Category: Contemporary fiction

RELEASE DAY BLITZ: Invitation to the Blues (Small Change #2) by Roan Parrish (excerpt and giveaway)

Invitation to the Blues (Small Change #2)

Publisher: Monster Press

Release Date (Print & Ebook): March 28th, 2018

Length (Print & Ebook): About 81,000 words

Subgenre: Contemporary romance

Content warning: depression, suicide, thoughts of worthlessness, food issues

Links:

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

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2EnDP3V

Ibooks: https://apple.co/2BFfDaM

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/2C9aiJP

Angus & Robinson: http://bit.ly/2Cudrzz

Book blurb:

Eight months ago Jude Lucen fled his partner, his career, and a hospital in Boston after a suicide attempt. Now back in Philadelphia, he feels like a complete failure. Piano has always been his passion and his only escape. Without it, he has nothing. Well, nothing except a pathetic crush on the most gorgeous man he’s ever seen.

Faron Locklear came to Philly looking for a fresh start and has thrown himself into tattooing at Small Change. He’s only met Jude a few times, but something about the red-haired man with the haunted eyes calls to him. Faron is blown away by Jude’s talent. What he isn’t expecting is the electricity he feels the first time they kiss—and the way Jude’s needs in bed speak directly to his own deepest desires.

Jude and Faron fall fast and hard, but Jude has spent a lifetime learning that he can’t be what the people he loves need. So when the opportunity arises to renew his career in Boston, he thinks he has to choose: music, or Faron? Only by taking a huge risk—and finally believing he’s worthy of love just as he is—can he have the chance for both.

The Small Change series is set in the Middle of Somewhere universe and features crossover characters from that series. Each book can be read on its own.

Content warning: This book contains explicit discussion of depression, anxiety, attempted suicide, and feelings of worthlessness.

Excerpt:

My problem with Faron was that he was stunning.

He was tall and taut, with broad shoulders and an elegant neck. His tawny brown skin was flawless and he had dreamy, gray-brown eyes that always seemed to focus on something in a plane beyond this one. His riot of corkscrew curls was sometimes loose, but today was caught up in a topknot. It had been bleached nearly white when I first met him and was now growing out. His cheekbones were high and broad, casting shadows that made him look like he was candlelit from every angle. His mouth was lush and full, and his rare smiles turned his chiseled beauty to a warmth so engaging that you didn’t ever want him to look away from you.

His beauty was a problem because it made me want him and I hated wanting anything. Desire was the beginning of disappointment.

It wasn’t just his looks, though. I could’ve handled that. I’d known a lot of beautiful people.

No, it was everything.

He was graceful and forceful at the same time. His focus was intense, whether it was on the things that only he saw or on whoever he was listening to. And he made me feel calm—as if he held the whole world in his hands and slowed it down or sped it up to whatever speed I was going.

It was intoxicating: a promise of peace as long as I was in his presence.

A hope.

And hope was even worse than desire.

About Roan Parrish:

Roan Parrish lives in Philadelphia, where she is gradually attempting to write love stories in every genre.

When not writing, she can usually be found cutting her friends’ hair, meandering through whatever city she’s in while listening to torch songs and melodic death metal, or cooking overly elaborate meals. She loves bonfires, winter beaches, minor chord harmonies, and self-tattooing. One time she may or may not have baked a six-layer chocolate cake and then thrown it out the window in a fit of pique.

Connect with Roan:

website | newsletter | twitter | facebook | goodreads | instagram | pinterest

Rafflecopter code to win 2 e-copies of any back catalog book by Roan Parrish:

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A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: The Little Library by Kim Fielding

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

I loved this story about Elliott, a young college professor who was badly deceived and used by his lover and mentor and now struggles to fight his way back to the career path of his choice.  And Simon, who was injured on the job and is now fighting his way back to his career path as well—and if it can’t be as a cop, as he was before, at least he hopes to find something that fits.  He most definitely doesn’t want to work with his parents in their restaurant, not only because that’s not his chosen vocation, but also because he can’t meet their high personal expectations for him—that he’ll find a nice, preferably Assyrian, young woman, settle down, and raise babies for them. 

What I liked most is that these two guys seemed to be pretty normal—the kind of guys you might meet in your neighborhood, or on the job, or even have as a family member.  They are gay, but they’re not atypical—neither are porn stars, or con men, or werewolves—they’re a college professor and a cop.  Granted, the college professor spends a lot of time immersed in his books when he’s not teaching one of the online community college courses he’s now reduced to overseeing.  He lost his highly regarded, research-oriented position with a university when his lover and mentor was discovered to be embezzling and he was inadvertently caught up in the backlash.  Now, he’s searching to get back into a tenure-track position and idling away his free time by shopping for more books to feed his book-buying (and reading) addiction.  He tries to “behave” and exercise willpower, as many addicts would do, but it’s not until he decides to try something he’s seen elsewhere that his life takes on new purpose, and as a side benefit, he meets a pretty sexy guy with a bum knee. 

The solution?  He builds a “little library” a small set of enclosed book shelves on a post in his yard.  Rearranging the furniture in his home so he can spy on the people stopping by gives him pause, but he does it anyway, and he’s rewarded with making new friends. Among them a little girl and her mom and that sexy guy with the bum knee that he’s seen as he’s been out running.  That guy is Simon, and the two form an immediate friendship that leads to a very slow-burn relationship. I appreciated the way the author set this relationship up—no hurry to the bedroom, no over-the-moon heartthrobs—just a slow, gentle exploration of each other, starting with kisses and leading slowly to more. 

And as they grow closer, it’s evident that Simon’s closet is not where Elliott wants to be.  He was very hurt by his former lover and he won’t be hidden again.  But Simon’s family feelings on homosexuality and strong cultural and religious beliefs don’t allow for room to negotiate and he desperately fears losing his parents if he comes out.  In the meantime, Elliott is still searching for a university where he can settle in to research and get his career back on track, and it’s starting to look like that might happen in Nebraska. 

Again, the author does not make the solution magical. These guys have to work for all they have both together and individually.  It’s just not simple.  It’s real.  And I loved them.  For me, the hallmark of a well-written book with endearing characters who face and overcome difficult life situations is when I can not only remember the story days later, but I can also recall their names. This one is a winner—proven by the above standards several days after I finished the story.  And it’s going on my list of best of 2018.  Well-written, with a host of amazing secondary characters, two outstanding main characters, and a variety of interesting experiences, added to slow burn, which is one of my favorite themes, I can easily highly recommend this one to lovers of MM romance.  If you like it slow and you like your characters to be people you’d like to get to know, by all means choose this story. 

~~~

The very attractive, colorful cover by LC Chase depicts the torso of a man holding an open book while standing at a “little library.”  It’s one of the reasons—beside the fact that I love this author—that I chose this book. 

Sales Links:

Amazon | Smashwords 

Book Details:

self published by the Kindle Edition, 1 edition
Published March 26th 2018 by Kim Fielding
Original TitleThe Little Library
ASINB07BJL6NMB
Edition LanguageEnglish

KIM FIELDING on Modesto, Story Locations, and her new release ‘The Little Library’ (guest blog)

The Little Library by Kim Fielding

Release Date:  March 27, 2018
Cover art: L.C. Chase

Buy links:

Amazon | Smashwords 

 

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Kim Fielding here today talking about her latest release The Little Library.  Welcome, Kim.

✒︎

 

Hi! I’m Kim Fielding and I’m very excited to announce the release of my newest novel, The Little Library! Set in California’s Central Valley, this story stars a guy with a slightly obsession with books. What’s not love about that, right?

I live in California. I’ve lived here for 25 years, but my husband is a native and my daughters are something like 5th generation Californians on his side. Thanks to movies and TV, people all over the world have at least some vague impressions about this state. Hollywood. Surfers. San Francisco. Redwoods. Death Valley. And all of those things really are here, of course. But California is a big state—its land mass is greater than that of Japan or Paraguay and only a little smaller than Sweden or Morocco—and there are parts of it that even most Californians aren’t familiar with.

I live in one of those parts: the San Joaquin Valley. In case you’re not a geography whiz, this is part of the Central Valley, lying flat and hot between the Sierra Nevadas and the coast ranges. About 4 million people live here, and there are a few larger cities (e.g., Fresno and Bakersfield), but most of the valley is rural. My new book, The Little Library, takes place here, in Modesto.

So what’s this area like? Well, we’re a couple of hours from beaches and redwoods. Celebrities are few and far between (although notable Modestans include Jeremy Renner, George Lucas, and James Marsters). Our winters tend to be cool and foggy, while our summers are oven-hot and bone-dry. People here tend to be more politically conservative than in the Bay Area. Housing prices are reasonable by California standards.

This is a heavy-duty agricultural area. We grow almost all of the country’s almonds and a whole lot of grapes (Gallo Winery is headquartered in Modesto). We have tomatoes, melons, feed corn, chickens, and dairy cattle. My subdivision, in a town about a half hour south of Modesto, sits on what used to be a bean field. Ours is a climate that allows backyards to sustain orange and apple trees, and rosemary and oregano become large shrubs.

This isn’t the most beautiful part of California, and it’s certainly not the most glamorous. People pass through here on the way to other places—Yosemite, Sacramento, LA—and few people would put the San Joaquin Valley at the top of their vacation wish lists. Still, I believe that almost every place on the planet has at least some charms, and interesting people live everywhere. Even in Modesto.

My decision to set The Little Library in Modesto was a deliberate one. Like their hometown, my protagonists—a failed academic and an ex-cop—aren’t flashy. Neither of them is wealthy, and they don’t look like they’ve stepped off a fashion runway. But they’re dealing with some universal issues. Fear of failure. Family conflicts. Uncertainty about their future. And, of course, the search for love.

Do you live somewhere nobody knows about? Or maybe you live somewhere famous but outsiders have misconceptions about your area. Please share in the comments!

***

About The Little Library

Elliott Thompson was once a historian with a promising academic future, but his involvement in a scandal meant a lost job, public shame, and a ruined love life. He took shelter in his rural California hometown, where he teaches online classes, hoards books, and despairs of his future.

Simon Odisho has lost a job as well—to a bullet that sidelined his career in law enforcement. While his shattered knee recovers, he rethinks his job prospects and searches for the courage to come out to his close-knit but conservative extended family.

In an attempt to manage his overflowing book collection, Elliott builds a miniature neighborhood library in his front yard. The project puts him in touch with his neighbors—for better and worse—and introduces him to handsome, charming Simon. While romance blooms quickly between them, Elliott’s not willing to live in the closet, and his best career prospects might take him far away. His books have plenty to tell him about history, but they give him no clues about a future with Simon.

***

About the Author

Kim Fielding is the bestselling author of numerous m/m romance novels, novellas, and short stories. Like Kim herself, her work is eclectic, spanning genres such as contemporary, fantasy, paranormal, and historical. Her stories are set in alternate worlds, in 15th century Bosnia, in modern-day Oregon. Her heroes are hipster architect werewolves, housekeepers, maimed giants, and conflicted graduate students. They’re usually flawed, they often encounter terrible obstacles, but they always find love.

After having migrated back and forth across the western two-thirds of the United States, Kim calls the boring part of California home. She lives there with her husband, her two daughters, and her day job as a university professor, but escapes as often as possible via car, train, plane, or boat. This may explain why her characters often seem to be in transit as well. She dreams of traveling and writing full-time.

Follow Kim:

Website: http://www.kfieldingwrites.com/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/KFieldingWrites

Twitter: @KFieldingWrites

Email: Kim@KFieldingWrites.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bau3S9

A complete list of Kim’s books: http://www.kfieldingwrites.com/kim-fieldings-books/

 

A Highly Recommended Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words story.  Find our review here.

Blog Tour – The Rescuer by Eric Huffbind (excerpt and giveaway)

BLOG TOUR

Book Title: The Rescuer (2nd Edition)

Author: Eric Huffbind

Publisher: Self Published

Cover Artist: Jennifer Craig

Genre/s: Contemporary Gay Male Romance.

Length:  59,000 words/212 paperback pages

Goodreads 

Blurb

Christopher’s striking green eyes and handsome good looks didn’t buy him happiness, but he learned to survive off of them to maintain his expensive lifestyle. Now, after he has nearly destroyed himself, he’s in the fight for his life…

A Contemporary Gay Male Romance – Newly Released 2nd Edition

When Christopher Parker checks himself into the Watermeadow Rehabilitation Center, he was frightened for his future and what was to become of him. Haunted from his past, he knows that he has to take this step in his recovery or face his likely death as the alternative. He never expected to find his social worker, Jason Calhoun, incredibly attractive. Christopher dreams of finding a man to love and who will treat him with decency. Although Jason does fit the bill, he knows that this relationship is strictly professional. Completely out of reach for a failure like himself.

Jason, who is a hopeless romantic, is in the endless pursuit of Prince Charming. Always unlucky in love but finds solace in the care of his patients. He loves being needed and having patients that depend on him. Jason comes to realize that the guys he dates always need to be rescued, much like his patients. A strategy that he’s learning is a poor choice.

Jason discovers that Christopher has become tangled up with a famed billionaire. As a billionaire, he can afford anything he wants, which seems to include even the ability to buy true love. Suddenly, he fears that everything he has worked so hard for, both romance and career, is being threatened by his new nemesis.

If you enjoy stories that pull you in and have you caring about the characters and what happens to them, then this is the book for you. It promises to have you laughing, crying, & smiling!

Buy Links

Queer Romance Ink https://www.queeromanceink.com/book/the-rescuer/

Amazon.com

Amazon.co.uk

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com.au

Barnes & Noble

Excerpt

Feeling a set of lips gently pressing on his forehead, Christopher woke up to someone kissing him. He found a strange man gazing down on him; his eyes weren’t quite in focus yet.

“How are you feeling?” asked the stranger.

Christopher suddenly sprang up from the bed recognizing in a split second whose voice it was. “Sam! What the fuck are you doing here?” Eyes now focusing at one-hundred percent.

“I was just checking in on you. I wanted to know how you were feeling? Can’t a friend pay a visit?”

It was Samuel Barron or “Sam” as his cohorts called him. He was a powerful CEO of one of the nation’s top five-hundred corporations, namely Viatone. They were makers of pharmaceuticals. In the years Christopher had known Sam, Viatone had grown to a five-hundred-billion-dollar company.

Sam was a bit more than just a CEO of a huge corporation. At one time, he was one of the nation’s most eligible bachelors—a gorgeous hunk of a man to feast your eyes upon, despite his advancing years. His looks held up like a fine bottle of wine. Women all over the country would swoon over every magazine photo, television news spot, and social media post. And it wasn’t just the women. Every gay man’s dick would jump into action each time they saw an image of this man; Christopher had been among that crowd.

Mr. Barron exuded pure charisma everywhere he went and in everything he touched. He’d been one of the nation’s most eligible bachelors. However, that status changed five years ago, when he married Patsy Rossmiller.

“You’re no friend!” Christopher shouted back in his most snide and angry voice. “And you’re not welcome here, you motherfucking son-of-a-bitch! Get the fuck out of my room! Better yet, get the hell out of my life!” He made no attempt to hide his feelings. Clearly, he was overwhelmed with upset; downright hostile and belligerent.

“Sweetheart, I’ve been worried sick about you,” Sam said.

“I’m not your sweetheart. Not now—not ever,” Christopher shouted with increasing volume. “You’re not worried about me—you selfish asshole. You’re concerned about your reputation. What would this country think of you if they knew the truth? The country—hell, what would the world think if they found out. That’s all you care about. That’s all you ever cared about.”

“Look, you’re not the only one who’s in a position of power, and you know it!” The bastard CEO snarled back.

That was one comment Christopher did not want to hear, and it was the last straw. He couldn’t take the presence of this man, not a single second more. He burst into tears yet again all the while he screamed as loud as he could.

“Get out! Get out! Get out! Get out!” Over and over, he yelled with increasing intensity. In no time at all, the third-floor staff came racing into Christopher’s room; including Jason. Nurse Judy immediately saw the presence of Sam Barron, as did everyone else. She didn’t have the slightest idea what was upsetting her patient to result in such a tumultuous reaction. Looking directly at the unwanted visitor, she calmly said, “Mr. Barron, I think you had better leave.”

It wasn’t as if she or anyone needed to be introduced to this man. Who wouldn’t recognize him? Sam Barron’s notoriety spread everywhere, particularly in the healthcare community. But what the fuck is this man doing in Christopher Parker’s room at Watermeadow of all places was crawling through Jason’s head. He just couldn’t understand what their connection would be.

Mr. Barron knew he was outnumbered, so he nodded graciously and left as instructed. Christopher shouted after him, “And don’t come back—ever! I never want to see you again!”

He now dissolved into a puddle of tears. Eying Jason from across the room, Christopher ran over and flung his arms around the man, weeping uncontrollably; desperately needing to be in the arms of a friend. And although his new case manager wasn’t precisely a friend, he somehow knew he wouldn’t be rejected. His weight, having grabbed Jason so suddenly, pulled them both tumbling to the floor.

Trying to calm him down with a soft, “shhhhhh, listen to me, if you don’t want Mr. Barron coming back again, I can have him barred from the facility, at least while you’re staying with us.” The loud sobbing continued on Jason’s shoulder. “Would you like that?”

Christopher replied in a faint whisper, “Yes, please.”

Holding onto him tightly, he delivered a telling nod over to Judy. It was evident Christopher was overpowered with anger and anxiety that even the Ativan couldn’t assist with. In a complete state of bewilderment, she indicated she would call security at once, preventing the return of this apparent nemesis. Jason was also just as bewildered as he looked over towards her. Despite Sam Barron’s status in this world, he’d be damned if the man would interfere with a patient’s recovery. He was a tremendous advocate where his patients were concerned. “You just cry as much as you need to.”

Christopher tightened his grip around him even more while continuing to soak Jason’s dress shirt with tears. But Jason didn’t mind being clutched so tightly. It made him feel whole inside; that his life had meaning and purpose. It’s what he was good at—being there for others when they needed him. He treasured being needed; he always did.

After ten minutes of constant sobbing, Christopher finally calmed down. The ongoing sniveling had quelled. Jason eased him off the floor and back into bed. “Lie down and rest for a while. Are you feeling better now?” He received a nod back that indicated a positive answer. So, Jason brought Christopher’s feet up onto the bed and pulled the blanket across him. In his experience, a huge crying jag was exhausting.

Jason shut off the lights in the room and closed the door as he exited. He had a stack of paperwork sitting in his office, which needed his attention. One thing was certain in his mind, there weren’t going to be any elves coming around to take care of it for him.

About the Author 

Eric Huffbind is a man of many talents. He is a hopeless romantic, licensed registered nurse, has been a travel agent, and the eternal social butterfly. Among his passionate interests are history, genealogy, romance, and travel. Like so many other individuals, he has a long bucket list. On the list, to no surprise, was writing a novel. So this, his debut novel, is a lifetime of  raw emotions: be it love, happiness, sadness, tears, joy, anxiety, fear, disappointment, or achievement.

Although, the story in The Rescuer, focuses on the romantic relationship of two gay men, regardless of your sexual orientation, this novel is meant to rekindle the true spirit of romance and love in your heart. If Mr. Huffbind’s story moves you through an array of emotions, and it touches your romantic spirit, please share the book with a friend.
​
Mr. Huffbind was born in Cincinnati, Ohio and has remained in southwest Ohio for his entire life. His current residence is in West Chester Township, Ohio. He shares his life with his husband, an autistic son, and his beautiful Pomeranian.

Social Media Links

Blog/Website

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Giveaway

Enter Eric’s Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win one of the following prizes:

$25 Amazon Gift Card

$15 Amazon Gift Card

$10 Amazon Gift Card

One of 5 FREE Ebook Copies of THE RESCUER

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Book Blast – Love Worth Fighting For (Healing Hearts #3) by Dara Nelson (excerpt)

BOOK BLAST

Book Title: Love Worth Fighting For (Healing Hearts #3)

Author:  Dara Nelson

Publisher: Dare Press

Cover Artist: Dara Nelson/Dan Skinner

Genre/s:  Gay (MM) romance

Length:  68256 words/236 pages

Release Date: February 27, 2018

It is a standalone book.

Blurb

Love.
They had it.
It was right there within their grasp.
Beautiful, blinding, passionate, perfect.
Or was it?
What do you do when your world suddenly and inexplicably falls apart?
How do you cope when everything you thought was good and strong and right…..suddenly isn’t?
How do you come to terms with an end that you never saw coming, a blow from your blindside that crushes your very existence?
How do you let go of the other half of your heart?
For Giovanni Romero, a man of confidence, a man who has always known what he wanted and went after it, you don’t.
You dig in with everything you have, reach deeper to find even more, and you fight.
You fight for what you believe in.
You fight for what you want.
You fight even though you don’t know why you’re fighting in the first place
You fight for love.
Who knew what that meant.  It was different for everyone.  Truth was, even Tommy had no idea what he truly needed to break free from his fears.
But Gio knew, of course he knew.  And once he was able to show Tommy, would the man run screaming from the room or would a whole new world open up at their feet like the golden brick road to Oz.
Restraining benches, sex swings and blindfolds, oh my…

This is an adult M/M romance intended for readers over 18.

Buy Links – Available on KU

Amazon US 

Amazon UK

Goodreads

Book 1

Book 2

Book 3

Excerpt

Gio swirled the amber liquid in his glass as he stared out of his floor to ceiling windows at the twinkling lights from the Seattle skyline below.  This place was supposed to be his sanctuary, his window to the beautiful world below. Instead, tonight it felt like his prison, like he was a captive in his own castle.  He reached up with one hand and angrily yanked at his bowtie to loosen it then he unbuttoned the first few buttons on his shirt. As his hand dropped back down it brushed over the lump in his inner breast pocket.  He felt the tears immediately form in his eyes as he reached shaking fingers inside and pulled out the velvet box. He worked it open with one hand, the other still firmly clasping the glass with the whiskey in it because he knew how badly he needed it. He drained the rest of the fluid as he stared down at the silver and black bands with the diamonds glinting in the moonlight.

Then he hauled his arm back and sent his empty glass flying towards the far wall where it smashed into a hundred pieces as he shouted out “FUCK!” into his empty room.

Empty.

That was an eerily accurate thought right now because he did feel empty.  His heart was shattered and his entire soul felt devoid of everything.

The problem was that he didn’t know why.

Why did he have to feel like this?  Why did he have to go from being happier than he’d ever been to…..this?

He hadn’t done anything wrong as far as he knew but maybe he had?  He tried to wrack his brain to think of something, anything that would explain why his entire world had crashed down around his feet.

Was it something he said?

Was it something he did?

He didn’t know, he just didn’t know.

Because the one person who could tell him had left.  He’d run. And he wasn’t speaking to Gio.

He wouldn’t answer his calls.

He ignored his texts.

Tommy’s silence was like a knife piercing Gio’s dying heart over and over and over again.  Tommy, his beautiful, fierce strong Tiger, had buried his claws in Gio’s chest and squeezed.

He slid his hand into his other pocket and pulled his phone out to….what?  Torture his eviscerated heart some more by reading the text again? Apparently so, since he found his thumb sliding over the screen to wake it up and he stared down at it yet again, even though those words were already burned into his brain:

Tiger: I’m sorry, I just can’t do this anymore.  Don’t call, don’t text, just let me go, please.

What the fuck did that even mean?

How did they go from laughing and enjoying themselves at Tony’s VIP celebration and wedding to this? All in a matter of a few hours.

His hand squeezed his phone as a sob broke free and he came really close to throwing the damn thing against the wall to join the broken glass.

But he couldn’t.

Because he needed his phone.

He needed it to fight, to fight for his man, to fight for their love, to fight for his life, to fight for….them.

He had no other choice.

If he didn’t, he didn’t think he’d survive.

He brought up his contacts and scrolled through as his heart hammered in his chest.

He knew he was grasping at straws here.

And he also knew that it was almost three in the morning.

But this couldn’t wait.

He pressed to dial and brought it up to his ear.

“’Lo?” a tired sounding voice said from the other end.

“I, it’s Gio.  I need your help.”

About the Author 

I was born and raised in the Bay Area of Northern California but have made my home in the Pacific Northwest for the last two decades.  My husband & I live on a small farm surrounded by chickens, goats, rabbits, a turkey, 5 dogs and a cat, in the shadow of stunning Mt Rainier.

With my grown children and grandchildren nearby, my life is always busy, happy and full of laughter.

I am an active Blogger, having created Love Unchained Book Reviews out of my love for all things MM books.

Owner of Dare Press –  Offering quality, affordable services for indie authors, including:

Editing, Publishing, Book Cover Design

NY Literary Magazine Best Story Award 2017 Nominee

When I’m not on the phone with my best friend (which is at least once every day) – I am an avid, addicted reader.  It is my passion, my escape, my joy

And I am most definitely a writer.  The characters in my head are constantly demanding that their story be told.

But above all that – I am a human being. My passion for people is unparalleled, my firm belief in Love is Love unwavering, my hope that all can be accepted, undying. I do not write because I want to, I do it because I have to.  I write because these voices, these beautiful men, have chosen me to tell their stories – and how damn lucky am I for that?

As an author, I write under both my name and a pen name, with total transparency and honesty:

Dara Nelson is the author of the wildly popular ‘Healing Hearts’ series (Love in the Aftermath, Love After Chaos, Love Worth Fighting For – and more to come soon)

“5 stars Amazing!!”

“Highly recommended”

“This is not your average romance story. It is so much more. A book that touched my heart.”

“OMG!!! This was probably one of the best books I’ve ever read.”

“This is the first time I’ve read anything from Dara Nelson, but it won’t be the last. I need more of her writing!”

Under the pen name Kendel Duncan:                                                                                         

Author of the popular & critically acclaimed ‘Black Ops Heroes’ series and the new top-selling ‘Doyle Global Securities’ series

“I can’t recommend Kendel Duncan or Black Ops Heroes ENOUGH!!!! OMG, everyone who likes strong vulnerable men will love these stories!!!”

“I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK AND THIS AMAZING SERIES!!!!!”

“I love how you keep the story going and keep all the characters interesting. Can’t wait for the next book!”

“The emotions are so raw and just I don’t have the right words to express how amazing the books are. You have to read them to understand. I can’t wait for the next installment!!”

 

Social Media Links  

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A VVivacious Review: You’re My Everything by Lily G Blunt

Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5

This is an anthology featuring the following stories:-

1. Happy Anniversary, Jasper  

Rating: 3.75 Stars out of 5

Nathan is about to celebrate his tenth anniversary with Jasper as he waits for him, he reminisces all the moments that made them a couple.

Wow! This story was a surprise. It read like a biography of a couple hitting all the points that made them who they are but that twist at the ending blew me away. The beginning of the story especially the teenage years come off as a little immature maybe in an effort to emulate teenage but I felt that the voice should have been more mature considering that this was a grown-up looking back at his teenage years not an actual scene from that period so the maturity that comes with age should have come across.

The story doesn’t have a strong beginning but the ending more than makes up for it.

2. Over the Rainbow  

Rating: 3.5 Stars out of 5

Dorian has just started teaching under the guidance of his mentor Mark who he can’t help finding sexy as hell. Will they ever find their way to each other?

This was a particularly long story and it is a slice of life fiction so that means that this story more than had its share of ups and downs. But overall I really liked Dorian’s character and I loved his story. Also, you can really sense the delicious chemistry that exists between Dorian and Mark. So, on the whole it was a very satisfying read, seeing these two end up together.

3. Opposites Attract  

Rating: 3 Stars out of 5

Andreas and Chris have been in a relationship for over three years but as time passes Chris’ adventurous persona seems to clash with Andreas’ fear of heights. As they both contemplate their future together, will they be able to get past this hurdle?

I always love established couple romances and that was a plus in favour of this story. Also, the story’s beginning is all fiery passion which somewhat clashes with the steady and calm pace that the rest of the story adopts. The dilemma is a case of differences clashing and both feeling insecure in their relationship with the other, nothing which a good conversation wouldn’t solve. So the conflict comes in the way of nature’s tempestuousness. Overall it was a solid read but since the tone and length of the story was very similar to the previous one, this one suffered a little bit because reading two similarly paced stories one after the other was a tad boring.

4. Service with a Smile  

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

This story appears fifth in the ARC though its listed fourth on the contents page and the story listed after this one appears fourth in the book.

Terry is on a mission and the sales assistant he is eyeing is in for a pounding…

This is a short hot read and God! Is it hot in here… Wow! Terry and Ash blew my head off. This was a really hot and satisfying scene and even though the reveal (I don’t know if I should call it that, but would do you call unveiling the truth after the story tries to misguide you to a different conclusion if not a reveal, hmmm… I guess story progression) at the end was very predictable but all in all a short steamy quick fantastic read.

5.You Can’t Stop Loving Someone Just Like That  

Rating:  2 Stars out of 5

Corey has been in love with his best friend, Jack for years but he knows his love will never be reciprocated. Over the summer before college, Corey meets Pierre and they both fall in love with each other. But, what will Corey do when Jack says he loves Corey, too?

I didn’t understand the point of this story. The title seems to completely contradict the protagonist’s actions and feelings. Also, there is cheating involved. I don’t mind reading about cheating but I really don’t get cheating on someone you love with someone you used to love, I mean you successfully jeopardized two relationships and got absolutely nothing in return except heartache either way. Also, I don’t get how the author is using the words “You Can’t Stop Loving Someone Just Like That” in context of a three-week old relationship, the words would have made more since if applied to Jack & Corey instead of Corey & Pierre. I feel like this story is supposed to be giving me a message but as far as I am concerned the message just doesn’t seem to have been delivered.

6.Without You

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

Jasper has been separated from his lover for five long years and he prays that today on the day of their anniversary he might see his friend… lover, again?

I am not going to comment much on the plot of this story because the plot has a very nice twist to it and even though you start off confused, the story steadily starts to make sense. It is a really nice story though I can’t say much if I plan to avoid spoilers but this story is a really good read.

 On the whole, I enjoyed this anthology, my particular favourites being the first and the last story.

Cover Art by Jay Aheer. I liked the cover.

 Sales Links:  Amazon
Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 1, 172 pages
Expected publication: March 29th 2018 by Lily G Blunt
ASINB07BH3X6JZ
Edition Language English

Review Tour and Giveaway for Out Of The Ocean by Lynn Michaels

 

Universal Buy Links
 
Length: 26,500 words approx.
 

Cover Design: Decorous Anarchy Studios

 
Blurb
 

Cal Bigsby spent his life working the fishing boats and ignoring who he really is and what he needs to be happy.


Prescott ‘Scott’ Vandenburton is being primed to take over Daddy’s company, but he craves a life of his own. His only escape is sailing his yacht.


When a freak storm hits, both are forced to think about life from a whole new perspective.


Shipwrecked, fighting for their lives, and finding unexpected love.



March 15 – The Novel Approach
March 16 – Sexy Erotic Xciting, Hearts On Fire Reviews, Cupcakes & Bookshelves
March 17 – Gay Book Reviews
March 19 – BookLove, Xtreme Delusions
March 20 – Joyfully Jay
March 21 – Jim’s Reading Room, Making It Happen
March 22 – MM Good Book Reviews
March 23 – Diverse Reader, Archaeolibrarian, Dreams and Screams Bookaholics, Annette Gisby, Wicked Reads
March 26 – Bayou Book Junkie, Valerie Ullmer, Sarandipity, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
March 27 – Love Bytes Reviews

Author Bio


Lynn Michaels lives and writes in Tampa, Florida where the sun is hot and the Sangria is cold. Lynn is the newest addition to Rubicon Fiction, and she loves reading and writing about hot men in love. She writes paranormal and contemporary MM Romance


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A Stella Review: Jace’s Trial (Trials in Abingdon #1) by J.M. Wolf

RATING 2 out of 5 stars

 

Life is a trial full of obstacles that stand between you and your goals. Do you have the courage to face your own trial?

Jace Garrison was a musical prodigy at Juilliard ready to take the world by storm. Everything he could ever want out of life was unfolding right before his eyes, until everything came crashing down at once.
With his muse gone, along with everything he loved, will Jace find the courage to move on?

Former Navy SEAL Gerard Ramhart had always played by his family’s rules and traditions. Until he fell in love with Riley Garrison. Unfortunately, before Gerard had the courage to propose to the man he loved, Riley’s life was taken away. Gerard was left devastated, with only his memories of Riley and the pain of losing him to keep him going.

One year after Riley’s death, Gerard finally makes it to Riley’s hometown in Abingdon, Virginia and meets his son Jace for the very first time. Two men grieving over the loss they shared, and during their time of heartache, something blossoms. Can Gerard help Jace find the will to live the life he’s meant to have? And can Jace find his muse and accept his feelings for Gerard, despite the fact that Gerard once belonged to his father?

 

Jace’s Trial is the first book in the Trials in Abingdon series by a new to me author, JM Wolf. I was very curious about this novel, I read the blurb and found it intriguing and different from the usual plots. So I approached the reading with great enthusiasm. Still, from the beginning it was pretty clear the book wouldn’t have been a success to me. At first I wasn’t understanding quite well why, then I realized the story was going on with an unreality I can’t accept in contemporary romance.

Although I read the blurb and so I knew what I was going to read, the first part of the story laid the basis for a disaster. Shortly (and I’m not going to spoiler the book) what happened is Gerard lost his lover, Riley, and one year later he went to Jace’s home (Riley’s son) and the day after they went out for dinner, a dinner more than once called a date, and things soon turned into more intimate as should be between them, The same night Jace asked Gerard if a relationship was possible. Of course I knew a romance would happen between them but not like that. And without revealing too much, yes Gerard said no but he was a liar cause the signal in just that two days were there and Jace got them.

The fact the MCs had a sort of “lust at first sight” left me a little dubious. I could accept this from Jace POV but not from Gerard, especially whe the author let me know Jace was the spitting imagine of his father. That led me to believe he wasn’t actually interested in Jace’s person, but in Jace as a substitute of his dead lover. From that moment it was hard to me to find the his character real and believable. Plus the age difference was too evident, although I usually love it, in this case it didn’t work at all, maybe because I saw Jace and his vulnerability as something to protect or maybe because both of them were  too hurt to start a relationship.

I went on with the reading hoping something would change and made the story more real to my eyes. At the end it was a pain to finish Jace’s Trial, I can assure you I did it just because I had to review it for the blog, otherwise nope. And if you follow my reviews, you know I’m very easy to please, just give me some kind of romance and I’m a happy reader. But when there’s something that bothered me I struggle and it’s impossible to find positive elements to praise. I don’t think I will read the next installment in the series.

The cover art by Rue Volley is good, I like the style quite a lot.

Buy Links – Available on KU

Amazon Universal Link: Smarturl.it/JacesTrial

Amazon US  

Amazon UK 

BOOK DETAILS

TRIGGER WARNING:
This book contains content of physical and mental abuse, grieving, and bottled emotions.

* This is Book 1 in the series, but can be read as a standalone story- no cliffhangers.*

Kindle Edition, 300 pages

Published February 20th 2018 by Encompass Ink

ASIN B079YBP3BM

Edition Language English

Series Trials in Abingdon #1