a roller coaster ride of nature’s fury, sex, intrigue, secrets revealed, action, and more sex. My favorite scene in this book by far is the hurricane sex scene in New Orleans. In fact, it’s right up there as one of the most memorable sex scene’s I’ve read in a m/m story. Oh my, that is definitely a one-handed read or listen, in this case. Tom and Prophet were already combustible together, but put them in the midst of a raging storm and the hurricane around them pales into perfect background music. Damn, that was hot as heck. Aside from that scene, there are numerous other heated interludes. IMHO, just enough to keep that fire burning without being too much.

Here we delve very strongly into Tom’s past in the bayou; allowing us to get a much better picture of the man as we see it all unfold. I won’t reveal too much more than the blurb has already shared as don’t want to spoil it. But we meet some characters in this story that I found very interesting. And the settling! New Orleans and the bayou country has always been a place I’d like to spend a longer time visiting (been there only briefly), and this book did an excellent job of making me feel the heat, humidity, social climate and wildlife. Excellent sense of place.

I felt the deepening of the connection between Tom and Prophet, and it seemed to build very naturally as both men begin to let down their guards and allow each other further in. The ending didn’t tie things up with a bow, but thankfully it was a bit more of a HFN than we got in book one at least. It seems as much as we learn about these two, the more there is we don’t yet know.

Cover art by LC Chase: The displays the tattoos on Tom’s back this time, not quite as detailed as the dreamcatcher on book one’s cover, but still hot and fitting to the story.

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing | Audible | Amazon

Book Details:

December 16th 2015 by Audible Studios, 7 hrs 52 mins
Audible Audio, 8 pages
Published December 16th 2015 by Audible Studios (first published October 28th 2013)
Original TitleLong Time Gone
ASINB016OXU8WQ
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesHell or High Water #2, Extreme Escapes, Ltd. setting

Loss, Distinctive Voices and Characters. This Week At Scattered Thoughts And Rogue Words

Loss, Distinctive Voices and Characters

This past week saw the passing of two wonderful men who left deep emotional impact on those who heard their music or watched their films, (although arguably not to the same extent) to also to those in their professions, musician/actor David Bowie and actor Alan Rickman. For over forty years, David Bowie, singer, songwriter, musician, record producer, painter and actor, continued to press the boundaries of what he thought he could and music could be. But always it was his unique voice and passion behind the lyrics and music that helped make his songs the playlist for our lives, generations past, present, and future, whether it was as Major Tom, the Thin White Duke or Ziggy Stardust or something reimagined one more.. Only a few notes and we knew who was singing.

Alan Rickman’s voice was just as unigue. Oh, that voice. And that glare. I loved him as Professor Snape, but that wasn’t the first time I saw him or fell in love. It could have been Alan Rickman as Galaxy Quest’s Sir Alexander Dane ” By Grabthar’s hammer, by the suns of Worvan, you shall be avenged.” Sniff. Or as the wonderful villain, Hans Gruber, in the original Die Hard with Bruce Willis, Jamie the ghost in Truly, Madly Deeply …yes, that’s probably the start. But it continued with Steve Spurrier in Bottle Shock, Col. Brandon in Sense and Sensibility and so many more. His last project? A student’s voiceover for a Save the Children and Refugee Council joint charity appeal in what is thought to be one of his last ever pieces of work.

Why bring these men up on a book blog? A couple of reasons. One, David Bowie and his music has been a constant thread in my life and I couldn’t let his death go without comment. Although Alan Rickman doesn’t hold the same iconic place in my life as David Bowie does, I hold in him huge esteem.

When I read books, the conversations and the dialogs, I hear the voices in my head so clearly. Writers like B.A. Tortuga and Neil S. Plakcy especially have the ability to make those wonderful local confabulations sing with the rhythm and flavor of the cultures of the people the words are flowing from. Now with audiobooks, I have to make the transition from the voices in my head (no wisecracks) to the voices the narrators are putting forth, often beautifully. Do they replace a unique voice? No, but offer another interpretation in their place.

Both men were wonderful at interpreting and creating, whether it was classical music or literature or something modern or wildly new and different. Ever listen to David Bowie and Bing Crosby? He was equally relaxed singing with him or with Freddie Mercury or on stage in New York City. Alan Rickman has credits as a director, writer, and producer as well as actor. But both men, its that voice, and the grace with which they moved through life will pull at my memory. For Alan Rickman, sometimes I would read a book, and his voice would sneak into a character…with a shiver or two as a result. I would be reading and snippets of David Bowie’s Cat People (Putting Out the Fire) or some other refrain would run through my mind -yes shifters). Music, voices and books are forever intertwined for me.

David Bowie and Alan Rickman are gone. How grateful I am that their voices will live on in music, and in film. Do you have a favorite David Bowie song or album? How about Alan Rickman? By Grabthar’s hammer! Let us know!

This Tortoise Could Save a Life – Ft. Alan Rickman

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 17:

Loss, Distinctive Voices and Characters. This Week At Scattered Thoughts And Rogue Words

Monday, January 18:

Covenant by M. Leanne Phoenix tour and contest
In our Science Fiction Spotlight: Shannon West ‘Mate of the Tyger Prince (excerpt and giveaway)
A MelanieM Review: Mate of the Tyger Prince by Shannon West
A Stella Review:Of Gods and Monsters: Menoetius (Of Gods and Monsters #1) by Wulf Francu Godgluck
A BJ Review: Just a Bit Confused by Alessandra Hazard

Tuesday, January 19:

Jude Sierra ‘What It Takes’ virtual tour and contest
Coffee Sip and Book Break with Morticia Knight ‘Searching For Shelter (excerpt and contest)
Can A Ghost Find Love? Check out Rock N Soul by Lauren Sattersby (giveaway)
An Ali Review: Happy Birthday by B.D. Roca‏
A PaulB review: Setting His Owl A-Twitter by Charlie Richards

Wednesday, January 20:

Cover reveal for Dev Bentham’s ‘Whistle Blower’‏ (excerpt and giveaway)
A MelanieM Review: End Street Detectives Vol ! by Amber Kell and RJ Scott
A Stella Review: THE UGLIEST SWEATER by Gillian St. Kevern
An Ali Review: Double Indemnity (The Stonebridge Mysteries, #1) by Maggie Kavanagh
A Paul B review: Crash by April Kelley

Thursday, January 21:

A Paul B Review: Passion’s Storm by AJ Marcus
A BJ Audio Review: Long Time Gone by S.E. Jakes
A F.D. Review: Coyote’s Creed by Vaughn R. Demont
A Ali Review: Inner Sanctum (The Stonebridge Mysteries, #2) by Maggie Kavanagh
A Stella Review: Of Gods and Monsters: Hades (Of Gods and Monsters #2)by Wulf Francu Godgluck

Friday, January 22:

Christopher Stone ‘Going and Coming: The Minnow St. James Metaphysical Adventures’ Keep Me In Mind Tour and contest
Of Gods And Monsters: Hades book blast by Wulf Francu Godgluck (giveaway)
Rory Ni Coileain ‘Mantled In Mist’ book blast and contest
An Ali Review: Blind Spot (The Stonebridge Mysteries #3) by Maggie Kavanagh
A MelanieM Review: Lovers Leap by J.L. Merrow

Saturday, January 23:

All That Is Solid Melts Into Air by Christopher Koehler (excerpt and giveaway)
A Mika Review: Thorns and Fangs (Thorns and Fangs #1) by Gillian St. Kevern

Its Super Bowl Sunday and the Top 10 Greatest Ancient Athletes

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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VVivacious’ Bio:-

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