Category: Contemporary fiction

A VVivacious Review: Hijacked Love by Ethan Stone

Rating: 4.5 Stars out of 5
 
Special Agent Zachary Pomeroy starts his first day at the Portland FBI Office with a bang. It’s the day of the plane hijacking by a man nicknamed by the media as D. B. Cooper. As Cooper pulls off the perfect crime, Zachary can’t help but pick up clues that might look like nothing to an uninclined eye. But as evidence starts pointing in a new direction, Zachary finds himself exposed in a whole new way. Will Zachary ever be able to answer the question of the century or will the answer continue to elude him?
 
This was a fantastic read. I have never heard about the plane hijacking by Dan aka D. B. Cooper but after reading the story I read up on the legend and I have got to say this story is interesting both ways, but I loved how the author come up with a possible solution for the problem. It was really amazing. This book makes for a very enjoyable read.
 
I loved how the story is written, the author manages to merge a lot different strands of content into this story and the story was richer for it. The author manages to work in the prejudice against gays, a love story, the D. B. Cooper case as well as a perfectly plausible explanation for how it went down (though it might not be consistent with the facts of the case). I loved how the author spun out the story, how there were little details incorporated all over the story making it work and making it such an interesting read.
 
I really liked Zachary and his story, especially how he solves the case. I was a little disappointed by the love story, it felt a little contrived like how Zachary comes off as especially happy about being in an open relationship and then the next second he turns to Phillip, his lover and confesses his wish to be exclusive. The sentiment didn’t ring true especially if you take the former statement to be sacrosanct. That was a bit of a glitch.
 
Otherwise I loved the story. It makes for an excellent read. It is a very good mystery and the story is very well told.
 
I also liked how the author was able to merge the prejudice homosexuals faced at that time into the story line in such an effortless manner. I loved how her explanation seemed so in sync with the attitudes of that time but more than anything the clues leading up to the big reveal were amazing.
 
This book is was so worth my time. I really want to check out more books by this author given how much I loved this one.
 
Cover Art:. The cover seems perfect for the storyline.
Sales Links:  GoodReads ~ Amazon
Book Details:
ebook, 54 pages
Published April 15th 2017 by Stone Publishing
Original TitleHijacked Love
ASINB06Y5MLDCJ
Edition Language English

An Alisa Review: Wake up Call by Becky Black

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

When you live beside a cat café, it’s inevitable the fur will start flying eventually. Derek “Dez” Walker, a police officer wounded in a shooting, feels adrift and isolated as he makes a slow recovery. Others call him a hero, but it’s a title he doesn’t think he deserves.

 

When Dez intervenes in a burglary at the cat café near his apartment, he meets the owner, Francis “Fran” Green. Though he’s a hero to Fran for his intervention in the burglary, it’s Fran who becomes a strong source of support for Dez. Fran offers friendship to his vulnerable neighbour and, as they spend more time together, Dez comes to rely on Fran … and his cats.

 

He begins to find the way out of his isolation, but does he deserve everything Fran offers?

 

I thought this was such a cute story.  Dez has pretty much been living his life on pause since he was wounded, avoiding others and moving on.  Being awoken by the sound of a burglary and the new friendship he develops with Fran is just the wake-up call he needs to get his life back on track.

 

Fran wants to show Dez that he is worthy of affection let alone the friendship he is offering, having helped a brother with PTSD he knows he has to be patient but also push at the same time.  Dez knows he needs to try to get better to be the man he thinks Fran deserves and gains a new cat, Riley, in the process.  We see this story from through Dez’s eyes but Fran is so open and loving that you can easily how he is feeling too.  These two complement each other wonderfully and I loved seeing them together.

 

The cover art by Written Ink Designs is adorable and gives a great visual of Dez and his new cat, Riley.

 

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | B&N

 

Book Details:

ebook, 56 pages

Published: April 8, 2017 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634863957

Edition Language: English

 

Check Out the Latest New Romance! Faking It (Ringside Romance #2) by Christine d’Abo (guest post and giveaway)

 

Faking It (Ringside Romance #2) by Christine d’Abo
Riptide Publishing
Cover by: L.C. Chase

Read an Excerpt/Purchase it here at Riptide Publishing

 

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Christine d’Abo here today taking about  her latest novel, Faking It (Ringside Romance #2). Welcome, Christine!

✒︎

Hello, my name is Christine d’Abo and I’m so happy to be here today.

I’m a firm believer that the good friends are the family members that we get to choose. The get us on a level that sometimes our biological family doesn’t. When I came up with the idea of Ringside Gym and the men who were involved with it, I wanted to make sure that their relationships reflected that feeling.

Max would be the “middle” child of the trio of heroes. He’s my peacemaker, the one who wants to make sure everyone and everything is okay. But Max has a problem – he doesn’t know what to do when he’s not needed. Zack no longer needs him now that he has Noland in his life, and their other friend Eli has been MIA due to his MMA career. Max’s life begins to drift and he questions not only what he wants, but also who he wants in it.

When Grady Barnes shows up on the scene, Max is equal parts intrigued and annoyed. Here is a man who seems to have it all, but is seemingly at the whim of his father.  When Grady asks Max for help, he takes a leap of faith and agrees. What Max doesn’t anticipate is how quickly Grady will work his way into his heart.

All Max needs to do is find a way to prevent Grady from being forced into a marriage he doesn’t want, while not giving in to his impulse to sweep Grady into his arm.

Simple, right?

You can visit Christine at her website www.christinedabo.com, and chat with her on Facebook and Twitter. Want to keep up with Christine’s new releases? Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free book!

About Faking It

Max Tremblay should be happy. His nightclub, Frantic, is one of the most popular gay clubs in Toronto, and his childhood refuge, Ringside Gym, is well on the way to reopening. But when he finds yet another drunk in the alley beside the bar, Max isn’t sure this is the life he truly wants.

Grady Barnes has it all. He’s rich, famous, and wants for nothing. Well, nothing but a good relationship with his father. When he discovers that his father is going to force him into an arranged marriage, Grady has had enough. He tracks down Max, the man who got him to safety after a night of overindulgence, and makes him a proposal: pretend to be his fiancé for two weeks and he’ll invest in Ringside Gym.

When the pair travel to Vancouver to attend a family wedding, the flames of their mutual attraction ignite, and they discover that the only difference between pretend and reality is how well they can fake it.

Now available from Riptide Publishing. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/faking-it

About the Ringside Romance Universe

Deep in the heart of Toronto lies Ringside Gym. Once a safe haven for troubled teens, Ringside has gone derelict, a forgotten memory of past days. Until a group of friends set out to do what they can to bring life back to the ring and create a new home for LGBT youths.

But when their lives threaten to pull down their dreams, each man must turn to others to help make it a reality. Winners take all—but there are no losers in love.

Check out Ringside Romance. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/universe/ringside-romance

About Christine d’Abo

A romance novelist and short story writer, Christine has over thirty publications to her name. She loves to exercise and stops writing just long enough to keep her body in motion too. When she’s not pretending to be a ninja in her basement, she’s most likely spending time with her family and two dogs.

Connect with Christine:

 

Giveaway

 

To celebrate the release of Faking It, one lucky winner will receive a $25 Riptide credit. Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on May 13, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

A Kai Review: Anything For You (A Middleton Romance #1) by Ethan Day

Rating: 3,5 stars out of 5
 
Jason Miller was still in the closet and didn’t see himself coming out anytime soon (or ever). He was accommodated with his situation and just the thought of what his parents, sister, and co-workers could say about his sexuality put him hiding everything he was from almost everybody.
He had never found a reason to kick the door open, walk into the light of day, and tell the world he was gay. At least that’s what he kept telling himself — along with a multitude of other solid arguments.
When Jason met Chad Wellington, an ex gay-rights activist/coming out guru, he was immediately attracted. Chad was the one thing Jason never saw coming and like a moth to a flame, these two opposites ignited.  Jason didn’t count with the feelings he started to have for Chad. He was in love for the first time. How could he give up on it? But Chad wouldn’t hide forever, so would he man up and coming out? Would he do it for Chad?
Well, guys, I started hating Jason in this book. He was a nonsense bitch guy. I didn’t pick up on the the real reason he was in the closet. I mean, his sister was an out and proud lesbian and his parents loved her anyway. So, what was his problem? He was a coward. And the worse was that he bitched at gay couples who were out, just because he wasn’t. Can you understand that? I know he was jealous, but it was irrational and even he knew it.
Thankfully after he met Chad he grew a little on me. He was yet a coward, but he was also funny and became nicer through the book.
I loved Chad and his power. He knew what he wanted and he wasn’t shy about it.
When they first met I didn’t buy their connection. I felt like it had happened too fast. But along the story, I started cheering for them and connecting with them. Plus seeing them fighting for their relationship was great.
The story was centered around the coming out question and how it can affect a relationship.  I liked how it was written: fluid and with humor. I loved the funny parts, and I literally laugh out loud reading it.
Well, the only thing I really didn’t like about this book was how fast paced it was. I mean, it could have been more elaborate and a little more lengthy. I just wanted more. Lol
This book was a light, funny, and quick reading. It didn’t wow me or anything, but I really enjoyed it.
Sales Links  Amazon
Book Details:
Kindle Edition
Published February 19th 2017 (first published March 13th 2011)
Original TitleAnything for You
ASINB06X1F3WM5
SeriesA Middleton Romance #1