A Lila Release Day Review:Twisted and Tied (Marshals #4) by Mary Calmes

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Deputy US Marshal Miro Jones finally has everything he ever wanted. He’s head-over-heels in love and married to the man of his dreams, his partner Ian Doyle, he’s doing well at work, and all his friends are in good places as well. Things are all tied up nicely… until they’re not.

Change has never been easy for Miro, and when situations at work force the team he’s come to depend on to break apart, and worst of all, his and Ian’s individual strengths put them on two separate paths, he’s pretty certain everything just went up in smoke. But before he can even worry about the future, his past comes for a visit, shaking his world up even more. It’s hard to tell what road he should truly be on, but as he learns some paths are forged and others are discovered, it might be that where he’s going is the right course after all. If he can navigate all the twists and turns, he and Ian might just get their happily ever after.

Twisted and Tied is my favorite book in this series. Perhaps because it brings all the plot lines to an end and after several volumes, it’s easy to follow the connections with other books by the author. Also by now, we know all the characters well and small details, like brand name mentions, are part of the narrative.

Even when the book is only from Miro’s point of view and in the first person, we get to see and understand everyone’s’ actions and their part in the story. The author is known for her detailed descriptions–from settings, physical aspects to the weather, foods, and clothing.

I will recommend reading Together Tied before this book, not because it’s necessary, but because it brings the relationship between Kage and the Marshals to a different level. Then it’s easier to understand certain decisions Kage takes here involving Miro and Ian. These books definitely are not stand-alone but in my case, I haven’t read the original books with Kage and Jory.

As for this story’s plot, it’s a lot simpler than any of the previous books. The reader has time to appreciate the changes happening in Ian’s and Miro’s lives and they didn’t spend long periods of time apart as they did before. We get updates from other characters and get to know new ones with potential for other series.

The beginning is slower than we are used to but it has enough information not to get you bored. I did a bit of crying around the eighty percent of the story but it was because I didn’t expect something to happen as it did. Perhaps I was naive enough but in the end, it worked well. I was hoping for an impossibly happy ending. But hey, a girl can dream.

The ending was a little anti-climatic but fitting. It brought Miro’s life full circle and set the path for his future with his friends, family, and work. Ian is more of a secondary character in this story than one of the main character but it still worked. Overall, this is a great ending to the Marshals series.

The cover by Reese Dante matched the previous ones and gives several hints about the particulars of this story.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner| Amazon | Nook

ebook, 266 pages
Published: March 13, 2018, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 9781640801721
Edition Language: English

Series: Marshals

Book #1: All Kinds of Tied Down (Marshals, #1)

Book #2: Fit to be Tied (Marshals, #2)

Book #3: Tied Up in Knots (Marshals, #3)

Book #3.5: Together Tied (Marshals, #3.5)

Book #4: Twisted and Tied (Marshals, #4)

An Alisa Release Day Review: Running to You by Andrew Grey

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Home, love, and possibilities he never imagined are waiting for Billy Joe to claim them. But first he needs to escape the horrors of his past.

A twisted act of cruelty and prejudice drives Billy Joe from his Mississippi home, and he makes it as far as Pennsylvania—where his car breaks down just as the year’s first snowstorm blows in. Fortunately, Carlos is there to lend a hand.

Carlos is no stranger to hardship. His family rejected him for being gay, but with determination, he put himself through school and became a librarian. Carlos sees the same willpower in Billy, and he wants to help Billy and his son succeed in a new life that is very different from the one they left behind. With his support, they start to adjust, and before long, both men want more than encouragement from each other. They want the chance for a future together, but their families have other ideas… and Billy’s will stop at nothing to get what they want.

This was a wonderful story. Billy Joe flees his hometown with his son after witnessing something horrible to allow them to make a better life for themselves. Carlos is drawn to the man with the guarded eyes and the adorable little boy.

Billy Joe lived his life under his father’s bigoted rule but after a horrible realization escapes with Tyler. Carlos has lived without his family for years but made a new one with his friends.

I really liked how much “real” this story was. Billy had to deal with a very scary prospect to get justice for his friend but other than that there wasn’t anything big and extravagant, which I think a lot of stories seem to use. I loved watching Carlos and Billy Joe navigate how to entwine their lives together. You could see how both of these men have been jaded by life but want the world for Tyler and will work hard to make it happen, there is no real “rescuing” going on; they both had to support each other in different ways. I could feel both of their pain but also their happiness throughout the story. And I loved Tyler, that boy was adorable, but he wasn’t perfect and still had fits unlike how children are often portrayed.

The cover art by Kanaxa is wonderful and perfect for this story.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages

Published: March 13, 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 978-1-64080-413-5

Edition Language: English

Andrew Grey on Favorite Stories, Covers and his new release Running To You (author guest blog and excerpt)

Running to You by Andrew Grey
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Kanaxa

Release Date: Mar 13 2018

Buy Links:Dreamspinner Press

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Andrew Grey here today talking about favorite stories, and what’s ahead for him as an author. Welcome, Andrew.

♦︎

How do you choose your covers? (curious on my part) Yes. With Dreamspinner, we work with the cover artist to develop a cover that fits the story and one that we like. DSP has always worked that way and it’s a process I really like. There have been times when they have gone above and beyond to make me happy. For the cover of Love Comes Silently we ended up going back and forth twenty times. (Mostly to get the right pink hat.)

Do you have a favorite among your own stories? And why? That is a really hard question. I think I have to say Love Means… No Shame. That story really worked its way deep into my heart. I also put a lot of myself and my own experiences into the story, so it got very personal quickly.

What’s next for you as an author? I just finished a story called Borrowed Heart where the main character Robin, had a heart transplant six years before and after being hurt badly by his ex-boyfriend, he needs to figure out how he’s going to move forward with the time that has been given to him.

Blurb/Synopsis:

Home, love, and possibilities he never imagined are waiting for Billy Joe to claim them. But first he needs to escape the horrors of his past.

Series: Standalone (Currently)
Genre: M/M Contemporary Romance
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print

Excerpt

Carlos Miras pulled to a stop behind the black Escape by the side of the highway. His father would probably tell him he was a fool, and his mother would probably say he had a good heart—too good a heart. But neither of their opinions mattered anymore. He was no longer part of their family. Carlos looked out his front window, wipers swishing back and forth to ward off the snow. He saw hints of light coming from inside the car, most likely from a cell phone.

He got out, pulling his coat closed around him. Hazard lights blinked red against the snow. Carlos tapped on the window of the back door because he thought he saw movement. “Are you all right?” he shouted.

The back door opened to a man leaning over the back seat to a small child still in his car seat, covered in a blanket. “The car died, and I was trying to get him warm.” The man turned and pulled back, eyes widening. Carlos had trouble placing the expression. “We’ll be fine as soon as I call for help.”

“Pop the hood. Let me take a look at it.” Carlos had spent numerous hours working on cars with his father and brothers. Not that he’d been particularly into cars at the time, but he picked things up by osmosis. He went around to the front, and when the hood popped, he pushed it open and used his phone to illuminate the engine.

“It just went dark all of a sudden and everything stopped working,” the man said, pulling himself into the coat after closing the car door.

Carlos bent over the engine and quickly found the problem. “It’s the electrical system.” He reconnected the main circuit to the alternator and stood back up. The hood light came on as though he’d flipped a switch, and Carlos closed the hood. “That ought to do it. I suggest you take it in to have it looked at, but you were pretty lucky.”

The man turned the key and the engine came to life. “Thanks,” he said softly. “I was trying to make Harrisburg to get a hotel and….”

Carlos shook his head. “I don’t think so. The snow isn’t going to stop, and the roads are only going to get worse. I’d say to get a hotel, but with this weather, they have been reporting that almost everything is full.” He sighed. “Let me make a call.” He pulled out his phone and called his landlady, Mrs. Carmichael, and explained the situation. “I know it’s unusual, but he has a little boy with him, and in this weather….”

About the Author

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.

Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Barnes and Noble Page

Dreamspinner Press

Facebook

Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey

Goodreads

Twitter @andrewgreybooks

Website

For Other Works by Andrew Grey

(Please Be Sure To Stop by His Website to See All of His Works)

**** Disclosure of Material: I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book from RBTL Book Promotions and the Author/Publisher with the hope that I will leave my Unbiased Opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”. *****

Release Day Blitz Heartbeats by Jenna Kendrick (excerpt)

HEARTBEATS

JENNA KENDRICK

M/M ROMANCE

RELEASE DATE: 03.13.18

Cover Artist – Dianne at Lyrical Lines

BLURB

When Andrew Palmer and his husband decide to expand their family, they use a surrogate to carry their baby. On the day they get the happy news they’re expecting, Andrew is blindsided when Mason asks him for a divorce and moves out, taking their daughter with him. Instead of counting down the days until the twins’ birth with his partner, Andrew’s fighting for every moment of time with his daughter and readying himself to become a single father.

Orphaned at a young age, Bradley Stern has always wanted a family to call his own. He’s done everything possible in preparation to become a single father including finding a surrogate to carry his child. Knowing he’s going to have two babies to care for means double the love, and he can hardly wait the last few months for his twins to be born.

When Andrew and Bradley each get a call about a tragic car accident and premature delivery, they discover their surrogate has promised the twins to both of them. As they wait for paternity results and watch the babies struggle to survive, they turn to each other for comfort. Only one man will walk away with what both want most, but now he’ll also take the other man’s heart, as well.

Heartbeats Teaser

EXCERPT

“Surely you can tell me something. How are my babies?” Bradley raked his fingers through his hair, barely resisting pulling it out by the handful. No telling what it looked like, but he left it firmly attached to his scalp.

“Mr. Stern, as I’ve already said, someone will be out for you shortly.” The NICU nurse’s voice straddled a fine line between professional courtesy and annoyance. “Now, are you going to wait patiently, or do I have to ask security to escort you out of the hospital?” As he turned away, the glass divider between the info desk and the waiting area rattled with more force than the last time he’d demanded answers. Too bad, because he wasn’t budging until he knew what was happening to his twins and their surrogate.

For all that the hospital had tried to create a welcoming environment, the empty waiting room stank of lost hopes, stale coffee, and the astringent smell that lingered in all hospitals. If he sat, he’d be swallowed up by the despondency that clung to the chairs. Instead, he walked. Fourteen steps up the hall, fourteen steps back, just far enough for it to be considered pacing and not hovering. He’d practically worn a trench into the hardwood floor. It’d been hours already—he glanced at his watch—no, more like twenty minutes. No wonder the staff was losing patience. Time was standing still.

His mouth opened in an overly loud yawn that had him looking right and left with embarrassment, but it was too early for anyone other than hospital staff to be milling about. The inscrutable nurse didn’t even look up from her computer screen.

The adrenaline rush from racing to get here battled with the exhaustion of having been awake for over twenty-four hours. After a long week in New York City filled with frustrating meetings and high-profile events with Uncle Richard and his merry band of blowhards, he’d been unable to stand one more night there. Every car horn and squeal of brakes from the street below set him on edge, and come morning, Richard would have one more piece of business, one more person he needed to meet. Any excuse to keep him nearby and try to wear him down. He’d just wanted to get home to his mountain, treacherous roads in the middle of the night be damned, and he’d called down for his Tesla Roadster before he so much as loosened his tie. Halfway to Egremont, he’d received the call that had him veering east to Springfield.

The same refrain haunted him as it had the rest of the drive. I’m not ready. I’m not ready. Never mind that this was the culmination of a long-held dream. Making lists of baby supplies and everything he needed to decorate the nursery was a far cry from having checked so much as a single item off said lists. But none of that was important right now. He’d deal with the nursery and all the rest once he knew his babies were well.

They’re not ready, either. He’d been reading about fetal development week-by-week throughout the pregnancy, not that he could recall a single useful fact right now. Fingernails and blinking—the parts he’d been so excited about a couple days ago—suddenly took a back seat to lung development. He swallowed the knot in his throat and reached into his pocket. No. Already a hair’s breadth from losing his shit, Googling worst-case scenarios wouldn’t help him avoid being kicked out of the hospital for causing a disturbance.

Stomping feet and labored breaths caught his attention as two men ran down the hall. One pointed at the chairs, then approached the nurse’s station, quietly giving his name. His companion, jacket wide open and sweatshirt clearly inside-out, looked around the area wide-eyed before lurching across the hall to the restroom.

“Did you see where my brother went? A little bit taller, a lot less handsome?”

There was no reply from the nurse. Bradley glanced over to see the man staring back at him quizzically. He pointed at the bathroom just as the door opened.

The brother was indeed taller, by at least a few inches. But his dark blond hair, bright blue eyes, and muscles for days rendered him a hundred times sexier than the first guy.

Judging from the greenish cast to his skin, he was also either hungover or sick. Bradley stepped away in distaste, leaving the other men to melt into the chairs of despair while he resumed pacing. Fourteen steps up the hall. Turn. Five, six, seven—

The door to the unit opened. “Who’s here for the Penn twins?”

—Eight, nine. Wait. Penn.

Bradley hurried over to the man in bright blue scrubs. The surgical mask tucked under his chin pulled his ears forward, giving him a slightly elfin appearance. Or maybe lack of sleep and stress were making Bradley as fanciful as the giraffes and elephants painted on the walls.

The nurse gave Bradley a welcoming smile. “You the new dads?”

Bradley looked to his right, only then noticing the tall guy had also approached.

“Oh, we’re not together,” he said. Being together with someone wasn’t in the cards for him. His heart was taking a big enough risk letting children in, much less a partner.

“We ask that only parents come into the unit for the first visit. Which one of you is the father?” He looked expectantly between the two men.

“I am,” they both replied at the same time.

Jenna Kendrick writes contemporary, new adult, and paranormal romance about smart guys with a propensity for snark. Jenna went to a small college in the woods of Western Massachusetts, where she alternated between bare feet and hiking boots and used dining hall trays as a mode of transportation in the winter. She fell in love with creative writing after writing a satirical essay to get out of yet another literary analysis assignment. Unable to choose a coast or climate zone, she bounced around the country before settling in Upstate New York. She lives with her husband and several furry creatives, some of whom think of her desk as their own.

SOCIAL MEDIA

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/jennakendauth

Tumblr: http://jennakendrickauthor.tumblr.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jennakendrickauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/jennakendrick

Website: http://www.jennakendrick.com

RELEASE DAY BLITZ EXPOSED ANTHOLOGY (a novel taken promo)

Title: EXPOSED: A Romance Anthology

Publisher: Karen Stivali

Release Date (Print & Ebook): March 13, 2018

Length (Print & Ebook): ~400k words

Subgenre: contemporary romance/mixed pairings

Of note: This collection contains m/f, m/m, f/f and menage stories, some of which contain BDSM

Order:

Amazon http://amzn.to/2C8PkWV
iBooks https://apple.co/2BR74KR
Barnes & Noble http://bit.ly/2Bln8U3
Kobo http://bit.ly/2nWp6lz

Book blurb:

Hot. Naked. Guys. Reading.
When the sexiest Top 30 Under 30 men agree to pose naked for the “Expose Yourself To A Good Book” charity calendar, their hot bodies aren’t the only thing that gets EXPOSED. Nine brand new romances with M/F, M/M, F/F and menage pairings from bestselling and award winning authors, there’s something for everyone in this limited release anthology.

Annabeth Albert
LEVEL UP
When Landon, a genius physicist, is picked for a charity calendar, he must deal with an inconvenient attraction to Bailey, his rising-star photographer. Can he slay enough demons from his past to ensure a future together with him?

Karen Booth
WISHING
Jobless and painfully single, Samantha agrees to drive musician Duncan to a photo shoot. He’s in town for only five days, so sexy, and she’s eager for a no-strings fling. But Duncan shoots straight for the heart, making her unsure how she’ll ever survive his goodbye.

Amy Jo Cousins
KATE LIKES GIRLS
Garden center manager Kate Rhee is on a mission. No more hook ups with women or second-guessing her recent break up with an unavailable man. Too bad the foxy, pink-haired bar owner she meets at a naked calendar photo shoot has sworn off girlfriends. Because Kate isn’t doing casual. She can totally resist that temptation. Totally.

Robin Covington
GHOST
Oliver Burns publicly bragged he’d sign the reclusive artist “G”- creator of the First Nations graphic novel, Ghost Warriors – to his comic publishing company. But that gets tough when “G” is Gareth Rain – the man he pulled a post-one-night-stand runner on years ago and the man he’s never forgotten.

Vanessa North
RIGGED
For Kaitlyn, seeing her best friend Gordon naked is no big deal—until watching Sean tie him up changes everything.

Tamsen Parker
THROWN OFF TRACK
Teague has been License to Game’s bassist for over a decade, during which time he’s slept with almost everyone in his path. But it’s always felt like going through the motions. Until he sees his bandmate Christian naked at a charity photoshoot and suddenly, he knows what it is to want.

Roan Parrish
NATURAL ENEMIES
When buttoned-up botanist Stefan Albemarle meets freewheeling urban gardener Milo Rios, it’s hatred at first sight. But hatred quickly turns to lust as Milo shows him how exquisite it can feel to lose control. When opposites attract, love blooms in unexpected places.

Tiffany Reisz
THE WATERMARK
Jason “Still” Waters’ life looks perfect from the outside—money, fame, and the words “World Champion Bull-Rider” after his name. But Jason has a secret, one he never planned on telling anybody…until he meets Simone. She’s the kinky girl of his dreams…and his conservative family’s worst nightmare.

Karen Stivali
LEGAL BRIEFS
When organizing a naked charity calendar puts Rose’s tenure bid in jeopardy, the last person she wants help from is Michael, the gorgeous, arrogant lawyer she butted heads with during his shoot. He’ll defend her for free, but if their secrets come out they could both pay with their hearts.

“The authors of this anthology are hoping to show readers that romance series, like the real world, should reflect our society and should feature the stories of people falling in love without regard to their gender and sexuality. That is why you’ll find m/f, m/m, f/f and menage stories all within this collection.” –Karen Stivali, Curator and Publisher, Exposed: A Romance Anthology

“One of my favorite things about my friends in the romance community, aside from their stellar writing skills, is their passionate commitment to having romance novels depict healthy, loving relationships featuring people of all orientations falling in love in varied combinations. The premise for this anthology is that indie bookstore owner Emma Davis and her best friend, college professor Rose Everheart, both owe a debt of gratitude to the literacy foundation that changed their lives. When they’re trying to come up with an idea to raise money for the foundation, they combine the viral popularity of Hot Dudes Reading with the enormous success of the Naked Rowers charity calendars and the idea for Hot Naked Guys Reading is born.” –Karen Stivali, Curator and Publisher, Exposed: A Romance Anthology

“The calendar will feature men who are not only irresistibly sexy, but have been named to Top 30 Under 30 lists in their respective fields, posed in famous libraries throughout the country. The Expose Yourself to a Good Book campaign draws the attention of photographers, reporters and other professionals. People often find love where they least expect it, when they’re not looking for it, so this anthology explores the journeys of not only the models but the crew, the organizers and all the people brought together in the creation of this charity calendar. Readers will find m/f, m/m, f/f and ménage stories, told by award-winning and bestselling authors from the romance community in this limited-release collection.” –Karen Stivali, Curator and Publisher, Exposed: A Romance Anthology

Teaser from Karen Stivali’s LEGAL BRIEFS:

“I missed you.” He murmurs the word as he kisses his way back up to my neck and latches on, his erection pressing into me, making me wish our clothes would magically disappear.

His phone rings and I feel the vibration against my hip.

He fumbles to grab it and glances at the screen. “Shit. I have to take this.” He swipes at the screen looking worried and barks, “What?”

I can’t hear the other side of the conversation, but his face quickly relaxes.

“No, it’s fine. I just can’t talk. I have a…pressing matter to attend to.” He rolls his eyes and I can see him willing the other person to stop talking. “Okay. Call you tomorrow.”

“Everything okay?”

He slides the phone onto the counter and returns his hands to me, grinding against me again. “Yes. Just my brother. Nothing important.”

“Did you refer to your dick as a ‘pressing matter’?”

He grins and kisses me, rubbing against me again. “Is it pressing?”

“Yes,” the word comes out as a groan as he hits just the right spot.

“Does it matter?” He swivels again, and I sigh, dropping my head against his chest.

“Yes.”

“I rest my case.”

About the authors:

Annabeth Albert grew up sneaking romance novels under the bed covers. Now, she devours all subgenres of romance out in the open—no flashlights required! When she’s not adding to her keeper shelf, she’s a multi-published Pacific Northwest romance writer. The #OutOfUniform series joins her critically acclaimed and fan-favorite LGBTQ romance #Gaymers, #PortlandHeat and #PerfectHarmony series.

To find out what she’s working on next and other fun extras, check out her website: www.annabethalbert.com or connect with Annabeth on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Spotify! Also, be sure to sign up for her newsletter for free ficlets, bonus reads, and contests. The fan group, Annabeth’s Angels, on Facebook is also a great place for bonus content and exclusive contests.

Emotionally complex, sexy, and funny stories are her favorites both to read and to write. Annabeth loves finding happy endings for a variety of pairings and is a passionate gay rights supporter. In between searching out dark heroes to redeem, she works a rewarding day job and wrangles two active children.

***

Karen Booth is a Midwestern girl transplanted in the South, raised on ‘80s music, and forever envious of Judy Blume. She is the author of more than twenty sexy contemporary romances.

Connect with Karen:

Website https://karenbooth.net

Twitter https://twitter.com/karenbbooth

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

Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/karenbbooth/

***

Amy Jo Cousins writes contemporary romance and erotica about smart people finding their own best kind of smexy. She lives in Chicago with her son, where she tweets too much, sometimes runs really far, and waits for the Cubs to win the World Series again.

Connect with Amy Jo:

Website: http://amyjocousins.com/

FB: https://www.facebook.com/AmyJoCousins/

FB reader group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1583199461964237/

Newsletter sign-up: http://amyjocousins.com/newsletter/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-jo-cousins

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_AJCousins

GR: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/259275.Amy_Jo_Cousins

***

A USAToday bestseller, Robin Covington loves to explore the theme of fooling around and falling in love in her books. Her stories burn up the sheets. . .one page at a time. When she’s not writing she’s collecting tasty man candy, indulging in a little comic book geek love, hoarding red nail polish and stalking Chris Evans.

A 2016 RITA® Award finalist, Robin’s books have won the National Reader’s Choice and Golden Leaf Awards and finaled in the Romantic Times Reviewer’s Choice, and the Book Seller’s Best.

She lives in Maryland with her handsome husband, her two brilliant children (they get it from her, of course!), and her beloved furbabies, Dutch and Dixie Joan Wilder (Yes – THE Joan Wilder)

Drop her a line at robin@robincovingtonromance.com – she always writes back.

Connect with Robin:

Email: robin@robincovingtonromance.com

Website: http://www.robincovingtonromance.com

Facebook Profile: http://on.fb.me/YSW9n3

Facebook Page: http://on.fb.me/1fCyWuQ

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RobinCovington

Tumblr: http://robincovingtonromance.tumblr.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/robincovington/

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/1c1Tm5u

Amazon Follow: http://amzn.to/1L2PrAG

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5812874.Robin_Covington

Street Team: http://on.fb.me/1hZdeEu

Book+Main Bites: https://bookandmainbites.com/users/1756

Bookbub Follow: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/robin-covington

Newsletter sign up: http://bit.ly/1hde9GD

***

Vanessa North is a romance novelist, a short fiction geek, and a knitter of strange and wonderful things living her own HEA in Northwest Georgia with her husband, twin boy-children, and a very, very large dog.

Connect with Vanessa:

Website: vanessanorth.com

Facebook profile page: facebook.com/AuthorVanessaNorth

Twitter: @byVanessaNorth

Goodreads: goodreads.com/VanessaNorth

Patreon: http://patreon.com/vanessanorth

***

Tamsen Parker is a stay-at-home mom by day, USA Today bestselling erotic romance writer by naptime. Her novella CRAVING FLIGHT was named to the Best of 2015 lists of Heroes and Heartbreakers, Smexy Books, Romance Novel News, and Dear Author. Heroes and Heartbreakers called her Compass series “bewitching, humorous, erotically intense and emotional.”

She lives with her family outside of Boston, where she tweets too much, sleeps too little and is always in the middle of a book. Aside from good food, sweet rieslings and gin cocktails, she has a fondness for monograms and subway maps. She should really start drinking coffee.

Connect with Tamsen:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/tamsenparker

FB: https://www.facebook.com/tamsenparker/

FB Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1585025098209507/

Website: http://tamsenparker.com/

Newsletter Sign-Up: http://eepurl.com/8GBJX

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tamsen-parker

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Tamsen-Parker/e/B00PMCWTDC/

***

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

***

Tiffany Reisz lives in Lexington, Kentucky with her husband, author Andrew Shaffer. She has won a RITA Award (The Saint), a Lambda Award (The King), and two RT Booklovers Editor’s Choice Awards (The Siren and One Hot December). Find her online at TiffanyReisz.com.

Connect with Tiffany:

TiffanyReisz.com

facebook.com/littleredridingcrop

instagram.com/tiffany_reisz

***

Karen Stivali is the multiple award winning author of over twenty straight and LGBTQ+ contemporary romances. She writes novels about love…like real life, only hotter.

Connect with Karen:

Twitter: https://twitter.com/karenstivali

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

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/karenstivali/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5170527.Karen_Stivali

Reader group: Stivali’s Steam Team https://www.facebook.com/groups/671373056322979/

Blog: http://karenstivali.com

Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/csUiGr

B+M: https://bookandmainbites.com/KarenStivali

Giveaway information:

Prize: Enter to win one of three e-copies of any backlist books by any of the contributing authors.

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A MelanieM Review :Explore with Me (With Me Series #2) by Kris Jacen

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Can two coming from such different backgrounds and points in their lives find a balance to explore together?

The Army is the only thing that First Sergeant Danny Glenn has known in his adult life. From the age of nineteen on, he’s worn a uniform every day. He’s seen so much in his twenty years but the last deployment did something to him. Danny’s begun to wonder if he can’t do more good helping people in the US instead of other countries but to do that he’d have to get out.

Doctor Liam MacNamara is finishing up the last of his residency in Emergency Medicine. Now’s the tough part, which offer to accept. He could stay in New Orleans where shifts are never dull or choose to uproot and experience somewhere different. College followed by medical school and then residency are the only things he’s known since he was eighteen. There’s got to be more out there, right?

Can a retired first sergeant and a brand-new doctor balance each other enough to explore their options together?

I so glad Kris Jacen went ahead and wrote another story in what became a series because it’s wonderful. Explore with Me continues in the same universe and with the same characters and heptad as the marvelous Wait for Me. First Sergeant Danny Glenn is another member of the heptad that I fell in love with in the first story.

But the author removes him from that close-knit group and their support system by placing him in New Orleans. I have to admit I missed them but they all will show up later. By isolating him, cutting him away from his heptad, the focus is again primarily on him, his issues, and the problem at the moment, the one the places him at the hospital. His doctor, Doctor Liam MacNamara, happens to be the baby brother of Mackay…yep the same Master Sergeant Jeff “Mackey” MacNamara of Wait for Me. Lian is also at a crossroads in his life, needing to figure out where to go next now that his internship is done.

Two men, one major attraction, close ties between them, and both at crossroads in their lives. All you need for a wonderful, emotionally charged story and Jacen gives us that. And she does so within the framework of the military she knows so well.

The members of the heptad (the group of soldiers that serves together and support each other) don’t have to be physically present to be a strong presence here. No, they appear via phone calls, texts, what have you. And then of course, they do come when needed. They are family. All the nibbles and squeakers (the children as they are called), the dogs, the spouses (men and women)…everyone is here. I love that about these stories. Kris Jacen makes it clear that a soldier cannot be a soldier within their support system, their military heptad family which includes their actual ones. That important message comes through strongly here for the readers and Danny.

The buildup to a relationship is slow and realistic. I liked that too. In fact I loved everything about this except maybe I wanted a little more at the end. Maybe the author will give it to us in another story. Plus there’s a certain soldier May that now needs his story told as well. I hope they have a part to play in his. This is a terrific series that I can see going on for some time. It’s rich and full of love and wonderful people. I can’t wait for the next one to come out.

I highly recommend this story and the previous one. It helps to have read Wait for Me to understand all the characters you meet here. Take this soldier and the whole heptad into your heart today.

Cover art: Jared Rackler. I love the cover for this book. Attractive and the colors are striking.

Sales Links: MLR Press | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 1 edition, 127 pages
Published February 8th 2018 by MLR Press
Original TitleExplore with Me
ASINB079Q4BCCZ
Edition LanguageEnglish

An Alisa Review: Special Delivery by Deirdre O’Dare

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Monte’s sporting goods store is teetering on the edge of collapse due to the economic problems. The small conservative eastern California town he chose for his dream project is not welcoming, even though he keeps his gay lifestyle quiet. Then big trouble and a gorgeous package delivery driver fall into his world at the same time. Are they somehow connected?

Jeff, a special agent for Homeland Security, is working undercover to help bust a contraband and drug operation. Tracks lead to the small town of Cameron Creek, California. Who is the crime ring’s contact at this end? As a delivery driver, Jeff is scoping things out. When he meets Monte, he is smitten at once, but evidence begins to link this new friend to the case. Jeff has every reason not to pursue a relationship, but can he stop himself?

I can’t say this was a good or bad story but I couldn’t connect with it either way. Monte’s dream store hasn’t been doing nearly as well as he had hoped. Jeff hopes befriending Monte will help his case but doesn’t expect anything to come of it.

Monte seemed very trusting and was accepting of his fate in regards to his store and even second guesses everything between him and Jeff. Jeff is undercover when he meets Monte but doesn’t seem able to stop himself from getting to know the man. I’m not sure if it’s Jeff’s instant distrust and dislike when he sees something that may incriminate Monte or what but these guys seemed to involved for the very little time they spent together.

The cover art by Written Ink Designs is cute and was the first thing that caught my eye.

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 47 pages

Published: September 12, 2018 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634864923

Edition Language: English

A Lila Review :Winter Cowboy by RJ Scott

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Micah Lennox left Whisper Ridge after promising the man he loved that he would never return. But the only way he knows to keep his pregnant sister and nephew safe is to go home. Spending winter in Wyoming opens too many old wounds, but he’s on the run from justice which can’t be far behind, and this is his last chance at redemption.

After a hostage situation leaves Doctor Daniel Sheridan struggling with PTSD, he returns to Whisper Ridge. Joining his dad in family practice is a balm to soothe his exhausted soul, and somehow, he finds a peace he can live with. That is until he meets Micah in a frozen graveyard, and the years of anger and feelings of betrayal boiling inside him, erupt.

Two broken men fight and scratch for their lives and that of their families, and somehow, in the middle of it all, they find each other.

Is it possible that love can be rekindled and become a forever to believe in?

Winter Cowboy is an interesting second chance story with too much happening off-page when the main characters were younger. It has a lot of drama, angst, and dark events–which also happened off-page.

The start is a bit confusing and it takes a moment to get into what’s happening. During this time, we get Micah’s version of the present events, mixed with the past. We learned a lot of what had happened to get him and his sister to this point. Also, their background and relationship with the family members that raised them.

I did enjoy Daniel’s characterization and how easy it was to feel what was happening to him; his fears, PTSD, and his confusion. How the two main events in his life turned into one leaving him with the need to escape and find solitude.

The combination of Micah and Daniel is explosive and passionate. They both have their flaws and at the same time, they bring hope to each other. This book is more about relationships, family, and forgiveness than love but all together makes an enjoyable read.

The cover by Meredith Russell is generic enough to fit the story but it doesn’t present anything about it. Just pretty to call the reader’s attention.

Sale Links: Love Lane| Amazon | NOOK

ebook, 242 pages
Published: February 25, 2018, by Love Lane Books Ltd.
ISBN: 9781785641114
Edition Language: English

Series: Whisper Ridge, Wyoming
Book #1: Winter Cowboy

An Alisa Review: Captive Hearts (Deviant Hearts #1) by A E Ryecart

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

“Too young, too blond, too skinny. Billy Grace was everything my head told me I didn’t want. Too bad my heart had other ideas.”

When Dashiell Slater uses his fists to stop a vicious assault, the last thing he expects is to be offered a job as reward for being a Good Samaritan. Out of work and short of cash, all he has to do is chauffeur Billy around. It’s easy money so saying yes should be a no-brainer. And if the offer’s not quite legal, so what? Dashiell’s smart and savvy, and knows how the world works. But there are strings attached, and Dashiell doesn’t want to get entangled. He’s ready to say no and walk away – until he sees the fear, despair and fathomless sadness in Billy’s jade-green eyes.

“He was everything I wanted, but couldn’t have. What was the use in dreaming when I was already bought and paid for, the property of another man?”

Billy’s life is a daily round of fear and abuse. One wrong word or one wrong look can mean a beating, or worse. Dashiell’s everything Billy’s heart craves – a man who’ll love and protect him, who’ll keep him safe and catch him when he falls. But Billy can’t have what he yearns for, because to give in to his heart means breaking a promise he’s vowed to keep at all costs.

A soul-searing kiss, a whispered promise, and the chance of a future together is there for the taking. But life is never that simple and danger surrounds them at every turn. Imprisoned by devotion, duty and obligation, Billy’s heart is captive, but can falling for Dashiell finally set it free?

It took me a little bit but once this story got going I didn’t want to put it down. Billy has pretty much been living in hell the last two years. Dashiell gives him the opportunity to hope for more while Dashiell’s heart breaks every time he has to bring him back home.

I felt for Billy and the predicament he ended up in, wanting to keep the care for his grandma going while he is essentially being beaten and raped for that. While Billy has become a little jaded he still seemed quite innocent on how the world works.

I loved Dashiell’s determination to get Billy out of the situation he was in and for them to make a life together. These two had chemistry from the beginning and did pretty well with keeping it toned down but the more time they seemed to spend together the more trouble they had doing that. I loved to see that they were able to build a life outside of all that happened and continue on, I just wish we would have known if Dashiell were able to keep in touch with his existing friends as at least Andy seemed important to him. I look forward to reading more in this series.

I like the cover art love the picture of Dashiell.

Sales Link: Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 210 pages

Published: February 23, 2018 by AE Ryecart

Edition Language: English

Series: Deviant Hearts #1

Ari of Ari McKay with Teaser and a giveaway on their new release ‘Heart of Glass (Lawyers in Love #3)’ by Ari McKay

Heart of Glass (Lawyers in Love #3) by Ari McKay
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art by Bree Archer

ORDER LINKS: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Ari of Ari McKay here today to talk about their latest story Heart of Glass. Welcome, Ari!

♦︎

Hello, everyone! I’m the Ari half of Ari McKay, and I am honored to be joining the lovely people at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words today to let you know a little bit about our recent release, Heart of Glass from Dreamspinner Press!

Heart of Glass is book three of our novella series Lawyers in Love. The first story, Santa’s Naughty Helper, was a Christmas tale, while Fortune’s Slings and Cupid’s Arrows was set around Valentine’s Day. Our latest story returns to the Christmas Season, encompassing both the excitement of a New York “big city” holiday, and the delights of a more homespun celebration in the New Jersey suburbs. But while Christmas is the season for the story, the beginning features a misunderstanding that no one is likely to share around a holiday fire!

Asher Caldwell doesn’t do hearth and home, family or commitment. It’s a result of his upbringing by a father who just can’t seem to understand the word “faithful”. Asher is afraid of being like is father, so his love life consists of nothing more than one night stands with paid escorts. It might seem a bit ironic that a lawyer would result to an activity which is against the law, but Asher views it as serving his purpose. He gets the physical release he needs, the escorts receive compensation, and no one gets hurt.

No one knows about Asher’s practical arrangement, especially not Zach Richardson. Like Asher, Zach is the product of his upbringing. He comes from a large, warm family, and what he wants most is to find someone to love in the way his parents love one another. Unfortunately, Zach isn’t a very outgoing person, and between working for the District Attorney and his own innate reserve, Zach doesn’t meet many men. But when he works on the prosecution of a high profile case, he sees Asher Caldwell in action, and he’s completely blown away. Fascinated with both Asher and Asher’s ability to defend a seemingly indefensible case, Zach applies to Asher’s firm. Unfortunately, working in the same office doesn’t win him Asher’s notice, and Zach finally takes his friends’ advice to get out and try to find someone.

His best friends give him a makeover, and even Zach is stunned at the difference it makes in his appearance. For the first time in his life, he actually feels desirable. When his clubbing date with his pals is interrupted by an urgent assignment delivering paperwork to Asher’s apartment, Zach is a little curious if Asher will notice the difference.

Asher seems to notice – and to approve wholeheartedly, since he proceeds to seduce Zach. Unable to resist, Zach gives in, wondering if this could be the start of the kind of relationship with Asher he’d been hoping for. Their chemistry is off the charts, and Zach is beyond ecstatic, until the truth of the situation is finally revealed. Asher was expecting an escort, and he thought Zach was nothing more than his paid companion for the evening. To say Zach is devastated is quite an understatement.

When Asher learns the truth, he’s horrified that he’s gone to bed with one of his employees — and yet his encounter with Zach left him, for the first time, hungry for more. Now Asher faces the greatest challenge of his life – to convince Zach to take a chance on him, and prove to them both that he can be faithful to one man for the rest of his life.

I’m not going to give anything else away, but I hope I’ve whetted your appetite the way Zach did Asher’s, and that you’ll give Heart of Glass a chance to make you fall in love with our boys the way we did. And even if it isn’t Christmas, maybe a little of the magic can still rub off with the gift of a happily ever after!

Love always! Ari and McKay

BLURB:

Fear of being like his unfaithful father has put high walls around senior litigator Asher Caldwell’s heart. Can former district attorney Zach Richardson knock them down to reveal the passionate man beneath the commitment-phobic workaholic, or will Zach’s own jealousy destroy what they’re trying to build?

A new life and a new love—that’s what Zach’s hoping for when he leaves the DA’s office and lets his friends give him a makeover. But the jury’s still out on whether the experiment was a success. His new look gets the attention of his boss and secret crush, Asher Caldwell, and leads to a seduction. Unfortunately, to Zach’s horror he learns that Asher assumed he was a paid escort. Asher is equally mortified to discover he had sex with an employee. Even so, the encounter meant a lot to both men, and they want to give dating a shot. Their romance born out of mistaken identity might work if Zack can trust Asher to be satisfied with the love of only one man… and if Asher can trust himself.

About the Authors

Ari McKay is the professional pseudonym for Arionrhod and McKay, who have been writing together for over a decade. Their collaborations encompass a wide variety of romance genres, including contemporary, fantasy, science fiction, gothic, and action/adventure. Their work includes the Blood Bathory series of paranormal novels, the Herc’s Mercs series, as well as two historical Westerns: Heart of Stone and Finding Forgiveness. When not writing, they can often be found scheming over costume designs or binge watching TV shows together.

Arionrhod is a systems engineer by day who is eagerly looking forward to (hopefully) becoming a full time writer in the not-too-distant future. Now that she is an empty-nester, she has turned her attentions to finding the perfect piece of land to build a fortress in preparation for the zombie apocalypse, and baking (and eating) far too many cakes.

McKay is an English teacher who has been writing for one reason or another most of her life. She also enjoys knitting, reading, cooking, and playing video games. She has been known to knit in public. Given she has the survival skills of a gnat, she’s relying on Arionrhod to help her survive the zombie apocalypse.

AUTHOR CONTACTS:

Website: http://arimckay.wordpress.com

Facebook author page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ari-Mckay/266185570179748

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ari.mckay.7

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AriMcKay1

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6153630.Ari_McKay

Giveaway

The authors are giving away with our post of the first two Lawyers in Love stories, Santa’s Naughty Helper and Fortune’s Slings and Cupid’s Arrows. Leave a comment, maybe about the series or even a suggestion for a new holiday for them along with your email address where you can be reached. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

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Running to You by Andrew Grey Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Kanaxa

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Heart of Glass (Lawyers in Love #3) by Ari McKay Dreamspinner Press Cover Art by Bree Archer

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Running to You by Andrew Grey
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Kanaxa

Heart of Glass (Lawyers in Love #3) by Ari McKay
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art by Bree Archer