A Paul B Release Day Review: Running Blind by Kim Fielding and Verona Keyes

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

running-blind-by-kim-fielding-and-venona-keysKyle Green is a successful voice actor with a partner of ten years.  Finishing up the latest season of the hit anime Ecos, Kyle feels a bit tired.  He wakes up in the hospital having suffered a stroke at forty.  His motor functions seem to be fine but he finds out that he is blind.  This will make it impossible for his to continue his work with the animated series.  When his partner Matt informs him that he just received a grant to work on Native American ruins for the next five years, Kyle insists that he go.  Kyle reasons that the spark in the relationship was lost years ago and he should not stand in the way of Matt’s research. 

With the help of his sister Lily, Kyle starts to learn how to live as a blind man.  When Kyle sees spots of light while moving, Matt arranges for Kyle to see a neurologist.  Kyle is experiencing Riddoch syndrome, where previously sighted people can see some things when in motion.  He decides to try running.  As he runs, he begins to see things in motion but is tripped up by a child’s tricycle.  He is helped by Seth Caplan, a man who recently moved by to Chicago to help his mother.  Seth offers to help Kyle home.  He suggests Kyle finding a volunteer to run with.  Kyle contacts the local advocacy agency who sets things up.  Who should call Kyle but Seth?  The men are definitely attracted to each other but each has what they consider baggage that they carry into the possible relationship. 

I really enjoyed this book.  Kyle seems to have everything at the beginning and loses it all within the first couple of chapters.  Kyle, while upset he may never be able to anime again, he rebounds by doing audiobooks and commercials, which do not require synchronization with video.  Seth is a lawyer who quit a large firm to work with a tech company which develops apps for adaptive technology.  He came back to Chicago to help out with his mother who is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s.  Kyle does not want to be a burden due to his blindness while Seth has something in his past he feels guilty about and has not been in a relationship in a while.  The end is definitely a foreseeable happily ever after.

The cover by Anna Sikorska is perfect for this book.  It has what appear to be two runners, bound by tether at the wrist.  It could be from a scene right out of the book. 

Sales Links

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Book Details

ebook, 200 pages
Expected publication: November 7th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634778928 (ISBN13: 9781634778923)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Brandon Witt on Picking Titles and ‘Mapping the Forest (Rocky Mountain Boys)’ (author guest post)

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Mapping the Forest by Brandon Witt
Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Anne Cain

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Sales Links

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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Brandon Witt here today on his Mapping the Forest tour. Welcome, Brandon!

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In the previous blog tour stop, I spoke about a ‘contest’ of good intentions that had very positive results. However, there was another ‘contest’ associated with Mapping the Forest where the results weren’t so grand.

I was struggling with naming this novel.  I had the titles of the following four books of the series already figured out, but, for some reason, the name of the first one simply wasn’t coming. 

So, I had a brilliant idea.  I held a book-naming contest on Facebook.  I listed a few titles and had people vote. 

I don’t remember the rest of the titles, but the winning one was Forsaking the Forest. 

One of my beta readers didn’t hold back after reading the book.  They hated the title.  Hated it. 

It is a little melodramatic if I’m being honest.  But I just really love the word forsake.  I don’t know what my problem is! 

And, the beta pointed out, no one in the book actually forsakes the forest.  They all really like the forest. 

In the contestants’ defense, all the titles I listed were atrocious. 

So, please consider this my apology if you were one of the readers who participated in the contest.  I’m sorry I gave you horrible names to pick from.  I’m sorry that I broke my word and didn’t keep the atrocious title you picked. I did for a while, saying that I couldn’t go back on the contest. More than one person said I was being an idiot.  Thank the lord for them!

It was my fault.  All my fault.  Not yours.  You’re lovely and beautiful and did nothing to deserve such a dark fate as picking between God-Awful titles. 

No one in this book forsaked (forsook) the forest, but I did end up forsaking that title. 

So, where did the current title come from?

In this novel, both of our loveless heroes are lost in their own different mazes of life and both make their living in and around the national forest of Rocky Mountain National Park, in Estes Park, Colorado.  And though the forest is beautiful and magical, it can also be dark and deadly if you’re unclear of how to navigate the twists and turns of its paths.  For Gabe and Luis, that is true of life.  Unlike with the national park, there is no guide to lead you to the safe stations in life or love.  You have to map it out yourself. 

Please join Gabe and Luis as they begin Mapping their ways out of their Forests and towards each other.

(Dear lord, that was cheesy, huh?  But that really is where the new title came from.)

Please join me on November 9, at Love Bytes, for the next blog tour stop.  We’ve mapped our way through this tour to the final posting. (Dear lord, I literally can’t stop.)  I’ve saved the best for last, where I will introduce you to a four-legged friend who plays a very important role in Mapping the Forest.

Blog Tour Stops:

  • October 28- MM Good Book Reviews
  • November 2 – My Fiction Nook
  • November 3 – Open Skye Book Reviews
  • November 4 – Prism Book Alliance
  • November 4 – The Novel Approach
  • November 7 – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words  
  • November 9 – Love Bytes

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Mapping the Forest Blurb

Happily ever after has no map, but sometimes fate sends a guiding light.

Gabe Rice, a seasonal ranger at the Rocky Mountain National Park, can’t seem to get his life on the right trail. He loves the rugged beauty of the land, and there is no place he would rather live than the mountain community of Estes Park. But after six years, Gabe is beginning to wonder if he’ll ever get a full-time position or find love. When Gabe sees Luis—and hears his gorgeous singing—he’s compelled to meet him.

Luis Martinez, the new owner of a hotel and steak ride business in Estes, left California and a career as a therapist for a fresh start in Colorado. But even the beauty of the mountains can’t help him forget the past or move forward. Unprepared for his strong attraction to Gabe, Luis is ready to run and hide from emotions he never thought he’d have again.

Suddenly the path ahead opens to a future that looks brighter for both of them, if they can find the courage to walk forward—together.

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Brandon Witt’s Author Bio: 

Brandon Witt’s outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he’s got plenty to write about….

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Giveaway

Brandon Witt is including a giveaway for a $5 Amazon gift card.  Leave a comment below and one lucky reader will be chosen by Brandon to receive the gift card.  Be sure to leave your email address where you can be reached if chosen.   Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Contest  ends  November 9 at midnight.

Mapping the Forest Links:

Dreamspinner:  http://bit.ly/2dNwokA

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

Cover Reveal for Cowboys Don’t Come Out by Tara Lain (excerpt and cover reveal)

 
Cowboys Don’t Come Out
by Tara Lain
 
Blurb:
Rand McIntyre settles for good enough. He loves his small California ranch, raising horses, and teaching riding to the kids he adores—but having kids of his own and someone to love means coming out, and that would jeopardize everything he’s built. Then, despite his terror of flying, he goes on a holiday to Hana, Hawaii with his parents and meets the dark and mysterious Kai Kealoha, a genuine Hawaiian cowboy. Rand takes to Kai’s kid brother and sister as much as he drools over Kai, but the guy sports more prickles than a horned toad, and more secrets than the exotic land he comes from.
Kai’s earned his privacy and lives to protect his “kids.” He ought to stay away from the big, handsome cowboy for everyone’s sake—but since the guy’s just a haole on a short vacation, how much damage can he do? When all of Kai’s worst fears and Rand’s darkest nightmares come true at once, there’s not much chance for two cowboys who can’t—or won’t—come out.
Release Date: 
December 6, 2016
Available for pre-order at

 

Also available in paperback
Excerpt

By now the place was jumping. People had been squeezing into the cracks ever since they arrived, and the music clearly signaled dancing time. Couples bopped out onto the floor and the Texas two-step, Hawaiian style, began.

Rand slugged back a mouthful of beer. “You wanna?”

“You can dance? Hell yes.”

She was out of the booth and onto the floor in record time. Apparently she didn’t get enough dancing. She’s come to the right place. Dancing R Us. He took her in the semiclose two-step hold and set off onto the floor.

After a couple of twirls and close-hold side-by-sides, she grinned up at him. “You really can dance.”

“As advertised.” That might be the only thing about him that was.

A few people had come to the edge of the dance floor and were clapping Rand and Julie on. Rand released his inner exhibitionist and put on a little show. Julie had no problem keeping up. Suddenly a loud whistle cut through the music, and someone yelled, “Go Kai!”

Rand looked around and saw a guy dancing with a pretty redhead. Whoa. Maybe he should say a pretty guy dancing with a redhead—tallish, lean, with caramel skin that glowed in the soft light, and below-the-ear-length black hair that swayed under his cowboy hat as he danced. And shit, could that guy dance. Graceful, sure-footed, and sexy. Holy hell.

“Hey, can’t stand the competition?”

“What?” Julie grinned at him. Damn, he’d stopped dancing to watch. “Oh, hell no.”

The band segued into something far more up-tempo and fiddle-based. Most of the dancers gave up, but not the beautiful guy. He just stepped it up and out, twirling his partner across the floor. Rand took up the gauntlet, adding in some line-dance steps. Julie picked it up fast, and they held their own. Rand glanced at the other couple and got a stare from Mr. Gorgeous, who filled out his jeans like sin in blue denim, his ass rounding the back and worn fabric cupping his package in front. Stop looking, asshole, before you get a very embarrassing boner.

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 32. 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”!

 

You can find Tara at Lain

               

 

 

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National Novel Writing Month Has Started! A Special Contest! This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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National Novel Writing Month Has Started! A Special Contest!

Its official.  November is here and so is NaNoWriMo  or National  Novel Writing Month.  Actually we are about 4 days behind.  What is National Novel Writing  Month?  Well, its for you or anyone who actually had the thought “hey, I wonder if I could write a story”.  Write…50,000 words. In one month.  Chart your progress.  Meet tons of people on line just like yourself.  The end goal?  To complete a novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.

Haven’t you ever thought about writing…maybe just a tad?  Do you write journals?  Have some diaries stuffed away somewhere?  Why not give this a try?  As they say on the site “The World Needs Your Novel”.  Here’s more:

National Novel Writing Month

National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) is a fun, seat-of-your-pants approach to creative writing. 

On November 1, participants begin working towards the goal of writing a 50,000-word novel by 11:59 PM on November 30.

Valuing enthusiasm, determination, and a deadline, NaNoWriMo is for anyone who has ever thought about writing a novel.

   Sign In – National Novel Writing Month

Let me know if any of our readers participates.  We would love to hear how the month and your writing goes.  Don’t be surprised if you come across many recognized authors participating as well.

Ah, November.  So many other things are crammed into this month. Not mentioning elections.  Need one day away from that. Its Native American Heritage Month as well as National Adoption Month. Its Aviation History Month as well as National Diabetes Awareness Month.  November is home to 14 different specific honors for the month, 2 for the week and, get ready, 73 different days of the week celebrated for different things this month.

Bet you thought it was only Thanksgiving (11/24) for the US didn’t you.  Nope.  So much more.  We’ve already had the Day of the Dead, Guy Fawkes Day (11/5), our Veterans Day (11/11) is coming up. and for young book lovers, its Young Readers Day on the 8th. Yes, you knew about those.  Did you know about Chaos Never Dies Day on the 9th?  I think not.  Or how about National Indian Pudding Day (13),False Confession Day (21),All Our Uncles are Monkeys Day (24),Make Your Own Head Day (28) or even Red Planet Day (28).  There’s so many others.  I was just skimming off the top there.  Surely some of those are deserving of a place in a story.

See how nicely I tied that in?

Turns out November is full of surprises.  Its the celebrations of Diwali which stretches into mid November in India, Calan Gaeaf in Wales, the first day of Winter on November 1,  its Culture Day in Japan (11/3) , its Independence Day (11/3) in Dominica, Panama, and Ecuador and so many others.  All you have to do is look past our calendar and out into the world to see who and where and what people are celebrating.  Maybe even center a story around it!Happy November!

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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Flash Fiction Writing Contest!

We have readers from all over.  I’d like to know how you are spending your November.  Hmmm.  That’s giving me an idea.  Maybe a Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Flash Fiction contest? 300 words and a prize waiting at the end of the month? How does that sound?  I’m liking that idea.

Sound off people… give us a topic!  Flash fiction to be finished by the end of this month!  Prize?  Hmmm.  How about $25 Amazon gift card?  Ok,  We have this week to get our topics in. Maybe choose something in the November list. Send them in. Writing starts next Sunday.  That’s the official start date.  STRW FFWriMo is on and open to everyone!   And I mean everyone!  Excerpt you must be 18 years of age or older.  Sry about that!

Judging?  I’ll see if I can get a author or two to judge….more on that later.

Contest Winner!

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Sean Michael picked a winner for his cover reveal giveaway.  Congrats to H.B.  H.B. will be receive a copy of The Closet Boy (Iron Eagle Gym #4) by Sean Michael.  H.B. has been notified.  Sean tried to respond to all the comments but something went wrong and his replies got lost.  I just wanted to let you all know!  Thanks, Sean!

Now for this week’s schedule at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

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Sunday, November 6:

  • National Novel Writing Month Has Started! A Special Contest!
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, November 7:

  • Cover Reveal Blitz: Cowboys Don’t Come Out by Tara Lain (cover reveal and giveaway)
  • J.K. Pendragon on Editing and Writing:Junior Hero Blues by J.K. Pendragon (guest post and giveaway)
  • Brandon Witt on Titles and Mapping the Forest (author guest post)
  • A VVivacious Release Day Review: Black Snow by EAB
  • A Paul B Release Day Review: Running Blind by Kim Fielding and Verona Keyes

Tuesday, November 8:

  • In the Spotlight: Take Me Home by Lorelie Brown (Riptide Tour and Giveaway)
  • Blog tour:  Once Upon a Time in the Weird West: Venona Keyes
  • A Stella Review: Full Circle by TA Webb
  • A VVivacious Review: Before Lovers by Wayne Mansfield
  • An Alisa Review: Safe Haven by Caitlin Ricci

Wednesday, November 9:

  • In the Spotlight:Love & To Cherish by Addison Albright  (excerpt and giveaway)
  • M.A. Church on “A Country Boy At Heart” (Guest Post)
  • A Melanie Release Day Review: Blind Love. By Sedonia Guillone
  • A Lila Audiobook Review: Let the Wrong Light In by Avon Gale and Derrick McClain  (Narrator)
  • A Jeri Review:To Love and To Cherish by Addison Albright

Thursday, November 10:

  • Author Guest Post:Why I Love Geeks by T.A. Chase
  • In the Spotlight:Obscura Burning by Suzanne van Rooyen (guest post, excerpt and giveaway)
  • A VVivacious Review: Ownage by Dale Chase
  • An Alisa Review: Tricks and Bids by Jacqueline Grey
  • A Lila Audiobook Review: Marriage of Inconvenience by M.J. O’Shea and John Solo (Narrator)

Friday, November 11:

  • Release Blitz – Falling Down by Eli Easton (excerpt and giveaway)
  • An Ali Release Day Review:  A Chance for Us by Jake C. Wallace
  • A Stella Review: Stroke of Luck by Posy Roberts
  • An Alisa Audiobook Review: Whiskers of a Chance by Tempeste O’Riley and Craig Beck (Narrator)
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Wolfsong by TJ Klune and Kirt Graves (Narrator)

Saturday, November 12:

  • A Melanie PreRelease Review: Hanging The Stars (Half Moon Bay #2) by Rhys Ford
  • A Melanie Review: Death Mask by Lexi Ander

 

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Review Repost: A MelanieM Review: Romancing the Wrong Twin by Clare London

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

romancing-the-wrong-twinHow tangled can a romantic web get?

When gruff mountaineer Dominic Hartington-George seeks sponsorship for his latest expedition, his London PA insists on a more media-friendly profile—like dating celebrity supermodel Zeb Z.

Zeb can’t make the date, so he asks his identical twin, Aidan, to stand in for just one evening. Aidan, a struggling playwright, shuns the limelight to the extent people don’t even know Zeb has a sibling, but he reluctantly agrees.

When the deception has to continue beyond the first date, Aidan fights to keep up the pretense. Dominic likes his sassy, intelligent companion, and Aidan starts falling for the forthright explorer. But how long can Aidan’s conscience cope as confusion abounds? Will coming clean as “the other twin” destroy the trust they’ve built?

I am so hooked on these Dreamspun Romances from Dreamspinner that I can’t wait to get my hands on them as the pop up.  Each one gives our old romance novels  (aka Silhouette or whatever brand you may have gobbled up)and their well used, often loved themes a LGBTQIA twist.

In Romancing the Wrong Twin, Clare London uses, yes, that delicious plot of switched identity and twins.    One twin?  A famous male model, fabulous, sexy,  and a serial dater.  His brother?  Quiet, in the theatre, a writer and director in need of money for his play.  The stage is definitely set for fun and romance and London makes the most of the format by adding in a bear of a mountaineer, Dom, in need of a backer for his climb up Mt. Eiger.  Why not have the famous mountaineer “date” the famous model? After all they share a ad agency…should be a cat walk.  Or not when one famous brother asks the not so famous one to be his Stand-in.

I had a bit of difficulty the first couple of pages.  A case of too much description of extraneous things getting in the way of connecting me to the characters but once I met the irascible Dom and his crew the story started to click.  It got better when Aidan and his theatre troupe came into the story.  You could see how much Aidan was struggling to make it and the affection that all his actors/friends had for him.  That background gave substance (as well as his feelings for his twin) to the reason behind the switch that was pulled.  It wasn’t a lark.  London established a foundation for her plot and it made the story viable.

Aidan and Dom made a great couple.  London gave them the right amount of chemistry and sexy scenes.  I adored them.  And there was just enough  anticipatory angst built into the plot to make you wonder close to the end of the story how the revelation would be handled.  Nicely done.

But one other thing surprised me.  Zeb, Aidan’s brother.  There’s a plot twist here.  I don’t know if I missed his story or if London (please say yes) has his story coming out.  We need to know Zeb’s story too.  How about a Romancing the Right Twin?  Surely that’s in the works?  I’ll be on the lookout, but in the meantime grab up Romancing the Wrong Twin by Clare London.  Its a fun, sweet romance in the Dreamspun Desires series from Dreamspinner Press.  Its one I recommend.

Cover art by  Paul Richmond continues to work well to brand the series and the story.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, Dreamspun Desires #21, 256 pages
Expected publication: November 1st 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleRomancing the Wrong Twin
ISBN 1634773721 (ISBN13: 9781634773720)
Edition LanguageEnglish

A MelanieM Review: Fish Stick Fridays (Half Moon Bay #1) by Rhys Ford

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

fish-stick-fridaysDeacon Reid was born bad to the bone with no intention of changing. A lifetime of law-bending and living on the edge suited him just fine—until his baby sister died and he found himself raising her little girl.

Staring down a family history of bad decisions and reaped consequences, Deacon cashes in everything he owns, purchases an auto shop in Half Moon Bay, and takes his niece, Zig, far away from the drug dens and murderous streets they grew up on. Zig deserves a better life than what he had, and Deacon is determined to give it to her.

Lang Harris is stunned when Zig, a little girl in combat boots and a purple tutu blows into his bookstore, and then he’s left speechless when her uncle, Deacon Reid walks in, hot on her heels. Lang always played it safe but Deacon tempts him to step over the line… just a little bit.

More than a little bit. And Lang is willing to be tempted.

Unfortunately, Zig isn’t the only bit of chaos dropped into Half Moon Bay. Violence and death strikes leaving Deacon scrambling to fight off a killer before he loses not only Zig but Lang too.

I was all set to read the sequel to Fish Stick Fridays when I decided to revisit the first story in the series to reacquaint myself with the characters and the setting of Half Moon Bay.  It  didn’t take long to be swept under the spell of Zig, Deacon, Lang and a orange cat that Zig is determined to call Fred.  How I had missed them.

Writing children into stories is always a iffy proposition.  They can always go so wrong.  Come off sounding not like children at all with dialog so stilted and adult, the character lacking some childish element.  But Zig?  Precocious, profane, wounded, insanely intelligent Zig?  Rhys Ford just nailed her right down to her combat pants, boots and pink tutus!  There she was from the moment we meet Zig, cursing, dirty, wary,  and oh so wonderful.  If, as Deacon says, she’s bent on world domination, well, I’m going to pitch in and help her.  Connection made.

Of course, there’s so much more to this story.  There’s the romance and mystery. With Zig, comes Deacon, her uncle with his own troubled past, Harley and new auto shop in Half Moon Bay.  *Waves fan* Like Lang, the minute Deacon appears in Fish Stick Friday, you lean in a little closer, the magnetism that Ford builds into this character oozing off the pages in line after line.  From the glasses that perch on his nose to his intelligence, its clear that Deacon is so much more than his looks.  Its his interactions with his niece first and then with  Lang.  All those conversations, intriguing dialog, literary references and the care with which they treat each other.  It not only pulls you into the story but into the characters, their relationship and the evolving family unit as a whole.  I love it when relationships get the full adult treatment.  Issues get talked out, full disclosures, etc.  That happens here and I loved every second of it, and this couple.

There is, of course, some nasty characters and mysteries at work here.  Its Rhys Ford people!  Its played off nicely.  It kept me guessing as to where the explosions and danger was coming next.  The suspense and anticipation ratcheted up perfectly.  And that ending?  Just want I wanted to happen!

Lang’s twin brother makes a brief appearance here and sets in motion the second book in the series, Hanging The Stars (Half Moon Bay #2) which I will be reviewing next.  I had forgotten about him honestly until I reread the story.  Didn’t really like him, to be honest. Now I’m chuckling with glee.  Yes, I’ve already read that sequel.  No, you will have to wait for the  review.  What will Rhys Ford deliver next in this series?  I can hardly wait.  I’m loving Half Moon Bay with all its wonderful characters, oddball twists, and great stories.  I hope my favorite couples and Zig (and cats) make appearances in each and everyone.

I absolutely recommend this series.  Its out now in audiobook.  Look for our review by Lila coming soon as will my review of the sequel.  Rhys Ford remains one of my favorite authors.  Fish Stick Fridays and Half Moon Bay is just one more reason why.  Pick it up and find out for yourself if you haven’t already done so.

Cover Artist: Reece Notley.  The only thing more perfect would be the addition of a sidecar for  Zig.  Love it.

Sales Links

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Book Details:

ebook, 204 pages
Published November 30th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleFish Stick Fridays
ISBN 1623809487 (ISBN13: 9781623809485)
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesHalf Moon Bay #1 settingCalifornia (United States)

A Caryn Review: Sebastian & Owen (Storming Love: Tsunami #3) by Nic Starr

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

sebastian-owen-cover-200x300-pxThis is a sweet novella about an established couple, Owen and Sebastian, living and working together in Tasmania for the past 6 years.  After an injury leaves Owen, who is 6 years older, with chronic pain, disability, and depression, he starts to doubt his worthiness to be partnered with Sebastian.  It is a typical trope:  “I’m not good enough for you, so why would you want to be/stay with me?”  I usually see it written in the beginning of stories, when it hinders a couple from getting together in the first place.  This couple, however, has a very strong foundation, which makes it all that much harder for Sebastian to accept that Owen could possibly doubt his love and faithfulness.  And although it is a fairly tired theme, I liked how the author worked it into an established relationship, which actually made it more fresh and certainly more realistic.

With those misunderstandings in place, arguments ensue, and ultimately Sebastian ends up at their island house while Owen stays in their city apartment.  Owen has an epiphany about their relationship and wakes up determined to fix everything, and that is when he hears about the impending tsunami – about 75% of the way through the book!  Now he just has to get to Sebastian, and he races against the countdown for the wave to impact the island.

The story was predictable, but that did not lessen its sweetness.  It is always nice to see a couple facing the ups and downs that come with being together, and finding a way through them.  And of course they come through the tsunami closer than ever, as fear and danger make them see that loving each other is the most important thing, and everything else they can work through.  I also liked the description of the tsunami itself – not a monster wave crashing to shore, but a deceptively peaceful looking swell of the water that hides its destructive power.  If the author hasn’t seen one in person, she certainly did her research well!

The cover art by Kris Jacen is for all the novellas in the series, a picture of that monster wave that looks like something to make surfers salivate rather than devastate a shore, but it is pretty.  And very appropriate for the book.

Sales Links

MLR Press 

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 79 pages
Published October 6th 2016 by MLR Press, LLC
Original TitleSebastian & Owen
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Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesStorming Love: Tsunami #3

A Stella Release Day Review: Mapping the Forest by Brandon Witt

RATING 5 out of 5 stars

mappingforest_postcard_front_dspHappily ever after has no map, but sometimes fate sends a guiding light.

Gabe Rice, a seasonal ranger at the Rocky Mountain National Park, can’t seem to get his life on the right trail. He loves the rugged beauty of the land, and there is no place he would rather live than the mountain community of Estes Park. But after six years, Gabe is beginning to wonder if he’ll ever get a full-time position or find love. When Gabe sees Luis—and hears his gorgeous singing—he’s compelled to meet him.

Luis Martinez, the new owner of a hotel and steak ride business in Estes, left California and a career as a therapist for a fresh start in Colorado. But even the beauty of the mountains can’t help him forget the past or move forward. Unprepared for his strong attraction to Gabe, Luis is ready to run and hide from emotions he never thought he’d have again.

Suddenly the path ahead opens to a future that looks brighter for both of them, if they can find the courage to walk forward—together.

Gabe is a thirty-two years old park ranger, he has a seasonal position at a National Park, a work he loves a lot even if his boss is a huge PITA. He has a great group of friends that are his only true family, starting with Jordan, his best friend, and her grandmother, a truly force of nature. Nonethless he is pretty lonely and even the love for his work is not enough anymore. Until one night he is spellbound by Steak Man, or Luis, while  he is singing and playing the guitar in the middle of the forest during a steak ride. From that moment things will change in Gabe life.

Luis has lately upset his all life as a therapist in California to run an hotel and jeep ride combo sight. Actually it was life that messed up with Luis and took Chris, Luis husband,  from him. The hurt for the loss of his partner is still too big and Luis is not ready to take a step forward versus a hypothetical new relationship.  But second chances are one of the greatest things in life.

I’m a huge Brandon Witt fan. I believe he is an amazing writer and I deeply enjoyed every story he has written. Mapping the Forest was no exception. Beautifully written and perfectly balanced in the emotions. Definitely a light read with some sadness to overcome and new beginnings to live.

What I particularly loved were the characters, each of them, not just Gabe and Luis, were well depicted, the Gay Boy Christmas Dinner  group of friends were all well defined and I so want to read each of their own stories. I already met Paxton in Christmas Miracles of a Recently Fallen Spruce. And then there’s Rob who lost his lover many years ago, Todd, Gabe secret crush until he meets the man of his dreams. I loved Mapping the Forest, I liked how the relationship between the MCs evolves, how they take their time getting to know each other and how later they rush into the chemistry, too strong to be ignored or waited on.

I wish to highly recommend this new release by Brandon Witt, great characters, good plot, excellent writing. I was conquered.

I like the different style of the cover art by Anne Cain a lot.

Sales Links

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BOOK DETAILS

ebook, 240 pages

Publication Date: November 4th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN 1634778391 (ISBN13: 9781634778398)

Edition Language English

A Lila Review: Twice in a Lifetime (Sutter’s Bay #2) by Shawn Lane

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

twice-in-a-lifetime-by-shawn-laneFive years ago, British transplant, Jude, left San Francisco after the tragic murder of his lover, Martin. Heartbroken, he settled in Sutter’s Bay and opened a small flower shop, hoping that surrounding himself with bright colors and pretty things — living things — would somehow lessen the anguish he felt over his loss.

Jude never expects to find a love like he shared with Martin ever again. Certainly a love like theirs won’t come along twice in a lifetime. But then Jude meets sexy Rex Warner, the new veterinarian in Sutter’s Bay, and he can’t help but wonder if his luck has changed.

Will Rex be able to stop Jude from dwelling on the painful past and look toward a promising future instead?

Twice in a Lifetime is a solid romance story. We first met Jude in book #1 in the series, Sweet Reunion. There was an air of mystery about him that make him interesting enough to have me reading this story; to learn more about him. Plus, I can’t resist a man with an accent. 🙂

I loved the opening scene. The author did an excellent job letting us in Jude’s past without breaking our hearts over and over again. I’m glad the angst didn’t carry on. The reader’s able to appreciate the relationship between Jude and Martin without taking away from Jude and Rex.

Both MC have bigger than life personalities that blend well. They might look like polar opposites, but in the end, they complemented each other. They didn’t try to change the other. They loved their differences and celebrate their quirkiness. The way they first met marks the tone for the rest of the story–sexy, funny, and interesting.

The plot twists and scenes made the book flow quickly and keep the reader engaged. There are several smexy scenes that go with the overall structure of the romance. And, many more funny, everyday moments in which we see the characters interact with family and friends.

This series is growing on me. Twice in a Lifetime is definitely better than the first book. I’m looking forward to the next installment.

The cover for this story is beautiful and goes well with the theme. The colors are soothing, but I don’t think the models resemble the characters’ descriptions.

Sale Links: JMS Books | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 97 pages
Published: October 8, 2016, by JMS Books
ISBN: 9781634861410
Edition Language: English

Brandon Witt on Choosing Book Titles and his release ‘Mapping the Forest’ (guest blog and giveaway)

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Mapping the Forest by Brandon Witt
Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Anne Cain

 

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Sales Links

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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Brandon Witt here today on his Mapping the Forest tour. Welcome, Brandon!

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In the previous blog tour stop, I spoke about a ‘contest’ of good intentions that had very positive results. However, there was another ‘contest’ associated with Mapping the Forest where the results weren’t so grand.

I was struggling with naming this novel.  I had the titles of the following four books of the series already figured out, but, for some reason, the name of the first one simply wasn’t coming. 

So, I had a brilliant idea.  I held a book-naming contest on Facebook.  I listed a few titles and had people vote. 

I don’t remember the rest of the titles, but the winning one was Forsaking the Forest. 

One of my beta readers didn’t hold back after reading the book.  They hated the title.  Hated it. 

It is a little melodramatic if I’m being honest.  But I just really love the word forsake.  I don’t know what my problem is! 

And, the beta pointed out, no one in the book actually forsakes the forest.  They all really like the forest. 

In the contestants’ defense, all the titles I listed were atrocious. 

So, please consider this my apology if you were one of the readers who participated in the contest.  I’m sorry I gave you horrible names to pick from.  I’m sorry that I broke my word and didn’t keep the atrocious title you picked. I did for a while, saying that I couldn’t go back on the contest. More than one person said I was being an idiot.  Thank the lord for them!

It was my fault.  All my fault.  Not yours.  You’re lovely and beautiful and did nothing to deserve such a dark fate as picking between God-Awful titles. 

No one in this book forsaked (forsook) the forest, but I did end up forsaking that title. 

So, where did the current title come from?

In this novel, both of our loveless heroes are lost in their own different mazes of life and both make their living in and around the national forest of Rocky Mountain National Park, in Estes Park, Colorado.  And though the forest is beautiful and magical, it can also be dark and deadly if you’re unclear of how to navigate the twists and turns of its paths.  For Gabe and Luis, that is true of life.  Unlike with the national park, there is no guide to lead you to the safe stations in life or love.  You have to map it out yourself. 

Please join Gabe and Luis as they begin Mapping their ways out of their Forests and towards each other.

(Dear lord, that was cheesy, huh?  But that really is where the new title came from.)

Please join me on November 9, at Love Bytes, for the next blog tour stop.  We’ve mapped our way through this tour to the final posting. (Dear lord, I literally can’t stop.)  I’ve saved the best for last, where I will introduce you to a four-legged friend who plays a very important role in Mapping the Forest.

Blog Tour Stops:

  • October 28- MM Good Book Reviews
  • November 2 – My Fiction Nook
  • November 3 – Open Skye Book Reviews
  • November 4 – Prism Book Alliance
  • November 4 – The Novel Approach
  • November 7 – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words  
  • November 9 – Love Bytes

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Mapping the Forest Blurb

Happily ever after has no map, but sometimes fate sends a guiding light.

Gabe Rice, a seasonal ranger at the Rocky Mountain National Park, can’t seem to get his life on the right trail. He loves the rugged beauty of the land, and there is no place he would rather live than the mountain community of Estes Park. But after six years, Gabe is beginning to wonder if he’ll ever get a full-time position or find love. When Gabe sees Luis—and hears his gorgeous singing—he’s compelled to meet him.

Luis Martinez, the new owner of a hotel and steak ride business in Estes, left California and a career as a therapist for a fresh start in Colorado. But even the beauty of the mountains can’t help him forget the past or move forward. Unprepared for his strong attraction to Gabe, Luis is ready to run and hide from emotions he never thought he’d have again.

Suddenly the path ahead opens to a future that looks brighter for both of them, if they can find the courage to walk forward—together.

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Brandon Witt’s Author Bio: 

Brandon Witt’s outlook on life is greatly impacted by his first eighteen years of growing up gay in a small town in the Ozarks, as well as fifteen years as a counselor and special education teacher for students with severe emotional disabilities. Add to that his obsession with corgis and mermaids, then factor in an unhealthy love affair with cheeseburgers, and you realize that with all those issues, he’s got plenty to write about….

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Giveaway

Brandon Witt is including a giveaway for a $5 Amazon gift card.  Leave a comment below and one lucky reader will be chosen by Brandon to receive the gift card.  Be sure to leave your email address where you can be reached if chosen.   Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Contest  ends  November 9 at midnight.

Mapping the Forest Links:

Dreamspinner:  http://bit.ly/2dNwokA

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