A Paul B Review: Despite the Odds (Odds Are #1) by Chris T. Kat

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Two men face different challenges in their lives. Can the two of them find a happy life together despite the odds?

Despite the Odds coverMichael Campbell struggles to get by in life. Unable to keep a job for more than a few weeks, Michael thinks he has screwed up his latest effort to keep a job by being late for work once again. His boss is on the verge of firing Michael but relents. Michael must stay late to make up for the time that he missed that morning. Near lunchtime, Michael points out what appears to be a drunk walking near the school property where he is currently working.

Joshua Stone struggles to get by in life. Born with cerebral palsy, Joshua has a hard time moving around. Unable to drive, Joshua uses a tricycle to get to where he needs to go. However, whenever he is tired, Josh’s movements are even more labored than they normally are. He gets upset when one of the construction workers thinks he is drunk.

After school Joshua is having troubles getting to his trike so that he can go home. The construction worker who he thought was a jerk apologizes for any offense he caused earlier for not knowing of his condition. Michael then offers to give Joshua a ride home as he sees Joshua is clearly struggling just moving, much less trying to pedal a bike home.

During the drive home, the two men begin to learn about the other. Joshua cannot believe that this hunk might be flirting with him. Michael learns about Joshua’s condition and the struggles he must live through. After Michael leaves, Joshua realizes that Michael has driven off with his backpack. With no way to contact Michael, how will he get it back?

I enjoyed this book and the main characters a lot. Both have questions going into the relationship. Michael is not sure that a disabled person could be gay. Joshua cannot believe someone as good looking as Michael could be interested in someone as damaged as he is. The romance grows just like any other with a couple of limitations due to Joshua’s disability. This is another sweet story from the author. At the end of the book, the author gives a preview of the sequel called “Against All Odds.”

The cover art by Valerie Tibbs shows our two protagonists above a bridge or park. The images convey what I would think our two men would look like.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It here

Book Details:
ebook, 114 pages
Published June 3rd 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
original titleDespite the Odds
ISBN139781634760263
edition languageEnglish
series: Odds Are #1

Love gets a Second Chance with Brick by Brick by Cate Ashwood and L.J. LaBarthe (excerpt and contest)

BrickByBrickORIG-final-01

Brick by Brick by Cate Ashwood & L.J. LaBarthe
Release Date: June 29, 2015

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer

Banner300x250

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press eBook and Paperback

 

STRW Author BookSynopsis

They say that time heals all wounds, but losing Parley, his one true love, left Zach with a hole in his heart that no one else can fill. After forty-eight blissful hours alone together as teens in an abandoned house, Parley disappeared. Parley is what he is, and the pray-away-the-gay camp his parents ship him to won’t change that. However, finding the balance between accepting his true nature and not losing his family means tough sacrifices.

Sixteen years later, Zach is thunderstruck when Parley stands on the front doorstep of his house—the house that had been their refuge, which Zach restored. But Parley isn’t alone, and Zach wonders if he’s found Parley only to lose him a second time. If they can overcome the terrors of the past and the situation of the present, maybe they can build a new relationship just as Zach rebuilt the house—brick by brick.

Pages or Words: 62,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay fiction, M/M Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

ZACH FELT as if he was floating. He’d been planning this escape for weeks, but now that it was actually happening, it didn’t seem real. He chanced a quick look at Parley as they merged onto the highway. What could possibly be better than running away with his best friend?

He’d had his doubts that Parley would actually come with him. After being turned down the first time, Zach had prepared himself for disappointment, but now they were leaving together and Zach couldn’t have been happier.

“Where should we go?” Zach asked. He had some vague ideas in mind, but he wanted his friend’s input more than anything.

“I don’t know. Somewhere we can’t be found?” Zach was right on board with that.

“That’s a good idea. We’ll go for a bit on this highway, then we’ll exit and take some back roads, maybe head toward the interior.”

Parley dropped his head back against the seat. “Perfect.” After a time, he said, “I still can’t believe we’re doing this.”

“I still can’t believe you came with me,” Zach countered.

“I can’t either. I must be insane.”

“Or brilliant. It’s usually a fine line,” Zach teased.

“My parents are going to have an absolute meltdown once they’ve found out what I’ve done. They’re going to be so upset.”

Parley’s voice was quiet, barely above a whisper. Zach had seen him like this once before when he’d thought he’d lost his weird CTR ring with the spinner chain in the band.

“It’ll all be okay.” Zach tried to soothe him, to bring him back to the present, and rested a gentle hand on Parley’s knee. “Everyone flies from the nest sooner or later. We just did it in an unconventional way. I really do think this is what’s best, though, for both of us.”

Zach’s reassurance seemed to work. Parley blinked slowly a few times and then a somewhat disheartened smile crept onto his face. “I know, but my family is just… different.”

 

 

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

About L.J. LaBarthe:

L.J. LaBarthe is a French-Australian woman, who was born during the Witching Hour, just after midnight. From this auspicious beginning, she went on to write a prize-winning short story about Humpty Dumpty wearing an Aussie hat complete with corks dangling from it when she was six years old. From there, she wrote for her high school yearbook, her university newspaper, and, from her early teens to her twenties, produced a fanzine about the local punk rock music scene. She loves music of all kinds and was once a classical pianist; she loves languages and speaks French and English and a teeny-tiny smattering of Mandarin Chinese, which she hopes to relearn properly very soon. She enjoys TV, film, travel, cooking, eating out, abandoned places, urbex, history, and researching.

L.J. loves to read complicated plots and hopes to do complex plot lines justice in her own writing. She writes paranormal, historical, urban fantasy, and contemporary Australian stories, usually m/m romance and featuring m/m erotica. She has won a Rainbow Awards Honorable Mention and another award for Best Historical Gay Novel.

L.J. lives in the city of Adelaide, and is owned by her cat.

Where to find L.J LaBarthe:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lj.labarthe.9
Twitter: @brbsiberia
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/dreadpiratestar/
Other: http://misslj_author.livejournal.com/
Other: http://www.ljlabarthe.com/
Other: https://instagram.com/ljstar239/
Other: http://dreadpiratestarkiller.tumblr.com/

About Cate Ashwood:

Cate Ashwood wrote her very first story in a hot-pink binder when she was in the second grade and found her passion for writing. Her first successful foray into romance writing came five years later when she wrote her best friend, who was experiencing a case of unrequited love, her own happily ever after.

Cate’s life has taken a number of different and adventurous roads. She now lives a stone’s throw from the ocean, just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, her little boy, and their two cats. Her life is filled with family and friends, travel, and, of course, books.

Where to find Cate Ashwood:
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cate.ashwood
Facebook Author Page:
Twitter: @cateashwood
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cateashwood/
Instagram: https://instagram.com/cateashwood/

BannerTemplate

Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Dawn’s Reading Nook, BFD Book Blog, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Divine Magazine, Andrew Q. Gordon, Bayou Book Junkie, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bike Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, My Fiction Nook, Kimi-Chan, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Havan Fellows, Prism Book Alliance, MM Good Book Reviews, Chris McHart, Inked Rainbow Reads, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Full Moon Dreaming, Mikky’s World of Books, Charley Descoteaux, Molly Lolly, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Iyana Jenna, 3 Chicks After Dark, Happily Ever Chapter, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy

STRW Spotlight Contest Header

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: An e-copy of ‘Brick by Brick’. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the authors and Pride Promotions.

Contest Ends

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Can Love Spell Disaster or HEA? Check out The Pinch of the Game by Charley Descoteaux for the Answer (exclusive excerpt and giveaway)

PinchOfTheGame[The]FS

The Pinch of the Game by Charley Descoteaux
Release Date: June 24, 2015

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyG

Banner300x250

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Being a witch doesn’t mean one can beat the devil forever.

Jeffrey Overton, unemployed IT professional turned poker player, pushes his luck once too often and runs afoul of the host of an illegal card club. The man sent to escort Jeffrey to a “meeting” about his supernatural winning streak arrives at Jeffrey’s crappy North Portland apartment, lock-picking tools in hand and a charm to block Jeffrey’s magick.

Head muscle for said host, Mike Wells, is a Daisy from Daisyville. He isn’t a witch. What he lacks in magickal talent he makes up for in brawn, so he doesn’t expect the guy he’s after to overpower him. But once Mike renders Jeffrey helpless, he’d rather seduce him than bring him in.

Jeffrey and Michael ditch the “meeting” and end up hunting some of the same people they ran from, trying to get Jeffrey back into his own body. And that’s only part of the adventure. The pair travel halfway across the country on the quietest road trip in history and find missing people, empire-building witches, and maybe even the families they’d both thought lost to them.

Pages or Words: 35,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Gay fictions, M/M Romance, Mystery, Paranormal, Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Thank you for hosting me and my guys!

Last week four lovely blogs hosted excerpts from Jeffrey’s point of view. This week, it’s Michael’s turn. The Pinch of the Game is a Romance, but it’s also an adventure story. With magick and mayhem—my favorite kind!

Michael

By the time we were three hours out, I wasn’t sure if I’d strangle Jeff with my hands or my cock. The guy talked nonstop and thought he was damned clever. We made Pendleton and I couldn’t take it anymore and pulled off.

“Are we there yet?”

I tried to growl at him—heard it’s intimidating. He kept grinning. And he didn’t stop when I pulled into a Motel 6 parking lot and killed the engine. He made a soft purring noise when I reached over, and for a heartbeat I hesitated. But then I grabbed both of his thumbs, slipped a tie around his wrists, and zipped it tight.

“Hey!”

“It’s for your own good. Just sit here and be quiet. I’ll be right back.”

I didn’t expect him to still be there, but he hadn’t even tried to escape. I grabbed his bag from the trunk and tossed a long-sleeved shirt over his arms to hide the tie. Unlikely anyone would notice, but I wasn’t looking to make any more new friends. In fact during the drive I’d seriously questioned my sanity and hadn’t heard a reasonable answer yet. What the hell was I doing? Sure, I’d thought about quitting, getting another kind of job, but seriously—how the hell was this going to end?

Bloody, is how.

 

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Charley Descoteaux has always heard voices. She was relieved to learn they were fictional characters, and started writing when they insisted daydreaming just wasn’t good enough. In exchange, they’ve agreed to let her sleep once in a while. Charley grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during a drought, and found her true home in the soggy Pacific Northwest. She has survived earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, but couldn’t make it through one day without stories.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charley.descoteaux.3
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CharleyDescoteauxAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharleyDescote
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/charleydescote/
Blog: http://cdescoteauxwrites.com/blog/
Goodreads: http://tinyurl.com/aqe7g7r
Email: c.descoteauxwrites@gmail.com

STRW Spotlight Contest Header

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10 gift card and backlist book of choice.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by Pride Promotions and the author.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

BannerTemplate


Tour Dates & Stops:
24-Jun
Divine Magazine
Rainbow Gold Reviews

25-Jun
Bayou Book Junkie

26-Jun
Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance

29-Jun
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

30-Jun
Molly Lolly

1-Jul
Love Bytes

2-Jul
Inked Rainbow Reads

3-Jul
Multitasking Mommas

6-Jul
Havan Fellows

7-Jul
3 Chicks After Dark
The Blogger Girls

Its Release Day for Alina Popsecu’s Strength To Let Go! New Shifter Series! (excerpt)

StrengthtoLetGo-banner2

Title: Strength to Let Go

Series: Tales of the Werewolf Tribes, Book One

Author: Alina Popescu

Genre: gay romance, paranormal, werewolves, paranormal romance, supernatural

Publisher: Wayward Ink Publishing

Release Date: July 7th, 2015

Synopsis

After being abandoned by his mates, Shiki Kirishima, beta of the Dragons of the Fang werewolf tribe, returns to his home in Tokyo.

Crippled by grief, Shiki decides to end it all by going into the territory of the Siberian Killers tribe and challenging them to a battle to the death.

His death.

StrengthtoLetGo-smallpreview

Ganzorig, beta of the Siberian Killers, however, sees the potentially disastrous consequences of having Shiki die in battle.

Instead, he saves him.

Having suffered loss himself, Ganz takes it upon himself to help Shiki deal with his pain.

Blake, Shikiís best friend since childhood, is as determined to show him there is life after a wolfís ultimate loss.

Could there also be something ëmoreí for them after friendship?

Book Trailer

Pre-order Links

Donít miss the Tickle Me Pink sale on the Wayward Ink Publishing site ñ 25% off all list prices.

WIP: http://www.waywardinkpublishing.com/product/strength-to-let-go-by-alina-popescu/

ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-strengthtoletgo-1840807-145.html

Excerpt

When I got to my apartment, I wasnít feeling any better. I was restless and hurting and angry as fuck and their mixed scents in my place werenít doing me any favors. I fumbled with the backpack I had dropped on the floor of my living room, trying to find my phone. I was greeted by a dozen or more messages from Vicks, one of my twinís mates. Since she had mated my brother she had this weird connection to me too and could feel whenever I was experiencing strong emotions for an extended period. I assumed everything that had happened since yesterday would qualify for that. I sent a quick ìIíll be fineî type of reply to stop her from harassing me and went through my contacts.

Even if I hadnít called that particular number in a couple of months, it was still at the top of my favorites list. He was my best friend since childhood, so it made sense Iíd call him more than anyone else. It just hit me then that Iíd been so lost in my own life, I barely had time to catch up with him or my family unless something critical was going on. I pressed the call button and plastered the phone to my ear, pacing around the room as it rang a few times.

ìCome on, Blake, fucking pick up!î I hung up and tried again. I really needed to talk to my best friend right now. It rang twice and went straight to voicemail. Hearing Blakeís voice brought tears to my eyes and something snapped inside of me.

ìBlake, I wish youíd have picked up the phone.î I laughed softly, shaking my head. ìItís funny, I think this is the first time I call you and you donít pick up. Either wayÖ thanks for being my friend, chibi. IÖ I donítÖ.î I lowered the hand that was holding my phone and let my head fall back, taking a few deep breaths. ìBlakey, tell everyone I love them andÖ yeah, those who know me, really know me, will understand. Sayonara, chibi-tan.î

StrengthtoLetGo-3Drender

I hung up and let the rage take over. I turned around at impossible speed and threw the phone with a loud roar. It hit the wall and shattered into a million pieces. I was crying. I knew because I could feel the heaves and tears, but the crushing pain was battling with the anger taking over my mind. I had lost my soul and my reason to live when Iíd lost Kieran and Kayden. What was left of me was nothing more than the warrior inside. A true samurai would not waste away, waiting for death to claim him at the end of a miserable life. Heíd die in battle, an honorable death his final legacy.

My twin, Shishou, my co-beta, Ren, my sister, even BlakeÖ theyíd get it, theyíd explain it properly to my children. They probably wonít understand, just like I hadnít when my parents had left us. I prayed that unlike their father, they would never get to a point in life where theyíd understand this decision of mine. It meant theyíd go through a world of pain and that was the last thing I wanted for Ryuu and Kimmie.

I took off everything but my jeans. No point in having anything else on. Werewolf rules were sometimes mind-boggling. You could shift into your wolf and back, and you always kept one item of clothing. The picks were random and you might be left in nothing but your underwear. Or keep a tight top and nothing else to cover your lower body. It was wise to choose your own clothes for the occasion. I then promptly flashed to the weapons room in the Alpha mansion, right in front of the wall display of my fatherís katana. I kneeled before it, my legs spread, and then bowed deeply. Getting up, I closed the small distance between me and my objective and removed the katana. I glanced at the wakizashi he always used to wear with his katana. Double sword, traditional samurai sign. I decided Iíd use them both, just as he had in his final battle. I unsheathed the two blades and adjusted my grip. With a final bow, I flashed out.

When I took form at my destination, a small shiver coursed through my body. It was pretty cold out here. Well, northern mountains in Mongolia werenít known for their excessive heat in the middle of autumn.

I had chosen Siberian Killer territory, the fastest way to pick a fight with other werewolves. The one rule they had was any shifter that stepped foot on their territory would be killed. Here I was, standing tall, all focused, muscles bulging under the strain and excitement of an impending battle, taunting whoever was nearby.

About the author

Writer, traveler, and coffee addict, ALINA POPESCU has been in love with books all her life. She started writing when she was ten and she has always been drawn to sci-fi, fantasy, and the supernatural realm. Born and raised in Romania, she finds her inspiration in books of all genres, in movies, and the occasional manga comic book. She is a proud geek who needs her fast Internet and gadgets more than she needs air.

StrengthtoLetGo-banner3

Social Links

Site & Blog: http://alina-popescu.com

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/authoralinapopescu

Twitter: http://twitter.com/alina_popescu

Instagram: http://instagram.com/alinapopescuwriter

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/alina-popescu

Google+:  https://www.google.com/+AlinaPopescu

Amazon:  http://amazon.com/author/alinapopescu

Its Official! Marriage Equality is Here! This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

http://news.yahoo.com/photos/timelapse-white-house-beaming-rainbow-photo-053113143.html?soc_src=copy

Whew!  What a day it was yesterday!  My Twitter and FB blew up with happiness and excitement as soon as SCOTUS came out with their historic ruling.  Even the White House got into the act with a new look!  The White House was lit rainbow colors on Friday, June 26, in celebration of the Supreme Court ruling that allows same-sex marriage across the US. The 14 states in which such marriages remained illegal, in the South and Midwest, must now lift their bans. The court’s 5-4 ruling (hell yeah!) is the culmination of decades of campaigning by gay-rights activists.   Yesterday, the hopes, dreams, and wishes came true for so many across the nation and we celebrated in our hearts, if not in the streets…dancing with joy!  And the media went crazy too!

rainbow hands

People changed with pictures to reflect this historic ruling and  fireworks and incredible memes were everywhere.  Ian McKellen and Derek Jacobi made the happiest of vids for Vine, (really don’t miss out on that one), George Takei, and it just kept coming in heartstopping wave after wave…and yes, the tears flowed copiously.

This is truly a Gay Pride Month to end all Pride Months!  2015!  A toast and a cheer for Equality for All.  Now finally is can just be Marriage-not gay marriage or straight marriage…just marriage.  Hell to the Yes!

lgbt flag

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

LessonsForIdleTongues_600x900Toy With Me coverDespite the Odds coverGremlin's Last Run cover

Sunday, June 28

  • Its Official! Marriage Equality is Here! This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, June 29:

  • The Pinch of the Game by Charley Descoteaux tour and contest
  • Cate Ashwood & L.J. LaBarthe ‘Brick by Brick’ book blast and giveaway
  • A Paul B Review: Despite the Odds by Chris T. Kat
  • A BJ Review: Gremlin’s Last Run (Guardians of the Pattern #2) by Jaye McKenna

Tuesday, June 30:

  • Devil’s Food at Dusk by MJ O’Shea and Anna Martin‏ Release Tour and Giveaway
  • A Mika Review: Toy with Me by Annabelle Jacobs
  • A MelanieM Review: Velocity by Sara York
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Helping Hand by Jay Northcote

Wednesday, July 1:

  • Lessons for Idle Tongues by Charlie Cochrane Tour and Giveaway
  • Get Your Kink on With K.C. Wells ‘Make Me Soar’ (Collars and Cuffs #6) Tour and Contest
  • In the Book Spotlight: Annabelle Jacobs ‘A Casual Thing’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A MelanieM Review: Lessons for Idle Tongues by Charlie Cochrane
  • A MelanieM Review:  Bulldust by d.j. brumb

Thursday, July 2:

  •  A Closer Look at Lissa Kasey ‘Model Citizen’ (excerpt and giveaway)
  • ‘University of Southern Georgia: Davy & Tony’ by Heath Greenfield (contest)
  • Be Dazzled by E.M. Lynley’s 24-Karat Conspiracy (excerpt and contest)
  • Ashavan Donovan ‘Andrew’s Prayer’ book blast and giveaway
  • A MelanieM Review: Cherish the Land (Lang Downs #5) by Ariel Tachna
  • Best Books of June 2015

Friday, July 3:

  • Ada Maria Soto ‘Empty Nests’ Keep Me In Mind Tour and contest
  • A STRW Exclusive:  Eli Easton Interviews Her Audiobook Narrator (interview and contest)
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review; How To Howl at the Moon by Eli Easton (audio book)
  • A Mika Review:  Wild Pitch by Sloan Johnson
  • A MelanieM Review: The Pinch of the Game by Charley Descoteaux

Saturday, July 4th (Happy Independence Day to the USA):

  • Best Covers of June 2015

Bulldust coverSilverScarsCoverMedHelping Hand_FINALMakeMeSoarFS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

An Aurora YA Review: Noble Persuasion (The Halvarian Ruin Books #2) by Sara Gaines

Rating:  4 out of 5 stars

Noble Persuasion coverAleana Melora, now a duchess in name only, sought refuge after fleeing the kingdom she once called home. Unwilling to admit defeat, Aleana jumps at the opportunity to learn what is happening in her lands when a mysterious letter arrives summoning her to a nearby fortress.

After discovering she is not the only one who has suffered, Aleana is given the chance to aid her people more than she imagined. But doing so means she must meet the demands of those she would align herself with. This decision has far-reaching consequences for both her people and her relationship with Kahira, the marked criminal who holds Aleana’s affections, as she’s faced with a line she hoped never to cross.

I really enjoyed this book and one of my favorite parts was the world building that was involved. World building isn’t easy, and I think the author did a great job of fitting world building in very naturally with the plot of the book and not just dropping information in the middle. I also really liked the characters, since they seemed to have some flaws that were very realistic to their circumstances, while still managing to be very likable and keeping the reader rooting for them. I was really interested by Aleana’s journey throughout the book and how she really seemed to want to do the right thing.

If there is one thing I could pick out that took me out of the book a little bit is that I found it to be slow in a few places. It wasn’t so much as to prevent me from enjoying the book, but a few times, especially around the very beginning, it did seem like it could have had a faster pace. It really picked up through the middle and the end, though, and I still absolutely enjoyed it. By the time I got to know the characters, within the first two chapters, I was totally along for the ride with them and just waiting to see what happened next.

I would definitely recommend it to fans of fantasy and people who enjoy books that are very character driven. I certainly thought it was a fun read.

The cover artist for this book is Anne Cain. The cover is very simple and very clean, but I still like it a lot. It peaks my interest when I look at it and I think the simple layout actually suits the book very well. It’s a visually appealing cover and I definitely think it would draw a reader’s attention.

Sales Links:  Harmony Ink Press   ♦  All Romance (ARe)  ♦  Amazon ♦  Buy it Here

Book Details:

Sequel to Noble Falling
ebook, 200 pages
Published June 18th 2015 by Harmony Ink Press
ISBN139781634762397
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.harmonyinkpress.com
seriesThe Halvarian Ruin Books

A Mika Review: The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by K.J. Charles

Rating: 3.75 out of 5 stars

A story too secret, too terrifying—and too shockingly intimate—for Victorian eyes.



The Secret Casebook of Simon Fleximal coverA note to the Editor

Dear Henry,

I have been Simon Feximal’s companion, assistant and chronicler for twenty years now, and during that time my Casebooks of Feximal the Ghost-Hunter have spread the reputation of this most accomplished of ghost-hunters far and wide.

You have asked me often for the tale of our first meeting, and how my association with Feximal came about. I have always declined, because it is a story too private to be truthfully recounted and a memory too precious to be falsified. But none knows better than I that stories must be told.

So here is it, Henry, a full and accurate account of how I met Simon Feximal, which I shall leave with my solicitor to pass to you after my death.

I dare say it may not be quite what you expect.

Robert Caldwell
September 1914

I can’t believe I’m saying this I like it, but didn’t love The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal by K.J. Charles as much as I normally do her  stories. I did not feel like the two mc’s were connected enough for me. I liked some of the stories, some were clever to read about, and a few had me re-reading the sentences to make sure I was reading them right. I’m pretty sure I was confused about the Pieball story, as well as the Priest story. I got it, but all the words in my head were not making sense at all.

As usual K.J. Charles has some memorable characters. I love reading her books, she gets the time frame, setting, and linguistics down packed every time. I liked the anthology style writing that was presented. We have Robert Caldwell who decided to write a short book in the 1900’s based on his experience with Simon Feximal the ghost hunter extraordinaire. From that first meeting to their presumed death was illustrated. It brought forth the introduction of numerous characters, some stand outs like The Fat Man<–*Swooning, Mycroft Holmes is the S***, the Diogenes Club, Miss Kay, Mr. Silence, and the utterly disgusting Mr. Park, and Dr. Berry.

I thought the cast was good, and some of the stories were scary. This is classified as romance and I felt like the relationship between Simon & Robert was nowhere to be found. I was underwhelmed with them. I don’t know if it was the nonexistent communication or the lack of love, but I was not into them like I found myself with her other characters from previous novels. Of course I’ll continue to read Charles’s writing, one not so good book does not disqualify her from being one of my favorite authors writing one of my favorite genres.

Cover Art by Kanaxa: I thought the cover is fitting. It’s the beginning between the two mc’s. The mirror is an important factor to Simon, as the house is important to Robert. I liked the cover; it definitely keeps up with the book setting as well.

Sales Links:Samhain Publishing ♦ All Romance (ARe)  ♦ Amazon   ♦Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 224 pages
Published June 16th 2015 by Samhain Publishing
ISBN139781619228726
edition languageEnglish
seriesThe Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal

The Caldwell Ghost and Butterflies are previously published short stories. The Secret Casebook of Simon Feximal continues and completes Robert Caldwell and Simon Feximal’s story with primarily new material.

Product Warnings
Contains a foul-tempered Victorian ghost-hunter, a journalist who’s too curious for his own good, villainy, horror, butterflies, unusual body modifications, and a lot of tampering with the occult.

 

Love Skates On Thin Ice with the Long Change by V. L. Locey (excerpt and giveaway)

LongChange_MSR

Book Name: Long Change by V. L. Locey
Release Date: June 26, 2015

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Ellora’s Cave
Cover Artist: Allyse Karam

Banner300x250

Sales Links: Amazon | Kobo  |Ellora`s Cave

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Collegiate superstar goalie Boone Crockett seems to have the world at his feet. He’s rich, handsome, attends an elite college and is a hot prospect for the pros. Pity all that is a front for a deeply closeted and troubled young man.

All Boone’s life plans are shattered when flamboyant ex-figure skater Preston Gordon, an orange-haired twink, shows up to audition for the team’s mascot position wearing sequins, scarves and toe picks. His moves on the ice send Boone into his own pirouette of frustrated and reluctant desire.

As senior year progresses Boone slides deeper and deeper into a dangerous depression, Preston’s sensual strength the only thing he has to hold on to. If Boone can’t keep from plunging through the thin ice he’s skating on, it could take a twink to make the big save.

Reader Advisory: This story has graphic sexual language and scenes—no closed bedroom doors (or other rooms) here!
A Romantica® gay erotic romance from Ellora’s Cave

Pages or Words: 70 pages

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance, Sports

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

We stood side by side at the sliding door that looked out over a snow-covered campus. It was beautiful, untouched and pure. I was rather glad now that I hadn’t done the head in the stove thing. We talked between swallows, spoons hitting bowls the only noise aside from the heater coming on from time to time. I liked watching the way Preston’s hair fluttered around his face when hot air blew down from the vent directly above us. He handed me his empty bowl, then unlocked and opened the slider.
“Dude, heater’s on,” I pointed out. He crouched down. I inhaled. The air was brittle like a dead leaf and cold with a light scent of snow on pine. It was an odd sensation, the cold blowing in to blend with the warm cascading down from above. It wasn’t unpleasant at all. The patio was blanketed in four to five wet inches. Preston stood up. His head turned slowly. I looked over at him, a sated smile trying to curl the corners of my mouth. He was patting a perfectly formed snowball.
“Don’t even think about it you mother—”
Snow filled my mouth, nose and eyes. Preston shrieked. I sputtered, shaking snow out of my eyes, then dashed after him. He was fast and proved hard to get a hand on. After a few laps around the furniture in my living room, the dipshit ran out into the hall. I didn’t hesitate. I couldn’t. I had ice particles dangling from my eyelashes. Vengeance would be mine. We thundered down the steps, his high-pitched squeals of laughter and my warning growls seeming extra loud in the ghost town of a dorm building. The side exit flew open. I barreled out on his heels. The snow was freezing on my bare soles. Preston hissed a nasty curse when his naked tootsies hit the white stuff. He slowed just enough. I tackled him from behind. He went face first into the fresh fluff, all the air leaving his lungs with a loud “Oof!” when I landed on his back.
I clawed up a nice handful of snow as he frantically tried to free himself. I had him pinned, one arm picking up wet powder, the other holding his face into the drift. Wicked laughter boiled out of me when I shoved that snowball down his back. His scream was piercing. He kicked like a wild man, his arms flailing to the sides. I flopped down on him to ensure the snow was plastered to his back.
“Get off! Oh, fuck me, that is so cold! You asshole!” he shouted.
I stayed where I was, splayed over his back, my hand down the back of his shirt, chuckling steadily. I rolled off a moment later still bubbling with laughter. The sky overhead was filled with snow clouds. You know those huge white ones that blow over, drop some flakes, then continue on to let the sun shine down on the freshly carpeted world? Eyes closed, chest heaving, heart lighter than it had been in months, I spread my arms and legs out, inhaled the unique scents of winter and Preston and enjoyed the tickle of new snowflakes touching my cheeks.
“I hate you.”
I rolled my head in his direction and opened my eyes. “Really?”
His mouth rolled into a perfect pout. He was such a pretty thing, even with snow-frosted bangs.
“No,” he huffed as he dashed at the melting snow on his chin. “I should, though. That was heartless!”
“I’ll warm you back up if you want.” The offer slid out of me before I could stop it. A snowflake landed on the tip of Preston’s pixie-like nose. I so wanted to reach out, touch the perfect flake, dry his nose then pull him down for long, wet kiss. Instead I got to my bare feet, standing now in the shadow of the moisture-laden cloud overhead. “I didn’t mean to say that out here.”
“You can, you know,” he said, extending his hand to me. I looked around the quad, the creeping stink of worry now mucking up what had been a perfect moment. “You can say you want to warm me up, or that I have a cute ass, or anything else you want to say. Go ahead. Say it again.”
I shook my head as I hauled him to his feet. Damn, my feet were cold. I turned from him then walked inside, my head low, my mind filling up with concern over my stupid behavior. What the hell had I been thinking, chasing him outside then rolling around in the snow with him as if we were straight lovers.

 

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

About Author V.L. Locey:
V.L. Locey loves worn jeans, belly laughs, reading and writing lusty tales, Greek mythology, the New York Rangers, comic books, and coffee. (Not necessarily in that order.) She shares her life with her husband, her daughter, two dogs, two cats, a flock of assorted goofy domestic fowl, and three steers.
When not writing spicy romances, she enjoys spending her day with her menagerie in the rolling hills of Pennsylvania with a cup of fresh java in hand. She can also be found online on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and GoodReads.

Where to find the author:

Facebook- https://www.facebook.com/pages/VL-Locey/124405447678452
Twitter- https://twitter.com/vllocey
Pinterest-http://www.pinterest.com/vllocey/
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5807700.V_L_Locey
My blog- http://thoughtsfromayodelinggoatherder.blogspot.com/
tsú – https://www.tsu.co/vllocey

RC

STRW Spotlight Contest Header

Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Long Change’ by V.L. Locey. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Dates & Stops: June 26, 2015
Parker Williams, Kimi-Chan, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Bike Book Reviews, Full Moon Dreaming, Hearts on Fire, Havan Fellows, Bayou Book Junkie, SiK Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Mikky’s World of Books, Happily Ever Chapter, Up All Night, Read All Day, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, MM Good Book Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Velvet Panic, Divine Magazine

Love A Romance and Best Friends? Check Out Helping Hand by Jay Northcote (excerpt and giveaway)

Helping Hand_FINAL

Helping Hand by Jay Northcote
Release Date: June 26, 2015

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Jaybird Press
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh

Banner300x250

sales

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Wanking with a mate isn’t gay—as long as you keep your hands to yourself.

Jez Fielding and James MacKenzie—Big Mac to his mates—are in their second year at uni. After partying too hard last year, they make a pact to rein themselves in. While their housemates are out drinking every weekend, Jez and Mac stay in to save cash and focus on their studies.

When Jez suggests watching some porn together, he isn’t expecting Mac to agree to it. One thing leads to another, and soon their arrangement becomes hands-on rather than hands-off. But falling for your straight friend can only end badly, unless there’s a chance he might feel the same.

  • Pages or Words: Approximately 33,000 words
  • Categories: Contemporary, Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Sales Links:

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Jay lives just outside Bristol in the West of England, with her husband, two children, and two cats.
She comes from a family of writers, but she always used to believe that the gene for fiction writing had passed her by. She spent years only ever writing emails, articles, or website content. One day, she decided to try and write a short story–just to see if she could–and found it rather addictive. She hasn’t stopped writing since.

Where to find the author:

http://www.jaynorthcote.com
Twitter
Facebook profile
Facebook Author Page
Jay’s books

STRW Spotlight Contest Header

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10 Amazon card + backlist book of choice. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and Prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Final

Tour Dates & Stops: June 26, 2015
Parker Williams, BFD Book Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, My Fiction Nook, Prism Book Alliance, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Inked Rainbow Reads, Havan Fellows, Cate Ashwood, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Charley Descoteaux, Chris McHart, Happily Ever Chapter, Boys on the Brink Reviews, Molly Lolly, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Nic Starr, Elin Gregory, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, MM Good Book Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Hearts on Fire, 3 Chicks After Dark, Carly’s Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Iyana Jenna, Divine Magazine, Mikky’s World of Books, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Velvet Panic, The Hat Party, Andrew Q. Gordon

Love Gets A Homerun with Wild Pitch by Sloan Johnson (tour, excerpt and giveaway)

WildPitch

Title: Wild Pitch (Homeruns #1)
Author: Sloan Johnson
Release Date: June 18, 2015
Goodreads

STRW Author BookSynopsis

There’s never been any question in Sean Tucker’s mind that he’d do whatever it took to make it to the major leagues and be one of the best pitchers of his time. The day he acknowledged to himself that he was gay was also the day he vowed to stay in the closet in order to chase his dreams. The problem is, he never counted on Mason Atley.

Sean showed rookie short stop Mason Atley the ropes, both on the field and off. The two forged a friendship which continued as both of them moved through the ranks of the farm system and into the majors. Unfortunately, there’s always been one secret Mason never felt he could share with Sean. Until now.

For seven years, Sean lived with the fact that he loved a man who would never reciprocate. When Mason admits that he’s always known he’s bisexual but has never allowed himself to pursue a relationship with a man, will Sean be able to put aside his reservations about starting a relationship with the friend he’d always assumed was straight? And more importantly, will they be able to find a way to stay together when their careers keep them apart more than they can be together?

sean card

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

“Are you saying what I think you are?” I asked, my mind still holding me back from pushing him back on the couch to give him what he seemed to be begging for. My fingers tangled through his hair, holding him so his face was barely an inch away from mine. I feared that, if I let go, the trance would be broken and I’d never know what it felt to press my body against his.

“Yeah, I think I am.” Throwing caution to the wind, I placed my hands on his shoulders and shoved him back. His wavy hair felt like silk under my fingers as I plundered his mouth with a crushing kiss. He moaned as his hips bucked against mine, just as desperate for release as I felt. A surge of connection jolted through my body, from my mouth all the way down to my cock, urging me to claim him. There’d be time for regrets later, but if this was what Mason wanted, I would be the one to give it to him.
My cock begged to be freed from the confines of my jeans, pleaded with my hands to reach between our bodies and pull his sweats over his hips, but I couldn’t. Just like my performance earlier in the day, I allowed someone else to weasel his way into my mind and I choked.

“Mace, we can’t do this,” I said with more than a trace of resignation behind the words. “I don’t want you doing something with me because you think it’ll take my mind off what happened earlier. You deserve better than that. If you’re really interested in guys, that’s awesome, but I can’t be your guinea pig. You mean too much to me for me to lose you when you decide you want to go back to women. I wouldn’t be able to stand being pushed aside because your tastes change.”
Mason’s face contorted as if he’d eaten something sour. “Dude, you make it sound like it’s a banquet dinner and I’m going to decide I picked the wrong entrée! Why can’t life be a buffet? If I’m in the mood for a steak, I’ll have the steak. If I want the salmon, I’ll grab a piece of that. Life’s short, and I’ll be damned if I’m going to get to St. Peter and regret never trying steak. Unfortunately for me, the only cut I’m interested in is you.”

“See, that’s exactly what I’m talking about,” I countered. “Let’s keep going with your ridiculous analogy, because you seem to focus better when we’re talking about food… what happens when you try the steak, only to decide that you can’t stand it? What if you realize that what you thought was steak was closer to a nasty fast-food burger? I don’t want to take that chance.”

Playlist for Wild Pitch can be found here!

STRW Spotlight Contest Header

Enter to win a eBook of Wild Pitch. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Handsome muscular blond man sitting on stair steps in city setting looking away

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Sloan Johnson is a big city girl trapped in a country girl’s life. While she longs for the hustle and bustle of New York City or Las Vegas, she hasn’t yet figured out how to sit on the deck with her morning coffee, watching the deer and wild turkeys in the fields while surrounded by concrete and glass.

When she was three, her parents received their first call from the principal asking them to pick her up from school. Apparently, if you aren’t enrolled, you can’t attend classes, even in Kindergarten. The next week, she was in preschool and started plotting her first story soon after.

Later in life, her parents needed to do something to help their socially awkward, uncoordinated child come out of her shell and figured there was no better place than a bar on Wednesday nights. It’s a good thing they did because this is where she found her love of reading and writing. Who needs socialization when you can sit alone in your bedroom with a good book?

Now, Sloan is a tattooed mom with a mohawk and two kids. She’s been kicked out of the PTA in two school districts and is no longer asked to help with fundraisers because she’s been known to lose herself with a good book and forget she has somewhere to be.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest | Website

Sign up for Sloan Johnson’s newsletter to be kept up to date on new releases.

mason card