In the New Release Spotlight: Marina Ford on ‘Lovesick’ (Dreamspinner Press author guest blog)

Lovesick by Marina Ford
Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza

Available for Purchase at

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Marina Ford here today. Welcome, Marina!

Hi, I’m Marina, and I want to introduce you to my debut novel “Lovesick.” It’s the story of a university lecturer, Leo, who is based in London, and who spent the last couple of years mooning after a colleague of his, who disappoints all of Leo’s hopes by getting engaged. The story of how Leo recovers from this blow, how he finds love and friendship, and how he becomes a better person in the process, is told in the form of a diary.

It’s the only book I’ve ever written in this form, and it was an interesting challenge. Normally, chapters give you, the writer, a framework for how to organise your plot points. But diary entries are not like chapters. Stories, friendships, issues don’t evolve, usually, within the span of a day. While most novels (written either in the first person or third person perspective) involve a certain level of foreknowledge by the narrator, and therefore allow you to bring up things that will later become important, diaries have to seem like they are written a day at a time, and so if you, as the writer, want something mentioned that may later become important but feels innocuous or meaningless to begin with, you have to think of clever ways of including them.

The decision to convey Leo’s story in the form of a diary was mostly dictated by the type of story I wanted to tell. Since Leo’s perspective, and especially his flaws which this perspective exposes, are part of his arc, it made sense to tell his story in a way that revealed Leo to the reader, that might not be obvious to Leo himself. The diary form allowed me to present a ‘slice-of-life’ novel in a way that didn’t feel like I was cluttering the reader’s mind with irrelevant detail. The things Leo notices in his day-to-day life, which he thinks are worthy of being mentioned in his diary, tell us often more about Leo than they do about anything else. His wry observations about his neighbours, his work, his family and his friends serve not just to make us aware of the world around him, but mostly to unravel the way Leo sees the world – and eventually it allows us to monitor his growth and progress as a human being.

I had great fun writing this book. It was a labour of love from start to finish. I hope this comes through while reading it. It’s meant to be funny, light and romantic. I hope it’s as enjoyable to read as it was to write.

Blurb

Friday, 23 January

The cat funeral.

Yeah, that happened today. I went and participated in—aided and abetted?—a cat funeral.

London life is tough on idealists. In an ideal world, after years of flirtation, Leo would be cosily settled down with Jack, his long-time crush. In an ideal world, Jack wouldn’t now be engaged to a woman. And in an ideal world, Leo would move on.

When handsome new neighbour Alex moves in opposite Leo, an opportunity to do so presents itself. But Alex is probably straight, working class, and poorer than Leo. While Jack’s engagement unravels, and Leo’s friendship with Alex deepens, will Leo manage to find happiness with the right man? Or will he succumb to his enemies: self-doubt, family expectations, and pride?

Told in diary form, this is both the story of a love triangle in London and the chronicle of a man’s struggles to confront his self-image and overcome his insecurity.

Author bio:

Marina Ford is a thirty-year-old book addict, who would, if permitted, spend all of her time in bookstores, libraries, or in her own bed with stacks and stacks of books. Luckily, she has a husband and a dog who force her to interact with humans of planet Earth from time to time. In fact, she so enjoyed falling in love with her husband that she can’t resist evoking those same feelings in the love stories she creates in her head. She does not believe in love at first sight— but she does believe in Happy Ever After, though it must be earned. She likes her stories to be light and frothy, since real life can be miserable enough without making up more of it in fiction. She lives in England, loves rain (gives one an excuse to stay at home and read books, right?), long walks (when it doesn’t rain), history, love stories, classical literature, pulpy literature, Jane Austen, languages, and dogs. It is her dream to one day possess an enormous country house in which each room is a library (okay, maybe except for the kitchen), and in which there are more dogs than people. A smaller and perhaps more realistic dream of hers is to make people smile with the things she writes.

Release Day Blitz: Delayed Gratification by Tamryn Eradani (excerpt and giveaway)

Title: Delayed Gratification

Series: Daniel & Ryan, Book 1

Author: Tamryn Eradani

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: January 16th

Heat Level: 5 – Erotica

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 11300

Genre: Erotica, BDSM; Businessmen; Friends to Lovers

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Daniel Brown is a man of routine. You might even call him a control freak. So when the new Director of Marketing, Ryan Cole, starts shaking up Daniel’s routine, Daniel doesn’t know how to react. He finds Ryan intriguing, infuriating and oh so attractive, but he doesn’t mix business with pleasure. As their games start to grow kinkier, dare Daniel give in to his desire to let Ryan top him?

Excerpt

There’s another donut on his desk the next morning.

There isn’t even the slightest bit of temptation this time as Daniel picks it up and deposits it on Tracy’s desk. She ate yesterday’s donut, and he doesn’t doubt she’ll eat this one too. Personally, he would never eat something a stranger left on his desk, but he explained the mysteriously appearing donut and she chose to eat it anyway.

He sets the donut down on Tracy’s desk and notices a light on, on the other side of the room, across three rows of cubicles. One of the driving forces behind Daniel’s desire to get promoted was the thought of having an office of his own, of not being hemmed in by cubicle walls or surrounded by people who don’t know how to focus even though that’s what they’re paid to do.

Daniel’s usually the first person in every day and one of the last to leave, and he’s curious who else is here this morning.

He winds through cubicles until he can get a good look at the occupied office.

Ah, Ryan Cole.

He’s the new Director of Marketing, hired a month or maybe two months ago. Daniel had stopped by the welcoming party in between calls. His first call had been an average sale. The second ended in one of Daniel’s best sales this quarter. He’s hoping to get a mention at the next all-company meeting.

Daniel doesn’t remember anything about the welcoming party except a vague sense of distrust, because the man has two first names. One of them, ostensibly, is a last name, and Daniel knows you don’t have control over your last name, but it’s something that bothers him. He likes neat rows of boxes and everything to fit in its box.

A person should have a clear first name and a clear last name.

Ryan’s at his desk, dark head of hair the only thing visible as he fiddles with something at his desk.

With a Krispy Kreme bag.

Coincidence, Daniel tells himself, even though there was a donut on his desk this morning, and there’s only one other person in the office here right now, and that person happens to have a bag from a donut shop.

Bribe, maybe, he thinks next. Sales and marketing have always had a tumultuous relationship at best, and maybe the new guy is trying to fix that. Daniel should tell him bribery isn’t the way to go.

Ryan looks up from what he’s doing, and he catches Daniel staring.

Ryan smirks and holds Daniel’s gaze as he pulls a glazed donut out of the bag. Daniel doesn’t know where to look. The donut is dangerous, because his self-control is stretched thin after two days of denying himself something he wants. The man is even more dangerous.

There’s a knowing look in Ryan’s brown eyes, something that suggests this isn’t a bribe either. It’s something else, something deeper, and Daniel shuts that train of thought down right away. It’s not that. He wouldn’t suggest—he couldn’t know—he…

No, Daniel tells himself firmly.

“Good morning,” he tells Ryan, as if that had been the purpose of his cross-office trip, and then he promptly returns to his own office.

He pulls the blinds to the interoffice windows and sits down in front of his laptop.

It takes him 2.4 minutes to put Ryan out of his mind.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords

Meet the Author

Tamryn studied English and Creative Writing in school but has been writing since she could first hold a pencil. Recently, she’s turned her focus towards writing erotica. She enjoys writing stories where sex comes first, then feelings, because doing things out of order can be fun.

Tamryn has spent the past few months writing the Daniel and Ryan series with a lovely view of mountains out her window, and she’s now searching for a new mountain range to serve as her backdrop as she begins her next project.

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A VVivacious Review: Delayed Gratification (Daniel and Ryan #1) by Tamryn Eradani

Rating – 5 Stars out of 5

Daniel Brown is being tempted every day with a glazed donut on his desk. When he realises that the new Director of Marketing, the one with the two first names, Ryan Cole is the guy putting the donuts on his desk, he realises what the donuts actually stand for. The only question remaining is if, Daniel is ready to take Ryan up on his not so innocent offer?

Daniel Brown is a man of routine. Indeed. Daniel is incredibly prim and proper, his body is in shape; he eats super healthy and denies himself all temptations all week long only to reward himself at the end of the week. He is quirky, borderline-OCD but Oh My God! He was just so prim and proper, I wanted to mess him up! But some of his quirks had me empathizing so much, like the fact that he only went around the left side of his secretary’s desk because that way it was two seconds faster and the way he liked being the first one in his office so that he could soak up the quiet. I mean I was in the story the moment we got to meet Daniel.

This book is very well written, like amazingly so. I loved the precise sentences that just cut away all the frills and get to the point. This book is all from Daniel’s point of view but I loved how the author despite being limited by Daniel’s worldview still manages to give us a such a holistic view of Ryan because Oh My God! Ryan.

I was amazed my Ryan he is like so relaxed and calm and not exactly laid-back but kind of like at peace with himself and personally I was wondering how that would translate to his Dominant side but my! Oh My! I was not at all disappointed. It was the most amazing transformation because it wasn’t one means I was finding it hard to reconcile these two aspects of Ryan’s character but the author had it spot on. He was not only a relaxed, calm, at peace with himself kind of guy he was also a Dom, it was just that simple.

The actual scene actually took my breath away because it was so simple and in a way it was all in Daniel’s head. But somehow that entire scene just put everything into perspective.

I honest to God screamed when this book ended because it is really short, like a short-story short but despite being so short it has this wealth of words that impart so much meaning and I am going to ignore the fact that this got over so soon because I know there is a sequel and I just can’t wait to get my greedy hands on it.

Cover Art by Natasha Snow. It is an amazing cover! I loved the dark colours and their dark overtones, it looks amazing and perfectly fits the story.

Sales Links

NineStar Press

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 43 pages
Expected publication: January 16th 2017 by NineStar Press
ASINB01MS1XD9D
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesDaniel and Ryan #1

A Stella Release Day Review: By The Numbers (By the Numbers #1) by Chris Owen and Tory Temple

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Deuce is coming home from work and find his apartment on fire. His first thought is to Q, his very pregnant dog. Luckily Trey,the hot fireman, has saved her. From that moment,a new friendship and lately more will born between deuce and Trey.

By The Numbers by Chris Owens and Tory Temple was a success to me this second time too. I remembered this story, I bought it when it was first published some years ago. I read a lot and if I remind a book, it means it really impressed me in a positive way.
That’s why I requested this second edition, I was curious to see how it was changed and how (or if) my tastes were changed too. Well I still loved it.

I liked Deuce a lot, how joyous and enthusiastic he was, how caring he was of Q and her puppies, the way he approached life and its difficult times, always with an easiness hard to find around.

I loved how Trey and Deuce became first friends, knew each other; of course the attraction was there since they met but it was measured and the authors left space to the knowing part first, not to the chemistry. That said there were a lot of sex scenes and they were really hot. There were a lot of puppies, adorable and messy as only puppies could be.

There was some child time and some adult time, even at the fire station.

By The Numbers by Chris Owens and Tory Temple is a light and quick read, cute and well done. I adored it and I feel to highly recommend it.

Cover Artist: Maria Fanning. Cover is adorable.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 2nd Edition, 143 pages
Expected publication: January 16th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press, LLC (first published September 27th 2011)
ISBN 1635332311 (ISBN13: 9781635332315)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesBy the Numbers #1

Jaime Samms on Snap Decisions, Attitudes and her release ‘Permanent Ink by Jaime Samms’ (guest blog)

Permanent Ink by Jaime Samms
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyG

Available for Purchase at

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host author Jaime Samms here today. Welcome, Jaime.

Everyone has moments in their lives when their eyes are opened to something they never realized about themselves. Eric and Angel have been best friends since middle school. Eric is wealthy and white. Angel is neither of those things. They shouldn’t be friends but the basketball court brought them together, and kept them together for years and years.

The last thing Eric ever thought about himself was that he would stereo type someone who’s skin was a different colour than his own.

We’re built to make snap decisions about what we see. It’s a hardwired reaction built into our psyche for survival. But it doesn’t really apply to our current lives. It’s a hard thing to overcome, and I find myself having to check my own attitude constantly. It’s hard sometimes, to remember everyone doesn’t look at the world through the same lens.

Its the lesson Eric had to learn before he could let a real love into his life.

Both Angel’s brows went up. He pursed his lips and shrugged. “He’s a pain in the ass, I know. But he’s my cousin. I ain’t kicking him out or sending him off even for you. Might do you some good to get to know him.”

“Don’t need to know him.”

“You think you know so much. What do you have against him?”

“Nothing.”

“Bullshit.”

“I don’t know him, okay?” Eric scrambled. “How can I—”

“You don’t know him. You’re assuming things, and it’s bullshit, because he is a better guy than you or me.”

“Who just happens to freeload on a guy who relies on scholarships to get by. Who sleeps with anything that wags a tail at him. Who—”

“You. Don’t. Know him.” Angel stabbed a finger into Eric’s chest.

“Back off.” Eric brushed Angel’s hand away and turned back to his locker, twisted the lock, and popped it open. He snatched his towel off his waist and began rubbing it over his torso. “We both know guys like him, Angel. We went to school with them. We partied with them, remember? Remember when those parties were busted? When my brother had to sneak us out to avoid the cops? You remember the guys who named names and tried to pin all that shit on us?”

“Sure, and none of it ever stuck to you because Daddy—”

“Hey.” Eric snapped his attention back to Angel. “My daddy protected us both. And Marianne, so do not go there.”

“None of it would have stuck to you anyway,” Angel muttered.

“Because I didn’t do anything. Neither did you.”

“You think that would have mattered?”

“Of course—”

“Because guys like your dad would never have lumped me in with the other delinquents.”

“Angel—”

“I lived next door to those guys, Eric. I grew up in the same neighborhood. I ran the same streets.” He grabbed Eric’s hand and held it up, splaying his own next to it. Dark skin contrasted with Eric’s pale, lightly freckled arm. “I’m the same color as them. Not you.”

“That has nothing to do with—”

“With why you can’t stand Dwayne?”

Eric’s gut twisted. “No. Angel, of course not!”

“Yet you compare him to the thugs you used to slum with and not the best friend you practically grew up with.”

“I—”

“He isn’t like those guys. But you can’t see past the color or the clothes.”

Eric clamped his jaw. It wasn’t like that. He wasn’t like that. Was he?

Buy Link: https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/permanent-ink-by-jaime-samms-8045-b

Blurb:
2nd Edition

Beauty is only skin deep, but some marks—and what they represent—are impossible to escape.

Eric resents his comfortable college life and the restrictions his family’s expectations put on him. Dwayne, his best friend Angel’s cousin, is a pierced and tattooed ex-con trying to rebuild his life. Eric sees only the tattoos and the way Dwayne’s upbringing have dictated his future. It takes a surprising revelation from Angel to force Eric to see past Dwayne’s defenses to the generous heart beneath and to realize it’s time for him to break free of his own instilled beliefs. The men can’t keep apart, and they gradually learn that everything they thought they knew about each other might be wrong.

Opposites attract as two men from very different backgrounds move from enemies to lovers in a story of understanding, compassion, and redemption.

First Edition published by Pink Petal Books, 2011.

About Jaime:

Jaime has been writing for various publishers since the fall of 2008, although she’s been writing for herself far longer. Often asked why men—what’s so fascinating about writing stories about men falling in love—she’s never come up with a clear answer. Just that these are the stories that she loves to read, so it seemed to make sense if she was going to write, they would also be the stories she wrote.

These days, you can find plenty of free reading on her website. She also writes for Various Publishers.

Spare time, when it can be found rolled into a ball at the back of the dryer or cavorting with the dust bunnies in the corners, is spent crocheting, drawing, gardening (weather permitting, of course, since she is Canadian!), or watching movies. She has a day job, as well, which she loves, and two kids, but thankfully, also a wonderful husband who shoulders more than his fair share of household and child-care responsibilities.

She graduated some time ago from college with a fine arts diploma, and a major in textile arts, which basically qualifies her to draw pictures and create things with string and fabric. One always needs an official slip of paper to fall back on after all . . .

Website: http://jaime-samms.com

facebook: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100000982219151&ref=tn_tnmn

Livejournal:http://dontkickmycane.livejournal.com/

Deviantart: http://dontkickmycane.deviantart.com/

Twitter:https://twitter.com/#!/JaimeSamms

Amazon Author page: amazon.com/author/jaimesamms

RIPTIDE TOUR Finding Your Feet (Toronto Connections #2) by Cass Lennox (giveaway)

Finding Your Feet (Toronto Connections #2) by Cass Lennox
Riptide Publishing
Cover Artist L.C. Chase

Read an Excerpt/Buy It Here

About Finding Your Feet

While on holiday in Toronto, Evie Whitmore planned to sightsee and meet other asexuals, not audition for a dance competition. Now she’s representing Toronto’s newest queer dance studio, despite never having danced before. Not only does she have to spend hours learning her routine, she has to do it with one of the grumpiest men she’s ever met. Tyler turns out to be more than a dedicated dancer, though—he might be the kind of man who can sweep her off her feet, literally and figuratively.

Tyler Davis has spent the last year recovering from an emotionally abusive relationship. So he doesn’t need to be pushed into a rushed routine for a dumb competition. Ticking major representation boxes for being trans and biracial isn’t why he went into dance. But Evie turns out to be a dream student. In fact, she helps him remember just how good partnering can be, in all senses of the word. Teaching her the routine, however, raises ghosts for him, ones he’s not sure he can handle.

Plans change, and people change with them. Learning a few steps is one thing; learning to trust again is another entirely.

Available from Riptide Publishing. http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/finding-your-feet

This title is part of the Toronto Connections universe.

About Cass Lennox

Cass Lennox is a permanent expat who has lived in more countries than she cares to admit to and suffers from a chronic case of wanderlust as a result. She started writing stories at the tender age of eleven, but would be the first to say that the early years are best left forgotten and unread. A great believer in happy endings, she arrived at queer romance via fantasy, science fiction, literary fiction, and manga, and she can’t believe it took her that long. Her specialties are diverse characters, gooey happy ever afters, and brownies. She’s currently sequestered in a valley in southeast England.

Connect with Cass:

Blog: casslennox.wordpress.com/
Facebook: www.facebook.com/Cass-Lennox-1704635609768647/
Twitter: twitter.com/CassLennox

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Finding Your Feet, one lucky winner will receive $15 in Riptide Publishing credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 21, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

More Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best of Lists for 2016 and This Week’s Schedule

More Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best of Lists for 2016

We are still in the process of looking over all the great stories and covers of last year as there were so many. I know its so hard to choose favorites. How to pick a favorite story when one may be a comedy and one a drama? When one had you bent over laughing so hard your stomach ached and the other left you sobbing with an empty tissue box? So hard I know. I have the hardest time, that’s why my list will be on the last Sunday of the month. I’m still mulling mine over, adding, subtracting…its crazy. But most of the reviewers here have been far better at it than I. Here is Lila’s list. Plus we still want to hear from our readers, there’s a giveaway associated with your comments.

STRW 2016 Best of Giveaway

We will pick one random reader who leaves a comment with their year end Best of (along with their email addresses) to receive a $10 DSP gift card. Contest ends January 29, at midnight. Must be 18 years of age or older.

Lila’s Best of 2016

Favorite Book of 2016

Bitter Legacy by Dal Maclean

Favorite Short Stories

Pride Weekend by Charlie Descoteaux

Loud and Clear by Aidan Wayne

Guardian by Jordan Taylor

Favorite e-Books

Trailer Trash by Marie Sexton

Rock N Soul by Lauren Sattersby

The Pirate of Fathoms Deep by Megan Derr

Favorite Audiobooks

The President’s Husband by Michael Murphy

Good Boy by Anne Tenino

Trust by Ella Frank

Worth Mentioning

Enemies of the State by Tal Bauer

Risk Aware by Amelia C. Gormley

Ghosts by Jackie Keswick

Murderous Requiem by Jamie Fessenden

To the Highest Bidder by Caitlin Ricci

Murder Once Seen by J.T. Hall

The Scholar’s Heart by Antonia Aquilante

The Assassin’s Pet by Nana G.

Favorite Covers

Horsefeathers by Caitlin Ricci – Designed by Natasha Snow

I Love You More Than Pierogi by K.A. Merikan – Designed by Anna Sikorska

Heartscapes by M.J. Williamz – Designed by Sheri [Graphic Artist 2020]

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 15:

COVER REVEAL for Dating in Retrospect by Lila Leigh Hunter
A Free Dreamer Review: The Little Crow by Caitlin Ricci
A Melanie Release Day Review: Extrasensual Perception by Rayna Vause
More Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best of Lists for 2016
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, January 16:

RIPTIDE TOUR Finding You Feet by Cass Lennox (giveaway)
DSP GUEST POST Aidee Ladnier
Release Day Blitz: Delayed Gratification by Tamryn Eradani
DSP GUEST POST Jaime Samms on Permanent Ink
Review Tour – Clare London’s Chase The Ace (London Lads #1)
A MelanieM Series Review:Jack of Thorns, Knight of Flames & Lord of Ravens *
A Stella Release Day Review: By the Numbers by Chris Owens and Tory Temple
A VVivacious Review: Delayed Gratification by Tamryn Eradani
An Alisa Audiobook Review: What’s in a Name? by Pat Henshaw and David Ross (Narrator)

Tuesday, January 17:

DSP GUEST POST Marina Ford on Lovesick
Blog Tour – Max, Brad, and Maisie Mystery Series by L.G. Fabbo-Gonnella
Review Tour – Silvia Violet’s Revolutionary Temptation
A Lila Audiobook Review: Undercover Boyfriend by Jacob Z. Flores and Rusty Topsfield (Narrator)
A Lila Review: Revolutionary Temptation by Silvia Violet
An Ali Audiobook Review: Winter Oranges by Marie Sexton and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)
An Alisa Review: Hanukkah Gifts by Jacob Cheyenne

Wednesday, January 18:

RIPTIDE TOUR Afraid to Fly by L.A. Witt (giveaway)
DSP GUEST POST Kim Fielding on Love Is Heartless
A Caryn Release Day Review: The Mighty Have Fallen by Bonnie Dee
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Cemeteries by Moonlight by Hunter Frost
A Stella Release Day Review: Permanent Ink by Jaime Samms
A VVivacious Release Day Review: In Your Court by Reece Pine

Thursday, January 19:

DSP GUEST POST Ariel Tachna
DSP GUEST POST Elizabeth Noble on “Quarry“
Blog Tour Schedule – Max, Brad, and Maisie Mystery Series by L.G. Fabbo-Gonnella
Nachos & Hash (Mary’s Boys, Novella One), Brandon Witt Guest Blog/Giveaway
Release Blitz & Review Tour – Anna Martin – The Impossible Boy
A Jeri Review: Afraid to Fly (Anchor Point #2) by L.A. Witt
A Lila Review: The Impossible Boy by Anna Martin
A Paul Review: Max, Brad, and Maisie Mystery Series by L.G. Fabbo-Gonnella

Friday, January 20:

An Interlude Press Tour “Lunch With the Do-Nothings and the Tammy Dinette by Killian B. Brewer
DSP GUEST POST Jon Keys on Camouflage
DSP GUEST POST Rayna Vause on Extrasensual Perception
A Jeri Review: Please Don’t Go by Felice Stevens
A Lila Audiobook Review: Suddenly Yours by Jacob Z. Flores and John Solo (Narrator)
A Stella Review: Do Not Disturb by Chris Scully
An Alisa Release Day Review: Camouflage by Jon Keys

Saturday, January 21:

RJ Scott….The First Wolf Tour and Giveaway
Release Blitz & Review Tour – Watching and Wanting by Jay Northcote
A Jeri Review: Dare You To by Riley Hart
A MelanieM Review: The Prince of the Moon by Megan Derr
A MelanieM Review: The First Wolf by RJ Scott

Cover Reveal for Dating in Retrospect (States of Love) by Lila Leigh Hunter (excerpt and giveaway)

Dating in Retrospect (States of Love) by Lila Leigh Hunter
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Release Date: February 15, 2017

Pre-Order Link*

Book Blurb

Giving the commencement speech at his alma mater doesn’t fit Clay Keller’s meticulous schedule. As Chief Executive Officer of Travel Mogul—the largest travel connoisseur company on the West Coast—he has no time to get back in touch with his country roots. He left fifteen years ago without a second look, but a medical scare makes him change his mind about the speech and brings him face-to-face with his only regret.

Time always moves slower in Southeastern Iowa, and Aaron Grant loves it. He’s added solar farms to the Grant Lanes portfolio and has been teaching at the local university for a decade. The last thing he needs is to have his tenure application compromised by the return of his ex-boyfriend. If he had known who the commencement speaker would be, he would never have volunteered to be the administration liaison.

A proposal—to date for a year—will help them discover that time changes a person, even when everything else stays the same.

Category: Romance
Genre: Contemporary
Sex Content: Explicit
Pairing: MM
Orientation: Bisexual
Identity: Cisgender
Length: Novella

Words: 38,800
Pages: 101

Excerpt

Back to the future and all of that were Clay’s first thoughts as he stepped out of the car. The campus looked the same—Midwest Americana at its best. Redbrick buildings and perfectly pruned trees surrounded him, but as if the last fifteen years hadn’t happened, Clay’s world narrowed to the man waiting at the top of the portico stairs. The only thing time had changed? Them.

“Here’s your receipt, Mr. Keller,” the valet said, interrupting Clay’s musings. He didn’t remember being as young as the valet. Mr. Keller was his father, but Clay didn’t feel like correcting the man’s error.

“Thank you.”

“Not a problem. The man in the light gray suit is Professor Grant. He will be your escort today.”

“Perfect,” Clay responded, smiling at the mention of having an escort at his service, especially one whose body he knew well. With a nod and a tip, Clay left the valet behind, turning his attention back to Professor Grant. Professor. Aaron had done it after all. Clay had never doubted it, even after Aaron decided to stay and work at his family’s farm instead of moving with him to LA. Now he needed to find out if he had a chance with Aaron. At least having him there, waiting for him, had to be a good sign. Today was his lucky day indeed. True, he hadn’t expected to see Aaron so soon. He had planned to stop by the farm after the commencement, but he was ready either way. Life had been rough lately, but having the opportunity to see Aaron again was worth coming back to the middle of Nowhere, Iowa.

He walked casually toward the man he’d left behind many summers ago—a man standing like a prizefighter, waiting for Clay to reach him. With only a couple of feet between them, Clay’s step faltered. Aaron didn’t seem happy to see him, more like he was ready to bolt before Clay got to him. Shaking his head and keeping his eyes on his prey, he closed the distance and extended his hand in greeting.

“Professor Grant, I believe you’re expecting me?” He hoped his smile would ease Aaron’s frown.

“That I am, Mr. Keller. As the university liaison, it is my pleasure to welcome you back to your alma mater and to convey the president’s and the board of trustees’ deepest regards.”

“How long did it take you to memorize that spiel? As far as I remember, you weren’t fond of formalities.” Neither of them let go of the other’s hand. Aaron’s touch, familiar and foreign, branded him in seconds.

“Ass.”

Aaron didn’t expect the hug that followed. As soon as their bodies touched, Aaron tensed, but Clay held him tighter.

“Relax, sunshine. It’s been a while.” Clay let Aaron go, but not before he rubbed his trimmed beard against Aaron’s clean-shaven face as he moved back.

Meet the Author

Lila Leigh Hunter is the pen name of a Puerto Rican author with a hyphenated surname. Born and raised on the island, Lila grew up making up stories her siblings pretended to like. But no matter what they say, as the youngest of six, she’s still their mom’s favorite. According to the dusty diplomas on her wall, she’s an architectural designer living in Southern Texas with her husband and four military brats.

She spends most of her free time writing homoerotic romances about middle-aged men finding happiness and the rest hiding from pesky house chores. When outside of her cave, she likes to observe people and try to guess their stories. Sometimes she wishes the voices in her head were real; going out with the boys in her books sounds like a plan made in heaven.

Social Media

Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/LilaLeighHunter
Author’s Page: http://www.facebook.com/HunterRomances
Closed group on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/groups/LilasBooks/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Hunter_Romances
Website: http://lilaleighhunter.wordpress.com
Email: llhunter.romance@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lila_leigh/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/Hunter_Romances/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/HunterRomances
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/ctHk41

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A MelanieM Review: Switched by N.R. Walker

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Israel Ingham’s life has never been easy. He grew up in a house devoid of love and warmth. Nothing he ever did was good enough. The fact Israel is gay just added to the long list of his father’s disappointments.

Then a letter from Eastport Children’s Hospital changes everything.

A discovery is made, one of gross human error. Twenty-six years ago two baby boys were switched at birth and sent home with the wrong families.

Sam, Israel’s best friend, has been his only source of love and support. With Sam beside him every step of the way, Israel decides to meet his birth mother and her son, the man who lived the life Israel should have.

Israel and Sam become closer than ever, amidst the tumultuous emotions of meeting his birth family, and Sam finds himself questioning his feelings toward his best friend. As Israel embraces new possibilities, he needs to dissect his painful relationship with his parents in order to salvage what’s left.

Because sometimes it takes proof you’re not actually family to become one.

Switched is such a deeply moving story, different in some respects from what I expect from this author and yet so similar in the feelings it will pull from the reader that you know you are reading a N.R. Walker story. It hits so close to the heart that it brings up comparisons to my favorites, especially my beloved Red Dirt series.

In Switched we have a superb friends to lovers tale, with Israel Ingram also known as I.I. or Captain and his best friend, Sam. Israel, wealthy, raised by his nannies, gardeners and other staff than by his cold emotionally removed parents has relied on the support and friendship of Sam and his family to supply him with the love and care he so needed and lacked growing up. Sam, not wealthy in money, but in every other way, has been there, watching the cold disapproval and disinterest eat away at Israel, hoping to staunch those wounds made by Israel’s parents with his own love and support.

Immediately we get this turmoil, all this emotional cost and years of abuse that has gone on, through Walker’s descriptive, vivid scenes and believable dialog. It brings us intimately into these peoples lives and keeps us there. Our connections to these characters become tight and our hearts are tied to their futures and happiness.

Then comes the shattering moment when Israel and his family find out that he was switched at birth. And Israel falls apart. As does his world.

To move through this situation that fractures a man, and watch him put himself back together again, with the love and support of Sam, Sam’s family and much more? Its a true joy. It takes such a moment for Israel and Sam to move past friendship into the love that’s been theirs all along. And in the hands of N.R. Walker, you’ll sob, and laugh, and sob some more as Israel struggles to figure out who he is and where he now stands in this new realigned world.

I have to mention all the layers of supporting characters because there are so many. All believable, all so important to this story. From the father who has behaved so cold as to be abusive, the mother equally coldly detached? They too have layers and, while they must answer for those years, not all is black and white. Walker recognizes Israel’s right to be angry over his upbringing and has him seeing a therapist. Again and again in the story, the right choices are made in the narrative, no holes are left, people move forward with their lives while dealing with the past as best they can. Such a remarkable book.

I just loved Switched by N.R. Walker. I recommend it highly as I do its author, N.R. Walker.

Cover art accurately reflects by idea of Israel, I just love it.

Sales Link

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 269 pages
Published December 25th 2016
Original TitleSwitched
ASINB01N7M3PBW
Edition LanguageEnglish

Tara Lain with 10 Fun Fact on Volley Balls (Balls to the Wall #1) and an Excerpt! (guest post)

Volley Balls (Balls to the Wall #1) by Tara Lain
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Available for Purchase at

And at iBooks

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Tara Lain here today talking about her latest release Volley Balls! Welcome, Tara!

10 Fun Facts About Volley Balls by Tara Lain

Hi everyone! I’m Tara Lain, I write the Beautiful Boys of Romance, and I’m here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words celebrating the re-release of my very popular novella, Volley Balls. The book is revised and expanded and I thought I’d share 10 Fun Facts about my new book –

The new version of Volley Balls is almost twice as long as the original
Volley Balls is a MMM ménage. All the other books in the series are MM.
I never felt that the love between all three men was fully explored in the original story. That’s why I expanded it.
3. The story was once going to be called David and Goliath, but I changed my mind shortly into the book and named it after two of the heroes who are volleyball players. Volley Balls was born.
The original book was supposed to be part of a multi-author anthology, taking place on the beach. The book was so popular, however, it spawned an entire series
Volley Balls was the first story I set in Laguna Beach, CA. Since then, I’ve written 13 or 14 more books in this same setting.
Volley Balls was the third book I ever wrote and as it generated more books in the series, I became known as the “Balls girl”. I have other better known books now, but these were my first bestsellers.
Naming the Balls books has always been a fun game for my readers. You would barely believe some of the names they’ve come up with – and I love them so much, I wish I could write a story for each one.
Part of Volley Balls takes place at the famous Pageant of the Masters, a real live event in Laguna every summer during which live actors portray works of art. Some of them play nude artworks just as my hero in Volley Balls is the statue of David.
Two of my heroes in Volley Balls are Australian – actually one’s an American raised in Australia – and Australia is a country I’ve visited and love. So far, these are my only Aussie romantic heroes.

I hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about Volley Balls. Below is a nibble from the book.

—

Excerpt: Volley Balls by Tara Lain – Revised and Expanded

A double dose of alpha male might be better than one.

Despite just getting out of an abusive relationship with an asshole alpha, David Underwood’s wandering glance lands on two hot members of the Australian volleyball team on Laguna Beach and gets him harassed again. Still, when the delicious Gareth Marshall proves his interest by coming out to his team, David succumbs to his attraction. But Gareth’s volleyball partner, Edge, who’s equally hot, makes the lover’s lives miserable.

For Gareth, a lifetime of hiding his orientation—and his attraction—from his best friend, Edge, as well as everyone else around him, adds up to hurt and frustration. David’s the first man to ever compete with Edge for Gareth’s passion. But Edge has secrets of his own, and David’s ex-lover will never be happy without David under his fist. With everything stacked against him, can a gay Laguna man find happiness with an alpha male–or two?

___________________________

Gareth shifted uneasily in the darkened amphitheater. Another scene change. The effects were lovely and sometimes awe-inspiring, but he’d gotten the idea in the first half hour. He was ready to go.

He glanced to his left at Edge, who seemed fascinated with the show. Intriguing, since Edge had the attention span of a gnat. The other guys were more restless, jabbing each other when the bare-breasted art pieces appeared, but they managed to stay on the near side of rude.

He settled back for the duration. Maybe a little catnap. The lights came up as he started to close his eyes. He heard an indrawn breath and looked up. Holy, bloody, everlasting hell.

In the center of the vast stage, on a rotating platform in a single perfect spotlight, was David, the masterwork of Michelangelo. Gareth had seen it in Florence several times, and every sense he had told him he was looking at the actual statue, although his mind knew this was a human being. Glowing, luminous, absolutely still… sweet bloody Christ, how could someone do it? How could they have found a person so perfect?

He noticed a deep stillness in the audience and also among his mates. Edge was absolutely motionless. Unusual for him. But the statue, the guy, was just that beautiful.

Gareth cocked his head. The model’s legs were not as big and muscular as the Michelangelo. This “statue” was a bit leaner and even more graceful. The pedestal kept turning. He squinted. Bloody hell, he’d seen that perfect ass before. He peered into the pool of light as the David rotated. He’d seen those amazing cheekbones.

It was the guy from the beach and the shop. Gareth rifled through his program for the name. David Underwood. The one who owned the gallery. The fag. Gareth shifted onto his hip, leaning away from Edge. Wouldn’t do to let his pouf-hating friend see his massive erection.

___________________________________________________________________________

About the Author

Tara Lain writes the Beautiful Boys of Romance in LGBT erotic romance novels that star her unique, charismatic heroes. Her first novel was published in January of 2011 and she’s now somewhere around book 35. Her best-selling novels have garnered awards for Best Series, Best Contemporary Romance, Best Paranormal Romance, Best Ménage, Best LGBT Romance, Best Gay Characters, and Tara has been named Best Writer of the Year in the LRC Awards. In her other job, Tara owns an advertising and public relations firm. She often does workshops on both author promotion and writing craft. She lives with her soul-mate husband and her soul-mate dog near the sea in California where she sets a lot of her books. Passionate about diversity, justice, and new experiences, Tara says on her tombstone it will say “Yes”!

Website: http://www.taralain.com

Blog: http://www.taralain.com/blog

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4541791.Tara_Lain

Twitter: http://twitter.com/taralain

FB Page: http://www.facebook.com/taralain

Lovesick by Marina Ford Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza

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Permanent Ink by Jaime Samms Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: AngstyG

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Finding Your Feet (Toronto Connections #2) by Cass Lennox Riptide Publishing Cover Artist L.C. Chase

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More Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best of Lists for 2016

STRW 2016 Best of Giveaway

Lila’s Best of 2016

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, January 15:

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Dating in Retrospect (States of Love) by Lila Leigh Hunter Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

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Volley Balls (Balls to the Wall #1) by Tara Lain Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Reese Dante

Available for Purchase at

Excerpt: Volley Balls by Tara Lain – Revised and Expanded

About the Author

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Lovesick by Marina Ford
Dreamspinner Press

Permanent Ink by Jaime Samms
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: AngstyG

Blurb:
2nd Edition

Finding Your Feet (Toronto Connections #2) by Cass Lennox
Riptide Publishing
Cover Artist L.C. Chase

Dating in Retrospect (States of Love) by Lila Leigh Hunter
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Volley Balls (Balls to the Wall #1) by Tara Lain
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Reese Dante