Category: Book Reviews

Lex Chase is Here! Answering Questions and Talking About ‘Chasing Sunrise’ (author guest blog)

ChasingSunrise_FBbanner_DSPP

Hello, Internet! I’m Lex Chase, and the super amazing Melanie was kind enough to let me drop by today to talk to you about my DSP Publications release Chasing Sunrise.

It’s about King Sevon Marate, ruler of the cannibalistic†aisa, as he struggles to escape domestic violence and save his crumbling kingdom. It’s a dark story, featuring torture, war, genocide, but also one of hope and escape is possible. But make no mistake it is a story of how far would you go to survive and how love makes monsters of us all.

Melanie has me in the hot seat today as she asks some burning questions! So here we go!

Where do you normally draw your inspiration for a book from?† A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal?

Chasing Sunrise is kind of drawn from all over the place. One of the toughest topics it deals with is domestic violence. I myself am a domestic violence survivor and I draw upon my own experiences for some of Sevon’s traits. Domestic violence is a complicated situation, and for those that have never experienced it have a tendency to be highly judgmental. From the victim’s POV we†believe we can “fix” our abuser and we†believe that if we’re obedient that our abuser will love us, or being†convinced the victim has nowhere to go, or how will they live. From an outsider’s perspective they often think the victim is “stupid” for staying or “deserve” what they get. Isn’t that terrible? We’re all taught to†say†something, yet pass judgement.

Sevon’s story with domestic violence is†far more complex because courtly politics is involved. If he doesn’t cooperate his entire kingdom will crumble and his people will surely die. And he can’t just†leave because he’s terrified of humans, and if they discover what he is, he’ll be killed. He†can’t seek asylum in another†aisa kingdom because they’re allies of his abuser. He’s completely convinced he can’t survive on his own, but he has to do†something.

That is… until an opportunity for escape presents itself in the form of the kindhearted shifter named Jack. But Sevon’s sense of trust has been so completely distorted that he wants to trust him but is conflicted if it’s another trap. It’s called hyper-vigilance, a very real symptom that comes with trauma and ptsd. While someone may show him kindness, any slight†sign that something might be amiss leads to panic. Even if there’s no such signal, and the kindness is genuine, you just never know and expect the other shoe to drop at†any moment.

Are you a planner or a pantzer when writing a story? And †why?

I’m a planner. A†super hardcore†planner. I’m a very scattered person mentally, and I write my outlines in a numbered list. My outlines run 10 to 15k a pop (like a short novella basically) where essentially it’s like I’m “pre-writing” the book. I call my outlines “The Directions” and as long as I follow them, it all works out. They sometimes include entire chunks of dialogue for a scene, or an entire chapter, or fight scene, or all the above. That way when I get to the scene I can just cut and paste into my doc and revise it to fit the story.

Also when I plan with as much detail as I do I actually†do have the ability to go ahead and write non-linear if I’m stuck on a scene and I can skip ahead. I actually don’t believe in the “oh! The characters do whatever they want to do!” That’s a sign of someone who’s a pantser. I’m in complete control of my characters. I acknowledge if I want to pursue tangents. I understand my ideas change. If something isn’t working. I come up with something different.

I listen to that voice inside of me, not†The Muse everyone talks about, but my†own voice, my gut, when I feel something is or isn’t right. If I kill one of my characters (and I’ve killed quite a few!) it’s a decision I consciously make. It’s even in my outline that this person dies, and how, and the fallout. I’m not GASP surprised or oh noes! I didn’t plan for that! Now do I sob hysterically while I do it?†Oh hell yes! I cry over my books all the damned time. And by the way, that’s not weird either no matter what people think.

Contemporary, supernatural, fantasy, or science fiction narratives or something else?† Does any genre draw you more than another when writing it or reading it and why does it do so?

Memoirs actually! I looooove memoirs! Reading about “Real People Drama” as I call it helps inspire “Fictional People Drama.” Also people telling their stories and certain turns of phrases they use, or sentence structures and vocabulary. One of my favorite memoirs I always come back to is Anderson Cooper’s Dispatches from the Edge where he narrates the audiobook version as well. Just wonderful word choice told by a fascinating person!

If you had a character you’ve written you would write differently now at this time in your writing career, who would it be and why?

Ooooh. Tough one. I think it would have to be Memphis Rook from my first DSP Publications release†Checkmate Ever After.†We never see his POV in the anthology, but in the first book, I had deliberately written him as the stereotypical comic book anti-hero. And while some readers adored him, I think he was missing a little more depth. In the first installment I feel he was a little cardboard and wooden. And while he gets a thousand times better as the anthology progresses.

Can a author have favorites among their characters and do you have them?

Yes! And I have so many for differing reasons. Among my favorites are Taylor and Corentin from the Screw-Up Princess and Skillful Huntsman series. Despite being fairy tale characters, they’re so†ordinary and they’re doing the best they can with what they have. They’re not exactly living high on the hog, but they’re just two totally normal guys who are kind of a pair of fuck-ups…and one happens to be a dude princess and the other a huntsman.

Also I love Jack and his brother Kaltag from Chasing Sunrise. Jack is probably the most genuine and†good character I’ve ever written. He’s patient, kind, and compassionate to a fault. Kaltag is brave, proud, pretty sassy, and stands up for what he believes in, and is a devoted father. And while it’s mentioned in passing, he and his wife Mirabelle are both bisexual.

If you were to be stranded on a small demi-planet, island, or god forbid LaGuardia in a snow storm, what books would you take to read or authors on your comfort list?

Considering I visited LaGuardia all of once when visiting fellow DSP Publications author C.S. Poe, I’d want her novel The Mystery of Nevermore coming late this summer. It’s the first in her Snow & Winter series and I got to read the proof. Holy crap I have such feelings. C.S. makes me want to be a better writer, hands down. It’s about a completely colorblind antique dealer, Sebastian Snow and a hard as nails detective Calvin Winter as they try to solve a mystery involving the works of Edgar Allen Poe. I can’t stop telling people about this book. I’ve never felt this excited before. She’s been sending me bits of the sequel and I’m like nnnnngggghhhhh *grabby haaaannnnds!*

How early in your life did you begin writing?

Like… seriously as a career? Or telling stories in general? In general when I was about 11. I came up for the world of Chasing Sunrise when I was 13. Yes it’s that old. As a career, I’d say about seven years ago when I first seriously pursued publication. Chasing Sunrise was actually rejected 15 times until I completely revamped it and submitted to Dreamspinner Press and Sweet 16 was the lucky number.

Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?

In third grade, our teacher read to the class after lunch. Two of the stories that stuck with me were Eddie and Gardenia by Carolyn Haywood†and James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl. There’s a nod to Eddie and Gardenia in Checkmate Ever After, and James and the Giant Peach gets a reference in the upcoming final Screw-Up Princess novel Urban Fairy Tale. While childhood memories are hazy, I very clearly recall my teacher hesitating with shock and tears at the end of Eddie and Gardenia because spoiler alert, things don’t end well for Gardenia. James and the Giant Peach was just total bananas. It made me want to live in a giant peach and fly away to New York City. When Tim Burton made the movie with stop-motion animation it was just….so delightfully odd.

What question would you ask yourself here?

Question: How can you†possibly†have loved the ending of Lost! It was such crap!

Answer:†Shut your face! It was beautiful. It was about the journey, not the destination. I will take you to the carpet.

If you were writing your life as a romance novel, what would the title be?

Dr. Chase: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Learned To Love The Bombshell

Thank you for having me Melanie! And noooow a question for the crowd! Sorry Melanie, I have to crib it! If your life was a romance novel, what would the title be?

Come follow me on Facebook and Twitter for Blog Tour Updates!

 


Genre: Fantasy/Horror/Paranormal
Series: The Darkmore Saga: Book One
Length: Novel
Published: April 5, 2016
Publisher: DSP Publications
ISBN: 978-1-63476-355-4
Buy: DSP Publications†| Omnilit | Amazon |†Barnes and Noble†

Blurb:

The once glorious aisa kingdom of Darkmore lies in ruins, and King Sevon MaratÈ is trapped. Sevon endures unrelenting abuse and is used as a scapegoat by Lord Dominic Ravensgrove, who rules Darkmore from the shadows. Coping by dressing in gowns and jewels, the effeminate king relishes the scraps of freedom he is given to be himself.

As a verkolai, Sevon possesses the ability to part the Veil separating his world from hundreds of others. His gift provides a chance for escape, but Dominic refuses to relinquish his tool for power. When Dominic forges an ambitious plan to invade the prosperous shifter land of Priagust, he manipulates Sevonís desperation for his peopleís survival. Out of options, Sevon has no choice but to cooperate.

On their foray into Priagust, Dominic’s men abduct a shifter named Jack. Despite being tortured for information, Jack’s loyalty to his kind never wavers. But Jackís knowledge about Darkmoreís history unsettles Sevon, and a curious bond begins to form. Despite Sevonís mistrust, Jack is determined to tame the beautiful kingís wild heart and perhaps earn his freedom.

As war looms, Sevon fears Jackís kindness is another trap. Conflicted, Sevon wonders if he should risk chasing the sunrise or remain Dominic’s compliant prisoner.

1st Edition published by Dreamspinner Press, 2014.

I’m giving away a super awesome $25 USD Amazon Gift Card! What do you have to do? Leave a comment down below and click the giveaway graphic to follow me on Twitter and Facebook or Share, Tweet, or Hashtag! So many ways to enter!

Totally cribbing off Melanie with much love! If your life was a romance novel, what would the title be?

Come follow me on Facebook and Twitter for Blog Tour Updates!

About the Author:

Lex Chase once heard Stephen King say in a commercial, ìWeíre all going to die, Iím just trying to make it a little more interesting.î Now, sheís on a mission to make the world a hell of a lot more interesting.

Weaving tales of cinematic, sweeping adventureóand depending on how she feels that dayóLex sprinkles in high-speed chases, shower scenes, and more explosions than a Hollywood blockbuster. Her pride is in telling stories of men who kiss as much as they kick ass. If youíre going to march into the depths of hell, it better be beside the one you love.

Lex is a pop culture diva, her DVR is constantly backlogged, and unapologetically loved the ending of Lost. She wouldnít last five minutes without technology in the event of the apocalypse and has nightmares about refusing to leave her cats behind.

You can find in the Intarwebz here:

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A BJ Review: The 13th Hex (A Hexworld Short Story) by Jordan L. Hawk

Rating:  5 stars out of 5

The 13th HexThe 13th Hex is the prequel short story to the all-new Hexworld series. If you like shifters, magic, and romance, you’ll love Jordan L. Hawk’s world of witch policemen and the familiars they bond with.

Romance. Magic. Murder.

Dominic Kopecky is a Metropolitan Witch Police fanboy who failed the magic aptitude tests when he was young. He’d dreamed of working at MWP with witches and their familiars who take the form of birds, toads, and cats. But his lack of magic led him to become the next best thing—a hexman who does the grunt work of using ink, paper and gemstones to create spells that witches later activate with their magic. But hexes were an exact science and a badly done one could turn very deadly when activated.

When the beautiful unbonded crow familiar, Rook, seeks Dominic’s help investigating murder by patent hex, Dominic isn’t sure why. He’s not a witch, the case has already been closed, and someone seems willing to kill to keep it that way.

I loved this one right from the start. Well-written, well-paced, intriguing characters, and a very unusual world set up. I read it first in the Charmed and Dangerous anthology, and when I saw that it was going to me a series, I was totally jazzed!

Both characters are quirky and compelling, and the writing was excellent with danger, heat, and humor well-mixed. I found myself giggling that the familiar was a crow and Dominic’s last name was KoPECKy. As did some of lines like ‘keep your beak out of it’ and a bunch of others.

A lovely sweet romance, some nice heat, and a fun story. Overall, it just hit all the right notes for me.

Beautiful cover! I love the layout of it as well as the elements that speak of another time and paranormal together very well. I am eager to see a rendering of the other character on the cover for the next one if the author runs true to how she did the covers on previous series.

Sales Links:   Amazon


Book Details:  

ebook, 2nd edition
Published April 5th 2016 by Jordan L. Hawk
ISBN139781941230183
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesHexworld 0.5

A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Manties in a Twist (The Subs Club #3) by J.A. Rock

Rating: 5 stars out of 5   ★★★★★

MantiesInATwist_600x900Look, I’ll never stop missing Hal, but this Subs Club my friends started to review suck-ass doms isn’t gonna bring him back or give him justice. For me, it’s just another chance to hang out with my friends, even if they think I’m too dumb to understand the important work we’re supposedly doing.

But maybe I’m not as dumb as they think—at least I know when I’ve got a good thing going. Which is why I just moved in with my dom. Ryan’s awesome possum. He’s really short, never makes me feel stupid, and is up for anything. One word: costumes. Two more words: women’s underwear. We’re all about the lace, no leather.

Except when we do pony play. We first tried it as a joke, but turns out I’m ballin’ at it. Now PetPlayFest is coming up, and I wanna take down the Subs Club’s archrival, Cinnamon the ponygirl, in the horse show.

My friends think I’m spending too much time with Ryan and ignoring my obligations to the group. But since when is friendship an obligation? Ryan’s my first serious relationship, and I want to take it . . . seriously. At some point I need to think about my future, not my past.

—Kamen

Kamen and Ryan are the best couple ever! This story is the definition of MORE—more of the Subs Club series, more of a look at how the men of the Subs Club have grown and matured, more healing from the death of their friend Hal, more forgiveness to those involved in Hal’s death, more of a relationship than any of the others in the series, and more kink: manties and pony play.

This installment of the Subs Club series explores Kamen’s new relationship with his diminutive dom, Ryan. Though his exact height is never specified, Ryan is a tiny man, especially when in the presence of his six-foot-four sub, and Kamen is not only not uncomfortable with that, he clearly treasures it. He’s turned on by Ryan’s short stature, tiny hands, and commanding personality.

As the story opens, they’ve not been together very long and have not yet settled on what their particular kink will be, though they are exploring cross-dressing. Turned on when Kamen tries on a pair of lacey panties left behind by Ryan’s friend, Amanda, when she did her laundry at their place, it takes hours for the two to surface from their steamy sex session. Kamen tells Ryan: “Either an angry hamster was in these panties… Or you looked so hot in them I tried to tear them off you so I could get more of your dick down my throat.” They immediately dive into a catalog to order more women’s underwear, stockings, a garter belt, and a sundress. Though Kamen has no desire to put on makeup and a wig, they do have some fun with the cross-dressing experiences, and Kamen begins to wear the feminine underwear when they go out with his friends from the Subs Club.

All the men are maturing and changing, with Miles and Drix enjoying parenthood with Miles’s newly adopted son, Zac, and Dave and D still strong together in their D/s relationship as well. But their friend Hal’s death is never far from their thoughts, and when Dave gets upset with Kamen because Ryan doesn’t seem to share the depth of their grief, Kamen gets upset as well—but with Dave, not with Ryan. Kamen can see the bigger picture now, and recognizes that Hal, his Dom, and Cinnamon, the sub who was in the same room at the time, all had a part in Hal’s demise. In fact, Kamen suggests that the club members all saw where Hal was headed, and even though they didn’t realize it at the time, there’s a small part of him that feels responsible as well. So from Kamen’s perspective, it’s time to mature and keep going—forgive and forget—stop forever wallowing in the past.

Ryan and Kamen support each other in everything they want to experience—from their career choices, to where they live, to their choice of kinks, so when Kamen comes home and tells Ryan he’d like to try to defeat Cinnamon in PetPlayFest, Ryan is immediately onboard with that idea. Cinnamon has always been a bitch to Kamen and his Subs Club friends and takes every opportunity to berate and belittle Kamen. She’s all about pony play and has won the festival for the past few years. Not this year, Kamen vows.

I love the way the author introduced pony play, and in fact, all forms of pet play, and made it not only acceptable, but quite interesting. Using practice for Kamen’s challenge as the vehicle for reader’s education, the author not only described the play, but used the bond that was forming between the MCs to endear them as a couple through this experience. They grew together and they acknowledged that growth and their need to communicate to stay on track. The story is filled with humor, but also introspection, stages of grief and healing, and true love. This couple is my favorite, not only in this series, but in all of the books I’ve read in the past year. Kamen and Ryan were so right for each other, their romance so sweet, their devotion and support of each other so complete, one couldn’t help but root for them to win the play fest and to firmly move on to their HEA.

There are so many positives to this book. I picked it up because it was Manties(!), but I couldn’t put it down because it was so much more. I hate to see them go. I want to move next door to this couple so I don’t ever have to say good-bye.

Obviously, I highly recommend this MM romance, especially to those who like a little kink in their play. This is a great book for those who are just beginning to explore BDSM, but it’s also for those who enjoy all its aspects. Don’t hesitate to buy this one!

~~~~~
Cover Art by Kanaxa shows a set of cuffs against a purple argyle background. The background, using different colors, is being repeated throughout the series, and a different BDSM-related symbol is displayed on the cover each time. I like the way the general look of the cover links all the stories in the series, however, considering the two major kinks in this story: manties and pony play, I think a better symbol could have been included on the cover. Handcuffs really don’t play a role in this story at all.

Sales Links:  Riptide Publishing | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 283 pages
Published April 2nd 2016 by Riptide Publishing
Original TitleManties in a Twist
ISBN 1626493472 (ISBN13: 9781626493476)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesThe Subs Club with links to  Barb the Zany Old Lady’s reviews :

J.A. Rock Talks Bed Bath & Beyond and the latest release,Manties in a Twist (The Subs Club, #3) -giveaway

MantiesInATwist_600x900

Manties in a Twist (The Subs Club, #3) by J.A. Rock
Riptide Publishing
Cover art by Kanaxa

Purchase a Copy/Read an Excerpt here

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have J.A. Rock here today to talk about the latest in The Subs Club series, Manties in a Twist and share a little insight into the book and characters. Welcome, J.A.!

*************

Hi! I’m J.A. Rock, and right now I’m touring the internet talking about my latest release Manties in a Twist—Book 3 in The Subs Club series. Thanks so much to the blogs that are hosting me on this tour, and be sure to leave comments on the tour posts for a chance to win your choice of two backlist ebooks and a $10 Amazon gift card!

Bed Bath & Beyond

Full disclosure: I’ve never been inside a Bed Bath & Beyond, the store that Ryan and Kamen make their bitch in Manties in a Twist as they decorate their new apartment. I’ve only heard tell of BB&B in legend. My mom’s obsessed. My brother made multiple trips there when he moved in with his girlfriend. Even my sister has purchased linens there. But for some reason it’s this terrifying and magical place that I’m afraid to set foot in.

I’m not much of a decorator. I made my roommates pick out all the stuff for our apartment. I don’t really see what’s wrong with having a coffee table that’s missing one leg. I did, for research purposes during Manties, browse the BB & B online store, but I feel like that doesn’t do it justice. I’m picturing an epic castle of home necessities—a place where, like Pier One and Crate & Barrel, I would a) not know what anything is called, except maybe “towels” and b) break something valuable within ten minutes of stepping inside.

The part I’m most curious about is the “beyond.” I understand what I might find in the bed and bath sections, but “beyond” just seems so…vast. Are we talking kitchen? Automotive? Lawn and garden? Is there a small, sad food court, like at SuperTarget?

I don’t have plans to investigate anytime soon, so I guess I’ll just have to keep imagining this veritable Eden of domestic merchandise—this place that seems like an adulthood rite of passage, that makes Kamen and Ryan feel like they’ve finally conquered growing up. Any BB & B fans here? Is it something I should try once? Or is it overrated?

About Manties in a Twist

MantiesInATwist_600x900Look, I’ll never stop missing Hal, but this Subs Club my friends started to review suck-ass doms isn’t gonna bring him back or give him justice. For me, it’s just another chance to hang out with my friends, even if they think I’m too dumb to understand the important work we’re supposedly doing.

But maybe I’m not as dumb as they think—at least I know when I’ve got a good thing going. Which is why I just moved in with my dom. Ryan’s awesome possum. He’s really short, never makes me feel stupid, and is up for anything. One word: costumes. Two more words: women’s underwear. We’re all about the lace, no leather.

Except when we do pony play. We first tried it as a joke, but turns out I’m ballin’ at it. Now PetPlayFest is coming up, and I wanna take down the Subs Club’s archrival, Cinnamon the ponygirl, in the horse show.

My friends think I’m spending too much time with Ryan and ignoring my obligations to the group. But since when is friendship an obligation? Ryan’s my first serious relationship, and I want to take it . . . seriously. At some point I need to think about my future, not my past.

—Kamen

About the Subs Club series

After the death of their friend Hal at the hands of an irresponsible dom, submissive friends Dave, Kamen, Miles, and Gould band together to form the Subs Club—an organization seeking to expose dangerous local doms. The club slowly evolves as romances blossom, loyalties are tested, and tensions mount in a community already struggling for unity in the wake of Hal’s death.

From domestic discipline to knife play to fashion paraphilia, and from family drama to new jobs to first loves, the members of the Subs Club explore life’s kinks inside and outside of the bedroom as they attempt to let go of the past and move forward.

About the Author

J.A. Rock is the author of queer romance and suspense novels, including By His Rules, Take The Long Way Home, and, with Lisa Henry, The Good Boy and When All The World Sleeps. She holds an MFA in creative writing from the University of Alabama and a BA in theater from Case Western Reserve University. J.A. also writes queer fiction and essays under the name Jill Smith. Raised in Ohio and West Virginia, she now lives in Chicago with her dog, Professor Anne Studebaker.

Connect with J.A. Rock:

MantiesinaTwist_TourBanner

Giveaway

To celebrate, J.A. is giving away your choice of two ebooks from her backlist and a $10 Amazon gift card. Leave a comment to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on April 9, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

A Paul B Review: Marking Kane (Werewolves of Manhattan #4) by A.C. Katt

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

MARKING KANEThe fourth book in the Wolves of Manhattan series by A. C. Katt begins at McClellan High School where Kane Brady is refusing to pass two members of the basketball team just because the coach told him to do so.  The two players, along with the coach, decide this young gay teacher needs to be taught a lesson.  The two players, along with the other three starters from the team, brutally rape Kane as he is walking home from school late one night.

Gabriel Martin is the fourth in the Garou Industries, the werewolf owned company.  Though his territory is small, his position within the corporation is important, as the director of technology.  He has been dreaming of his mate lately and with three other board members having found their mates, he hopes that the premonition comes true.  Driving from the Newark airport into the city, the roads become hazardous in a snowstorm.  Traffic moving at a crawl, he notices a young man staggering out of an alley.  Moved to help the wounded man, Gabriel immediately recognizes the man to be his mate.  He informs his betas of this fact to marshal resources to help Kane.  He brings Kane to the hospital where the pack doctor is working and calls the Alpha to inform him of his discovery.

Gabriel, along with his friends and the previous found alpha mates, try to convince Kane that he would recover better in Gabriel’s penthouse suite while those who abused him are sought out.  After the players and coach have been rounded up, the group convinces Kane to spend the holidays with Gabriel.  Just as things begin to settle down and the big reveal about shifters and mates is to take place, the group receives word that the coach has made bail and is seeking vengeance.  Gabriel and his friends must prepare for the mating ceremony in Atlanta while keeping an eye out for the newly freed coach.  To complicate matters, an alpha with dual citizenship in Russia has recently returned to America to escape the violence brought on by Putin’s homophobic laws.  The Prime Alpha is worried that major trouble for his shifters is just around the corner and must prepare for the upcoming battle.

As usual, this is another fine outing in Ms. Katt’s series.  The story follows the others in that an abused human is rescued by a member of the Garou Industries board.  It is even pointed out by one of the characters that this is a recurring theme in finding the mates.  The mates are also of Irish descent and have various shades of green eyes.  It will be interesting to see if this pattern sticks with the next book.  The supernatural help that Kane receives to help recover from the rape allows for the story to move forward without the trauma of the event preventing the mating from going forward.  The growing bond between all the alpha mates is touching to read as they have all suffered in the past and form a support group amongst themselves.

The cover art by Winterheart Design shows our blond Kane and the dark haired Gabriel above the New York skyline with an image of a wolf superimposed behind our two heroes.  It fits the character of the book well.

Sales Links:  MLR Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details

ebook, 166 pages
Published March 2016 by MLR Press
ISBN 1020160527
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesWerewolves of Manhattan #4

Series:  Werewolves of Manhattan

The Devils Pride MCs are Riding Back with Talk Dirty to Me by Jessie G. (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

Talk Dirty To Me - Final - 400 x 600

Talk Dirty to Me (Devils Pride MC #2) by Jessie G.
 Release Date: Mid-March (around March 15, 2016)

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Jessie G. Books Inc.
Cover Artist: Andrew Reyna, Dynamic Craft Studios

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is lucky to be interviewing Jessie G author of Talk Dirty to Me. Hi Jessie, thank you for agreeing to this interview.

**********

Thank you so much for hosting me and my boys.

  • How do you develop your plots and characters? I’m not really sure. My very first book, Past Hurts, came to me in a dream and it’s been a snowball effect ever since. Each new character that appears on page is a surprise and I take the time to get to know them. Once I know I want to write their story, I listen to what they tell me, ask questions, dig and let it unfolds. Each book has led to the next, one series spawned another, so I see it more as an evolution than something I’ve consciously done.
  • Who doesn’t love a good hero? Tell us about your protagonist. Was there a real life inspiration behind them? Snake is everything you want in a big bad undercover agent biker. He’s tall, built like a brick shithouse, he’ll do anything to get the job done and he loves Greg hard. He has no problem getting his hands dirty, encourages his lover to be exactly who he is and not who he thinks he needs to be, and has a strong sense of family even though he once considered himself a lone wolf.
  • What real-life inspirations do you use when world building? My books currently take place in Florida (Miami, Ft. Myers, Tampa, and Orlando). I live here, so I have the details to make it look real, but I take creative license to fit the story. After the release of Talk Dirty to Me, I had a local reader message me from the same breakfast spot Snake and Greg eat at. I thought that was the coolest thing ever.
  • Did you learn anything from this book and what was it? This book made me take a closer look at perceptions—how we perceive ourselves vs how the people who love us perceive us. Greg doesn’t think he’s much of a catch in the looks department, he’s nervous and awkward, and a bit of a nerd. Why would a smoking hot, bad ass biker want him? But Snake loves the whole of him and doesn’t see any of the things Greg dislikes about himself.
  • It’s your last meal on earth. What do you choose? Pechuga de Pollo, Ropa Vieja, Lomo Saltado, Guac and Chips – yeah, just prop me up at a Latin buffet and back away.

Blurb

As a secret agent for the DEA, Snake’s gone deep into Devils Pride MC with the hope of bringing down the head of Miami’s lucrative drug trade and finds himself saddled with the club’s volatile and secretive SA instead. Unfortunately, after years as partners doing shit neither of them wanted to do for reasons neither of them felt comfortable sharing, Snake considers Trick his best friend. Now he’ll do anything to repair the damage his own necessary lies did to their friendship because, while Trick may have walked away from the MC, Snake needs someone he trusts to have his back.

Meanwhile, Snake’s contact at the DEA has him tied up in knots. The sexy voice and inappropriate comments have him walking around with a permanent set of blue balls. Life undercover is lonely and he lives for every phone call, but his own personal Deep Throat is skittish about committing to a date once Snake returns to headquarters. As far as Snake’s concerned, they only have one shot to build something together and he’s not willing to waste it.

Greg knows he’s not Snake’s type, or anyone’s for that matter. Former love interests called him plain, chubby, and boring. More comfortable in his tech cave than with people, he’s a grade A nerd who isn’t exactly GQ material. Normally he would never be brave enough to flirt with anyone—much less the very hot and very dangerous ginger who’d been starring in his nightly fantasies—but Snake needed something to keep him from getting lost undercover. What started out as a helping hand quickly became an integral part of their relationship—if one could call a five year phone conversation a relationship—and Greg is terrified that once Snake’s sees the wizard behind the curtain, he’ll lose the only man he’s ever loved.

Now the DEA has called Snake home to plan the next stage of the mission, leaving Greg no more places to hide. When fantasy and reality collide, will it be everything Snake hopes for or everything Greg fears? The trick will be staying alive long enough to figure out the answer.

 

Pages or Words: 78,000 words
Series must be read in order
 Categories: Bisexual, Contemporary, Erotica, M/M Romance, Mystery, Romance (Please note: Snake’s bisexuality is only mentioned. It is not gone into.)

 

Excerpt

Knowing what Gene needed before he actually asked was what made them a good team and his growing personal feelings aside, he believed they worked well together. Greg also knew Gene felt the same way because he never failed to show his appreciation. “Thanks, Sunshine, I knew I could count on you. So, tell me how the move to Tampa’s going?”

Greg sighed and leaned back in his chair to look at the ceiling. He had been working at the DC office since joining the agency and while he enjoyed the work, DC was a stressful place to live. He’d adapted just as he’d done when he went to MIT in Cambridge, but it wasn’t his first choice. When the request to transfer and be closer to the undercover operation he’d been devoting ninety percent of his time to came in, he jumped at it even though he questioned his superior’s motives.

But moving was stressful, fitting in with new coworkers more so, and doing both while keeping up with Gene’s needs was damn near exhausting. It was worth it, but he was more tired than he ever remembered being and none of that was Gene’s problem. As an undercover agent in an outlaw motorcycle club, he had more important things to worry about, so Greg downplayed the stress he’d been under. “Florida’s better than DC, that’s for sure.”

“But?” Gene asked knowingly and Greg sighed. He should have known better than to think he could bluff his answer. They’d been talking multiple times a day for almost a year. If there was anyone who could tell just by the tone of his voice what he was feeling, it was Gene.

“When I first got this assignment, it seemed odd that I wasn’t immediately transferred to a closer office. Not that location really mattered in the past, but our partnership was a first in the agency. Normally, undercover agents have full use of the entire Intelligence Division and everyone in ID works together so nothing falls through the cracks.” Maybe he was becoming more like Gene, because he was seeing shadows everywhere lately. “That didn’t happen and it obviously wasn’t necessary because I was able to do whatever you needed from DC. So why, out of nowhere, did Crockett and Stimer request me in the Tampa office? If they wanted me closer to your operation, why not Fort Myers or even the Miami office?”

Gene didn’t immediately respond and Greg knew he was choosing his words. Lately, they’d begun to wonder if someone within the agency, or any branch of law enforcement, was working with Durango. Crooked agents were an unfortunate fact of life and the more information he uncovered about Durango and the MC, the more things didn’t add up. Namely, putting an agent in what they had to know would be a long term undercover operation only to bitch about how long it was taking him to get the job done. It was like they were setting him up for failure and that didn’t sit well with Greg at all.

He was fully invested in doing the best job he could and that was only solidified by the growing personal feelings he was developing for Gene. The last thing Greg wanted was to see him get burned by the agency they both joined in the hopes of doing something good.

“I can hear those wheels turning from here, but we both know how dangerous it is for you to go poking around into Crockett or Stimer. You’re the new face in the office so you have no allies you can trust. If anyone catches wind of what you’re doing…”

“They won’t.” Greg wanted to sneer at the suggestion that he didn’t know how to cover his tracks. The only thing that stopped him was the knowledge that Gene cared about the risks he might be taking. That concern was a foreign concept that he didn’t know how to deal with. “I know how to hide a trail, Gene.”

“I don’t doubt your abilities for a second,” Gene assured, taking the wind out of any potential argument between them. “I just don’t want to see you get hurt. If Crockett or Stimer or someone else has a hidden agenda, you’ll find it in the work we’re already doing. You’re already cherry picking the information you put in the files, already deciding what they can and can’t be trusted with, right?”

“Yes,” Greg grudgingly admitted. He just didn’t know if those precautions were enough.

Gene chuckled at his tone. “You and I both know if they’re in any way involved in Durango’s business, if they’re doing anything to hinder the case, you’ll uncover it in the intelligence you’re already gathering. I know it’s not enough, but I’m already in play and there’s no way to step back now. If you go digging and someone catches wind of it, you paint a target on both our backs.”

Which was the only reason he hadn’t already gone digging and why he was coming clean now. The very last thing he wanted to do was make Gene’s job more dangerous than it already was. “Fine.”

Gene laughed at him again and he found himself pulling up a photo of the agent. It was unfair how good looking the man was. Tall, broad, scruffy, with piercing eyes and a strong chin, and lips made for doing sinful things. Gene was all of Greg’s weakness wrapped up in a hard body that made his fingers itch to touch.

A soft sigh and the sound of a bed creaking brought his attention back to their conversation. “I’m done thinking about this for tonight. Tell me something good before we hang up.”

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Meet the author:

Like many readers, the dream of being a writer has been with me a long time. After three decades of trying, I’d begun to doubt. Thanks to social media, I followed my favorite authors hoping to glean some words of wisdom as I pounded out half-formed ideas with alarming regularity. Two repetitive themes emerged: to be a great writer you must read a lot and your butt must be in the chair every day like it’s a job. The more you write, the easier it will be to write and the better you will be at writing. I took that advice to heart and write every day. With three series in the works and a full schedule of releases planned for the next two years, it’s been amazing to have made this dream my reality.

I am a firm believer in marriage equality, love at first sight, power dynamics, and happily ever after. I’m a lover of strong secondary characters, and series filled with families—biological or chosen. All are themes you’ll find throughout my books.

Where to find the author:

Author Pages:

 

RC
Tour Dates & Stops:

14-Mar: Sassygirl Books, Carly’s Book Reviews

16-Mar: Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

18-Mar: Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Foxylutely Book Reviews

21-Mar: Alpha Book Club

23-Mar: V’s Reads

25-Mar: The Dark Arts

28-Mar: Oh My Shelves

30-Mar: Happily Ever Chapter, The Hat Party

1-Apr: 3 Chicks After Dark, Velvet Panic, MM Good Book Reviews

4-Apr: Full Moon Dreaming, Outrageous Heroes, Mikky’s World of Books, Nephy Hart,

Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Book Lovers 4Ever. Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words,

Up All Night, Read All Day

6-Apr: Man2ManTastic, The Novel Approach

8-Apr: Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Joyfully Jay

11-Apr: A.M. Leibowitz

13-Apr: Divine Magazine, Unquietly Me

15-Apr: Bonkers About Books

18-Apr: Kirsty Loves Books

20-Apr: Cathy Brockman Romances

22-Apr: Dawn’s Reading Nook, MM Book Escape

25-Apr: Molly Lolly, Books A to Z

27-Apr: Prism Book Alliance

29-Apr: Love Bytes, My Fiction Nook,

2-May: TTC Books and More, Bayou Book Junkie

4-May: Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Inked Rainbow Reads, Hearts on Fire, Making It Happen,

Because Two Men Are Better Than One

6-May: BFD Book Blog, Multitasking Mommas

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Early Morning Coffee Sip and Book Break: A.M. Leibowitz ‘What Once Was Lost’ (excerpt and giveaway)

OnceWasLost copy

What Once Was Lost by A.M. Leibowitz
 Release Date: March 11, 2016

Goodreads
Publisher: MLR Press
Cover Artist: Jared Rackler

Blurb

Following a volatile break-up with his partner, Casey has been raising his son, Ryan, mostly on his own. While Ryan is on a camping trip in the Adirondacks, Casey and Brook make another attempt to work through their differences, with disastrous results. But when Ryan and his friend disappear in the mountains, Casey and Brook travel together to find him. The tension leads to an opportunity to listen to each other, reconcile their history, and recover the love they once shared.

 

Pages or Words: 21,000 words
 Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance

Excerpt

It couldn’t be real. It was a vision or a nightmare or maybe stress-related, but that could not possibly be his former lover standing on the porch with his hand raised to press the bell again. That was not the man who continued to haunt both his dreams and his nightmares. He shuddered; the previous night’s mental sleep wanderings had been a horrifying mix of erotic and sorrowful, and he wasn’t in a hurry to relive them in the flesh. In confusion, Casey slammed the door shut.

“Open the damn door, Case,” the man on the other side said.

Casey growled and opened it again. “What the hell are you doing here, Brook?”

“I came to get my kid for the weekend because you failed to drop him off.”

“We talked about this weeks ago.” Casey glared at Brook. “Ryan’s going camping with Annie, Chuck, and their kids. You knew about this.”

“Maybe I decided the answer is no.” Brook crossed his arms. “You never gave me the choice–you just told me what was going on, same as always. I’d like a say in what happens this time.”

“Not gonna happen. Also, you have no business showing up at my door. We agreed to a neutral location for a reason.”

“Oh, right, because we couldn’t stop pissing each other off every time we were together. I’m glad to see you’ve gained some maturity since then,” Brook shot back.

No, you ass, Casey thought. It’s because if I let you in my house, and you begged to stay, I’d have taken you back and gotten my heart crushed again. “Go home,” he said. He made to close the door again.

Brook blocked it with his foot. “He’s my kid too. I should’ve had a say in it. This is my weekend.”

“First of all, he’s not yours in any legal sense. Second, you lost the right to have a say the minute you fucked someone else in our bed.”

Brook’s mouth dropped open, and his eyes flicked to the stairs behind Casey. When Casey turned his head to follow Brook’s gaze, he sighed. Ryan was standing in the middle of the staircase, staring at them. His mouth was set in a thin line, and he had a deep scowl.

“Ry, I’m sorry,” Casey said. “You don’t need—”

“I don’t need what?” Ryan asked, crossing his arms. “The truth? Is that why Pop left?”

Both men were silent, but from the look on Ryan’s face, neither of them had to say anything else. Ryan scoffed and turned around to thunder back up the stairs.

“Charming as always, I see,” Brook said.

“Fuck off. I didn’t invite you here today. You showed up unannounced right before Ry’s weekend trip. But hey, I guess you don’t care whether you ruin it for him. Kind of like everything else.”

“God, I forgot what a whiny ass you are,” Brook said, sneering.

Casey wanted to punch him, but that wouldn’t do anything to improve things with Ryan. “Look, this isn’t the time. You want to have some drawn-out argument where we both accuse each other of random shit from the whole span of our relationship? Great. I’ll pencil you in for noon tomorrow, when my son is happily off in the woods with his best friend’s family. Until then, get the hell off my porch.”

Buy the book

MLR Press | Amazon | ARe | Barnes&Noble |  Kobo

Meet the author:

A.M. Leibowitz is a queer spouse, parent, feminist, and book-lover falling somewhere on the Geek-Nerd Spectrum. Ze keeps warm through the long, cold western New York winters by writing about life, relationships, hope, and happy-for-now endings. In between noveling and editing, ze blogs coffee-fueled, quirky commentary on faith, culture, writing, books, and hir family.

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Divine Magazine, My Fiction Nook, Oh My Shelves, BFD Book Blog, Bayou Book Junkie,

Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, The Jena Wade, Kirsty Loves Books, Alpha Book Club, Unquietly Me,

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, MM Good Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, Mikky’s World of Books,

Nautical Star Books, Making It Happen, Full Moon Dreaming, Molly Lolly, Three Books Over The Rainbow,

Velvet Panic, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Outrageous Heroes, Louise Lyons, Dawn’s Reading Nook

 

Giveaway

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