A MelanieM Release Day Review: Romancing the Wrong Twin by Clare London

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

romancing-the-wrong-twin How 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

An Alisa Review: Crashing Waves (The Warfield Hotel Mysteries #2) by C.J. Baty

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Justin Warfield ran away to Italy to put the events of last summer and a certain dark-haired private eye behind him, to no avail. If anything, he can’t help but rehash what happened over and over. When he finally returns to South Carolina, the hotel he runs with his brother has suffered a series of incidents that are starting to look less accidental after a death threat is received.

Not satisfied that Moses Lee and his local police will find the culprit, Peter Warfield calls in the services of his good friend Marcus Drummond to help. Marcus is torn. He wants to help his friend, but he also knows that if Justin has moved on after their failed flirtation last summer, he will be devastated.

Tensions mount as danger seems to follow them at every turn, stalking them as they get closer to solving the mystery of who is behind the sabotage of the hotel.

I read the first book in this series last year and had a bit of trouble remembering it, so it took a little bit for me to get into this book. Justin had pushed Marcus away after the first book leaving both himself and Marcus hurting. This book begins just after Justin has returned to Beaumont and there have been “accidents” happening around the hotel.

Marcus and Justin are forced together again when Justin’s brother, Peter, calls Marcus to come and help. Both plan to avoid each other, but it doesn’t work out quite as well as they thought. When Peter decides to be responsible and to actually talk to Marcus about his feelings things seem to take a turn for the better. However, no matter what happens between them there always seems to be something going wrong.

In this story we get to see both of the MCs points of view, but are also given a glimpse of the one who is causing all of the problems. Seeing how Justin and Marcus still care for each other and are willing to work through their problems was wonderful, but knowing the crazy thoughts of someone wanting to hurt them dampened it a little. They’re working out their relationship at the end of the book and it seems like the series may be continuing and if it does, I can’t wait to see these characters a bit more.

Cover art is great and catches a reader’s eye.

Sales Link: Bottom Drawer Publications | Amazon | ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 199 pages

Published: September 16, 2016 by Bottom Drawer Publications

Edition Language: English

Series: The Warfield Hotel Mysteries #2

Release Blitz and Review Tour – Romancing The Wrong Twin by Clare London (excerpt and giveaway)

Clare London – Romancing The Wrong Twin

Author: Clare London

Release Date: November 1 2016

Length: 59,000 words

Blurb:How 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?

Check out Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Review here – Its one of our Recommended Stories!

Excerpt

The pretty young woman who met Aidan at the door smiled warmly. “I’m Tanya, Mr. Hartington-George’s personal assistant. I’m pleased to meet you, Mr. Z. I’m quite a fan.”
“Zeb,” Aidan said, hoping he hadn’t hesitated for too long. “Please just call me Zeb. And… yes. Thanks.”
“Come on through.” She gestured him into the hallway. “You’re on time.”
Aidan wondered why she sounded surprised at that. He repitched his natural voice a little higher to Zeb’s teasing tone and smiled brightly in return. “Of course.”
A sneaked look in the hallway mirror had him rolling his eyes. Mission accomplished, Zeb! He barely recognized himself. Usually he was most comfortable in a sweatshirt and jeans, but now he was dressed in what Zeb Z would wear on a daily basis: a pair of skintight, distressed-denim jeans with inexplicable splits across the knees; high-top boots in soft purple leather that screamed expensive yet were surprisingly comfortable; and two lightweight T-shirts under an off-the-shoulder, electric blue sweater. Admittedly the blue brought out the color of his eyes—no one ever said Zeb didn’t have a well-developed sense of personal style—but the rest of it made him look like an overaged member of a boy band.
A younger man darted out from what must have been the living room, clutching a leather jacket to his chest as if in protection. He saw Aidan, glanced at Tanya with widening eyes, then back at Aidan. Then he thrust out his hand and said perfectly cheerily, “I’m Eric. He threatens to kill me on a daily basis.”
Aidan just shook hands and nodded. He had no idea what to say to that, or even what it meant.
Tanya frowned at Eric. “Whatever. We’re just going. The car will come for you at seven. In the meantime, if you’d like a drink?”
But Eric took her arm and guided her toward the front door. “They can cope with that themselves, Tanya. Come on.”
And Aidan was left on his own in the hallway.
He took a deep breath to center himself. The house wasn’t huge, but it was in a very fashionable area of Ladbroke Grove and far more luxurious than his own small flat. That said, there wasn’t much furniture and the decoration wasn’t modern. The hallway walls were painted in plain, cool colors. No pictures hung on the walls, and there was only a single bureau and hat stand, albeit in quality wood. Eric had left the living room door ajar behind him, and Aidan took a quick peek inside before announcing himself. From what he could see, again the walls were plain and the furniture sparse. It was as if the owner was in the process of moving out—or had never really settled in.
A male figure paused in front of the half-open door. He was distracted by something on the other side of the room, so Aidan got a first secret glimpse of the man he’d been told so much about.
H-G.
He was much more handsome in real life than on TV, though in most of the documentaries, H-G was wrapped up in furry parkas or oilskins with his face more than half-hidden with a scarf and balaclava. Today he was wearing a very smart pair of dark trousers, a startlingly white dress shirt—which had to be brand-new to still have that sheen—and a well-cut suit jacket that settled comfortably across an impressive set of shoulders. H-G’s hair was a fabulous thatch of dark curls, and he had a dark beard and mustache to match. Guiltily Aidan recalled Zeb’s mischievous nickname: Hairy Guy. But that conjured up a Wild Man of Borneo kind of image, and H-G was far from that. The hair was naturally unruly but had been styled to a level just off his shoulders, and the beard was well trimmed.
Aidan had never been attracted to hairy bears, not that he’d ever had much of a choice. As Zeb had gleefully pointed out more than once, Aidan seemed to attract needy and spiteful wankers who got off on bleeding him dry of any compassion and care. Oh, and his money too.
Okay. Self-pity over, right now. I’m not Loser Aidan now. I’m the charismatic and disgustingly fascinating Zeb Z.
For the first time in this bizarre performance, Aidan felt the tickle of mischief. This just might be fun after all. He pushed the door fully open, walked into the room, and cleared his throat.
H-G turned slowly around to face Aidan fully. His gaze ranged over Aidan’s body, and his eyes widened. “Well. They didn’t lie.”
“Who didn’t? What about?”
H-G raised his eyebrows. “Well, firstly, they said you were a bit feisty.”
Feisty? Aidan hadn’t heard that word outside of romance-novel blurbs.
“And you wouldn’t be fazed by… you know.”
“No, I don’t know. By what?” Aidan bit his lip to stop a laugh escaping.
“My celebrity.”
Jesus. Zeb was right. The man was one big blob of arrogance. “No,” Aidan said coolly. “I’m not.”
“That’s from working in the business, I suppose.”
“Business?” Oh, right, he was meant to be Zeb. “Yes, of course. When you’ve seen so many guys without the spray tan and makeup,” he gabbled without thinking first, “you soon realize they’ve got the same equipment under it all.”
H-G blinked twice, hard. And then he laughed—a loud, bold sound, echoing warmly in the bleak room.
Aidan wanted to laugh with him, but maintained his cool stare. “What’s so funny?” Had he blown it already? He hadn’t even left the house with the man yet.
“They didn’t tell me you were witty, Zeb. I may call you Zeb?”
Why? “Oh yes, right. Of course.”
Dom’s language was quaintly old-fashioned, but Aidan found it rather charming, especially after the theatrical bickering of the Dreamweavers and his brother’s exuberant and affected chatter.
“And secondly?” Aidan prompted.
“I’m sorry?” H-G frowned at him.
God, what a scowl he has. “You said they didn’t lie, and then you gave the first reason.”
H-G raised his eyebrows. “You have a good memory.”
Yes, he does have lovely eyes. “Yes, I do. Especially when I’m listening.”
H-G’s mouth twisted as if he were trying not to smirk. “Secondly, they didn’t lie about your looks, and that you were even better-looking in real life. I concur. You’re bloody gorgeous.”

November 1 – BooksLaidBareBoys, The Way She Reads, Hearts On Fire Reviews, From Top To Bottom Reviews, My Fiction Nook, Joyfully Jay
November 3- Sinfully MM Book Reviews, Sexy Erotic Xciting, Carly’s Book Reviews
November 4 – Love Bytes
November 5 – VampryreLady’s All Things Bookish, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
November 7 – The Geekery Book Reviews, Bonkers About Books, Book Lovers 4Ever, Making It Happen, Wicked Faerie’s Tales And Reviews
November 9 – Diverse Reader, Naughty Book Eden, MM Good Book Reviews
November 11- Tara Lain

Author Bio

Clare London took her pen name from the city where she lives, loves, and writes. A lone, brave female in a frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home, she juggles her writing with her other day job as an accountant.

She’s written in many genres and across many settings, with award-winning novels and short stories published both online and in print. She says she likes variety in her writing while friends say she’s just fickle, but as long as both theories spawn good fiction, she’s happy. Most of her work features male/male romance and drama with a healthy serving of physical passion, as she enjoys both reading and writing about strong, sympathetic, and sexy characters.

Clare currently has several novels sulking at that tricky chapter three stage and plenty of other projects in mind… she just has to find out where she left them in that frenetic, testosterone-fuelled family home.

Clare loves to hear from readers, and you can contact her here:
Website: http://www.clarelondon.com
E-mail: clarelondon11@yahoo.co.uk
Blog: www.clarelondon.com/blog
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/clarelondon
Twitter: https://twitter.com/clare_london
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/clarelondon
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/clarelondon/
Google+ : https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ClareLondon/posts

Giveaway

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Quinn Anderson on the Challenges of Writing and her latest release, ‘Hotline’ (author guest post and giveaway)

hotline_600x900

Hotline by Quinn Anderson
Riptide Publishing
Cover art by L.C. Chase
Read an Excerpt/Buy it Here

Hello, everyone! This is Quinn Anderson, author of the Murmur Inc. series, and I’m here to share some inside information about, Hotline, coming out October 31st. Stay tuned to hear about where I get my ideas, writing comedy, and how I went “undercover” as a sex worker to research my novels. Leave comments on the tour posts for a chance to win a $10 Riptide Publishing gift card!

What about Writing is Easiest vs. Most Difficult?

by Quinn Anderson

I’m very fortunate. Two of the things that many authors consider to be the most difficult are the easiest for me. 1) Coming up with titles (I often think of a title before I’ve even conceived of a book to go with it), and 2) actually sitting down and writing every day. I don’t always write much—a thousand words here or there—but I do it whenever I have a spare moment. Even when I’m taking a break from writing, I have a little voice in the back of my head that’s always urging me to get some work done. I also don’t get writer’s block, or at least, I haven’t yet. Knock on wood. I plan out my books in their entirety long before I start typing. They don’t always end up how I planned—in fact, they seldom do—but I always know the general direction in which I’m headed. It makes it a little more difficult to get lost along the way.

The hardest parts for me are staying in character and actually communicating my thoughts. I don’t usually write about my personal experiences, so I often have to rely on my characters to guide me through whatever scene I’m writing. That can be difficult if the character and I don’t see eye to eye on what should be done. I’m an outgoing person, so writing shy characters in particular is frustrating for me, because I want to write them standing up for themselves and stickin’ it to the man, but I know that isn’t always (or ever) what they’d do. It’s hard to watch them get passed over or mistreated and not be able to do anything about it! The other issue I have is that I often want to communicate a very specific emotion or idea, but I’ll want to do it in a way that’s far too convoluted. I’ll get notes back from my editors saying, “I get what you’re going for here, but this idea is too clunky” and then I end up staring at it in frustration until I decide it’s not worth it and delete it.

Bonus round: I consider writing angst to be very difficult. It makes me all squirmy. If you’re a fan of my work, you’ll notice my books are often very low angst. I just don’t want anything bad to happen to anyone! And I’m holding the pen, so thankfully it’s my call. Although, I think I put my character through a fair amount of grief anyway.

About Hotline

Zack never intended to become a phone sex operator, but with half a college degree and a smart mouth, his options were limited. It helps that he has a knack for thinking on his feet and a willingness to roll with whatever his clients throw at him. Sure, he gets his fair share of creeps and unconventional requests, but it pays the bills, and he’s in no danger of breaking his one rule: never fall for a client.

Until a man named “John” starts calling, and Zack finds himself interested in more than a paycheck. It’s not just that John has money, or that his rumbling baritone drives Zack wild. He’s everything Zack isn’t: educated, poised, and in total control of his life.

A twist of fate brings them face-to-face, and now that they’ve seen each other—and spent an unforgettable night together—they can’t go back to the way things were. A sex worker and a trust fund brat . . . It’s like Romeo and Juliet, but with less stabbing and slightly fewer dick jokes. Hopefully they can pull off a more successful ending.

Hotline is available from Riptide Publishing. http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/hotline

About Quinn Anderson

Quinn Anderson is an alumna of the University of Dublin in Ireland and has a master’s degree in psychology. She wrote her dissertation on sexuality in popular literature and continues to explore evolving themes in erotica in her professional life.

A nerd extraordinaire, she was raised on an unhealthy diet of video games, anime, pop culture, and comics from infancy. She stays true to her nerd roots in writing and in life and frequently draws inspiration from her many fandoms, which include Sherlock, Harry Potter, Supernatural, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Buffy, Marvel, and more. You will often find her interacting with fellow fans online and offline via conventions and tumblr, and she is happy to talk about anything from nerd life to writing tips. She has attended conventions on three separate continents and now considers herself a career geek. She advises anyone who attends pop culture events in the UK to watch out for Weeping Angels, as they are everywhere.

Her favorite television show is Avatar: the Last Airbender, her favorite film is Tangled, and her favorite book is Ella Enchanted. She can often be spotted at conventions, comic shops, and midnight book releases. If you’re at an event, and you see a 6’2” redhead wandering around with a vague look on her face, that’s probably her. Her favorite authors include J.K. Rowling, Gail Carson Levine, Libba Bray, and Tamora Pierce. When she’s not writing, she enjoys traveling, cooking, spending too much time on the internet, screwing the rules, finding the Master Sword, guided falling, consulting for the NYPD, guarding the galaxy, boldly going, and catching ’em all.

Connect with Quinn:

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AuthorQuinnAnderson/
Tumblr: quinnandersonwrites

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Hotline, one lucky winner will receive $10 in Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on November 5, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

A Stella Review: Coffee Boy by Austin Chant

RATING 4 out of 5 stars

coffee-boy-by-austin-chant After graduation, Kieran expected to go straight into a career of flipping burgers—only to be offered the internship of his dreams at a political campaign. But the pressure of being an out trans man in the workplace quickly sucks the joy out of things, as does Seth, the humorless campaign strategist who watches his every move.
Soon, the only upside to the job is that Seth has a painful crush on their painfully straight boss, and Kieran has a front row seat to the drama. But when Seth proves to be as respectful and supportive as he is prickly, Kieran develops an awkward crush of his own—one which Seth is far too prim and proper to ever reciprocate.

Coffee Boy is my first book by Austin Chant and I can’t wait to read more by this new to me author. I quite enjoyed his writing style.

The story is about Kieran, who just landed on an internship for a political campaign. He’s nervous but his ex-professor, who offered him the job, guaranteed a trans friendly workplace. Sadly the first impression isn’t great with employers that don’t bother to look at the pronoun pin Kieran wears. Luckily beside him there’s Seth. Seth who is hot but cold, still he’s the only one to understand which pronoun use with Kieran. Seth who is also crushing on their straight boss, Matthew. We follow Kieran through the internship and his day job flipping hamburger, throughout his struggles with people who can’t do right to him.

I liked Coffee Boy a lot. I liked the plot and the characters, even the secondary ones, like Jillian, Kieran best friend, the one who leaves everything just to go to his house and talk about a bad day. I loved how the relationship between Kieran and Seth develops and the deep care Seth has for Kieran, the attention he pretends other people show to him. And I adored Kieran and his smart mouth. The writing flew easily and made the story engaging and never boring. I liked the second part more where both of the MCs start understand the possible begin of something important among them. And the ending was great, real, sweet and funny. Four deserved full stars. Give it a try!

The cover art by Natasha Snow is very cute and fits perfectly the book. Well done.

Sales Links

NineStar Press

BOOK DETAILS

Word count 27600

Publication Date October 31st 2016 by NineStar Press

ISBN 9781945952074

Edition Language English

A Caryn Review: Faded into You (Intoxication #2) by Remmy Duchene

Rating: 1.5 out of 5 stars

faded-into-you-by-remmy-duchene When I was in high school in the early 1980s, I read harlequin romances obsessively. At the time, they were exactly what my immature self wanted – quick reads where the guy gets the girl with little angst, and the girl would then devote the rest of her life to making her man happy. Which also meant becoming dependent upon said man for her happiness and well being as well, financial and emotional.

And you know what? The world isn’t like that any more. By the time I was a year into college, I quit thinking that I needed a man to define me, or to make my life worthwhile. And I quit reading cheesy romances, because they offended me with their misogyny. Why was it always the woman who needed rescuing? And I continued to stay away from romances until I discovered M/M romance a few years ago, and I could read about people falling in love without that built-in power differential between men and women that bothered me so much. If a man needed rescuing, it was not simply because of gender, but because of circumstances, or choices, and when they got together, they were equals.

That’s how a relationship should be.

OK, that’s my soapbox, and what I expect from this genre. So when I read a book that follows that old harlequin formula, just substituting the woman with a man, it pisses me off. And that’s what this book did. Ravi is supposed to be an ambitious and successful marketing professional, who chooses to take a job in India in order to further his career and to see the world. But really, he is just sad and jealous that his best friend is getting married and he’s not, and since his life really has no meaning without a man, he runs away, to India. Thaddeus is supposed to be a cyber security guru with a checkered past who goes to India to do a job that will further his career as well. But he takes on the role of uber-alpha male who will “fix” everything that is wrong with Ravi’s life with his magic penis. Ravi acts irrationally, hating Thaddeus on sight for no apparent reason, but going along with everything he wants because, well, he is powerless in the face of Thaddeus’ take charge masculinity. There was that annoying “I hate you, but I want you, and I really have no self respect so go ahead and ravish me, and that will make me fall in love with you”. And of course, Ravi is always the bottom, because he is the weak “woman” in this pairing. Physically smaller and weaker, younger, less successful, and needing his alpha male to “complete” him.

So enough feminist ranting. Yes, I know that I have read and enjoyed other books with alpha males, and I’m not sure what set me off so much with this one, but I would have DNFed it about a third of the way through if I hadn’t committed to writing a review. On top of that, the writing wasn’t even all that good. There was an awful lot of filler and no substance. I do not need to read about Thaddeus putting on his boots, then noticing the snow and tucking his pants in, wondering where his scarf went, then getting in the car, closing the door, turning on the defroster……. And I don’t want to know that he takes a piss every morning before he brushes his teeth. Who the hell cares and wants to read about that?

I hoped to read and learn about India, but all I got out of this book was that it’s hot, and people are poor there. Oh, until Ravi and “Thaddy” (shoot me) save their Indian driver who is gay and driven out of his homophobic father’s home, and then his sister is also driven out because she still loves her brother. Both of them would have obviously become homeless prostitutes without the great Americans to save them. So even though one MC is Indian and the other is black, I still found this book racist.

I could go on. I made notes of things I didn’t like, but the list is so long and I don’t want to spend any more time writing about it. Oh, and I have no idea what the title meant or how it related to the story, and why the subtitle “Fighting Love is Futile” is even there. Was someone expecting the Borg??

Cover art by Posh Gosh was extremely generic, though the Indian man was good looking. It would have been nice to have a photograph from India instead of the random sunset, which said nothing about the book.

Sales Links

Pride Publishing

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: November 1st 2016 by Pride Publishing
ISBN139781786514837
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Lila Audiobook Review: Running Wild by SE Jakes and Narrated by Dorian Bane

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

runningwild_audiobook Sean Rush is an adrenaline junkie. That’s why he was in the Army, why he steals and races classic muscle cars… and why he can’t stay away from bad boy Ryker, a Havoc Motorcycle Club lieutenant. Fortunately, Ryker can’t seem to stay away from Sean—he’s spent the last eight months breaking into Sean’s apartment and stealing into his bed, leaving Sean physically satisfied but increasingly restless.

Sean has always avoided relationships. He likes to come and go without being controlled. And Ryker is possibly the most controlling man he’s ever known. Still, he finds that he wants more from Ryker than their silent nighttime encounters.

Then one of Sean’s thefts goes bad, and Ryker’s protective instincts kick into overdrive. He takes Sean to the Havoc compound, determined to keep him safe. But Sean’s past threatens the safety of Havoc—and everything Ryker holds dear. Worse, Ryker’s hiding secrets of his own. Soon it’s obvious that the adrenaline rush can’t keep them together anymore. But maybe love can.

Running Wild is another good book by this author. It isn’t as detailed as others in her series, but it’s interesting enough to carry a new series. The concept was good, but the delivery fell short. It became predictable and cliché at parts.

I love Ryker, but Sean needed to grow up. Their relationship started strong, but then it turned more into an MF motorcycle book. Some of the scenes and the way Sean acted were easy to gender swap. I wanted Ryker and Sean to actually sit down and talk. Not pretend they were listening to each other, and not putting the club before their relationship.

One of my favorite parts was during the MCs’ separation. Perhaps because we saw another side of Sean—a more mature man trying to put his life back together and taking control. For me, the friendship between the rival motorcycle club president and Ryker stole the show. I wanted to know more about them. Maybe with Sean in the mix.

Overall, an entertaining story with likable enough characters. It lacks the emotional connection from other books from this author, but it’s a good one to start a somehow related story.

Narrator: The narration was pleasant but not remarkable. Dorian Bane did a good job getting the characters’ voices to differentiate from each other. For some reason, I couldn’t stop thinking about MSNBC reporter Craig Melvin. I felt as if he was narrating the story, and I didn’t mind. 🙂

The cover for the audiobook is an adaptation of the e-book version created by L.C. Chase. It’s interesting, and let the reader see the road from the rider’s perspective.

Sales Links: Riptide | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Dorian Bane
Length: 7 hours and 15 minutes

Published: September 26, 2016 (Audio Edition) by Riptide Publishing
ASIN: B01LXXFCMM
Edition Language: English

Series: Havoc

Book #1: Running Wild

In the Spotlight: The Queer and the Restless (Queers of La Vista #3) by Kris Ripper (giveaway)

The Queer and the Restless (Queers of La Vista #3) by Kris Ripper
Riptide Publishing
Cover art by L.C. Chase
Read an Excerpt/Buy It Here

Hi, I’m Kris and welcome to the blog tour for The Queer and the Restless, book three in my awesome queer soap opera! Enjoy the blog tour!

About The Queer and the Restless

Ed Masiello has been on testosterone for a year, is working his dream job as a reporter, and is finally passing as a man (so long as you don’t ask his abuela). But the investigation of a murder case is starting to take over his life. Afraid he’s becoming obsessed, he goes to the local club to relax, and meets the flighty, whimsical Alisha.

Alisha is a free spirit who’s tossed aside ambition for travel and adventure. Her approach to life is a far cry from Ed’s, and while Ed has always assumed that meeting his goals would make him happy, Alisha is much more content than him—despite all the plans she can’t yet fulfill.

As their relationship heats up, so does the murder case. Alisha thinks Ed needs a break, but someone’s got to find this killer, and he wants to be there when it all goes down. Besides, taking off into the great unknown with Alisha is crazy. But opting for what’s safe is just another way of living in fear, and Ed vowed to stop living like that a long time ago.

The Queer and the Restless is available from Riptide Publishing. http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/the-queer-and-the-restless

About Kris Ripper

Kris Ripper lives in the great state of California and hails from the San Francisco Bay Area. Kris shares a converted garage with a toddler, can do two pull-ups in a row, and can write backwards. (No, really.) Kris is genderqueer and prefers the z-based pronouns because they’re freaking sweet. Ze has been writing fiction since ze learned how to write, and boring zir stuffed animals with stories long before that.

Connect with Kris:

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of The Queer and the Restless, one lucky winner will receive an ebook from Kris’s backlist! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on November 5, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV (Part IV) and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV (Part IV)

Today, we are going to finish up our authors perspective on writing and publishing eBooks with two authors familiar to readers here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. Elin Gregory, author of wonderful M/M historical novels and Joe Cosentino, author of the Cozzi Cove and Nicky and Noah Mysteries among others. They kindly consented to answering our questions about writing, writing eBooks and publishing.

Reflecting back, while many authors see the eBook format as one that’s here to stay, other points of view vary widely. Here are two more to add to our picture of the eBook as it matures into an established book format and method of getting one’s story heard and out to readers world wide.

Elin Gregory

✍From Elin Gregory, author of On a Lee Shore, A Taste Of Copper, and many more:

As an author, what has your experience been publishing ebooks? Especially self published ebooks? Did you start off that way? Was a traditional publishing house not the answer? Or if it was, why?

I’ve been writing fiction for as long as I can remember but very much took on board the message that proper books were written by ‘posh folk’. Impressions that you form as a child can be very difficult to shake off as an adult so, although I wrote many novels, it was always as a cheap form of amusement rather than with any intent. In my thirties I did show a friend what I had written. She was a deeply thoughtful and serious reader and a rollicking Regency romance with a bisexual hero really wasn’t her thing. Her reaction was so negative that I went back into the writing closet. It wasn’t until the rise of the internet and online writing fora that I tried sharing things again, to a much better response, and a friend who was a published author encouraged me to try ebooks. This was in the early 2000s before ebooks were widely available and I didn’t follow it up at the time. I wish I had.

How has the ebook industry changed since you started publishing? How do you view these changes?

It hasn’t actually changed that much other than fewer publishers, more opportunities to self publish and OMG huge numbers of authors. The consequence of this is that I think it’s getting harder to be published by one of the ebook houses – which isn’t bad. As a reader I appreciate feeling that publishers are striving for excellence. But as an author, whether with a little house or as a self pubber, it’s very hard to be ‘seen’ when there are hundreds of new books each month.

Have you as an author benefited, are indifferent, or has it made your job more difficult to get your books out there?

I’ve benefitted in that I don’t believe I’d have ever been picked up by an agent. The competition is FIERCE. So ebooks have given me a terrific opportunity to share my work. The difficulty is in writing books that don’t properly fit the main categories so never really being sure how to describe them. Tagging them M/M won’t work because M/M is, in many readers’ minds, synonymous with erotic romance. They aren’t really romance, lacking that focus on the relationship. I can’t describe them as gay fiction because that, to me, specifically refers to books written by gay authors. I can’t call them LGBT+ fiction because they mostly only cover the G. Tagging is really important in order to allow readers to find you.

What things would you change if you were starting over?

I wish I had been braver and had submitted the short novel I finished in 2005. It might have sunk without a trace but people might have liked it. Who knows?

If I was starting now – probably not much. I don’t think I have the steely core of self esteem you need to be a successful self publisher/self promoter. When ones natural style is to say “Oh by the way, there’s this book I wrote … no, forget it. You probably wouldn’t like it” you’re not going to sell much.

What has been your biggest challenge? And biggest victory as an author – other than publishing that is? Is it see your genre expand?

Biggest challenge – LOL marketing! Biggest victory – ummmm, not sure. I’ve had a few lovely reviews and when you’ve been doing something for well over 50 years and someone thanks you for it, oh, how the heart lifts!

But expanding the genre is happening and it’s FANTASTIC. I can buy books that are genre first now – sci fi, thriller, historical, kitchen sink drama and all the rest – with amazing, complex characters and deeply interwoven plots. Books to really sink my teeth into by authors I just want to cheer, authors I aspire to emulate! More choice has to be a good thing.

Where do you see ebooks and yourself in the future?

I think we will carry on a pleasant low key association, like the type of friend you might not see for a couple of years but the relationship picks up where you left off. I would like to publish a bit more frequently but one does what one can and if nobody wants it – well markets change. No point worrying about it until it happens. I’ll be writing anyway.

Joe Cosentino

✍From Joe Cosentino, author of the Nicky and Noah Mysteries, the Cozzi Cove series, The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland, and many more

From being touted as the death of the printed format to the savior of reading to everything in between. As an author, what has your experience been publishing ebooks? Especially self-published ebooks? Did you start off that way? Was a traditional publishing house not the answer? Or if it was, why?

As an actor and playwright, I did the happy dance on my desk when Dreamspinner Press agreed to publish my novella adaptation of my one-act play, AN INFATUATION, loosely based on my high school years and high school reunion. That inspired me to write another novella, A SHOOTING STAR, loosely based on my years as a theatre major in college. The staff at Dreamspinner Press was amazing. I received a main editor, four assistant editors, a cover artist, and a publicity manager. The head of the company, Elizabeth North, answered my emails quickly, cordially, and completely. We even shared a hilarious late-night email exchange about my funny Italian family. The two novellas started out as e-books. They did so well that Dreamspinner Press gave me my own paperback anthology of the two novellas, which just recently won a Rainbow Award Honorable Mention. We are now planning an audiobook for those. We are also planning audiobooks for my other two novellas: THE NAKED PRINCE AND OTHER TALES FROM FAIRYLAND (my gay take on my favorite fairytales like Cinderella, Pinocchio, Jack and the Beanstalk, Goldie Locks and the Three Bears, and The Snow Queen) and A HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS (my romantic novella set on the gorgeous and magical island of Capri, Italy), both being performed by the amazing and versatile actor Joel Leslie and releasing in November and December respectively. In addition to the things I have already mentioned, the benefit of having a publisher is the assurance that your books are getting out into the market, and that you are part of a family of authors who support you. I’ve met so many generous authors who have given me advice, featured me on their blogs, and read my books. The advantage of publishing an e-book is the lower price and easy availability, though some readers prefer the paperback and/or audiobook. I assume the e-books are less expensive to publish, though print on demand has greatly reduced the cost and need for bookstore returns for publishers of paperbacks.

How has the ebook industry changed since you started publishing? How do you view these changes? Have you as an author benefited, are indifferent, or has it made your job more difficult to get your books out there?

Though I have eleven published novels and four more written and being released over the next several months, I’ve only been writing novels for two years. As my mother says, “Don’t you have anything better to do than write novels?” Hm. I wonder if Stephen King’s mother asked him that. In any case, during the short time I’ve been writing, the only change I’ve seen is the increased number of readers in all venues. Some swear by ebooks. Others want to hold the paperbook in their hands. And the rest want to hear the book performed by a skilled narrator while they exercise, drive, or rest. The more formats available for a book, the easier it is to promote.

What things would you change if you were starting over?

I wouldn’t worry so much about whether or not my books would be published. I’ve been lucky enough to find the right publisher for each of my series. For example, Lethe Press publishes my comedy mystery series, the Nicky and Noah mystery novels, loosely based on my life as a college theatre professor (though thankfully nobody has been murdered at my college). DRAMA QUEEN (Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll winner of Favorite LGBT Mystery, Humorous, and Contemporary Novel of 2015) is available as an ebook, paperback, and audiobook performed by the amazing Michael Gilboe. DRAMA MUSCLE (Rainbow Award Honorable Mention) is available as an ebook and paperback. An audiobook is in the works. DRAMA CRUISE releases in ebook and paperback on December 1. Steve Berman of Lethe Press sees the value in offering his customers ebooks, paperbacks, and audiobooks. He also enjoys humor and a good mystery with a surprise ending.

What has been your biggest challenge? And biggest victory as an author – other than publishing that is? Is it to see your genre expand?

My biggest challenge has been working as a college professor/department head while I write and help promote so many books. My biggest victory is receiving so many wonderful messages from readers who tell me my books made them laugh, cry, feel romantic, and see their lives differently. For example, I created the Jana Lane mystery novels with straight leading characters and gay supporting characters, and found many straight people loving the gay characters as their favorites, and claiming that thanks to those books their positions changed on equality. The series about an ex-child star making a comeback while she solves murder mysteries on sets is published by The Wild Rose Press in ebooks and paperbacks: PAPER DOLL, PORCELAIN DOLL, SATIN DOLL, CHINA DOLL, and RAG DOLL which releases on November 13. Since the series takes place in the 1980’s, the beginnings of AIDS is featured in the novels, and also Jana’s best friend and agent are gay and partnered. The series attracts a different readership to my other novels. I am delighted to expand in that way. I also love shocking the readers each time with the surprise endings.

Where do you see ebooks and yourself in the future?

I think ebooks are here to stay. However, I also believe paperbacks and audiobooks aren’t going anywhere, as I’ve witnessed many readers who continue to prefer them. As for me. I spent part of the summer writing teleplays of some of my books. I think they would all make terrific television series, especially my Cozzi Cove series published by NineStar Press as ebooks and paperbacks: COZZI COVE: BOUNCING BACK, (Divine Magazine Honorable Mention and TBR Pile Book of the Month), COZZI COVE: MOVING FORWARD, and COZZI COVE: STEPPING OUT which releases in January. The stories of ex-football player Cal Cozzi and his guest bungalows in a gay resort on a gorgeous cove on the New Jersey Shore is ripe for television. Hear that producers. Make me an offer!

Looking back over all our wonderful authors interviews, I begin to see certain similarities stand out. All expect the eBook format to continue, as well as all forms of printed formats and audiobooks. Most wish they had been braver, started to write or publish sooner. Wish they had listened more to their own voices instead of perhaps someone else telling them that what they were writing wasn’t what would sell or that the public wanted to read.

Its been wonderful to have all these authors opinions for the last two weeks. My thanks to Parker Williams (Of Love and Corn Dogs), Wulf Francu Godgluck (Tooth, Claw, and Horn Chronicles), and Jay Northcote (Housemates, Nothing Serious ), Elin Gregory, and Joe Cosentino for appearing in this series. Your participation has been invaluable.

Have you learned something from our authors? Still have a question or two to ask? We have a giveaway for our readers below. Leave a comment or question to be entered.

And Happy Halloween and Samhain everyone!

We will be switching things up for November as we start to roll into the holiday seasons. We will get back to our publishers at a later date. Thanksgiving is coming here in the States. Hmmm…what will be our topic next? Only a wild turkey might tell….

Giveaway

Elin Gregory is giving away a eBook copy (pdf format) of her M/M historical novel, A Taste of Copper, as well as our own giveaway of $10 of Dreamspinner gift certificates to 4 lucky readers. To win, leave a comment and an email address where you can be reached on how reading eBooks has impacted you. Could be the amount of books you buy, what type of books, where you buy them. Anything. Winners will get to choose their prize, first come first served. Contest ends November 8th at midnight. Must be 18 years of age or older.

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, October 30:

Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV (Part IV)
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
A Paul Review: The Wolves of Daos 5 by Rebecca James

Monday, October 31 (Happy Halloween – Happy Samhain):

In the Spotlight: The Queer and the Restless by Kris Ripper (Riptide Publishing Tour/Giveaway)
Alisa Release Day Review: Spell Cat (The Aloysius Tales #1) by Tara Lain
A Caryn Review: Faded Into You by Remmy Duchene
A Lila Audiobook Review Running Wild by SE Jakes and Narrated by Dorian Bane
A Stella Review: Coffee Boy by Austin Chant

Tuesday, November 1:

Quinn Anderson on the Challenges of Writing and her latest release, Hotline (Riptide tour/giveaway)
Release Blitz & Review Tour – Romancing The Wrong Twin – Clare London
A MelanieM Review: Romancing The Wrong Twin by Clare London
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Pansies by Alexis Hall
An Alisa Review: Crashing Waves by CJ Baty

Wednesday, November 2:

L. Rockwood Talks Dark Fantasy and “Defiant Revival” (Author Guest Blog/Book Release)
Tara’s “Spell Cat” Book Blast and Review (linked to the post)
A Melanie Releases Day Review: After the Sunset (Timing #2) by Mary Calmes
A Paul Review: Julio’s Wolf (Werewolves of Manhattan #6) by A.C. Katt
Alisa Release Day Review: Private Dances by BA Tortuga

Thursday, November 3:

Summer Season from Series Recap Tour – Treading The Boards Series – Rebecca Cohen
In the Spotlight: Posy Roberts on her latest release Stroke of Luck (author guest post, excerpt )
A Melanie Release Day Review: Summer Season by Rebecca Cohen
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Love on Location by Lucy Felthouse and Joel Leslie (Narrator)
A Lila Audiobook Review: The Senator’s Secret by K.C. Wells and John Solo (Narrator)
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Lights, Camera, Cupid, the Bluewater Bay Anthology

Friday, November 4:

Cover Reveal for Nobody’s Home by Dev Bentham
Honeymoon Their Way by Morticia Knight Blog Tour and Giveaway
Black Snow by EAB (Dreamspinner Author Guest Post)
A Lila Review: Twice in a Lifetime by Shawn Lane
A Stella Release Day Review: Mapping the Forest by Brandon Witt

Saturday, November 5:

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

~About This Sunday’s Contributing Authors~

About Elin Gregory:

Elin Gregory lives in South Wales and has been making stuff up since 1958. Writing has always had to take second place to work and family but now the kids are grown up it’s possible she might finish one of the many novels on her hard drive and actually DO something useful with it.

Historical subjects predominate. She has written about ancient Greek sculptors, 18th century seafarers but also about modern men who change shape at will and how echoes of the past can be heard in the present. Heroes tend to be hard as nails but capable of tenderness when circumstances allow.

There are always new works on the go and she is currently editing a novel about spies in the 1920s, finishing one set in 6th century AD England and contemplating one about the Second World War. Any excuse to buy more books!

You can reach Elin at:

Website: http://elingregory.com/
Twitter: ElinGregory

About Joe Cosentino:

Joe Cosentino – Joe Cosentino’s books and plays

www.joecosentino.weebly.com

Bestselling author Joe Cosentino won Divine Magazine’s awards for best mystery novel, best humorous novel, and best contemporary novel of 2015.

Amazon Bestselling author Joe Cosentino’s books were voted Favorite LGBT Mystery Novel, Favorite LGBT Humorous Novel, Favorite LGBT Contemporary Novel, and Second Favorite LGBT Romance Novel in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Poll. Many of his books have won Rainbow Award Honorable Mentions, and one was voted TBR Pile Book of the Month. Joe wrote In My Heart: An Infatuation, A Shooting Star, A Home for the Holidays, and the Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland (Dreamspinner Press); Drama Queen, Drama Muscle, and Drama Cruise Nicky and Noah mysteries (Lethe Press); Paper Doll, Porcelain Doll, Satin Doll, China Doll, and Rag Doll Jana Lane mysteries (The Wild Rose Press); andCozzi Cove: Bouncing Back, Cozzi Cove: Moving Forward, and Cozzi Cove: Stepping Out Cozzi Cove beach novels. He has appeared in principal acting roles in film, television, and theatre, opposite stars such as Bruce Willis, Rosie O’Donnell, Nathan Lane, Holland Taylor, Charles Keating, and Jason Robards. Joe is currently Head of the Department/Professor at a college in upstate New York, and is happily married. Joe was voted 2^nd Place for Best LGBT Author of the Year in Divine Magazine’s Readers’ Choice Awards for 2015. http://www.JoeCosentino.weebly.com

A Lila Review: A Sip Of Rio by Teodora Kostova

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

a-sip-of-rio-by-teodora-kostova Liam Young has a problem – he’s booked a romantic holiday to Rio de Janeiro months ago, but when he breaks up with his boyfriend, all his plans fall apart. Not only is his dream holiday slipping through his fingers, but Liam is tired of getting his heart broken.

Blaine Reed has a solution that can save Liam’s plans. Recently divorced, Blaine needs a break, and a couple of stress-free weeks in Rio with a sexy guy like Liam sound like heaven.

Liam and Blaine hit it off right from the start, becoming good friends even before they’ve left London. Despite their efforts to ignore the simmering attraction between them, it boils over when they end up sharing a room in one of the most romantic cities in the world.

Being together in Rio is easy, and it’s exactly what Liam needs – no feelings, no drama, nobody getting hurt.

Until someone does.

When the holiday bubble bursts, it’s up to them to find a way to be together outside of Rio’s seductive magic.

A Sip of Rio is a travel log story with two lovely main characters. The way they met and how their friendship started set the tone for the rest of the story. Liam and Blane had great chemistry from the very beginning and their love story felt easy and dynamic.

The author did an excellent job making the settings an integral part of the story. It was interesting to see Brazil through their eyes and how small details like height played a role. They enjoyed their time together and met interesting characters too. There were funny moments mixed with serious conversations, but the overall story was sexy, low angst, and easy to read.

My main issue with the story was the pacing. It started strong and interesting, but when the characters arrived in Brazil time slowed down. As soon as they left, time sped up again and we get a rushed ending.

The solution to their relationship problems and how they will get together, in the end, didn’t ring true to me. It was too much of a fairy tale for a story that did great showing the reader a contemporary setting. Also, I think that the wrong MC asked for forgiveness. Perhaps in the reverse, it would have had a stronger ending.

The cover goes with the feel of Brazil. The models seem a bit generic, but overall it represents the heart of the story.

Sale Links: Kindle Unlimited

ebook, 151 pages
Published: Oct 6, 2016, Kindle Unlimited
ISBN: B01M10UDTY
Edition Language: English

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Clare London – Romancing The Wrong Twin

Giveaway

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Hotline by Quinn Anderson Riptide Publishing Cover art by L.C. Chase Read an Excerpt/Buy it Here

What about Writing is Easiest vs. Most Difficult?

by Quinn Anderson

About Hotline

About Quinn Anderson

Giveaway

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The Queer and the Restless (Queers of La Vista #3) by Kris Ripper Riptide Publishing Cover art by L.C. Chase Read an Excerpt/Buy It Here

Giveaway

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Here’s Reading You ~ An Author’s POV (Part IV)

Elin Gregory

✍From Elin Gregory, author of On a Lee Shore, A Taste Of Copper, and many more:

Joe Cosentino

✍From Joe Cosentino, author of the Nicky and Noah Mysteries, the Cozzi Cove series, The Naked Prince and Other Tales from Fairyland, and many more

Giveaway

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, October 30:

Monday, October 31 (Happy Halloween – Happy Samhain):

Tuesday, November 1:

Wednesday, November 2:

Thursday, November 3:

Friday, November 4:

Saturday, November 5:

~About This Sunday’s Contributing Authors~

About Elin Gregory:

About Joe Cosentino:

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Hotline by Quinn Anderson
Riptide Publishing
Cover art by L.C. Chase
Read an Excerpt/Buy it Here

The Queer and the Restless (Queers of La Vista #3) by Kris Ripper
Riptide Publishing
Cover art by L.C. Chase
Read an Excerpt/Buy It Here