Cover Reveal for Jess Buffett “Always Been You” (book tour and Contest)

Book Name: Always Been You
Book one of a series
Release Date
Goodreads Link
Author Name: Jess Buffett

Author Bio:

Jess Buffett was born and raised in New South Wales, Australia. She is a mum of two, married to her high school sweetheart.   Jess is a hopeless romantic who is a huge fan of M/M and M/F romance with a happy ending—anything with hunky men in all their glory, whether they be Shifters, Vampires, Cowboys, or the boy next door.   A caffeine addict who shamefully can’t make a decent cup of coffee to save her life, Jess believes in soul mates, happily ever afters, and in love at first sight, but that sometimes people need a second or a third for the brain to catch up.

Where you can find Jess:

Website:

Twitter
Facebook Author Page
Friend on Facebook

Publisher: Reckless Lovers Press
Cover Artist: Jess Buffett

Sales Links: Keep an eye on her website – http://jessbuffett.wordpress.com for details

Blurb:

After recovering from a shooting that took the lives of his best friends, Seth Hall returns to his hometown for the first time in eleven years with his two children in tow. Intent on setting up a happy, stable life for them, he vows not to allow his past to intervene with their future. That is until Jared, the boy who had broken his heart all those years ago, returns to his life a full grown man who knows exactly what he wants…Seth.

Jared Stewart thought he had lost his only chance to be with Seth after a series of misunderstandings and mistakes. When Seth finally comes home and back into Jared’s life, Jared vows to do anything it takes to keep him there. However, while Jared and Seth grow closer, they discover that not everyone is so happy for them.

Will they be finally able to make a life for themselves together? Or will they be torn apart again, by people they thought they could trust?

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance

Excerpt:

Seth was practically screaming in the other man’s face by this point. He couldn’t believe the guys nerve. Out the corner of his eye Sal made an appearance, but hesitated in the doorway, obviously unsure as to whether or not he should interrupt.

Lightning fast, Jared grabbed his wrist, using it to pull a struggling Seth closer until they were flat up against each other. He leaned in close to Seth, whispering into his ear. “Let’s get a few things straight. I have never felt sorry for you. I did not choose a school far away from you until you told me to. Everything we discussed stayed between us, and I would never have freaked over kissing you. And I’ll be damned if I let you run away from me again.”

Seth’s eyes widened at the same time Jared crushed their lips together, searing him right down to his toes. Jared’s arms became steel bands, and they held him tight. Dear god! He did not see this coming.

Pages or Words: 60,000 words

 Tour Dates: January 7th, 2015

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, The Hat Party, Molly Lolly, BFD Book Blog, Inked Rainbow Reads, Bayou Book Junkie, Hearts on Fire, Carly’s Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Cate Ashwood, Love Bytes, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Kristy’s Brain Food, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Sinfully Sexy, Iyana Jenna, Elin Gregory, Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, MM Good Book Reviews, Andrew Q. Gordon, Velvet Panic, 3 Chicks After Dark

Wake Up Your Wild Side, Lee Brazil, Queer Town Abbey, Foxylutely Book Reviews

Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Always Been You’ and a $10 Gift Card

Rafflecopter Code:

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Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Candy Man by Amy Lane

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Adam Macias is virtually homeless when he arrives at his cousin Rico’s apartment to housesit/petsit while Rico is away for six months. Out of a job, money and a place to live, even his car broke down on the way to Sacramento to do this favor for Rico, a favor which Adam sees as his last chance to redeem himself after a string of life disasters, including outing himself just before he left the military.

All he wants to do is survive, but suddenly he finds himself on the receiving end of good things—including a job, a boss and co-workers who like him, people who like his art work, and best of all—a boyfriend.

When Finn Stewart comes bouncing into his life as a happy-go-lucky young man who just exudes positive energy, Adam is at first confused and taken aback, but eventually he fully embraces the fact that he likes Finn, in fact, he needs Finn in a way he’s never needed anyone before. All his life he’s been the boy who was not wanted by either his mother or his grandmother. He’s been stereotyped as a troublemaker, not worth anyone’s time or attention. Joining the Army was his attempt to show his value, but when he returned home and shared with his family that he was gay, his grandmother literally slammed the door in his face and reiterated how just how worthless and useless he was.

Because of his history of low self-esteem from listening to those negative messages, it’s hard for Adam to accept the positive things now happening in his life, but Finn—bright, cheerful Finn, brings Adam hope. One of my favorite early scenes occurs when he’s kissing Finn and Finn tells him that they’ll kiss more, but not tonight. And Adam realizes that he’ll do whatever Finn wants. Paraphrasing Adam’s thoughts–he had no moral code about sex but he does have a moral code about Finn, and whatever Finn says is the code.

Slowly but surely, tough-guy Adam who hasn’t had any value to anyone suddenly has value to others, and he realizes as he’s smiling for the second time one day that the smiling and camaraderie he’s experiencing at work and with Finn is “softening the parts of his soul made brittle by pain”. I love Amy Lane’s descriptions of the emotional complexities of everyday living.

This book is not long, but it’s packed with a powerful message of hope and love as we witness Adam healing from the hurt and pain he’s lived with for years as he receives the positive layers of energy and love being shared with him on all fronts. There’s fun and whimsy in the form of his boss Darrin who knew that Adam would come into their lives when he read the Pixy Stix, his form of reading tea leaves. And there’s both comedy and tragedy as Adam copes with caring for Rico’s pets—from the big, overeager boxer named Clopper to the crazy old cat named Gonzo who dies on Adam’s watch. Then there’s Finn’s family—healthy, robust, cheerful, loveable, and everything you’d hope for in the ideal family to help Adam heal. And Finn? He’s adorable, strong, loving, and as supportive as a rock for Adam as he finds his way to happiness.

I highly recommend this one to all lovers of M/M romance, especially if you love a damaged hero who’s able to heal with the help of an upbeat, positive character. There’s no denying that there’s angst in this tale, but there’s love galore and so many positives that I feel energized from reading it. I sure would love to see a sequel from this one!

Very highly recommended.

Cover Art by Paul Richmond— Primarily depicts the small shopping area where the candy store is located, lots of candy, and Clopper, the dog— all great representations of the story. In addition, the bright colorful cover conveys the “feel good” energy that’s found within the story itself.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press All Romance (ARe) Amazon buy it here

Book Details:

ebook, 136 pages
Published December 3rd 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632166791
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.greenshill.com/

A MelanieM Review: Mythica by L.J. LaBarthe

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Half selkie Caiden is unhappy that as a Mythica he is unable to serve his country as his father had done. In fact all Mythicas are banned from service because they might not be able to handle the stress, changing forms in combat. While Caiden agrees intellectually with that assessment, emotionally he’s frustrated and taking his discontent out on those around him. Its even affected his viewpoint of the sy’lph, an alien race that arrived on Earth seeking sanctuary and a home after their galaxy was destroyed in a war.

But when a minotaur goes wild at the government offices of the Bridging Lives agency (a sort of Social Security other being checkpoint and social agency), Caiden jumps in to stop the minotaur and his world changes forever. First he is rescued by Gray, a sy’lph who is the local liason between humans, mythica and the sy’lph. Gray is gorgeous and Caiden is overwhelmingly attracted to a being he has resolutely disliked. Secondly, the minotaur had been poisoned.

Soon all the mythicas are under attack. And Gray and Caiden take their first steps towards understanding and a relationship just when everything starts to fall apart around them, putting themselves and Caiden’s family in danger.

Mythica by L.J. LaBarthe is a book that defies categorization, something that surely thrills its author. How to describe a beautifully written story that encapsulates human mythological creatures come to life, along with an alien race fleeing galactic genocide and bringing inhuman technology with them. Then throw in a interspecies romance, racial purity rights terrorists, and much, much more and you have Mythica – scify, supernatural, paranormal, action, suspense, mystery romance! I would expect nothing less from L. J. LaBarthe.

From the opening lines, the author pulls you into the joy of Caiden’s life as a half selkie! He is frolicking in the ocean waters near home which is Broome in Western Australia:

Dolphins swam up to join him, and he grabbed the dorsal fin of the nearest one, laughing when he surfaced and breathed in air again. The dolphin dragged him along through the water at a rapid rate, making him whoop with delight, a sound echoed by the raucous cries of the seagulls hovering overhead. Schools of fish swam below him, sometimes their silvery bodies brushed against his toes, and Caiden loved that too, the feeling of being so free, so connected to all the elements—water, air, light, earth. The dolphin that pulled him along through the water brought him close to shore, and Caiden felt the soggy roughness of sand beneath his feet. He let go of the dorsal fin, calling a thank you and goodbye to the dolphins as they swam on.

LaBarthe conveys the lightness of being and the spontaneity of Caiden’s selkie behavior in the waters. And just as quickly, the author is able to ground Caiden in his human half, complete with his discontent and unhappiness at leaving the watery haven behind as he reluctantly arrives at the Bridging Lives agency. LaBarthe has created with her “mythicas” a fascinating new group of beings (albeit from an ancient beginnings). The mythicas are

“Mythica were the descendants of all mythological creatures of antiquity—the pixies, fairies, selkies, minotaurs, dragons, and more—who lived and worked alongside humans.”

Caiden himself is half mythica, his father human and his mother a selkie, a human/mythica pairing not uncommon in this story. The author is quick to give Caiden a painful past made bearable by a supportive, loving family, only some of which are mythicas. Broome is pictured as normally as is possible when mythicas and aliens such as the sy’lph casually walk about its facilities and streets. There is an authenticity to each scene that is wonderful considering who and what is appearing throughout each description and event.

Also marvelously imagined are the sy’lph. Alien beings of mallable metal (think mercury) whose real shape and body is confined within a synthetic humanoid shell. Just seeing their true shape/body is enough to blind any human. Their back story and natural history is as complex and captivating as everything else that LaBarthe has created here. But while all the outside elements are fantasical in nature, inside there exists a lovely romance between two beings/people trying to learn about each other and work their way towards something more lasting and real.

Interspersed throughout the myriad of plot threads is the threat to Caiden, his family and all mythicas. It isn’t long before the villain of the pieces appears and the uncertainty and dread that comes with this nasty little storyline

is yet one more element that will keep the reader engaged and deeply involved in Mythica until the ending. Which I was sorry to see arrive.

Mythica has such a wide appeal and such a ingenious universe, that I hope to see LaBarthe revisit it again in another story. Both the mythicas and the sy’lph deserve to have their stories told. But while we are waiting for that to happen, pick up Mythica and see why I recommend it so highly. Never has such a concoction of genres been so appealing.

Cover by Mumson Designs is lovely, and captures the joy of Caiden perfectly.

Sales Links: Bottom Drawer Publications All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy it here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 217 pages
Published September 18th 2014 by Bottom Drawer Publications
ASINB00NQA0FV0
edition languageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: The Body on the Beach (Under the Southern Cross) by L.J. LaBarthe

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

It’s 1920 in Adelaide, the only free colony in Australia. When a body on the beach is found to be marked up with Chinese symbols, it only makes sense for the local constable to call upon William “Billy” Liang for advice and help with the investigation. Billy Liang, prominent member of both cultures in Adelaide, has often worked as a liaison between the various emigrant societies in Adelaide and the white establishment.

With his lover and business manager, Tom Williams, at his side (and with the support of Billy’s wife), Billy and Tom must investigate a crime that looks to implicate the local Chinese community in the murder. Billy and Tom deal with illegal opium dens, fantan games and gambling, racism, and being shot at throughout the investigation. And while Billy’s family accepts the love he and Tom share, Australia’s laws against sodomy and homosexuality pose a constant danger. It’s a delicate balance that Billy and Tom maintain, one that this murder and the ripples it sets in motion threaten to destroy.

The Body on the Beach, part of the Under the Southern Cross Anthology, is a perfect little window into a time and societal framework of 1920 Adelaide, Australia. L.J. LaBarthe recreates gallimaufry of cultures that is Adelaide, a situation that hasn’t changed much today. Within the limits of the town, there exists the Chinese, the Greeks, the Russians, and more nationalities that have flooded into the region and are now coexisting, however uneasily, with the white population. I especially loved the intimate look at the Chinese community from the viewpoint of Billy Liang. The character of William “Billy” Liang is a compelling one. He acts as the bridge between all the “foreigners” and the local establishment by way of his success as a businessman and his status within the Chinese insular community. And he does so successfully because he lives in both worlds in his private life. He is married to an intelligent, understanding wife who accepts his love and relationship with Tom. Indeed, they have created for themselves their own insulated world where their servants are supportive of their unique relationship dynamics, including the fact that he and Tom live in one section of the huge house and his wife in another.

Some readers might balk at this arrangement, but as its laid out here by L.J. LaBarthe, it not only works but we enjoy the camaraderie and ease in which they all deal with each other. I enjoyed Billy’s wife for her grace and intelligence as much as I did Tom, a terrific balancing act indeed.

While the plot has Tom and Billy investigating a complex murder, it was all the descriptions of the various sides to Adelaide and its people that I really enjoyed. I felt as though I was there, walking the streets and beaches with Billy and Tom. There is the realistic aspect of racism that has to be dealt with along with the need to keep their sexuality and true nature of their relationship hidden. And within all of that complicated framework, a murderer needs to be caught and brought to justice.

When an author brings me takes me back to the past and makes it feel alive once more, as LaBarthe does here, then I feel that I have taken a marvelous journey, one I was unwilling to see end. The Body on the Beach is just such a story. If you are unfamiliar with L. J. LaBarthe, this is a wonderful place to start!

Cover Artist Anne Cain. How I love this cover! Everything, from the design to the characters, pull you in as does this story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy it Here

Book Details:

ebook
Published March 13th 2013 by Dreamspinner Press (first published March 12th 2013)
ISBN139781623805494
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3630
seriesUnder the Southern Cross

Down Under Author Showcase – L.J. LaBarthe

Meet L.J. LaBarthe

L. J. LaBarthe is the author of many series and novels (listed below).

To get to know L.J. LaBarthe a little better, she agreed to an interview. Look for her guest post below and the Down Under Scavenger Hunt question and clue found somewhere within.

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Author Bio:

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

:

Website: http://www.ljlabarthe.com/
Blog: http://misslj_author.livejournal.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lj.labarthe.9
Twitter: @brbsiberia
Tumblr: http://dreadpiratestarkiller.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/dreadpiratestar/
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/lj.labarthe.9
Google +: https://plus.google.com/117252756118475570457

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Author’s Books, Series, and Stories:
The Archangel Chronicles with Dreamspinner Press.
• No Quarter
• No Surrender, No Retreat
• No Shadows Fall
• The Wind-up Forest
• The Crystal Lake
• The Bone Cup
• A Shot in the Dark
• A Fire in the Heart
• A Candle in the Sun

City of Jade with Dreamspinner Press
Mythica with Bottom Drawer Publications
Waiting for the Moon and You with Dreamspinner Press
Brick by Brick with Dreamspinner Press (Co-written with Cate Ashwood)
Swimming with Elephants with Dreamspinner Press (forthcoming release available as a novella and part of the Piece Us Back Together anthology)
Ice with Less Than Three Press
The Body on the Beach with Dreamspinner Press (available as a novella and part of the Under the Southern Cross anthology) – one of the Down Under Author Scavenger Hunt Prizes!
Capsicum Head in the Rockin’ Hard Vol. 2 anthology with Less Than Three Press
Sunburnt Country in the Something Happened on the Way to Heaven anthology with Less Than Three Press

Genre(s):

With the exception of Brick by Brick, Swimming with Elephants, Capsicum Head, The Body on the Beach, City of Jade and Waiting for the Moon and You, all my books are paranormals.

Contemporaries: Brick by Brick, Swimming with Elephants, Capsicum Head, Waiting for the Moon and You.

Historicals: City of Jade, The Body on the Beach.

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1. Today’s Giveaway (thank you,L.J. LaBarthe) is an eBook copy of any of the first 6 Archangel books, City of Jade or Mythica. Enter using this Rafflecopter link here.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

2. Down Under Scavenger Hunt – find Question or “Word“. Collect all the words/clues from each author and submit the list in writing no later than midnight on February 1st. Make sure you include an email address where you can be reached. Prizes will be given to 5 people selected, from 1st place to 5th! Happy Hunting.

**************Now on to our Interview with L. J. LaBarthe….

Q• When did you start writing?

I don’t remember not writing, to be honest! I used to draw a lot and write little stories to go with my drawings.

Q• Were you a reader as a child?

Voracious. I was a shy kid, and spent a lot of time with books.

Q • Where do you draw inspiration from?

Everywhere. From the weather, the garden, places I’ve visited or documentaries I’ve seen, to history, research (I love research!), news articles to movies, music, TV shows. Just about anything and everything!

Q• Favorite genres to write in and why?

Paranormal, historical, fantasy and science fiction, because those are the genres I prefer to read.

Q• Title or characters or plot? Which comes first?

Usually, it’s a scene and then everything springs from that. There are exceptions to that of course, the book I’m working on at the moment, “Song of Song,” the title came first and everything else fell into place in my head with a loud clunk!

Q• Do you have a favorite character that you have written?

Archangels Gabriel, Raziel and Uriel and Archdemon Adramelek from my Archangel series.

Q• Favorite quote (doesn’t matter the source)?

“You keep using that word. I do not think it means what you think it means.”

– Said by Inigo Montoya, from “The Princess Bride.”

Q• Favorite book/story you have read as an adult?

Only one? I can’t do just one! I love the “Night Watch” series by Uzbek writer Sergey Lukyanenko, those are fantastic books. Then there’s the Danilov series by Jasper Kent, which is brilliantly done. “The Prince and the Program” by Aldous Mercer, “Child 44” by Tom Rob Smith, “31 Things” by Cate Ashwood, “The Cuckoo’s Calling” by J. K. Rowling… so many more.

Q• What’s the hardest part of writing your books?

Titles! I am really terrible at coming up with titles. “No Quarter,” for example, went through thirteen title changes until it became that, and that was thanks to my good friend Meredith Shayne suggesting it to me.

Q• What book are you reading now?

“New Watch” by Sergey Lukyanenko, which is his latest release; “The Silkworm” by J. K. Rowling.

Q• How do you think books written from authors in Australia or New Zealand differ in style, language, and culture?

I think we use a lot more slang. Our slang is rhyming slang and is often quite colourful. We also spell with British English, so the ‘u’ is still present in words like colour.

Q• My first impression of AUS/NZ was from stories and novels like Colleen McCullough’s The Thorn Birds or Nevil Shute’s A Town Like Alice as well as from movies like The Man from Snowy River, The Dish, Rabbit Proof Fence, Strictly Ballroom, and yes, Crocodile Dundee! There are so many out there. What is your favorite AUS/NZ stories and favorite Australian/New Zealand movies?

I’m going to be a bit different here and choose a TV show. The Australian show, “Offspring” (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Offspring_(TV_series)) is my choice, because not only is it brilliantly written, it’s a pretty accurate representation of middle class, inner suburban life. The show also doesn’t shy away from topics like death, addiction, child birth, and has not just heterosexual couples but gay and lesbian couples as well. The last three episodes of season four, for instance, had me bawling, completely ugly crying. And Twitter was on fire because of this particular plot line, so much so, that the band, The Offspring, took to Twitter to say that nothing had happened to them, and the police department local to where the show is set, had to issue a statement saying there would be no investigation into what happened. (I’m avoiding spoilers, in case readers want to watch the show!)

And there were more tears in season five, and I hate crying at TV/movies/books, but I love, love, love this show, even though it turns me into the ugly crying author!

Q• If you were a tour guide, what would you like a visitor to see and what impression would you want them to take away with them when they leave?

The Flinders Ranges in outback South Australia. Not just because this is my own favourite part of the country and I live in SA, but because it really is stunningly beautiful, no matter what time of year you visit.

Q• What are your current projects?

I have six (!!!) titles coming out in 2015, so I foresee a LOT of editing in my near future. The last three Archangel books are coming out, as is “Brick by Brick,” “Swimming with Elephants” and “Waiting for the Moon and You.”

I’m also on the home stretch of the first draft of my sci-fi space opera m/m romance, called “Song of Song,” and I’m really enjoying writing it, so much so that it feels as if the book has written itself.

• What’s next up for you?

A bit of rest, I think. Then I’ll get back into it. I’ve got a few works in progress that I’d like to finish and a few plot bunnies I’d like to start. Either way, there will be more tales told, and more books.

Q What are the questions you would like to see answered for the Scavenger Hunt? one answer will do.

1. Aussie slang – what am I doing if I’m using the telling bone? or.

2: Aussie slang – what bird is on the South Australian coat of arms? send your answers to me along with the other words/clues at the end of the month.

Down Under Day 6: L.J. LaBarthe, AUS/NZ Facts and Contest Details

Welcome to Day 6 of STRW Down Under Author Showcase. Our Featured Author today is L. J. LaBarthe, a prolific author of multiple series and stand alone romances. Make sure you visit her page, check out her bio and books. And don’t forget to enter her giveaway contest and search out the Scavenger Hunt word of the Day as well as enter Bottom Drawer Publications contest on the Down Under Author Showcase Page.

Australia Fact of the Day:

Australia’s Migrants I
Around 24% of Australia’s residents were born overseas. This compares with 20% in New Zealand, 17% in Canada, 10% in the USA and 6% in the UK.

Australia’s Migrants II
Australia has been a magnet for immigration for many years. In fact, Australia’s immigration policy used to be targeted towards attracting people from the British Isles. The emphasis now is to attract anyone from anywhere who has the skills to contribute to Australia’s development.

City of Adelaide Skyline – see link for more information about Adelaide.

New Zealand Fact of the Day:

It’s a fact: at 41.2o South, Wellington is the most southerly capital city on the planet. Cities on similar latitudes in the Northern hemisphere are Barcelona, Istanbul and Chicago.

A Mika Review: In Too Deep by Kate Sherwood

Rating: 4 stars out of 5:

At first glance, Cade and Aiden hardly seem like a match made in heaven. Their worlds couldn’t be further apart. Cade is quiet, serious, and determined to succeed; Aiden’s a party-loving frat boy. Cade comes from a rough home and worked hard to get the scholarships that make it possible for him to attend college; Aiden’s had it all thrown in his lap by supportive, kind, and wealthy parents. Cade wants nothing to do with Aiden, but from the moment they meet, Aiden is determined to find a way to bring their different worlds together.   Aiden manages to persuade Cade he’s a decent guy, and a tentative friendship becomes much more. But a trip to Aiden’s family cottage puts Cade in the path of a ghost from his past, and a dark secret he never expected to face again. Cade did what he had to do to escape his dead-end life, but now he sees he didn’t leave it as far behind him as he thought.

First off, it needs a really good proofreading. That’s first, besides the grammar issue this is one of the best Kate Sherwood books IMO. I truly loved these two. It was definitely angst filled all throughout the story. Both boys were truly lovable. I think I heart Aiden, because he was so persistent in what he wanted. He didn’t take no for an answer, and yes it was times that he should have walked away and forgot about Cade, but I understand wanting to love that 1 person who inspires you to be a better person. Aiden was very brazen to keep going after someone who seemed so stand offish from the beginning. I liked Cade, I hate what he had to go through as a child and young man, but I applaud him for never giving up. His adolescence was super hard, but it didn’t deter him from wanting to be a better human being.

Once again we see people who have children, but can’t stay safe enough to raise them. I know a ton of people probably would have DNF the book because of the attraction seemed so one-sided, but the introvert that Cade was needed someone to fight for him. Cade needed someone to care enough to break him out of his comfort zones, and I loved that about Aiden. Aiden is super nice, comforting, he’s sweetheart. I didn’t see a mean bone in his body, I liked that he stood up for Cade in front of his mom. I even adored him for not apologizing for being fortunate in his life to never have to want.

I knew reading this there was something that Cade was hiding about himself, and the big reveal was realistic, things like this happen in every day life. I liked how the author wrote the scenes after everything came to play out. I do wish we had some epilogue to see how they are a year later. I really enjoyed reading this book. I recommend this book to all angst readers, and people who like HFN or HEA, people are fight for their great true loves!

Cover Artist Christy Caughie created this cover, I don’t quite know if I pictured Aiden as a blond even though Cade referred to him as the”golden boy”. I do think boy guys were represented well, and it fits with the story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) Amazon Buy It here

Book Details:

ebook, 234 pages
Published December 1st 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632161253
edition languageEnglish

A Sammy Review: Rival Within by S.J.D. Peterson

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

“Sometimes it’s those unexpected storms that pop up out of nowhere that leave you the most satisfied after they pass.” Ben looked up at Tom with hooded lids. “Wouldn’t you agree, Officer?”

Tom pulled Ben’s keys from his pocket and handed them to Ben. “And sometimes they leave the most destruction,” Tom said coldly and opened the door.

Thomas Webber takes his vows in life seriously. He’s a proud officer of the law, a loving father, and he provides for his wife. He also vowed a long time ago to resist a temptation that resides deep within himself. That all changes one night when he comes across William Benjamin Parker, a stranded traveler with a hard edge and an irresistible edge.

When a storm hits the small town, the two are left stranded beneath the police station. It’s too much for Tom to resist, and finally he breaks down and gives into the desires he’s been hiding for so long.

But it’s the 1950s, and being gay only gets you ostracized or worse. And Tom’s got a family and a life to live.

Can these two weather the storm, both within each other and out in the world?

He wasn’t afraid of the new storm rolling in. The one that had blown through in the form of William Parker had already caused Tom’s complete destruction.

I was so excited for this. A new S.J.D. Peterson and a story line that sounded oh so promising. I literally couldn’t wait to read it… so I didn’t.

And I’m very sad to say that it was a big let down for me on many fronts. The first chapter was your usual character building one, in which we get to know Tom and the pressures he faces as a father, husband, and officer who has a secret. After that, the book went right into the storm and I found it to be completely unrealistic and all too sudden for me. It really felt off. For example, Ben strips down in the cell and is wearing just a towel when the storm hits. Uh… what? And then a bottle of oil magically appears when it is needed, and again, I was left to ask “what?”

Another issue I had is that the title is Rival Within – which implies that someone’s greatest rival is their inner demons, in this case, that would be Tom’s inner demons. This held up for a few chapters, and then suddenly, Tom was at peace with himself following an impromptu blow job (a hot one, but still). He’d spent his entire life building this hatred up, and for it to crumble so easily felt like it wasn’t doing the story justice. It was just too easy. With the ending, I was also a bit angered at how easily <spoiler>.

Finally, this is meant to be a historical novel. It’s set in Tennessee in 1952. I love historicals. They have a way of transporting you to a different time and place when done right. In this case, it could’ve been any year, even present, in any small town across the United States. I sensed when the author was trying to pull in bits of history, but it didn’t really work. The small town thing still exists, and this didn’t transport me anywhere beyond middle-of-nowhere United States. At one point, a character even puts a camera in his pocket. Granted, I’m not an expert of the 1950s, but I have a hard time imaging a camera that fits in ones pocket.

This book tries to tackle a lot of pretty deep topics. For one, it has an obvious theme of adultery, which you can tell just from the blurb. But it also has a really heavy amount of religion to it, which I expected, but if you’re someone who is uncomfortable with organized religions in your story, this really won’t be for you. It also has a bit of post WWII issues for a returning soldier, and then out of nowhere comes pedophilia – see spoiler for more on this. A character (not main) is caught with an underage boy. In order to blackmail him, they have another underage boy perform a sexual act with him and take pictures. It’s not really in detail, but if you’re triggered by even the idea, I wanted to let you know it exists. There is also some of what I would consider heavy alcohol use, bordering on abuse. It’s not framed that way in the story, and it could very well be the time frame, but it did stick out to me.

So that’s all of my bones to pick with the story, but it did have positives. I enjoyed Marna and how she was depicted. I expected one thing and got a complete other, and I was happy with that. I also think it had a lot of potential in general with the plot, it just didn’t come through. As a whole, it was flat.

I will not give up on S.J.D Peterson, though. One of my favorites are by Peterson, this just wasn’t one of them.

The cover art by Anna Sikorska is pretty nice. I think Anna really hit the right note with the grunge aspect, and I appreciate the use of font. It’s simple but the blurring works for the story. The problem is that there’s a heavy area around the left eye that stands out, and not in the best of ways. Furthermore, I thought this was meant to be Ben, but Ben is known to have a scar across his face – something notably missing from the cover.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook & Paperback All Romance (ARe) Amazon buy it here

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: December 29th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781632164254
edition languageEnglish

On Tour with L.M. Somerton’s Investigating Love Series (book tour and contest)

Book Name: Investigating Love (series)
Individual titles are: Rasputin’s Kiss, Evil’s Embrace, Tarot’s Touch
Author Name: L M Somerton

Author Bio:

L M lives in a small village in the English countryside, surrounded by rolling hills, cows and sheep. She started writing to fill time between jobs and is now firmly and unashamedly addicted.

She loves the English weather, especially the rain, and adores a thunderstorm. She loves good food, warm company and a crackling fire. She’s fascinated by the psychology of relationships, especially between men, and her stories contain some subtle (and not so subtle) leanings towards BDSM.

Where to find the author:
https://www.facebook.com/lmsomerton
https://www.facebook.com/lmsomertonwrites
http://www.twitter.com@lmsomerton
http://pinterest.com/lmsomerton

Publisher: Totally Bound
Cover Artist: Emmy Ellis

Sales Links: Totally Bound Amazon

Individual Book Blurbs:

SERIES:

Being thrown together in extreme circumstances is not the best foundation for a relationship. Alex and Conor must juggle the demands of their jobs as police detectives with their personal lives. With Alex as demanding in the bedroom as he is at work, will Conor be able to accept that submission is not weakness. Finding out will be the most important investigation of their lives.

Rasputin’s Kiss:

What if the last thing you felt was the kiss of a knife?

Rasputin’s kiss is lethal. He’s a ghost—killing and disappearing into the night. With few leads and four bodies on his conscience, Detective Inspector Alex Courtney and his team are running on empty and it’s only a matter of time before Rasputin strikes again.

When Alex recruits a young detective to play the part of his boyfriend and provide a tempting target for a killer, he knows he is taking a huge risk. He doesn’t expect Conor Trethuan to be a perfect potential submissive. When their mutual attraction becomes more, Alex has to face the conflict between his possessive instincts and the need to push his young lover into danger.

Investigating their feelings has to come second to investigating the case. There’s no time to decide if what they feel for each other is real. With Rasputin closing in, they may not live to find out.

Evil’s Embrace:

Never underestimate the power of obsession.

After the trauma of the Rasputin case, Detective Inspector Alex Courtney and his boyfriend, Detective Constable Conor Trethuan, are in desperate need of a holiday.

The peace and tranquillity of Cornwall can’t eradicate Conor’s nightmares, though, and the unbearable prospect of losing Alex drives him to confess feelings that he isn’t sure are reciprocated. Alex responds in the best way he knows how—by issuing orders and claiming Conor’s body as well as his heart.

Prematurely recalled to work, they are thrown into a dangerous trafficking case focused on a leather bar with a hardcore reputation, Spikes. Conor is sent in undercover, not knowing that he is only a decoy. When Alex learns that the motivation behind his team’s involvement in the case might not be as straightforward as it seems, he realises that his actions might jeopardise not just their relationship, but Conor’s life, too. A shadowy figure from Conor’s past is about to step into the light.

Tarot’s Touch:

Can truth be found in the cards?

DI Alex Courtney and his lover, DC Conor Trethuan are under enormous pressure as their team investigates an arson case and a murder.

It soon becomes apparent that the two cases are linked and the race is on to find a vicious killer. A tarot card is left with the first victim and the detectives are left to interpret the clues it provides. When Conor receives a note from the killer making reference to another card, the whole team is shaken. Their worst fears are realized when a second body is discovered, along with another tarot card.

Conor suspects he has been followed, then a hit and run leaves him injured. Alex wants nothing more than to wrap his lover up in cotton wool and protect him from the world. But is Conor the killer’s target or just a pawn in a much more sinister game? As the clues come together it seems that the motive for murder might be revenge.

Exclusive Excerpt:

They walked in companionable silence to a small Italian restaurant just around the corner from the station and sat at a table next to the window. The whole place was a cliché, with red and white checked tablecloths, candles in old Chianti bottles coated with solidified drips of wax and laminated menus that had seen better days. The atmosphere was warm and friendly, though, and the whole place smelt of herbs and spices.

A short, rotund man bustled over and greeted Alex like a long-lost member of his family. After effusive introductions that seemed to include most of the staff and half the customers in the restaurant, fresh bread with aromatic olive oil was left to tide them over while their food was prepared. Alex ordered for both of them, watching Conor as he did. The overt act of dominance made Conor smile wryly. He wondered if Alex had expected him to be annoyed. A brief look of satisfaction crossed Alex’s face and that gave Conor his answer. Conor dipped a piece of warm bread in oil and held it to his mouth, allowing the slick liquid to spread across his lips. He took a bite then slowly ran his tongue over his lower lip, chasing a stray drop of oil. Alex’s eyes widened and a hint of colour bloomed on his cheeks. Conor smiled innocently.

I think I have a wolf in sheep’s clothing here, Alex thought to himself. Well, an enthusiastic pup anyway. He could imagine smearing that oil in all kinds of interesting places. It was a delight to watch Conor eat. He twirled his linguine expertly, complimented the chef politely and smiled shyly at the waitress who couldn’t take her eyes off him. He didn’t encourage her any more, though, and Alex was secretly pleased about that. He bristled at the sight of other people casting flirtatious looks at Conor. Unfortunately that seemed to happen when anyone noticed him. Conor drew admiring glances from every woman in the place, and jealous ones from the men they were with. Alex wanted to growl at them, make it clear that Conor was not available, and maybe put a paper bag over Conor’s head so that everyone would stop lusting after him.
Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance, BDSM, Mystery, Crime Drama

Excerpt:   Tour Dates/Stops:

Tour Dates/Stops:
January 2
The Hat Party
BFD Book Blog

January 5
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Carly’s Book Reviews

January 6
Cathy Brockman Romances
Full Moon Dreaming

January 7
MM Good Book Reviews
Fallen Angel Reviews

January 8
Three Chicks After Dark
Molly Lolly

January 9
Cate Ashwood
Love Bytes

January 12
Parker Williams
Prism Book Alliance

January 13
Velvet Panic
Rebecca Cohen Writes

January 14
Amanda C. Stone
Queer Town Abbey

January 15
Crystal’s Many Reviewers

Contest: Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: Full set of ‘Investigating Love’ e-books
Use the link below to enter the contest, Must be 18 years of age or older to enter and win.

Rafflecopter Code:
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Down Under Day 5: N. J. Nielsen, AUS/NZ Fun Facts and Contest Info

Welcome to Day 5 of STRW Down Under Author Showcase. Our Featured Author today is N. J. Nielsen, a prolific author of multiple series and stand alone romances. Make sure you visit her page, check out her bio and books. And don’t forget to enter her giveaway contest and search out the Scavenger Hunt word of the Day.

Australian Fun of the Day:

Uluru (Ayers Rock):
Uluru is one of the largest rocks in the world as well as one of Australia’s best known natural formations is located in Central Australia. It is also a place of great spiritual signifigance to the aboriginal peoples of Australia and visitors have have to abide by new regulations to protect the site.

New Zealand Fact of the Day:

2 National Anthems:New Zealand is one of only three countries that have two official (and of equal standing) national Anthems. The first is God Save the Queen (the English National Anthem) and the other is God Defend New Zealand. The other two countries with two anthems are Denmark and Canada which both have a Royal Anthem and a State anthem

Don’t forget to visit our Down Under Author Showcase Page for all the authors participating and their scheduled dates. And be sure to enter Bottom Drawer Publications contest found there as well.

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Meet L.J. LaBarthe

L. J. LaBarthe is the author of many series and novels (listed below).

To get to know L.J. LaBarthe a little better, she agreed to an interview. Look for her guest post below and the Down Under Scavenger Hunt question and clue found somewhere within.

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Australia Fact of the Day:

New Zealand Fact of the Day:

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SERIES:

Exclusive Excerpt:

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Australian Fun of the Day:

New Zealand Fact of the Day:

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