Release Tour for Amelia Faulkner’s Lord of Ravens

Lord Of Ravens (Inheritance Series #3)

Amelia Faulkner

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2iLjlUM

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2iiZRWj

Inheritance Series

Jack of Thorns (Book #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK

Knight of Flames (Book #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK

Blurb

Lover. Predator. Killer.

Laurence Riley’s inheritance comes with a price – one he’s not at all sure he can pay. When his urge to hunt grows out of control, he sends a desperate prayer to his ancestor for guidance. But he never expected that Herne the Hunter would answer.

Scion. Target. Victim.

There are horrors lurking in Quentin d’Arcy’s past, but they won’t hide there forever. Something ancient is coming to take him home: a creature of nightmare who feasts on the flesh of children. When the choice is between his own life and the lives of innocents, there is no choice at all.

Honesty is the worst policy.

A legendary horror comes to San Diego, but it’s merely an emissary. Laurence has seen the real monster, and it’s a darkness which will destroy everything he loves – especially if Quentin ever finds out what it did to him as a child.

It’s down to Laurence to prepare for war against a force which far outmatches him. The enemy has the most powerful weapon of all at his disposal, and if they’re to stand a chance, Laurence must master the same power.

He must learn magic.

Lord of Ravens is the third book in the Rainbow Award winning Inheritance series and contains mature themes and events which may be distressing to some readers. It has a moderate heat rating and an HFN ending

Author Bio

Amelia Faulkner was born in Thame, Oxfordshire, and sprouted upward in short order. The ground around Thame is reasonably mucky, especially in the winter, and she can’t be blamed for wanting to get away from it.

Raised on a steady diet of Star Trek and Doctor Who, Amelia stood no chance in not becoming a grade-A geek. She has sat on the board of the British Fantasy Society, contributed fiction and fluff to various published roleplaying games, and written non-fiction for SciFiNow and SFX Magazines. For every positive there is an equal and opposite negative, and Amelia is forced to admit that she loves Wild Wild West.

In her spare time she enjoys travel, photography, walking her Corgi, and trying to convince her friends to replay the Pathfinder Adventure Card Game with all the Goblins decks.

http://ameliafaulkner.com/

https://www.facebook.com/AmeliaFaulknerAuthor/

https://twitter.com/_AmeliaFaulkner

An Ali Audiobook Review: Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles by Eli Easton and Tristan Wright (Narrator)

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Toby Kincaid loves being the junior librarian in his hometown of Sandy Lake, Ohio. He spends his days surrounded by books and chatting with the library patrons. He especially adores the head librarian, Mr. Miggles, who is kind, witty, knowlegable about everything, and hopelessly addicted to Christmas. Sean Miggles is also pretty cute—especially for an older guy who wears ties and suit pants every day.

But Sean keeps himself at a distance, and there’s a sadness about him that Toby can’t figure out. When Sean is accused of a crime he didn’t commit, he gives up without a fight. Toby realizes that he alone can save the library—and their head librarian.

Toby will need to uncover the darkness in Sean’s past and prove to him that he deserves a second chance at life and at love too. And while Christmas miracles are being handed out, maybe Toby will get his own dearest wish—to love and be loved by Mr. Miggles.

This was a feel good holiday story. The story is told from Toby’s point of view as he slowly learns his co-worker is a really great guy that does a lot for their small town. After a crisis in which something bad happens to Sean, Toby steps up and tries to set things right. And he enlists an assorted group of people he’s met through the library. It’s that traditional holiday story where in the end everyone comes together to right the wrongs. It’s one of those stories that helps you remember there are still a lot of good people in the world and it melts your heart just a bit. I really enjoyed this part of the book.

My only complaint was the relationship between Toby and Sean. Most of the book we’re told that Toby doesn’t know any side of Sean except his work side but then next thing you know they’re in love. There isn’t any relationship building at all. I think if this not been a Christmas story I would have been more bothered by this. As it was, I just chalked it all up to the magic of Christmas and went with it.

This was narrated by Tristan Wright and I thought he did a good job. I don’t think I’ve heard this narrator before. He did a good job on both of the main characters and I never had a difficult time telling them apart. He also did a good job on most of the side characters (and there were a lot of them). There were a few women’s voices that didn’t work for me but they were not a huge part of the story so it wasn’t a problem.

I thought this was a well done and entertaining audiobook and a good addition to the holiday story genre.

Cover: I like the cover. It is simple but catches your eye right away. (Probably because the model is so attractive.)

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Length: 4 hrs and 45 mins

Audible Audio
Published December 16th 2016 by Pinkerton Road (first published November 23rd 2016)
ASINB01N0QSJD9
Edition LanguageEnglish

Thianna Durston on Inspiration, Writing, and her novel ‘Vespar (Order of the Black Knights #3)’ (excerpt and author interview)

Vespar (Order of the Black Knights #3) by Thianna Durston
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Thianna Durston

Available for Purchase at

Also in Dreamspinner Press Paperback

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Thianna Durston here today to answer questions about writing, inspiration, and her release, Vespar (Order of the Black Knights #3). Welcome, Thianna!

Will he kill the one who can save him… again?

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

You know, my stories usually come out of nowhere. Every once in awhile something will give me a plot bunny, but like with my current book Vespar. I started having dreams about a man who kept living the same cursed life over and over again. Even though I was busy with writing other things at the time, that dream would not let me go. It built into the full Order of the Black Knights series.

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

I’ve always been a pantser – mainly because my muse is a prideful so-n-so. And if I try to plan the story, he gets in a huff and refuses to talk to me. I have more works in progress that are stalled because of just that thing. However, lately I’ve found a way to incorporate a tiny bit of planning along with my off the cuff style. I write the book until about quarter of the way through. And then I can see the main parts of the story, write them down in a visual map I made, and then the rest of the story can zoom by fast. I wrote 6 novels through this system this last fall and it worked like a dream. I look forward to seeing how far I can work with it.

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?

I’m all over the place, both in writing and reading. No one genre does it for me, except for when I’m reading or writing it in that moment. Some times I’ll write two books at the same time – one in the morning and one in the afternoon, to keep things really interesting. In October I wrote a contemporary during the morning and a paranormal in the afternoon. It kept me interested and excited about both story lines. My muse as well – which is always a good thing as when he gets bored? Oh dear. The strangest stuff that ends up getting written.

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?

Oh wow. Good question – and I think it’s Braun Taupesh, the lead character in a fantasy story I had published over ten years ago. It just recently went out of print and I look forward to completely rewriting him. He’s too simplistic. It was my first full length novel. And at the time, instead of just keeping plodding along and figuring things out – I got tired of writing it and just ended the story. Now, I want to go back and flesh out each of the characters. Him. The man whose body he takes over. The dwarf… And really bring out the bad guy as well. Uh oh. Now that I’m thinking about it, I just might take some time…

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

For me, the favorite character is usually the one I’ve just written. Just like my favorite book is the one that just came out. I can’t pick a fave 😀 It would be like picking a favorite child.

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?

LaGuardia – ha ha ha ha. Heaven forbid. I’d rather get stuck on a demi-planet. I’d definitely have Jordan L. Hawk with me (All of her works). Heidi Cullinan’s works as well. Ella Frank’s Temptation series. And oh yes – A.E. Via’s Nothing Special series. I could read all of those works over and over and never get bored.

How early in your life did you begin writing?

I was making up stories before I could write. The moment I learned how to write, I started penning them down. I still have one I wrote about a Martian coming to Earth. I think I was 6 or 7 when I wrote it.

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?

My mother read to me and my sister all the time. I remember a lot of Winnie the Pooh. I also read the Chronicle of Narnia books which ignited even more of my love of fantasy.

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

Three is Better Than One

About The Order of the Black Knights

Every century has seen its knights. But there are those who are never seen. They do what must be done—what has to be done—when nobody wants to get their hands dirty. They are called the Black Knights. First created in the 1100s by the wizard Moriel, these men seem cold and hard, and it is said that some have no soul. But for each knight, there is one who can bring out the man who waits inside. The question is whether or not he will kill the individual before he figures it out.

Through the ages, they’ve conquered and ruled and taken what they wanted. And they have adapted to modern times. Instead of being bullies for hire, they have taken their skills further—the Internet, the CIA, government infiltration, hacking, special ops, assassination, but each one of them has a need they don’t understand—to squash, kill, or destroy.

If the Knight pardons his enemy, he will no longer be cursed. If not, he will continue to live the same life again and again, and each life will make him harder and more unyielding. And each life will make it less likely that he can be saved.

Blurb for Vespar

Special ops turned professional killer, Vespar McKauley is hired to take out Marcolm Rogers, son of his employer’s worst enemy. But Marc isn’t like any hit he’s ever done. He’s just twenty-one, he goes to a private university studying English Lit, and for fun he plays computer games with his friends. No drugs, no partying, no crime. The day he bumps into Marc and looks into his azure eyes, the world drops out from under him.

With his father in the Chicago Crime Syndicate, Marc and his mom have stayed out of the limelight, hiding from those that might harm them. He figures he’s safe at a small liberal arts university all the way across the country. Only midway through his senior year, he feels eyes on him and the shadows encroaching. Just as he’s about to run, he meets Vespar and experiences an instant attraction. When Vespar tells him he’s in danger and offers to protect him, Marc wants to believe him. But he’s been hunted before, and this time he isn’t sure he’ll get away. Especially when he finds out he is Vespar’s target.

Excerpt

Cold sweat dampened the back of his neck as he leaned down and picked it up. There it was. While before he killed on orders, within the simple tan envelope was information that would turn him from a military marksman, commanded to kill, into a contract killer.

A sense of unease centered in his shoulders. He ripped the flap up and yanked the contents out. He quickly glanced over the information on the top sheet.

Name: Marcolm Bissini

City: Unknown

Need: Make his death a noticeable hit

Time frame: Four weeks

Vespar grunted at the timeframe. Four weeks to find and kill the bastard. But since they wanted a noticeable hit, he could at least get all his frustration out on the kill. He yanked the cover sheet off and looked at the eight-by-ten photo of a boy not more than eight years old. “What the fuck?” he growled. “I won’t kill kids.” When he opened himself as a killer for hire, he stated what contracts he would not accept, and children and innocents were the only people he categorically refused to take out. Everyone else was fair game. In that way he convinced himself he was taking out someone who deserved it.

No innocent deserved to die. He flipped the image over and spotted words on the back.

This image was taken thirteen years ago. He has been in hiding since. We do not know what he looks like now. Leave this image by the body.

He rubbed his chin with his forefinger as he looked at the words. The kind of men who hired people like him had money and recourse. If they wanted the man dead, he would be dead. And by the age of twenty-one, the chances of him being an innocent bystander were almost zero. But for some strange reason, Vespar wondered why he needed to die. “It’s none of my business,” he snapped, and he shoved the contents back into the envelope. “They want him dead. He’s as good as dead.”

About the Author

Thianna Durston is a writer by day and supernova by night. Or at least that’s what the faeries tell her. And who is she to deny those pesky *cough* lovely little creatures?

She lives in the Pacific Northwest, though her heart belongs elsewhere. In the meantime, until she can return to the place she calls home, she happily lives in a city that still thinks it’s a small town. Thankfully, it has given her muse lots of amusing places to start a story.

Find her Online:

Website – http://mm.thiannad.com/
Blog – http://blog.thiannad.com/
Newsletter – http://mm.thiannad.com/newsletter-signup
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ThiannaDurstonAuthor
Twitter – https://twitter.com/ThiannaDurston
Google+ – https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ThiannaDurston
Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13536433.Thianna_Durston
Pinterest – https://www.pinterest.com/thiannad/
Tumblr – http://thiannad.tumblr.com/

Taylor V. Donovan on Writing, Style and her release “Six Degrees of Lust“ (author guest post and giveaway)

Six Degrees of Lust (By Degrees #1) by Taylor V. Donovan

Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Taylor V. Donovan here today to talk about writing and her release Six Degrees of Lust. Welcome, Taylor!

Hello, everyone!

My name is Taylor V. Donovan and I’m an author of gay romance and suspense. Today I’m here to talk about writing…about my voice and my style. Thank you so much to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting me!

Those of you who have read my work already know my stories are mostly inspired by everyday situations. For those of you who have yet to read my work and have absolutely no clue what to expect, I’ll tell you that realism is my “thing.” There’s no magic penis that’ll cure anything and everything, but my characters are full of love, commitment, hope, and determination to be happy. Also, making my readers part of my characters’ journey is my main goal. The ride is never a quick or easy, but hopefully you’ll feel emotionally invested. ☺

My first title was contracted in May 2011. My first story, a freebie called Heatstroke, was published in July of 2011. Since then I’ve become very familiar with reviews and readers’ reactions to my work. I’ve met other readers clamoring for “different” stuff. I’ve learned there are professional reviewers, neutral reviewers that focus on craft, mean reviewers that make authors reconsider whether they’re cut out for writing or not, passionate readers that offer their opinions in the form of a review, reviewers that have such firm ideas of how a story should go that they pretty much tell us how we should’ve written the book, reviewers that—

I’ll shut up now. I’m pretty sure you all get my drift, and this post is not about reviews. It’s about my personal journey and individual style as an author, but before we reach that point, I need to get back to basics.

I’ve been reading fiction forever. I adore doing so. It’s been my favorite hobby my entire life. If I remember correctly, I discovered the romance genre when I was only eleven. A battered Harlequin copy was mixed in with a bunch of magazines my aunt gave me. I read it and I was hooked. Not to Harlequin, but to reading romance.

As a reader, I don’t like gratuitous anything. Books with misunderstandings that go on for at least four chapters, silly bickering written in an attempt to replace real conflict, and too stupid to live characters that should not be allowed out of their houses are, in my opinion, a waste of precious reading time and an insult to my intelligence. And boy, don’t get me started on the sex. I mean, I most definitely enjoy a hot sex scene, but it’d better not be the only thing happening in the book, and it better mean something. Porn without plot and stroke stories are not for me. When the only thing growing between the main characters is their erections I cannot help but to feel turned off and frustrated.

I want a solid plot. I want realistic characters and situations. I don’t want to escape the world. I want to see how these guys who become real to me the moment I start reading deal with every day issues. I want to get emotionally invested and cheer on the guys until they find their way to happiness. And you know what? That doesn’t always happen within 50,000 words and fifteen chapters.

If you’ve been following my writing career you know I’m not a rookie author anymore, even though I only have a few titles to my name. Life happened to me, so yeah… To date I have three published stories: Heatstroke, Six Degrees of Lust, Six Degrees of Separation, Hearsay, and Disasterology 101, which is currently being formatted for re-release. But if you’ve read my work then you also know I don’t stick to any specific formulas. There are two reasons for this:

1. I write what I like to read, and

2. early on I decided to let the characters do the talking.

Every one of my stories, both published and works in progress, began with just one character. Sometimes he turns out to be the MC, but not always. He’d much rather be in the background and wait until the time is right for him, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have lots to say and things he needs to bring to the table.

That was the case with Logan, one of the characters in my By Degrees series, a romantic suspense featuring a serial killer of gay men and the FBI team leader trying to catch him. Logan demanded his POV was included in Six Degrees of Lust, the first installment in the series. Then another character appeared with the same behavior. And another. And another. And what they had to say needed to be said on their time and on their own terms. I had to listen to them because if I didn’t, their story wouldn’t have been the same. And that, my friends, is how I ended up writing an ensemble serial with unresolved situations.

Several unresolved situations.

This, of course, will change as the series advances. Sadly, it just could not happen in one book. Not unless I wrote a 2,000-page saga.

Six Degrees of Lust, Second Edition was just released on January 2, and it has received wonderful reviews. Some readers love the format and the build-up. They appreciate the fact that every character has a distinctive voice. Other readers hate the cliffhangers and would’ve preferred the book didn’t have as big a cast, and focused on Sam and Mac’s POVs, the main romantic couple in this installment. All opinions are valid and appreciated. It is a matter of personal taste and to each their own, yes?

But when the first edition of the book released back in 2011, those opinions got me thinking hard and carefully. Should I not write ensemble novels? Should I find a way to silence all those voices even though I know why their story needs to be told a certain way? Should I stick to conventional formulas so that I don’t upset the readers that know what they want (only the MCs) and how it should be (no cliffhangers or open storylines, please)?

Someone told me I need to write more sex. I’ve been advised to stick to a proven, successful formula. I’ve been told I’m better off not including kids in my books. I’ve tried to decide the kind of readers I want to reach: the escapists or the hard-core realists… and I’ve decided that the best thing I can do is to remain loyal to my characters and their journey, however long and bumpy it might be.

All my other stories, and this includes Heavy Hitters, my next title to be released, focus on the main couple. But when/if the time comes for another big cast, I will welcome it with open arms, because they have a right to be heard even if they aren’t the norm.

Just like I’m not.

But enough about me. I want to hear what you guys have to say about this. Are you willing to read out of your comfort zone, or do you prefer to stick to stories similar to the ones you’ve liked the best so far? Why do you feel that way? Could I change your mind? Just kidding on that one. 😉

Come on, guys. Discussion time. Inquiring minds would like to know. 🙂

Xoxo

Taylor

P.S. I’ve brought some copies to give away. Leave a comment and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a set of electronic copies Six Degrees of Lust and Six Degrees of Separation, Second Edition.

P.S. 2 Six Degrees of Lust, Second Edition, releases today. If you read the first version, I’d still recommend you get this one as well, as some characters were fleshed out and, even though the story arc remains basically the same, there are tweaks foreshadowing events in Six Degrees of Separation, which in turn leads to events in Six Degrees of Agony, finally coming to you late 2017.

Good luck!

Six Degrees of Lust, Second Edition

Release date: January 2, 2017

Blurb

By Degrees; Book One

New York City FBI team leader Samuel Shaughnessy lives for his immediate family and his job. After a marriage gone wrong he has stuck to a firm rule when it comes to relationships: he doesn’t have them. Sexually active and emotionally unavailable keeps him satisfied, especially now that he is in hot pursuit of a serial killer targeting gay men.

Former firefighter Machlan O’Bannon now manages a successful sports bar in Houston and after years of waiting he’s ready to stand up and be the man he always wanted to be: out, proud and drama-free. His politically-aligned family wants to keep him locked in the closet, but Mac just wants to meet the man of his dreams.

One man is as high strung as the other is laid back. A chance meeting brings the two men together, and one night of passion ignites a fire neither can fight. Their lives are not only miles apart, but as different as day and night. They don’t want to get involved, but they might not be able to keep apart.

First Edition published by MLR Press, December 2011.

Taylor V. Donovan is a compulsive reader and author of gay romance and suspense. She is optimistically cynical about humanity and a lover of history, museums, and all things 80s. She shamelessly indulges in mind-numbing reality television, is crazy about fashion, and passionate about civil rights and equality for all.

When she’s not writing or making a living in the busiest city in the world, Taylor can be found raising her two daughters and their terribly misbehaved furry baby in their home.

Website

Facebook

Goodreads

Giveaway

Taylor Donovan has brought some copies to give away. Leave a comment along with your email address where you can be reached if chosen and you’ll be entered for a chance to win a set of electronic copies Six Degrees of Lust and Six Degrees of Separation, Second Edition. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

C.L. Etta on Writing, Books, and her release ‘Love’s Tethered Heart ‘ (author interview)

Love’s Tethered Heart by C.L. Etta
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht

Available for Purchase at

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have C.L. Etta here today talking about writing, books, and her latest release, Love’s Tethered Heart. Welcome, C.L.!

A big shout out to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting me today. I appreciate the opportunity to stop in and answer a few questions while promoting my latest release—Love’s Tethered Heart. LTH is the unlikely love story of Mico and Danny, two men who work to forge a relationship despite the obstacles in front of them. Their biggest hurdle? Mico is ventilator dependent due to quadriplegia. I hope readers will accompany the characters on their journey to discover whether or not love can conquer all.

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

Although this is my third book, I’m still a novice so I don’t have a “normal” yet. But my last career was as a nursing home nurse, and in each of my three books I’ve drawn on that experience. I’ve written minor characters who are central to the plot, dealing with a stroke and Alzheimer’s disease. In LTH I tackle quadriplegia. My current work in progress is told from the point of view of a blind man. I’m also working on a manuscript set against a stock car racing background because I’m a NASCAR fan.

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

If by “pantzer” you mean “seat of your pants”, then I’m definitely a pantzer. I get an idea in my head and I see the beginning, maybe something that happens in the middle and since it’s a romance, I know how it will end. Everything else comes to me as I write. The why? I’m not sure. In real life, I’m spontaneous, rarely planning. I used to buy those daily planners, utilizing them a week or two, then tossing them aside. They stifled my style.

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?

The last four or five years I’ve been drawn to the m/m genre. I have read a handful of fantasy, but mostly stick with contemporary. I like the element of angst sexuality brings to the story. Before I began reading this genre, I mostly read historical bodice rippers.

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

I’m learning that they can. I have another book coming out in March and I have a thing for the main character, Cassidy a recently retired Army sergeant with a gentle heart.

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?

Amy Lane’s Promise Rock series, Rowan Speedwell’s Illumination, Mary Calmes’ Matter of Time series, and to keep things exciting, SE Jake’s Hell or Highwater series.

How early in your life did you begin writing?

LOL. I wouldn’t call it early. I began writing my first novel in January 2015. It was accepted for publication in October it was accepted for publication and was released in July 2016. Since then, I’ve had three other novels accepted. It’s been a heady experience for me.

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?

I was an avid reader. I rode my bicycle to the library every week and checked out the maximum number of books. My mother would often find me under the covers with a flashlight in hand reading way past bedtime. I read Mark Twain, Daphne Du Maurier, and the Nancy Drew books. I went through a period where I read only mysteries. When I began reading historical romance, Kathleen Woodiwiss and LaVyrle Spencer, and Judith McNaught were my go to authors.

Where do you see yourself in the next five years?

Sitting on my laurels amid the Caribbean? No, really that’s what I’d like, but realistically I must always keep my mind busy, whether reading or writing, or playing Sudoku. I like to think that writing stories about beautiful men doing naughty things will keep me young. If not of body, then in mind and heart.

What would you like your readers to take away from Love’s Tethered Heart?

That’s a tough one, because the journey will be different for each reader. LTH touches on family themes, forgiveness, illness, loneliness, religion and unconditional love. I’d like them to arrive at the end of the journey with an enhanced sense of compassion and hope. I’d like them to believe that love is possible for everyone no matter life’s obstacles.

Blurb

Two years ago Mico and his partner suffered a savage gay bashing that left Mico a quadriplegic—and ended his dreams of traveling the world as an archeologist. Abandoned by the man he loved, he lives in isolation, tethered to his bed by the machines keeping him alive, with only his caretakers and immediate family as companions.

Assigned to interview Mico and uncover the story behind his assault and his refusal to identify his attackers, journalist Danny is unprepared for his reaction to the other man. Mico is afraid to let Danny into his life, and Danny is unsure how to change his mind. Mico is also keeping secrets, and he isn’t the only one. Danny is determined to protect Mico, and he’s determined to show Mico that their feelings for each other can thrive amidst the mechanics of Mico’s existence.

If you enjoy romantic tales of heartbreak turned to hope, the life-affirming story of Danny and Mico will make you believe in the possibility of love for everyone—no matter what obstacles they face.

Author Bio

C.L. Etta, a bartender’s daughter, became the apple of her parents’ eyes at her first dimpled smile. Developing a lifelong passion for reading, C.L. spent summers riding her bicycle to the library where she filled the handlebar basket with books. Much to her chagrin, C.L.’s mother often found her under the bedcovers with a flashlight, reading in the middle of the night.

Fast-forward to college, where C.L. spent good times burning bras, working in summer-stock theater, trying out potential husbands, then to her parents’ and in-laws’ delight, finally started a family. Having raised three kids and a husband, and with varied careers as a secretary, credit union loan veep, a software support rep, a mortgage broker, and a nurse under her belt, C.L. decided it was time for a break. So, she retired.

It wasn’t until life had slowed that she heard voices—sexy male voices. Intrigued, she listened. She discovered new friends who clamored for their stories to be told. So, it was back to school where she stood outside the creative writing classroom with students who observed her silver hair and mistook her for the teacher. After completing class and going on a cruise, she sat at her computer and began telling her boys’ stories.

Eighteen months later, C.L. has contracted with two different publishers for four books. The voices in C.L.’s head are as loud as ever, giving C.L. the impetus to keep writing.

Social Media for CL Etta

https://clettabooks.wordpress.com/

https://twitter.com/clettabooks

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009457937368

https://www.pinterest.com/clettabooks/

Release Blitz Tour – Clare London – Chase The Ace (London Lads #1) (giveaway)

Chase The Ace (London Lads #1) – Clare London

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner

Length: 27,000 words

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Blurb

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

Dan’s first mistake is chatting online to the wrong man—Nick Carson isn’t one of the boys, but his brother. Nick isn’t offended and offers to accompany Dan on the trip to find the others. It’s the first step to friendship and something more for both of them.

For Dan, the reunions with the “Gang of Four” range from startling and heartening to disturbing. Nick’s company is a constant support, though neither of them are prepared for the exposure of personal secrets they’d thought long hidden. Dan begins to suspect he’s really looking for a direction in his own life—and the excitement and purpose he craves may be closer to home than a quest with its roots in a boyhood dream.

January 4 – BooksLaidBareBoys, Diverse Reader, The Way She Reads
January 6 – Back Porch Reader
January 11 – Dog-Eared Daydreams, MM Good Book Reviews
January 13 – Making It Happen
January 16 – Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
January 23 – Bayou Book Junkie, Wicked Faerie’s Tales & Reviews
January 25 – My Fiction Nook, Bella’s Blog, Alpha Book Club, Book Lovers 4Ever, Jim’s Blog

Author Bio

Clare took the pen name London from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with the weekly wash, waiting for the far distant day when she can afford to give up her day job as an accountant. She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic and sexy characters.

Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter 3 stage and plenty of other projects in mind . . . she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.

All the details and free fiction are available at her website. Visit her today and say hello!

Website: http://www.clarelondon.com
Blog: http://clarelondon.livejournal.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/clarelondon
Facebook chat: https://www.facebook.com/groups/clarelondoncalling/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/clare_london
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/clarelondon
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/clarelondon

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Release Blitz Tour – Suki Fleet’s Light Up The Dark (giveaway)

Light Up The Dark – Suki Fleet

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Cover Design: Natasha Snow

Blurb

For two years Nicky has wandered the dark empty corridors of the overgrown Thorn Hall, unseen and untouched, feeling like a ghost. His only company, the cold man who promised to keep him safe from harm, Lance.

But when Lance dies, Nicky’s assurance of safety disintegrates and his world suddenly becomes a lot more real and a lot more dangerous. Scared to leave the house, Nicky longs for daylight. He employs a gardener to clear the over-grown bushes and vines that have nearly swallowed Thorn Hall whole.

The last thing Nicky expects a little light to do is show him something to fight for.

Eighteen months in a young offenders’ institute has taught Cai two things: he occupies the playful puppy end of the How Dangerous Are You? spectrum, and he has an unfortunate knack for being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

Desperate for a job, he takes the first offer he gets. Even though Thorn Hall creeps the hell out of him and he barely knows one end of a pair of garden shears from the other.

Things start to fall apart when Cai is drawn into Nicky’s strange world of sticky notes and secrets. Cai finds he is now a target, blamed for a crime he didn’t commit. Desperate not to go back to prison, he digs deep and risks all the good things in life to help Nicky run.

But now Nicky has someone he wants to protect, he knows he can’t run any more.

January 3 – Dog-Eared Daydreams
January 9 – MM Book Escape, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
January 11 – Back Porch Reader
January 13 – Diverse Reader, The Novel Approach, MM Good Book Reviews
January 16 – Making It Happen, The Geekery Book Review, Jim’s Blog
January 20 – Wicked Faerie’s Tales & Reviews, Inglorious Bitches
January 23 – Bella’s Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, Alpha Book Club, Keysmash

Author Bio

Award Winning Author. Prolific Reader (though less prolific than she’d like). Lover of angst, romance and unexpected love stories.

Suki Fleet writes lyrical stories about memorable characters, and believes everyone should have a chance at a happy ending.

Her first novel This is Not a Love Story won Best Gay Debut in the 2014 Rainbow Awards, and was a finalist in the 2015 Lambda Awards.

Links
Email: sukifleet@gmail.com
https://www.instagram.com/suki_fleet
https://www.facebook.com/suki.fleet.3
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7919609.Suki_Fleet
http://sukifleet.tumblr.com
http://sukifleet.wordpress.com
https://twitter.com/SukiFleet?lang=en

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In the Science Fiction Spotlight: From the Ashes by Xen Sanders (excerpt and giveaway)

From the Ashes

by Xen Sanders
Fires of Redemption #1
Publication Date: January 2, 2017
Genres: Entangled: Otherworld, Male/Male, Sci-Fi, Romance

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Amazon: http://amzn.to/2idCsZc

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2inQMPd

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2hSqQb3

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2hxTFvF

B&N: http://bit.ly/2ivYjsH

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2hxXxge

iBooks: http://apple.co/2inO2Bt

Synopsis: Sociopath. Killer. Deviant.Monster, devoid of morals, incapable of human emotion. The villain known as Spark has been called this and more, and as a super-powered aberrant has masterminded countless crimes to build his father’s inhuman empire. Yet to professor Sean Archer, this fearsome creature is only Tobias Rutherford–antisocial graduate researcher, quiet underachiever, and a fascinating puzzle Sean is determined to solve.

But one kiss leads to an entanglement that challenges everything Tobias knows about himself, aberrants, and his own capacity to love. When his father orders him to assassinate a senator, one misstep unravels a knot of political intrigue that places the fate of humans and aberrants alike in Tobias’s hands. As danger mounts and bodies pile higher, will Tobias succumb to his dark nature and sacrifice Sean–or will he defy his father and rise from the ashes to become a hero in a world of villains?

ABOUT XEN SANDERS

Hi. I’m Xen. Cole. Whatever you want to call me; both are true, and both are lies. My pen names are multitudes, my nicknames legion. Tall, bi/queer, introverted, author, and of a brown-ish persuasion made up of various flavors of Black, Asian, and Native American. I’m cuter than Hello Kitty, more bitter than the blackest coffee, and able to trip over cats in a single half-asleep lurch; I’m what happens when a Broody Antihero and a Manic Pixie Dream Boy fight to the death, and someone builds a person from the scraps left behind. Beardless, I look like the uke in every yaoi manga in existence; bearded or not, I sound like Barry White. About half my time is spent as a corporate writer, and the other half riding a train of WTFery that sometimes results in a finished book. Romance, erotica, sci-fi, horror, paranormal; LGBTQIA and cishet; diverse settings and diverse characters from a diverse author.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Newsletter

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Release Day Blitz for A Collision with Reality by Storm Duffy (excerpt and giveaway)

Title: A Collision with Reality

Series: In Like Flynn

Author: Storm Duffy

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: January 2nd

Heat Level: 5 – Erotica

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 7100

Genre: Erotica, contemporary, UK, D/s, kink, businessmen, online chat, workplace relationship, erotica

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Flynn’s new boss is so hot he can’t wait to get home to tell the chatroom how much he wants Dom’s cock down his throat. By Friday, he’s shared quite a few thoughts on what he’d like his boss to do to him. But he’s not as anonymous as he thinks, and Dom’s intent on disciplining him for breaching company policy on social networking. Dom gives him a choice of put up or shut up: he can play out the fantasy in real life, or he can walk out of the office without a word to HR as long as he never talks that way about Dom again. Flynn chooses “put up”—but he’s forgotten about one of the things he said he wouldn’t mind doing.

Excerpt

The new manager was really something: tall, dark, and handsome, with a superb arse that looked great in a suit. Flynn wouldn’t mind seeing what it looked like out of the suit. Unfortunately the suit was respectably cut at the front, making it impossible to tell without staring whether the guy dressed to the left or the right, let alone how big his cock was.

Not the sort of thing one ought to be thinking about while listening to the big boss introduce the new manager. He barely caught the guy’s name—Dominic.

“Pleasure to meet you all,” Dominic said. “I look forward to getting to know you better over the next few weeks.”

Flynn looked forward to it as well. He particularly looked forward to getting to know him better in the gents, at least well enough to idly glance down and check out the cock. A pity he wasn’t likely to get to know Dominic in the gents any better than that, not in real life; but it was his own business what he did in the privacy of his own head.

And in the privacy of his favourite board online that evening. No wallet names, no ID. Not even your location listed unless you wanted it out there in the hope of hooking up with someone for a night’s fuck. A safe place to talk about just how much he fancied the new boss.

[New boss arrived today. Absolutely bloody gorgeous, if you like older men. Wouldn’t mind having him discipline me for poor performance.]

[Better if he disciplines you for good performance] an anon said.

[Oh, I think I could perform well for him.]

Flynn could think of a number of ways he could perform, starting with:

[Down on my knees with my mouth open.]

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords

Meet the Author

Storm Duffy has a number of erotica shorts published under that and other names in a variety of venues, including “The Mammoth Book of Quick and Dirty Erotica”. As Jules Jones, she has written several erotic romance novellas and novels, including the first M/M romance published by Loose Id.

Amongst the 2500 or so books on shelves in her house, there is room for rather a lot of cross-stitch thread and entirely too many balls of wool. There are also more bits of computer kit than is quite reasonable for someone who doesn’t do that for a living. The two microscopes, on the other hand, are entirely in keeping with a career in science.

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail | Smashwords | Livejournal

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Out with 2016 and Hello 2017 and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Out with 2016 and Hello 2017!

Yes, its that time again. First day of the new year. Time to shut the door on the old year and prepare to welcome in the new. Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words turned 5 and got a whole new look! We added reviewers and content hoping to provide more reviews as well as author and narrator interviews, giveaways and much more for all our readers. I hope we’ve succeeded.

2016 held such promise. LGBTQIA rights moved forward in the courts with marriage equality, transgender equality gaining ground in many states as laws were passed to protect peoples rights to live and love as they saw fit. And so many of our stories reflected that hope and societal change. It was wonderful and uplifting. I loved reading about couples getting engaged and married while remembering stories reflected a reality not that long ago where that was not a possiblity.

Then came the elections. Shock, disbelief, numbness,and so much more. Now we face an uncertain 2017 with a very different minded administration. What will 2017 bring for the LGBTQIA community and the rest of us? And how quickly will we see that uncertainty and wide ranging emotions translated into our stories? Will it be in our contemporary stories, science fiction, alternate universe or everything the authors can imagine and pour into their tales? I can’t wait to read what 2017 will bring us with novels and short stories.

2016 saw the rapid rise of the audiobook as we mentioned during our month long series where we interviewed audiobook narrators, authors and listeners. This format is still rising in popularity and our reviews (and number of them) certainly reflect that. We hope to be interviewing more narrators and talking more about this format in the coming year. Do you have a favorite narrator? Let us know and we’ll see if we can get them in for an interview!

We left off our Book Format series with the publishers view of ebook publishing – how far its come, how its changed and where they think its going. We hope to get back to that in 2017.

As we announced yesterday, several publishers are closing their houses. All Romance is closed as of yesterday. Torquere Press is closing but getting information about that is harder as all most people have is a message from the owners. If you have more information, please let us know so we can update our information to all our readers. It would be greatly appreciated.

On the positive front, Samhain Publishing which once thought it would be closing, is staying open. Great news for all. Don’t forget to check them out as they now have over 2500 titles available to choose from.

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words also started our Flash Fiction Writing Month. That will continue in 2017, although not in contest form. Look to see it again towards the end of the year as it was this time.

So many thoughts swirling and scattered about in my head….not unusual this first day of the year. It will take more than a day to process it all. Look for my ramblings to continue each Sunday this month as we reflect back and forward on 2016 and 2017. STRW will also be taking a look at our favorite stories and covers, reviewer by reviewer. Today we start off with Barb the Zany Old Lady’s favorite covers and stories of 2016. How do they match up with yours? Have you missed some? Start your TBRandMissed List now!

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best of 2016

From Our Reviewers!

Barb the Zany Old Lady’s Top Ten of 2016 (in no particular order)

Top 5 Covers:

Empty Net by Avon Gale– cover by Aaron Anderson
Wolfsong by T.J. Kllune – cover by Reese Dante
A Second Harvest by Eli Easton – cover by Bree Archer
Enjoy the Dance by Heidi Cullinan – cover by Kanaxa
Clickbait by E.J. Russell – cover by L.C. Chase

*****

Top Books & Audiobooks released in 2016:

Wolfsong by TJ Klune audiobook narrated by Kirt Graves

Absolution by Sloane Kennedy audiobook narrated by Joel Leslie

Dinner at Fiorelli’s by Rick R. Reed audiobook narrated by Joel Leslie

How to be a Normal Person by TJ Klune audiobook narrated by Derrick McClain

A Second Harvest by Eli Easton

Blank Spaces by Cass Lennox

Beyond the Sea by Keira Andrews

Enjoy the Dance by Heidi Cullinan

Tied Up in Knots by Mary Calmes

Empty Net by Avon Gale

If you’re adding to your TBR pile, keep going with some of the books we’ve reviewed this week. From Amy Lane’s The Virgin Manny to Tara Lain’s Death Dancer to Tal Bauer’s Interlude: First Noel in his outstanding series, The Executive Office, to Falling Down by Eli Easton, there’s something for everyone this week. Have a happy New Year’s Day everyone!

This Week in 2017 at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 1, 2017 🎉 Happy New Years!:

Out with 2016 and Hello 2017 and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Release Blitz Tour – Amelia Faulkner’s Lord of Ravens (giveaway)
A Free Dreamer Review:O/s by Jane Davitt and Alexa Snow
A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Virgin Manny (The Mannies #1) by Amy Lane

Monday, January 2:

Release Day Blitz for A Collision with Reality by Storm Duffy
Tour: From the Ashes by Xen Sanders (excerpt and giveaway)
Release Day Blitz for Oops Caught by Alli Reshi
A Jeri Review: Wolf in League by AF Henley
A Lila Review: Interlude: First Noel by Tal Bauer
A PaulB Review: Interlude: First Noel by Tal Bauer
An Alisa Review: Honey Trap by Fyn Alexander

Tuesday, January 3:

Release Blitz & Review Tour – Suki Fleet’s Light Up The Dark
DSP GUEST POST Avon Gale on “Whiskey Business“
A Jeri Review: Death Dancer (Dangerous Dancers #2) by Tara Lain
A MelanieM Review: The Next Competitor by Keira Andrews
A Paul B Review: Warrior Wolf and His Little Lamb (Pariah Pack #3) by Susan Laine
An Ali Review: A Collision with Reality by Storm Duffy

Wednesday, January 4:

Release Blitz Tour – Clare London’s Chase The Ace (London Lads #1)
A Free Dreamer Review: Crush by Caitlin Ricci
RIPTIDE TOUR: Assassins: Nemesis by Erica Cameron
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Saving Silas by S.J. Himes and Derrick McClain (Narrator)
A Jeri Review: Heart’s Gamble By S.J. Frost
A Lila Release Day Review: I Love You More Than Pierogi (World of Love) by K.A. Merikan
A Stella Review: Falling Down by Eli Easton
An Alisa Release Day Review: A Coal Miner’s Son by TA Chase

Thursday, January 5:

DSP GUEST POST C.L. Etta
DSP GUEST POST F.E. Feeley Jr on “The Haunting of Timber Manor“
A Lila Review: Tartan Candy by KC Burn
A Paul B Review: Henning Box Set by Hayden Thorne
A Stella Review: Idlewild by Jude Sierra
An Alisa Review: Under the Mistletoe by Shawn Bailey

Friday, January 6:

Cover Reveal for Fireballs by Tara Lain
AE VIA BLOG SPOT on Nothing Special
DSP GUEST POST Taylor V. Donovan on “Six Degrees of Lust“
A Caryn Review: Alpha Barman by Sue Brown
A Lila Review: Nothing Special V by AE Via
An Ali Release Day Review: Block & Strike by Kelly Jensen
An Alisa Review: Defrosting Jack by Susan Laine

Saturday, January 7:

Release Blitz for Kayleigh Sky’s Doll Baby
DSP GUEST POST Thianna Durston on “Vespar“
An Ali Audiobook Review: Merry Christmas, Mr. Miggles by Eli Easton

Lord Of Ravens (Inheritance Series #3)

Amelia Faulkner

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Vespar (Order of the Black Knights #3) by Thianna Durston Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Thianna Durston

About The Order of the Black Knights

Blurb for Vespar

Excerpt

About the Author

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Six Degrees of Lust (By Degrees #1) by Taylor V. Donovan

Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Blurb

Giveaway

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Love’s Tethered Heart by C.L. Etta Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht

Available for Purchase at

Blurb

Author Bio

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Chase The Ace (London Lads #1) – Clare London

Giveaway

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Light Up The Dark – Suki Fleet

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From the Ashes

BUY:

ABOUT XEN SANDERS

ENTER THE GIVEAWAY

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Synopsis

Excerpt

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords

Meet the Author

Website | Twitter | Goodreads | eMail | Smashwords | Livejournal

Giveaway

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Out with 2016 and Hello 2017!

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best of 2016

From Our Reviewers!

Top 5 Covers:

This Week in 2017 at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 1, 2017 🎉 Happy New Years!:

Monday, January 2:

Tuesday, January 3:

Wednesday, January 4:

Thursday, January 5:

Friday, January 6:

Saturday, January 7:

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Vespar (Order of the Black Knights #3) by Thianna Durston
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Thianna Durston

Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Love’s Tethered Heart by C.L. Etta
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht