A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Boyfriend For The Weekend (Boyfriend #1) by Diana DeRicci

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Boyfriend for the Weekend coverJayden Sindler’s sister is getting married, and she’s extremely adamant that he be sure to bring a date to Florida where the wedding party will be spending the five days before the wedding getting acquainted and having a mini-vacation before the big day. Stressing the names of her friends who don’t care that Jayden is gay and will “man hunt” him all week, she finally makes her point. So when he’s out with his best friend Tim and meets not only Tim’s new boyfriend Bill but also Bill’s cousin, Nash, he decides to ask if Nash would be interested.

It doesn’t hurt that Nash is gorgeous, tall and lean with long dark hair, eyeliner-highlighted eyes and a smile that captures Jayden’s interest immediately. But Bill has reservations about letting Nash go, since Nash is newly out and actually moved in with Bill to escape his homophobic father. Nash has never had a boyfriend, nor any opportunity to explore his sexuality, but it’s a chance for Nash to relax and be away from his father in a safe environment, so when Jayden swears he will keep his hands off Nash, Bill relents and nineteen-year-old Nash is allowed to accompany the twenty-six-year-old playboy to Florida.

On the plane, the two decide to act the part of boyfriends, deciding that their act will be more convincing, and after all, they wouldn’t want anyone to think that Nash is a paid escort, would they? But what happens when the pretending becomes real? Not only does Nash lose his heart to Jayden, who treats him with the utmost respect, but Jayden loses his heart to Nash, perceiving the younger man as the sweetest gift he’s ever been given.

Is there any chance their caring and concern for each other could ever be more? And is there any chance Bill won’t kill Jayden if he breaks his promise about remaining hands-off? And last, but not least, is there any chance for them when they re-enter the real world and school and job responsibilities demand their attention?

This is a really sweet story—the kind that put a smile on my face and kept it there throughout the book. There are sexy times and sweet, tender moments, and there are also family conflict and hurt feelings when Jayden realizes how others perceive him. But overall, it’s just plain fun to read this romance. On a negative note, though it ends on a HFN, it does end somewhat abruptly with a “to be continued” at the end of the Epilogue. No cliffhanger, thankfully, but nevertheless, no HEA. I do believe I will be picking up the next story in the series because I enjoyed these guys so much I want to see where their careers and commitment to each other take them. I recommend it to all who enjoy a sweet M/M romance with age gap, virgins, and very little angst. Can’t go wrong with this one.

Cover art by Melody Pond depicts the torsos of two suited men, arms linked, in the top panel of the cover, with a script-style title across the center and a fancy wedding-style place setting across the lower panel. Very bright and cheerful, and it definitely indicates the content of the story.

Sales Links: MLR Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 164 pages
Published August 20th 2015 by MLR Press
original title Boyfriend for the Weekend
ASIN B0148RTW1S
edition language English
series Boyfriend #1

A Jeri Review: The Making of Matt (Souls of the Knight #3) by Nicola Haken

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

The Making of Matt coverMatt Carter, self-proclaimed sex-god and drummer for world renowned Souls of the Knight, didn’t have the time or inclination for planning his future, preferring to fill his days with music, women and alcohol. He didn’t want or need anything else in his life.

Until the band parted ways and he found himself no longer living the dream.

Bored and lonely, with too much time and money on his hands, Matt turns to his best friend, Alex Clark, to help devise a new direction to take his life in. Together, they embrace their newfound venture, as owner and manager of one of L.A.’s hottest gay clubs – Kaleidoscope. For the first time, Matt has a plan. He knows where life is heading.

Until a devastating phone call turns his whole world upside down, sending him straight into the comforting arms of his best friend and leading him to doubt everything he’s ever known or believed about himself.

Alex had always been content with his unrequited feelings for his rockstar friend, but as Matt starts to question if he might actually feel the same, he runs as fast as his feet will allow.

Has Matt gone too far? Has his reputation as an irresponsible womanizer who refuses to take life seriously, finally managed to push his best friend away for good?

Or is Alex hiding secrets of his own?

I discovered Ms Haken with her book Being Sawyer Knight (Souls of the Knight, #1). I could be wrong, but I believe before that her books were all M/F romances. I loved Being Sawyer Knight and the second in the seriesTaming Ryder (Souls of the Knight, #2) so I was very excited to read Matt’s story.

Matt’s story begins after the demise of their popular and famous rock band. He is aimless, living on the money he made and not knowing what to do with himself. Luckily, his best friend, Alex, is the rock he needs in his life to help keep him grounded. But Matt doesn’t realize that Alex is half in love with Matt even though Matt is straight.

Cue the typical drunken kiss, misunderstanding and broken friendship. While this is happening we get the voice of reason Sawyer, the fabulousness of Ryder and the rest of the band and their mates. I love when a series brings back former characters, not just as short mentions, but solid pieces of the story.

Matt and Alex make it back together and while Matt thinks Alex is hesitant because Matt has never been with a man before, he is shocked to learn the real reason. Honestly, I was too. But the way that the subject was treated, with respect, honesty and care really made it so much more heartfelt.

Being that I refuse to spoil anything in the book, I will have to leave that there for you.

*evil laugh*

This book made me literally laugh out loud on one page, cry on another and swoon on yet another. This book absolutely had it all and I loved it. If you haven’t read the first two- READ THEM! Then read this as well.

The cover art is a perfect depiction of Matt and the life he is moving toward after Souls of the Knight.

Sales Links:   Amazon | “>Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: October 19th 2015 (first published October 14th 2015)
edition language English

 

The Final Word, Famous Last LInes of Novels and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

The Final Word Header

The last couple of weeks I have been talking about the first lines in novels.  The ones that pull  you in, set the tone, even lay out some of the plot.  Its so hard to get that all important first line right.  Look how few make it into the top 10, 20 or even top 50 lists.  Not many.  It was even harder to compile our own.  So many first lines had the name of the main character or rambled on or just didn’t do their job.

Now let’s switch to the end of the story.  The last line to be exact. The last lines of novels are the final word. The author may offer resolution (or just more questions). The last line may make us scream in frustration and clap in joy and stare silently in shock. In the end, we take what we can get. Here are a few famous last lines. Notice how many authors and novels also had the most famous first lines. Which of the famous last lines in literature is your favorite?

“Ah Bartleby! Ah humanity!”
– Herman Melville, Bartleby the Scrivener

“Before reaching the final line, however, he had already understood that he would never leave that room, for it was foreseen that the city of mirrors (or mirages) would be wiped out by the wind and exiled from the memory of men at the precise moment when Aureliano Babilonia would finish deciphering the parchments, and that everything written on them was unrepeatable since time immemorial and forever more, because races condemned to one hundred years of solitude did not have a second opportunity on earth.”
– Gabriel Garcia Marquez, One Hundred Years of Solitude

“It was the devious-cruising Rachel, that in her retracing search after her missing children, only found another orphan.”
– Herman Melville, Moby-Dick

“The knife came down, missing him by inches, and he took off.”
– Joseph Heller, Catch-22

“So in America when the sun goes down and I sit on the old broken-down river pier watching the long, long skies over New Jersey and sense all that raw land that rolls in one unbelievable huge bulge over to the West Coast, and all that road going, all the people dreaming in the immensity of it, and in Iowa I know by now the children must be crying in the land where they let the children cry, and tonight the stars’ll be out, and don’t you know that God is Pooh Bear? the evening star must be drooping and shedding her sparkler dims on the prairie, which is just before the coming of complete night that blesses the earth, darkens all rivers, cups the peaks and folds the final shore in, and nobody, nobody knows what’s going to happen to anybody besides the forlorn rags of growing old, I think of Dean Moriarty, I even think of Old Dean Moriarty the father we never found, I think of Dean Moriarty.”
– Jack Kerouac, On the Road

“But I reckon I got to light out for the Territory ahead of the rest, because Aunt Sally she’s going to adopt me and sivilize me and I can’t stand it. I been there before.”
– Mark Twain, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn

“He loved Big Brother.”
– George Orwell, 1984

“His soul swooned slowly as he heard the snow falling faintly through the universe and faintly falling, like the descent of their last end, upon all the living and the dead.”
– James Joyce, Dubliners, “The Dead”

“I don’t hate it he thought, panting in the cold air, the iron New England dark; I don’t. I don’t! I don’t hate it! I don’t hate it!”
– William Faulkner, Absalom, Absalom!

“Yes, she thought, laying down her brush in extreme fatigue, I have had my vision.”
– Virginia Woolf, To the Lighthouse

“If I were a younger man, I would write a history of human stupidity; and I would climb to the top of Mount McCabe and lie down on my back with my history for a pillow; and I would take from the ground some of the blue-white poison that makes statues of men; and I would make a statue of myself, lying on my back, grinning horribly, and thumbing my nose at You Know Who.”
– Kurt Vonnegut, Cat’s Cradle

“It is a far, far better thing that I do, than I have ever done; it is a far, far better rest that I go to than I have ever known.”
– Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
– F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Now what famous last lines, no not death lines, last lines of books can you remember?  Yep, a list of those is coming too.  But not this week.  Next up, our up coming schedule.

Books, reading clipart 090

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Lily CoverNecromancy and You coverDead Money coverHaunted Hotties Cover

Sunday, October 18:

  • The Final Word, Famous Last Lines of Novels and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, October 19:

  • Coffee Sip and Book Break with Sarah Madison’s ‘Truth and Consequences (excerpt and contest)
  • A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Boyfriend For The Weekend (Boyfriend #1) by Diana DeRicci
  • A Jeri Review: The Making of Matt By Nicola Haken
  • A MelanieM Review: Dead Flush by Laura Harner (Pulp Friction 2015) ☠
  • Scary Redux Review: Necromancy and You (Guidebook #02) by Missouri Dalton ☠

Tuesday, October 20:

  • In the Spotlight: Minotaur by JA Rock (Riptide  Tour and Contest)
  • Romance Hits a Triple Play by Sloan Johnson (Tour and Contest
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Hemovore by Jordan Castillo Price
  • A Mika Review: Redeeming Hope by Shell Taylor
  • A Jeri Review:  Triple Play by Sloan Johnson

Wednesday, October 21:

  • Cover reveal for ‘Cardinal Sins’ by Lissa Kasey (excerpt and cover reveal)
  • Coffee Sip and Book Break: Coming Back Home by April Kelley  (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Looking for Something New? Check Out Rain Shadow by LA Witt (contest)
  • A BJ Review: Just a Bit Wrong (Straight Guys #4) by Alessandra Hazard
  • A PaulB Review: Scarred Mate by A C Katt

Thursday, October 22:

  • In the Book Spotlight: Aspect of Winter by Tom Early (excerpt and contest)
  • Jess Buffett and ‘Packmaster’ book blast and giveaway
  • A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Bowerbirds (Nested Hearts #2) by Ada Maria Soto
  • A Jeri Review: Deliver Me by Faith Gibson
  • A MelanieM Review: Children of Noah by Neil S.Plakcy

Friday, October 23:

  • Scary Spotlight: Haunted Hotties 2 Anthology from Torquere Press (excerpts and contest)
  • Paul’s Paranormal Portfolio: My favorite Non traditional Shifters
  • Scary Review Redux: Lily by Xavier Axelson ☠
  • A MelanieM Review: Dead Money by Lee Brazil (Pulp Friction 2015) ☠
  • A Jeri Review:  Hollywood Secrets (Hollywood) by T.S. McKinney

YA Saturday, October 24:skeleton reading books

  • A Stella YA Review: Go Your Own Way by Zane Riley

 

☠ – Look for on our October Scary Reads and Recommendations coming soon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Author Discovery: Mika on Avril Ashton

authdiscorange copy

Mika on Author Avril Ashton

If you are looking for an author who talks with her readers, I’d say Mrs. A is one of the best ever. She is funny, she is honest and she writes about glorious guys. I just happened to come upon Love the Sinner (Brooklyn Sinners, #1) one day, never heard of the author and decided to give it a go. Well 2 series later and a couple of stand alones I’m hooked on Mrs. Ashton’s writing. I’m always looking forward to her guys. They are masculine, sexy, passionate, gritty and dangerous. Then she writes about those sweet damaged boys who would hurt you more than those other physically demanding guys.  She has some memorable characters; Rafe, Syren, Mateo, Dima, Tek, Xavier, Donovan. Those are just to name a few. She writes about tropes that are not likely commercialized in this genre. I mean if you want recommendations pick up A Sinner Born (Brooklyn Sinners, #3) and (Watch Me) Save You (Run This Town, #4), I’d start from book one on both of those though.

I like that she writes about guys from all different walks of life. From the privileged to the outcast; she writes a web of story with actions that sometimes I have a hard time seeing. One of my favorite characters ever was written by Mrs. A, that guy Syren. She killed it with him. I love him. He was so damaged, but he pulled on my heart strings. I was interacting with Mrs. A the other day on Twitter and I asked her if she ever considered writing a contemporary M/M romance with no destruction. Her response was yes, she wrote So Far Gone. I laughed because peoples response was the opposite of the book. I on the other hand really liked it. It was realistic fiction. Cheating, scandals, death it all happens in real life so when that was put out there I enjoyed it. 

I like her writing because she delivers the feelings, rawness, the love and the passion from her characters. No matter what she puts her characters through they always come out with a HEA. She is automatic-buy for me. I like that she connects with her readers. If you are looking for some passion with your stories then try out Avril. I really like you would like her guys.

About the Author

Avril Ashton Icon

A Caribbean transplant, Avril now lives in Stone Mountain, GA., with a tolerant Spousal Equivalent. Together they raise an eccentric daughter who loves reading and school (not so much school anymore). Avril’s earliest memories of reading revolve around discussing plot points of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys with an equally book-minded mother

Always in love with the written word, Avril finally decided to do the writing in August of ’09 and never looked back. Spicy love scenes, delicious heroes, and wicked women burn up the pages of Avril’s stories, but there’ll always be a happy ending; Av remains a believer of love in all its forms.

You can connect with her as Mika does through (AvrilAsh) Twitter, or through her website and check out Avril Ashton’s Goodread’s page for all her stories.  You can find it here.  Looking for a new contemporary novel to read?  Start with one of Mika’s recommendations, Love the Sinner by Avril Ashton.  Check it out below.

Love the Sinner coverLove the Sinner (Brooklyn Sinners #1)
by Avril Ashton

Detective Gabriel Ashby has never looked twice at another man, yet the criminal across from him, the man he’s interrogating, isn’t like any other. Gabe can’t deal with the sudden, intense need he has for one of NYPD’s Most Wanted. Everyone close to Angelo Pagan ends up dead, with the smug gang leader standing amid the rubble. Gabe would love nothing more than to bust Angelo’s ass and lock him up. So why is he seeing the bastard in his dreams at night?

Angelo Pagan knows attraction to Gabe is suicide. He’s resolute to ignore the chemistry…until a police raid goes wrong. He critically injures Gabe, changing the trajectory of both their lives. Now the two can’t get close enough. They settle into a forbidden affair threatened by lies and betrayal, living on different sides of the law with no way of breaching the gap between them. With the authorities looking to make an example of Angelo, Gabe has to decide if it’s really worth it to hate the sin but love the sinner

Book Details:

ebook, 229 pages
Published May 9th 2012 by Ellora’s Cave
ISBN1419939688 (ISBN13: 9781419939686)
edition languageEnglish

Stella’s Top Comfort Reads for a Spooky October Night!

skeleton reading books

Stella’s Top Comfort Reads

“On a scary, spooky October night, you just might need to settle in with your favorite romantic story.  The one that warms your heart and soul….

I have been reading exclusively mm books from more than three years, since the first time I put my eyes on Testa Calda, the Italian translation of Hot Head (Head, #1) by Damon Suede. I never looked back and in the years I read a lot but there are some stories thatHot Head cover stayed in my mind and heart and that I have re read often, especially when I need a cuddle after a hard book or when I simply need a strong story.

Let’s start with one of the best, Mary Calmes. I can always count on her cause she never disappoints me, I think I read everything she wrote, all of them are strong and emotional but I want to mention just a couple I love so much. Mine, as the title says, is full of that “not always sane” possessiveness and tight dependence between the MCs, Landry and Trevan, that can sound strange in RL but it works so good with Mary’s writing, especially cause it’s Frog coverenclosed in so many positive feelings I could forgive anything else. My all the time favorite book is Frog, it was love at first reading. I have a soft spot for this kind of story, with characters that came from different social worlds and with children. This is a magic book to me, it has the power to let me forget of everything bad in my life and just focus on Weber and his big heart. I fall in love with him each time. Melanie loved Frog too, she used it for our MM Romance First Line Quiz, did you see it?

There a series I like to reread by another favorite author of mine and it’s the Shifters one by Chris T Kat. SecretSecret Chemestry cover Chemistry and Secret Energy are both a five stars to me, sweet and light, and both the covers by Anne Cain are so cute. Same author, different cover artist (Paul Richmond), same love (mine), different shifters, The Wolf and His Diva is funny and adorable too.

Other times I need a different kind of comfort read, a little more emotional to me since I already know I will end up sobbing under my blanket, sad and happy tears either.

One of the  most emotional is Second Chances by TA Webb, there are no words to explain how much this book is Second Chances cover TAbeautiful. It’s a second chance at love story, overwhelming in the heartbroken it gives me, it drawn me in each time I read it. But it’s full of hope. It’s one of that stories I call complete, it evolves in a long time frame and the relationships and the events that happen are all well developed.

Then there is The Last Thing He Needs by JH Knight. Another emotional story based on the strong and brave love Tommy, the MC, has for his own family, and the amazing people that surround him. I cry for him and his so heavy life but I laugh too and most of all I cheer on him and his HEA till the beautiful end.The Last Thing He Needs Cover

One more is Finding Zach by Rowan Speedwell is one of the first MM I read in Italian and one of the few I read about abduction cause I am not brave enough, it is a little hard to take but it deserves my tears. It’s scary and awful Finding Zach coverand amazing. What zach suffered was unbelievable and his long and hurtful journey to take his life back was so well written I could feel all of him.

It’s cristal clear I like to suffer with all those tearjerker comfort reads, so I can’t not talk a little about Nick Wilgus. The Sugar Tree series and Get Your Shine On are all emotionally beautiful and so real. The unexpected union of an angsty sadness and hilarity. He’s a master at creating imperfect characters and make them growing on you. I could read anything by him.Get Your Shine On cover

All of the books I mentioned are five stars to me, they are highly recommended, for different moods, but each one is simply the perfection. If you’d like, let me know what are your comfort reads.

                                                                                                                 ~ Stella

Stella’s Comfort Books with Goodreads Links

Hot Head (Head, #1) by Damon Suede

Frog by Mary Calmes
Mine by Mary Calmes

Secret Chemistry (Shifters, #1) by Chris T. Kat
Secret Energy (Shifters, #2) by Chris T. Kat

 

Second Chances (Second Chances #1) by T.A. Webb

The Last Thing He Needs (The Last Thing He Needs, #1)
by J.H. Knight

Finding Zach by Rowan Speedwell

Shaking the Sugar Tree (Sugar Tree, #1) by Nick Wilgus
Get Your Shine On by Nick Wilgus

Mine coverHot Head coverSecret Energy CoverShaking the Sugar Tree cover

A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Shadows Fall by J.K. Hogan

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Shadows Fall coverTitus McGinty is a natural-born chovihano, medium, witch, Shaman—a Romany who has the gift of seeing dead people everywhere he looks. To most people that may sound intriguing, but to Titus it’s a curse. Spirts don’t just hover, they reach out to him, speaking, calling or making eerie noises. Together, at any given moment, the cacophony is enough to drive him crazy, so he never leaves his home or his coffee shop, both warded to keep the spirits out, without his earbuds firmly in place as he listens to whatever music queues up next on his iPod.

Most spirits hover in the area where they lived or died, never leaving one place, but recently a quartet of females, all grotesquely maimed, are following him around, trying to get him to help them, and he knows there’s nothing he can do.

Homicide Detective Charlie Hale, closeted, handsome, and the type of guy Titus has a hard time resisting, shows up at the coffee shop Titus owns and slowly wins Titus over. The attraction is mutual, but it’s soon evident that Charlie has never acted on his desire for men until Titus rocks his world. The two act on their attraction, but Charlie is shocked when he finds out that Titus might be more than a material witness to a murder he’s recently discovered.

It’s not Titus’s fault that the spirit of a newly dead man leads him into the building where his body is lying shortly after he’s been murdered. The biggest issue is that he has the same markings as the four female spirits who have been haunting Titus and has now joined the others in their pursuit. Titus wants to help, but he also wants peace and quiet so he sends for his grandmother, the Shaman of their gypsy tribe and the only person who might be willing to help him figure out how to keep out the spirits he doesn’t want but communicate with those he does.

Between his grandmother showing up, and Titus’s discovery of that body, his life goes into chaos. Charlie is pressuring him to reveal how he found the body, Charlie’s cop partner is pressuring both of them by threatening to arrest Titus, and the spirits are threatening his sanity by continually trying to get him to understand something. By the time, the chaos is sorted, Titus is on the radar of the serial killer and may become the next victim before he can help Charlie solve the crime.

This is just a very brief summary of a story that was shockingly good. Shocking to me because I’ve never read this author’s work, and I’m not a huge fan of gruesome murder stories. However, this was very well-written, with rich detail and an intricate plotline that piqued my interest.

Both the primary and secondary characters were well-developed and captured my attention right from the beginning of the book. I like a story which engages me immediately, and this certainly did that. Titus was feisty and independent, yet so emotionally needy for close contact with another human being that when Charlie walked into his life, he soaked up the attention like a sponge. And Charlie, tough guy detective and closeted gay man, was so hard shell on the outside with a soft chewy center, i.e. tenderness on the inside, I found myself rooting for him to win Titus’s heart. Grandma Hester Faa was a hoot—picture Ester from the Golden Girls of yesteryear. She too was feisty and took no backtalk from anyone, particularly from some gaje cop who was sleeping in her grandson’s bed. Other support characters could easily constitute a recurring cast for future spinoffs from this story, and judging by the way the author ended the book, I’d say it’s highly likely there will be some.

Actually, the one thing that kept my rating from being five stars was the ending of the story. It felt rushed, with a few subplots left outstanding, including the fate of Titus’s missing employee, Titus’s own future standing with his family and grandmother—will it be closer now or go back to being estranged?—and Charlie’s relationship with his partner—a partner who was very on again-off again. I’m sure much of the reason things stand the way they are at the end of the story are to tie into a future book, however the transition wasn’t smooth and simply felt too rushed and incomplete.

I would recommend this to those who like a creepy mystery with a paranormal element along with some blood and gore all mixed in with their M/M romance. Throw in a little feisty granny and some mighty hawt sex scenes with a virginal cop, and you’ll likely really enjoy this one as much as I did.

~~~~

The cover, designed by J.K. Hogan, is a photo depicting a young man, with dark hair and dark complexion with a background of a graffiti-marked underground tunnel. Once the story is complete, readers will understand the symbolism of the tunnel, and the young man is an attractive version of Titus McGinty.

Sales Links:  Wilde City Press  | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 329 pages
Published June 10th 2015 by Wilde City Press
ISBN13 9781925313246
edition language English

A Stella Review: Beignets (Coffee Cake #2) by Michaela Grey

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

Beignets coverMalachi Warren barely survived a series of assaults on his life. But survive he did, though not without baggage. Now, Malachi must pick up the pieces of his shattered life—the most important piece being his boyfriend, Bran Kendrick, who is dealing with problems of his own.

Stagnating at his job at a small-town café, Bran’s pride keeps him from asking Malachi—or anyone—for help. Desperate to do something, Malachi secretly pays a celebrity chef with a bakery in New Orleans to take on Bran as his apprentice.

As Malachi and Bran begin to make a new life in New Orleans, the specter of Malachi’s PTSD and the growing stress over the secret he hides from Bran threaten their relationship. Before it’s too late, Malachi must confront his past and face his fears about the future, all without losing himself—and Bran—in the process.

I read Coffee Cake, the first book in this Michaela Grey series, on June and it was a lovely surprise. I didn’t know there was a planned sequel and I was over the moon as soon as I saw Beignets. Being a sequel it really doesn’t work as a standalone,  you have to read the first one to better understand Beignets.

Bran and Malachi are together from six month. After being almost killed, Malachi isn’t sleeping well lately, tormented by a lot of nightmares and he’s not even drawing anymore. He is overload with panic attacks.  Sure Bran will leave him and all his problems behind, Malachi doesn’t know he is the best thing ever happened to Bran. It hurt to watch him be so insecure of himself. Trust me, the love they share is pure, brave and sweet. But Malachi and Bran are young, scared and with some not so light baggage on their shoulders, they are trying to solve their problems together and it’s beautiful and cute see Bran fuss over Malachi as a mother hen but sad too see how they cling to each other, because of the codependency between them is scary sometimes. They both need someone else to lean on.

First let me tell you what I didn’t like. I found the story to be too heavy because there are a LOT of scenes where Malachi is struggling with his panic attacks. They are without a doubt real but maybe in a book it is too much. I simply think the author overdid a little with these scenes. Luckly they are balanced with other parts, light, funny and sweet and I appreciated very them. ‘Beignets’ is interesting as ‘Coffee Cake’, well written and hard to put down, because I loved Malachi and Bran but the second characters too. I enjoyed how the story developed, their move to New Orleans where Bran could join a baker apprenticeship and most of all where they would find their serenity again and  a new family to lean on. This is a book full of love, full of real life struggles and full of hope.

I want to add a little more detail that I noted and liked it. I’m usually not a fan of single point of view, but Michaela Grey did a great job in this series. She used only Bran PoV in Coffee Cake and only the Malachi one in Beignets and in both novels I didn’t get the feeling of missing something, they were complete and well done in let me know what was in each character’s mind, with clear words and actions.

And if you’re like me and don’t live with just the spiritual love but need the sweaty one too, keep calm, you’ll get it. I particularly liked how Bran’s asexuality was never once ignored or lessened but perfectly enclosed in Malachi needs.

That said, sweet Michaela, can you work on Tristan and Callan story? Please?

Cover art by Aaron Anderson. This series’ covers simply rock! I loved the first one, colors and style were perfect. Same love for this one too. It conveys so much sweetness, in every way.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe)  | Amazon|  Buy It  Here

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published October 9th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1634766326
Edition Language English

Coffe Cake series

Coffee Cake #1
Beignets #2

Coffee Sip and Book Break with ‘Beignets’ by Michaela Grey (excerpt and giveaways)

BT_Banner

AboutTheBook

 

Beignets_FINAL_lavenderTitle: Beignets

Series: Coffee Cake

Author: Michaela Grey

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Aaron Anderson

Length: 200 Pages
Release Date: October 9, 2015

Blurb

Malachi Warren barely survived a series of assaults on his life. But survive he did, though not without baggage. Now, Malachi must pick up the pieces of his shattered life—the most important piece being his boyfriend, Bran Kendrick, who is dealing with problems of his own.

Stagnating at his job at a small-town café, Bran’s pride keeps him from asking Malachi—or anyone—for help. Desperate to do something, Malachi secretly pays a celebrity chef with a bakery in New Orleans to take on Bran as his apprentice.

As Malachi and Bran begin to make a new life in New Orleans, the specter of Malachi’s PTSD and the growing stress over the secret he hides from Bran threaten their relationship. Before it’s too late, Malachi must confront his past and face his fears about the future, all without losing himself—and Bran—in the process.

Excerpt

Exclusive to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words excerpt:

Malachi lifted an eyebrow. Okay?

Bran nodded, lips quirking.

Malachi smiled back. I love you.

Bran’s smile widened. I love you too.

Malachi glanced toward the exit to the zoo. Ready to go?

Bran shook his head. I’m okay.

“Okay, how are you doing that?” Sabrina interrupted. Malachi jumped and turned to look at her. She’d propped her elbows on the table and was staring at them with fascination on her face.

“Doing what?” Malachi asked.

“Talking to each other,” Sabrina said, “without saying a word. You just held an entire conversation with nothing but facial movements!”

“Oh,” Malachi said. He glanced at Bran, who just lifted an eyebrow, offering no help. “Gee, thanks,” Malachi said, and Bran grinned.

“You’re doing it again,” Sabrina pointed out.

 

He’d covered Bran’s back with a pale gray first, from shoulders to hips. It was the exact color of the Vermont sky outside his window: the pearlescent hint of winter, cold and serene.

The trees were next, bare limbs black against the gray sky. The green stretched out under the trees, a wide expanse of withered brown that defied its commonly used name. On the other side of the green, the library rose above the branches, glass and stone and modern architecture. Two figures sat on a bench in front of the library. The smaller one had his head in the other’s lap, knees bent to brace his sketchpad. The taller figure was absorbed in his book, brown hair falling in a haphazard manner over his forehead.

And in the distance under the farthest tree, a tiny, malevolent, brown spotted llama lurked, biding its time.

BuyLinks

Dreamspinner Press (ebook)

Dreamspinner Press (Paperback)

Amazon US

Amazon UK

All Romance eBooks

Barnes & Noble

AboutTheAuthor

Author PicMichaela Grey told stories to put herself to sleep since she was old enough to hold a conversation in her head.  When she learned to write, she began putting those stories down on paper.  She and her family reside in the Texas hill country with their cats, and she is perpetually on the hunt for peaceful writing time, which her four children make difficult to find.

Michaela started her career with Dreamspinner Press.  Her first book is called Coffee Cake, published in May of 2015, and its sequel is Beignets, coming in October of 2015.  She is represented by Saritza Hernandez, of Corvisiero Literary Agency.

Queer romance is her happy place, and she delights in pushing her limits, testing her abilities and forcing herself to write scenarios she’s not familiar with.  Angst is her lifeblood, and she wants you to know that your tears are delicious.  (But don’t worry, she’ll always give you a happy ending.)

When she’s not writing, she’s knitting while watching TV or avoiding responsibilities on Tumblr, where she shamelessly ogles pretty people and tries to keep her cat off the keyboard.

||  Facebook Page  ||  Twitter  ||  Website  ||  Tumblr  ||  Email  ||

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Winner’s Prize: Signed Paperback of BEIGNETS

Runner-up Prize: E-copy of BEIGNETS

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Creative Minds Promotions.

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TourSchedule

October 12:

October 13:

October 14:

October 15:

October 16:

October 17:

October 18:

Cover Reveal for Jessie G’s ‘Strength in Numbers’ (cover reveal and contest)

Front Cover Safety In Numbers - 400w

Safety In Numbers (Sizzling Miami #5) by Jessie G.
Release Date: October 31, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Jessie G. Books
Cover Artist: Andrew Reyna

Buy the book: Amazon Pre-Order Link | ARe Pre-order Link | KOBO

Blurb

“Bros stick together no matter what.”

When Chris and Liam made that promise, they had no idea how important it would become or how it would be tested in the most brutal way. Nine years later, their bond cemented in blood, that relationship is all they have to hold on to.

“No matter what happens, this friendship will be the one constant we can count on.”

When Billy and Owen made that promise, they knew exactly how dangerous the world could be. They survived prison by protecting each other and they survived freedom by holding that promise sacred. Now they want more than just to survive and they want it from the brothers whose bond is as strong as their own.

“We are stronger together than we’ll ever be apart.”

When Owen reaches his breaking point, Chris jumps at the chance to make things right for all of them. With the future in their grasp, will they realize their strength is in their numbers and finally become the family they crave?

Author’s Note: This is NOT a foursome, but the story of two couples that needed to be told together.

 

Pages or Words: 76,000 words
Categories: Gay fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt

That silence hid a lot from their friends, but Liam knew Chris was plagued with memories far worse than his. That’s why they decided not to celebrate alone this year. Billy and Owen were expected any minute and it was the first time they invited anyone to join them. The anniversary was bittersweet for them and they chose to celebrate it because becoming brothers meant that much to them. “Do you think they’ll find it stupid?”

Chris just shrugged as if it was no skin off his back what they thought and Liam knew that was just bravado. Fact was, they both very much cared what the two men thought. “Liar.”

His brother sighed and dropped his head back. As if shit wasn’t fucked up enough, they fell for two bastards just as fucked up as they were. “I know you’re worried about Owen. The business with Colin is growing out of their control and I’m not sure why he thinks it’s a good thing. Is he trying to prove something? And the middle of the night phone calls from the FTR? He’s looking more and more fragile every day.”

Liam knew he wasn’t stating anything new. What he didn’t know was what Chris intended to do about it. Lately, when it came to Owen, Chris conveyed zero intent and seemed to be waiting for Owen to read him as effortlessly as Liam did. Their brother bond had been forged through blood and he was afraid Chris’s expectations of Owen were unreasonable. “Do you see his face every time he thinks he’s failed to understand you? The weight of it is crushing.”

Instead of regret, all Liam saw was anger in Chris. It wasn’t a common emotion for Chris and Liam could name every time he saw it. The fact that Chris knew what he was capable of if provoked had made him extremely conscious of that emotion and he often went to great lengths to contain it.

Owen was the very definition of insecure. Just the type to inspire Chris’s protective instincts, which Liam knew for a fact Owen did. Hell, he inspired Liam’s protective instincts. Owen was stubborn though and he often distanced himself, keeping things bottled up until they manifested elsewhere. Like in panic attacks that felt like heart attacks, which he also tried to hide. Liam nearly lost it when they found out that Billy was keeping Owen’s secret.

Chris nodded slowly, as if he completely followed Liam’s train of thought and waited for him to connect the dots. And just like that, Liam understood. “You’re pissed because he doesn’t come to you when the panic sets in. That he hides it from you and they hide it from us.”

It made total sense, but he had to wonder if they were expecting too much. After all, they couldn’t call what was going on with either man a relationship. No, they were four fucked up bastards trying to come together in some romanticwhat? Not a foursome, eww…he loved Chris, but yeah, that just wasn’t happening. And Owen wasn’t his type any more than Billy was Chris’s type. But—always with the fucking buts, right?—what was happening was very definitely happening to the four of them, and Liam now had to wonder if that was the problem, because trying to come together was definitely not the same as being together.

Chris shook his head and shifted in his seat. No, he was right. It wasn’t just their brother bond that made it impossible to move forward as two separate couples. Billy and Owen had formed their own unique friendship in prison and were no more likely to move forward without the other one either. “Just once, couldn’t we have done something the easy way?”

The fire door banged open and Liam turned to see Billy and Owen, arms full of brightly wrapped packages, struggling to pull a huge cluster of balloons through the door. It was a shocking contrast to their dark thoughts and so uncharacteristically sweet of both men. Billy caught their surprised stare and yelled, “Is this where the party’s at?”

“It is now.” It might seem silly, but it was exactly what they needed and exactly who they needed it from. Maybe they hadn’t been expecting too much at all. Liam rose to give them a hand and glanced down to see the look of longing in Chris’s eyes and thought maybe it was time they all expected more.

 

Back Cover Safety In Numbers - 400w

Meet the Author

Like many readers, the dream of being a writer has been with me a long time. After three decades of trying, I’d begun to doubt. Thanks to social media, I followed my favorite authors hoping to glean some words of wisdom as I pounded out half-formed ideas with alarming regularity. Two repetitive themes emerged: to be a great writer you must read a lot and your butt must be in the chair every day like it’s a job. The more you write, the easier it will be to write and the better you will be at writing. I took that advice to heart and write every day. With six published books to date, three series in the works and a full schedule of releases planned for the next two years, it’s been amazing to have made this dream my reality.

I am a firm believer in marriage equality, love at first sight, power dynamics and happily ever after. I’m a lover of strong secondary characters and series filled with families, biological or chosen. All are themes you’ll find throughout my books.

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Bike Book Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, 3 Chicks After Dark, Bayou Book Junkie, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, KathyMac Reviews, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Charley Descoteaux, BFD Book Blog, V’s Reads, Molly Lolly, Multitasking Mommas, Carly’s Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, The Hat Party, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Divine Magazine, Foxylutely Book Reviews, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Gay Media Reviews, Velvet Panic, Sassygirl Books, Gay Book Reviews, Jill P Rand

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Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: 5 copies of ‘Safety In Numbers’ by Jessie G.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

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Russell Soots Talks Loss in Writing & in his Brass & Keys (guest post, excerpt and giveaway)

 

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We are happy to welcome Russell Soots here today to talk about his latest release, Brass & Keys (Freshman Beginning) and some of the elements in the book and series.

Russell Soots on Loss as A Core Element in Writing

In much the same way that loss is a part of real life, loss is also one of the core elements of any story; whether it’s the actual occurrence and/or threat of loss.  This is ​ certainly the case for the “Brass & Keys” series including “Freshman Beginning”.  Whether it occurred in the past, present or in the near future, loss drastically affects more than one character in this first book.  In many ways, the manner in which each character faces loss reveals a great deal about them in the story.  For example, do they face it head on? Do they run from it?  Does a specific instance of loss perhaps become an integral, lifelong part of them?  How each character reacts accordingly can give the reader tremendous insight into their mindset, emotions and perhaps even their future actions.

The various types of loss themselves certainly play a key role as well.  Death, the end of friendships and relationships, job loss, financial crises and others can all have profound effects on not just the characters but also the plots, twists and turns of the story as well.   

Loss will always be a part of our lives and the stories we read.  I must confess that every single time I initially write, reread and edit chapters that have to do with loss, I always cry.  I suppose my doing so is based on how such chapters hit close to home with regards to my own loss of family members and friends over the years.  I think it also has to do with imagining that same pain being experienced by characters whom in many ways feel very much like family members and friends to me.   

AboutTheBook

Brass_Keys_FS_600x900Title: Brass & Keys (Freshman Beginning ) by Russell Soots

Cover Artist:  Sid Love

Length:  266 pages

Release Date: October 15, 2015

Blurb

Having recently broken up with his sleazeball of an ex, recent high school grad Keldon Stonebridge is a handsome guy who’s optimistic about the possibilities of the summer ahead in his beautiful hometown of Asheville, NC. He intends to fill his days working, playing his saxophone whom he calls his baby, sipping green iced tea and hanging out with friends. He’s far less optimistic about a summer romance.

But then he meets the very handsome Tyler Lawrence. A fellow musician and recent high school grad himself, Tyler also enjoys losing himself in his music and conspicuously avoids speaking about his own ex at all costs. The two quickly fall in love and achieve a bond that truly transcends love and music. It’s a bond that will be greatly tested by loyalty, tragedy and more.

CommonExcerpt

Desperately trying not to panic, Tyler looked into his eyes.  “Keldon, what is it?”, he urgently insisted.

Keldon swallowed hard as he gazed into Tyler’s dark eyes.  A single tear slowly moved down his cheek.  His mouth twitched slightly before finally opening to speak.  “I’m in love with you.”,  he breathed.

Tyler’s eyes flew open so wide he momentarily thought they might pop out of his head. He struggled for a moment to breathe as a grin spread across his entire face and his eyes watered.  He opened his mouth but nothing came out.  Now it was his turn to have difficulty speaking.  Finally, he managed to get the words out.  “I love you too.”, he gushed in a whisper.  For the briefest of moments, they simply gazed into each other’s eyes before their lips collided and tongues intertwined almost violently.  Beyond passionate, their kiss sealed their bodies, hearts and soul together.  It lasted for several blissful moments before they finally parted.  With beaming smiles, they looked back toward the patio where everyone was smiling before looking into each other’s eyes again.

Keldon grinned and threw his head back.  “I’m in love with Tyler Lawrence!”, he enthusiastically exclaimed at nearly the top of his lungs.

As soon as he finished, Tyler threw his own head back.  “And I’m in love with Keldon Stonebridge!”, he excitedly drawled.  They grinned ridiculously at each other for several moments before wrapping their arms around each other in a warm and unbreakable hug.

Buy Links

AMAZON US

AboutTheAuthor

Living in central North Carolina, Russell thoroughly enjoys all of the great amenities of the state he’s called home his entire life.  He can typically be found assisting a friend with their small business, writing in coffeehouses, enjoying meals, movies, museums and more with friends as well as fully enjoying the great wonder of life itself.   Twitter   Google +

 

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Enter to win the following RAfflecopter prize of Winner’s Prize: E-copy of the book. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Creative Minds Promotions.

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TourSchedule

October 15:

Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

October 16:

Drops of Ink

October 19:

Divine Magazine

October 20:

Nephy’s World

Gay.Guy.Reading And Friends

October 21:

Wicked Faeries Tales And Reviews

October 22:

Diverse Reader

Hearts on Fire

October 23:

MM Good Book Reviews

The Purple Rose Tea House

October 24:

Bayou Book Junkie

October 26:

BFD Book Blog

October 27:

Prism Book Alliance

Up All Night, Read All Day

Eyes on Books

October 28:

Elisa – My reviews and Ramblings