A Stella Review: Silver Scars by Posy Roberts

RATING 5 stars out of 5  ★★★★★

You need people to love you, especially when you shove them away.

Silver Scars coverA bomb destroyed high-powered lawyer Gil Lemieux’s seemingly perfect life, and PTSD has ruled every decision since the explosion that left him scarred inside and outside. Moving home with his mom is meant to be a temporary measure, just like proofreading for a medical editorial firm is meant to be a stopgap. But two years after taking on the wrong court case, he’s still living in fear.

Keith Kramer might be based 1,500 miles away from Gil, but their shared work brings them together—a chance meeting that’s life-changing. Gil is drawn to Keith’s good looks and intelligence, but it’s his innate understanding that Gil is more than the scars on his skin that is truly attractive. He’s everything Gil used to be and more. It blows Gil’s mind that his attraction might be returned.

Only doubt could widen the distance between them. Keith’s hopefulness, borne out of surviving some tough challenges of his own, isn’t enough to bridge the distance alone. Gil will need to believe he has as much to offer as Keith if they’re to build a life together.

Silver Scars is my first book by Posy Roberts, but surely not my last. I loved it so much I can’t wait for more by the author. The North Star series is already on my august shelf. Have you read Mika’s “Discovering New Authors”? Check it here https://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com/2015/07/06/discovering-new-authors-mika-on-posey-roberts/

This book was special for many reasons but first of all I want to point out something that won me over and made me appreciate the author a lot. I was halfway through it when I realized that  where almost every other author would have chose to end the book, in Posy Roberts’ Silver Scars,  Gil and Keith’s story together had just began. It felt to me like two books, after what could have been considered a HFN at half book, there are still 150 pages to read, almost like a sequel. These pages gave a sense of completeness I ‘m awe over and led me to a beautiful HEA.

Moreover  I want to add I’m usually bothered by the use of a single POV and of the present as a verbal form,  absolutely not my favorite writing style but in Silver Scars it was perfect and I couldn’t even tell you why. So hat’s off to Posy to making me love something I normally wouldn’t read.

The book has a lot of good qualities: most important it is well done, thoughtful, sensitive, full of feelings and with a lot of emotional moments that pretty much broke my heart too many times. Luckily all of these were balanced so well with super hot scenes and some funny ones, all mixed with a complete and satisfying plot and so real characters, unlucky in their lives like us.

Gil is a 38 years old ex lawyer that went through a life changing incident when a homemade bomb was left in his house by the husband of a client. It could have killed him but he was lucky he got just shrapnel on his face and head. After the accident he came back to live with his mum, struggling with a serious PTSD. He meets Keith on a brief stage in a new city. Keith is not just Gil’s beautiful new coworker, he has a  lot of baggage too, in fact due to some physical damage in his leg he was where Gil is now, with the PTSD.

They soon hit it off. Keith is gentle and sweet and supportive and helping, he is the switch that freed all the emotions Gil kept inside of him since the incident. They spend one night together and then  have to go to their lives,  in two different states. But they are able to create a connection that will bond them together and force them to be in a long distance relationship. Maybe is too soon to fall for someone but they went through too much to ignore a change at happiness.

This is just the start of their story, I followed Gil and Keith in their (beautiful) ups and (heartbroken) downs. The book is a journey in Gil’s panic attacks, in his various attempts to overcome all his fears; it was beautiful and painful at the same time to see him working himself in bad mental states but he is so brave too when Keith will go through some very hard times, Gil will be there to support him and help his boyfriend to heal. And maybe heal himself too.

There are some great second characters, especially Frankie, Gil’s best friend since forever, supportive in every way he can, especially with his smartass mouth.he’s the perfect friend, the one who support you, help you stand on your feet standing by your side always, most of all the one to kick you away when the time is right for you to finally live your life, even if is away from your bestie.

I couldn’t find a flaw to this book so it’s a full 5 stars rating to me. Highly recommended!

Cover art by Natasha Snow reflect a scene in the book when Gil is outside Keith house to start living their life together. Fitting and beautiful but it’s Natasha so I wasn’t waiting for nothing less.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 282 pages
Add Silver Scars to Goodreads
Published June 22nd 2015 by Labyrinth Bound Press
ASINB00ZPT6Y6K
edition language English

In the Book Spotlight: Resurrecting Elliot (Newport Boys #2) by Cate Ashwood

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Resurrecting Elliot (Newport Boys #2) by Cate Ashwood
Release Date: July 20, 2015

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht

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Sales Links:  Dreamspinner eBook | Dreamspinner Paperback | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Nightmares and panic attacks following a horrific tragedy leave Professor Elliot Lawrence a prisoner in his own home. After months of relying on his sister as his only connection to the outside world, Elliot is desperate for a sliver of independence. But leaving the safety of his home isn’t an option, not yet, and he reaches out in the most innocuous way he can think of: grocery delivery.

Colton Kelly, retired porn star and recent college grad, is struggling at two minimum wage jobs to make ends meet. During one of his grocery deliveries, he meets Elliot. Although the attraction between them is instant, they must first traverse the long road of putting Elliot back together. When disaster strikes yet again, this time in Colt’s life, Elliot’s not sure he’s strong enough to be the man Colt needs him to be.

Pages or Words: 200 pages

Categories: Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

TEN MINUTES. He was going to be here in ten minutes. Maybe. The website had given Elliot a window of an hour, but with ten minutes to, he was beginning to feel anxious. His heart was racing. His palms were already sweating. No one other than his sister and Dr. Mazur had crossed the threshold of his front door since it happened.
Nothing like throwing himself into the fire.

Elliot paced around the house, tidying what had already been tidied. He didn’t want this guy thinking he was a hoarder on top of being a shut-in. He double-checked that there was no clutter on his coffee table, that the newspapers his sister brought were neatly stacked and ready for the fireplace. The side tables had been dusted—twice—and the blanket on the back of the couch straightened. Pulling down the blinds on his front windows, he peered out, looking for a strange vehicle, but the street was deserted.

He walked back into the kitchen. Spotless. He wasn’t really sure how the whole delivery thing worked, if the guy just left his things at the door or if he brought them all the way into the house. Glancing at the clock again, he saw he had just enough time to fix—

There was a loud knock at the door. This was it. He hoped he wouldn’t puke on this guy’s shoes as soon as the door opened. He felt like he might. As calmly as he could, he walked to the front door and unlocked it.

Deep breaths, just keep breathing, he reminded himself before he clutched at the doorknob, turned it, and pulled his front door open.

He almost forgot to keep breathing.

The man that stood on the other side of his door, backlit by the sun, looked up and gave a crooked smile that made Elliot’s already rapidly beating heart hustle.

“Hi, are you Elliot Lawrence?” the man asked, his southern drawl warm and comforting somehow.

“Yes,” Elliot said unintelligently… and then forgot how to speak.

“I’m Colt.”

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Cate Ashwood wrote her very first story in a hot-pink binder when she was in the second grade and found her passion for writing. Her first successful foray into romance writing came five years later when she wrote her best friend, who was experiencing a case of unrequited love, her own happily ever after.

Cate’s life has taken a number of different and adventurous roads. She now lives a stone’s throw from the ocean, just outside of Vancouver, British Columbia with her husband, her little boy, and their two cats. Her life is filled with family and friends, travel, and, of course, books.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cate.ashwood
Facebook Author Page
Twitter: @cateashwood
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/cateashwood/

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Tour Dates & Stops: July 21, 2015
Parker Williams, BFD Book Blog, Havan Fellows, Bayou Book Junkie, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Molly Lolly, My Fiction Nook, Bike Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Kimi-Chan, Happily Ever Chapter, Christy Loves 2 Read, Inked Rainbow Reads, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Reviews by Jessewave, MM Good Book Reviews, Iyana Jenna, Mikky’s World of Books, Love Bytes, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, The Hat Party, Andrew Q. Gordon, Divine Magazine

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Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Resurrecting Elliot’ by Cate Ashwood
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Its All Bar Nights and Romance with The Dusty Hat Bar by L.J. Hamlin (excerpt and contest)

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The Dusty Hat Bar by L.J. Hamlin
Release Date: July 22 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: BSClay

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Sales Links:  Torquere Books

About The Dusty Hat…

Noah Kimberly walks into his usual bar, same as he does most Friday nights. It’s surprisingly busy for this time of night, even for a Friday.

Tonight things are different. Tonight Noah will meet Lennie Boyce, the son of Earl Boyce the biggest ranch owner in the area and Noah’s ex boss. His friend and bar owner Dusty might warn him away from the other man, but Noah’s just not sure he can resist this cowboy.

Pages or Words: 31,000

Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Romance, Western/Cowboy

The Dusty Hat Excerpt

Dusty is behind the bar, and Noah signals him for a beer, trying to shake off his thoughts about the Boyce family. He hasn’t been keeping track of them since he got fired. He sees them around, sure. It’s not that big of a town, and he hears the odd thing. But he hadn’t heard much about Earl’s youngest, Lennie, other than that he was his father’s pride and joy. If Noah was a violent man, he’d punch Lennie in the face just to see what his Daddy would do, but he’s not a violent man and prefers to avoid using his fists unless he has to.

“That’s quite a frown you’ve got going,” Dusty says as he passes him a cold bottle of beer.

“When did Boyce’s boy turn twenty-one?” Noah asks, ignoring the comment about his frown.

“Just today. That’s why him and all his friends are here. Mainly college kids, but if they’re drinking, I’m not complaining.” Dusty shrugs.

“Huh,” Noah says thoughtfully, taking a quick glance at the now seated Lennie.

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About the author:

My name is L.J. Hamlin. I’m twenty-four and writing has been a passion of mine my entire life. I have a deep love of M/M fiction and at the moment that is the only genre I write in. You can check out another short of mine, Nurse Levi, in the Men in Uniform anthology.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100008189472526
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/L.j.hamlin91
Twitter: https://twitter.com/LjHamlin
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/lizibabes
Mailing list: http://eepurl.com/bkVh09
Blog: https://www.blogger.com/profile/02717576317697299159


Tour Dates & Stops: July 21, 2015
Parker Williams, The Hat Party, Bike Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, My Fiction Nook, Bayou Book Junkie, Havan Fellows, Molly Lolly, Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Inked Rainbow Reads, Ogitchida Book Blog, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, MM Good Book Reviews, Christy Loves 2 Read, Velvet Panic, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Hearts on Fire, Chris McHart, Kimi-Chan, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

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Contest

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘The Dusty Hat Bar’.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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What Happens As Love and Politics Clash? Find Out with Cardeno C’s Strange Bedfellows (excerpt and contest)

Strange Bedfellows - Tour Banner

 

WLK synopsis

Strange Bedfellows - cover
Can the billionaire son of a Democratic president build a family with the congressman son of a Republican senator? Forget politics, love makes strange bedfellows.

As the sole offspring of the Democratic United States president and his political operative wife, Trevor Moga was raised in an environment driven by the election cycle. During childhood, he fantasized about living in a made-for-television family, and as an adult, he rejected all things politics and built a highly successful career as far from his parents as possible.

Newly elected congressman Ford Hollingsworth is Republican royalty. The grandson of a revered governor and son of a respected senator, he was bred to value faith, family, and the goal of seeing a Hollingsworth in the White House.

When Trevor and Ford meet, sparks fly and a strong friendship is formed. But can the billionaire son of a Democratic president build a family with the congressman son of a Republican senator? Forget politics, love makes strange bedfellows.

Excerpt 

“Where’s your bedroom?” asked Ford Hollingsworth as he tipped his head back to make room for the man licking a path down his neck.

The handsome stranger shoved Ford’s coat to the floor, slammed him against the wall, and wedged his thigh between Ford’s legs, rubbing up against his balls.

“Oh. Oh.” Ford bucked. “Your bedroom?”

Despite being mostly clothed, Ford was seconds away from coming in his pants. The inner voice he’d spent most of his life ignoring piped up to remind him that he’d never been this aroused with any woman and never would be. But acknowledging that voice meant walking away from his family and his aspirations, so Ford tried ignoring it, something that had gotten increasingly difficult with every passing year and was now impossible.

“Trevor?” Ford had no idea if that was the dark-haired guy’s real name or if he’d created an alias to use with a bar pickup, which was what Ford himself had done. Either way, he was proud he remembered the name, considering he was more turned on than he’d ever been in his life.

Without responding, the man reached for Ford’s shirt buttons and popped them open while he caressed Ford’s chest.

 

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Amazon / iTunes / ARe / Smashwords / Kobo

 

WLK Author Bio

Cardeno C - Logo

Cardeno C. – CC to friends – is a hopeless romantic who wants to add a lot of happiness and a few “awwws” into a reader’s day. Writing is a nice break from real life as a corporate type and volunteer work with gay rights organizations. Cardeno’s stories range from sweet to intense, contemporary to paranormal, long to short, but they always include strong relationships and walks into the happily-ever-after sunset.

Cardeno’s Home, Family, and Mates series have received awards from Love Romances and More Golden Roses, Rainbow Awards, the Goodreads M/M Romance Group, and various reviewers. But even more special to CC are heartfelt reactions from readers, like, “You bring joy and love and make it part of the every day.”

WLK Giveaway
Winner’s choice of ebook from author’s backlist (excluding box sets or anthologies). Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and WLK Book Promotions.

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presented by:
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A MelanieM Review: The Baker (Workplace Encounters #6) by Serena Yates

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

The Baker CoverIan Wallace works as a baker for his tyrannical father in the family-owned Scottish Bakehouse in Casper, Wyoming. He wants to represent the bakery in the upcoming Tartan Day competition, but his father refuses to reveal the secret ingredients that make them so successful—unless Ian gets married and has a son, proving he is fit to continue the family line.

Just before New Year’s Eve, Cameron Lewis, a former Marine turned police detective, comes into the bakery for donuts for his department and some black buns for himself. Cameron is hooked, and as his visits become more frequent, they stir Ian’s father’s suspicions. But threats can’t stop Ian from donning his kilt and entering the competition anyway—to show his father what he can do on his own. Though he he might not have the secret ingredients, Ian and Cameron might still discover a recipe for happiness.

The Baker by Serena Yates is the first I’ve read in her Workplace Encounters series but I enjoyed it so much that I’m going to search out the rest.  The Baker charts the romance of  Scottish family baker Ian Wallace and Det. Cameron Lewis of the Casper, Wyoming police department.  This story manages to bring in Scottish baking and recipes, a Tartan Day and Hogmanay celebrations and rituals, and the pain and anguish of growing up under un-demonstrative  and autocratic father and makes it all gel together.

At first I had a difficult time getting a handle on Ian’s character.  At times he comes across as naive and younger emotionally than his age of late 20’s.  Then during other scenes, he acts accordingly to his age level.  I had to decide if his actions were reasonable and did they fit into his history as we knew it?  I came to the conclusion that someone who had grown up under in such a restrictive family, with such rigid expectations impressed upon them and with little love shown during their formative years, that his actions, however, odd at times, felt about right.

That one issue dealt with, I could concentrate on the romance and altogether charming interactions between Ian and Cam.  Their steps towards happiness and love were as touching as they were hesitant.  I appreciated the give and take between them and the fact that the men actually discussed important issues such as how open they were going to be about their relationship and the steps they were willing to take in getting to know each other better before making any important decisions.  It felt believable and realistic, given the place and backgrounds.

One more element I enjoyed, the fact that Cameron’s police department was not a hotbed of homophobia.  I don’t think any of us can separate the words Wyoming and Matthew Shepard in our hearts and minds but I hope that plays like the Laramie Project and other actions can make such an open-minded squad as much a reality as it is here in this story.  So yes, I adored his partner and fellow officers and the part they played in Cam and Ian’s romance.  Just lovely.

Finally, I enjoyed the Scottish baking recipes and traditions that the author folded into her story.  It added depth and interest to an already engaging romance.  Plus it gave me things to research…something I always get a kick out of.

Not familiar with Serena Yates or her Workplace Encounters  series?  Start with The Baker!  Its charming, its characters loving and believable, and their romance and climb towards a relationship is heartwarming.  I recommend it and look forward to reading more stories in this series.

Cover art by L. C. Chase is lovely.  I think that design is fun and captures the essence of the character and his passion, even if I doubt his father ever let him look like that inside his shop.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 1st Edition, 133 pages
Published July 15th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press (first published July 1st 2015)
ISBN139781634762113
edition languageEnglish
seriesWorkplace Encounters #6
charactersCameron Lewis, Ian Wallace

Workplace Encounters Series with Goodreads links:

 

Catch a Thrill with The Minder by Catherine L Byrne (excerpt and giveaway)

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The Minder by Catherine L Byrne
Release Date: July 15, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Extasy Books
Cover Artist: Latrisha Waters

Sales Links: Amazon  |  Amazon UK |  eXtasy Books

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Our Mini Interview with Catherine L. Byrne

• Do you have a favorite recipe that you are willing to share?
CLB: This is a recipe for starving students, invented when I was a student—take one tin of tuna, one tin of sweetcorn and one tin of chopped tomatoes. Put into a saucepan and heat gently for at least 20 minutes until it all thickens. Then eat with crusty bread.

• Tell us something that people would be surprised you know how to do.
CLB:  Drive a rally car. My husband treated me to a Rally day at Brands Hatch a while ago for a special birthday and I learned oversteer, understeer and how to get out of a 360 degree spin!

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The Minder Blurb:

When down-on-his-luck minder Chase takes on a job for a fading gangster, the job and his charge both turn out to be very different to what he expected. Someone is trying to sabotage the mobster’s business and doesn’t care who they hurt in the process. Soon Chase finds himself on the run with his charge, trying to carry out a friend’s last wishes before their pursuers catch up with them.

Pages or Words: 92 pages

Categories: Gay fiction, M/M Romance, Mystery, Thriller

Excerpt from The Minder

They sneaked down the stairs and along the corridor like ghosts, the voices of the killers shouting in the distance. Chase went first and they reached the long, white kitchen. The spare sets of car keys were in a box by the back door so people could take or return them on the way out. He had just grabbed one when Jody clutched his arm.

“I have to go back for my phone,” he hissed.

“Really? You little—” But Jody had a point. They needed phones to communicate. “I’ll come with you. Just a sec.”

He pointed the key through the window blinds at the parked cars lining the driveway by the garage and the red Ferrari 458 flashed its lights. “Nice.”

“Come on.” Jody pulled his arm again and they crept out of the kitchen towards the stairs and Jody’s bedroom.

They reached Jody’s room and it only took him a few minutes to locate the phone and shove it in his pocket. Then Chase remembered something.

“Quick, come with me.” He steered Jody into Tony’s office, unlocked the safe, took out stacks of notes and put them in his rucksack.

“What are you doing?” Jody glared at him. “Stealing?”

Chase pushed him against the wall—no time for pleasantries. “Listen, we’ve got to go or they’ll kill us too,” he snarled in Jody’s face. “Understand? Come with me or I’ll leave you to them.”

Jody gulped and nodded, his brown eyes wide.

“Good.” Chase let him go and dragged him out of the office and down the stairs.

About the author:

Catherine L Byrne writes stories about relationships which push buttons and provoke reactions from readers. She writes about both gay and straight relationships, depending on which characters in her books shout the loudest to have their stories told.

An inquisitive author, she prefers writing about different situations in each book rather than writing a series about the same one—her stories range from 10th century Viking Britain, to modern educational settings and from mystery to romance.

As she was born and bred in England and lives there with her family, this infuses her books with a distinctly English tone. She has been writing since as long as she can remember and Extasy Books have published her novels since 2014.

Where to find the author:
Facebook Author Page
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatherineLByrne
Blog: https://catherinelbyrne.wordpress.com/
eXtasy Author Page

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Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘The Minder’. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Dates & Stops:

Bayou Book Junkie, BFD Book Blog, Charley Descoteaux, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Havan Fellows, Inked Rainbow Reads, It’s Raining Men, Jessie G. Books, Michael Mandrake, Mikky’s World of Books, MM Good Book Reviews, Parker Williams, Prism Book Alliance, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Fuzzy, Fluffy World of Chris T. Kat, The Hat Party, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Velvet Panic, Wake Up Your Wild Side

Call For Reviewers and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Help! Reviewers Wanted!person reading stacks of books

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We’re heading towards the end of July and its become apparent that Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words needs to enlarge its family of reviewers.  We have more books and offers of books to review than we can handle to our satisfaction. Soooooo….if you love to read and write, if you love to read and want/already write reviews of your own,  how about joining our family of reviewers?

We are a low pressure, fun group of various ages, races, and genders who love to read, talk, think about books of LGBTQIA fiction and non-fiction.  Contribute frequently or infrequently according to your personal schedule. We’re flexible.  We supply the books, you supply the reviews (using our format and rating system).  Sound like something you might want to be a part of?  Contact me at melaniem54@msn.com and let’s talk.

Oh, and if you know of any LGBTQIA YA age readers who might want to read and review for us?  Check out yesterday’s Call for YA Reviewers!  I look forward to hearing from you.

Finally a big hi to everyone finishing up at Rainbow Con this weekend.  I wish I could have been there! *Waves*  As well as a shout out to J. Scott Coatsworth and the group at QueerSciFi.com!  If you love LGBT scifi, fantasy or paranormal books and stories, this is a group you will love.  What a time they all must have had at Rainbow Con, I’m so jealous!

~ Melanie , Chief Reviewer, Cook, Keeper of all Things Sesquipedalian, and editor! [note: that word will appear in a review next week. Find it and let me know where!]

Silver Scars coverResurrectingElliotFSTin Man coverIn the Middle of Somewhere cover

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, July 19:

  • Call For Reviewers and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, July 20:

  • F/F Book Spotlight: Graveyard Sparrow by Kayla Bache (excerpt and giveaway)- Best cover contender
  • Get The Recipe for Love with Serena Yates “The Baker” tour and contest
  • In the Book Spotlight: Catherine L. Byrne’s “The Minder” (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Between the Lines by J. Scott Coatsworth release and excerpt
  • A MelanieM Review:  The Baker by Serena Yates

Tuesday, July 21:

  • Cardeno C’s Strange Bedfellows Release Day Tour and Contest
  • In the Book Spotlight: “Resurrecting Elliot” by Cate Ashwood (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Have a Hankering for Cowboys? Check out JL Hamlin’s “The Dusty Hat Bar” (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A Stella Review: Strange Bedfellows by Cardeno C
  • A MelanieM Review:  Must Love Dogs by K. Lynn

Wednesday, July 22:

  • Check out Sue Brown’s The Layered Mask Tour and Contest
  • First Release: Uncommon Valor by Rachel Ravenheart (new author) (excerpt and giveaway)
  • In the Book Spotlight: Pat Henshaw ‘Redesigning Max’ book blast and contest
  • A Mika Review: Wild Pitch (Homeruns #1) by Sloan Johnson
  • A MelanieM Review:  Blind Ride by BA Tortuga

Thursday, July 23:

  • “Release” by Ingela Bohm Guest Blog and Contest
  • Tin Man by Lisa Henry and Heidi Belleau Release tour and contest
  • A Sammy Review:  Tin Man by Lisa Henry and Heidi Belleau
  • In the Book Spotlight: Charlotte Ash: ‘The Sidhe’ Tour and Contest
  • A Stella Review: Silver Scars by Posy Roberts
  • A MelanieM Review: Blue on Black by Carole Cummings

Friday, July 24:

  • Book Blast: Tempting Jordan by Andrea Dalling – excerpt and giveaway
  • Double Your Reading Fun with Iyana Jenna’s  ‘Catfish Love Water’ and ‘His Enemy’s Son’ (excerpts/contest)
  •  Soul Shares saga continues! Blowing Smoke by Rory Ni Coileain (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A MelanieM Review:  Blowing Smoke (Soul Shares #5)  by Rory Ni Coileain
  • A Mika Review: In the Middle of Somewhere (In the Middle of Somewhere #1) by Roan Parrish

YA Saturday, July 25:

  • An Aurora YA Review: Noble Falling (The Halvarian Ruin Books #1) by Sara Gaines

 

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Want To Make A Difference? Donate a YA LGBT Book Today!

PFLAG

 

The Prince William County PFLAG (VA) youth group is seeking contributions of either young adult (YA) paperbacks or cash donations to purchase books for the PFLAG youth library. If you have any questions or wish to donate, please contact Lynn Schmitz, PFLAG facilitator, at lschmitz1@comcast.net.

Not familiar with PFLAG? PFLAG is Parents, Families,Friends, and Allies united with LGBTQIA people to move equality forward. Their National PFLAG website can be found here. Its also the place to locate your local chapters. More and more of our publishers are turning toward the YA and New Adult market. This includes many publishers you are familiar with such as Dreamspinner Press, with its Harmony Ink YA Press, Interlude Press with its new YA imprint, Duet Books, Torquere Books with its Prizm Press: Young Adult Novels LGBT Characters, JMS Books with Queerteen Press,  Bold Strokes Books (YA division) among the ones that come immediately to mind.

Think about the books you read as a preteen or teenager. Did the great ones, the memorable ones seem to speak to you? Involve characters that you could identity with? I bet some of you are smiling now just remembering those stories that made your day, helped you through a crisis, or just let you know you weren’t alone in your thoughts and problems. These can be tough years and books that take you away or make things that are scary at that age less fearsome are important.

Now image you are a young LGBTQIA child, preteen, teenager, whatever the age. I don’t imagine the local or school libraries have many books that have characters that you can identity with.

Where do you turn for stories where you can see yourself in the characters or situations? That’s where this PFLAG youth library comes in. There are some terrific YA LGBTQIA stories out there. You need look no further than our own Aurora’s YA reviews to see that. That includes today’s 5 Star Review by Aurora of Casey Lawrence’s Out of Order. Lynn Schmitz and her fellow PFLAG associates are trying to put together such a library. And they need our help.

Write Lynn, see what books she has already been given, what books the library is looking for and how you can help this project grow! Is there a need for such a library in your county or city? Check it all out and see how we can help our LGBTQIA youth find the joys we discovered in books when we were their age.

Again Lynn Schmitz email address is lschmitz1@comcast.net

Let’s make a difference…one book at a time!

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Cover Reveal Time for Buchanan House by Charley Descoteaux (excerpt and giveaway)

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Buchanan House by Charley Descoteaux
Release Date: August 19, 2015

Goodreads Link:
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: LC Chase

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Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press  |

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Eric Allen, thirty-three-year-old line cook, moved in with his grandmother, Jewell, after a disastrous coming-out when he was in middle school. She raised him, and he cared for her when she fell ill. When Jewell died she left everything to Eric—angering his parents and older brother. The inheritance isn’t much, but Eric and his bestie Nathan pool their money and buy an abandoned hotel on an isolated stretch of the Central Oregon Coast. The hotel isn’t far from Lincoln City—a town with its own Pride Festival and named for a president—so they christen it Buchanan House after James Buchanan, the “confirmed bachelor” president with the close male friend.

Eric and Nathan need a handyman to help them turn Buchanan House into the gay resort of their dreams. Eric finds Tim Tate in the local listings and over the months leading to opening weekend Tim reveals himself as a skilled carpenter with many hidden talents. Eric falls hard for Tim, but before he can see a future with the gorgeous handyman he has to get over twenty years of being bullied and shamed by his birth family. It would be much easier if Eric’s brother Zach weren’t trying to grab part of the inheritance or ruin opening weekend.

Pages or Words: 45,000 words

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Categories: Romance, Bisexual, Contemporary, Fiction, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Timothy Tate knocked on the front doors at eight o’clock sharp. Eric had barely been up long enough to start coffee, and Nathan had yet to emerge. They’d slept in one of the rooms on the first floor. The official reason was to avoid having to clean two rooms, but the unofficial reason was to talk into the night like they had back in middle school. Slumber parties for thirtysomethings. Somehow that didn’t make Eric feel any better about meeting this Tim person.
But opening the door sure did.
Tim Tate was as tall as Nathan, so six one, and he had curly black hair and eyes so dark you could get lost in them.
“Morning.” He wasn’t much for smiling, though.
“Good morning. Please come in. I’m Eric.”
Tim nodded and seemed to be looking at something behind Eric’s right shoulder. As soon as Eric remembered to step aside, Tim came in. “You bought this place?”
“Yes. Isn’t it lovely? The inspector said the bones are solid, and someone did amazing work on the rooms. Right now, we need help with the kitchen and some reno on the public areas.”
“Should tear it down and start fresh.”
“I beg your pardon. That’s a horrible thing to say. You don’t discard something just because it’s not perfect. With a little love—maybe this isn’t going to work out.”
Tim shrugged and looked around the room. His face seemed to soften into… nostalgia? It held a wistful quality, of that much Eric was certain.
“Have you been in this room before?”
Tim had turned away a little, so the left side of his face pointed toward Eric.
Is that his best side?
He didn’t answer, so Eric repeated the question, a little louder.
“Huh? Oh, yeah. When I was a kid. Sometimes the local clubs would use it for summer camps. It’s been empty for over ten years.”
“Why? I mean, did something happen here?”
“No. The owners died, and their kids didn’t want to live out here. Can’t blame ’em. Entertainment isn’t easy to come by.”
Nathan chose that moment to enter, in his pink robe with the ostrich-feather trim. He spoke quickly, almost dancing through the room and toward the aroma of coffee. “Good morning. You don’t mind I borrowed your robe? And this must be Tim. Lovely to meet you, sweetheart. Coffee, then business.” He flounced into the kitchen.
Eric and Tim watched him go. The silence in his wake stretched out a little too long for Eric, mortified by the thought Tim might believe the robe belonged to him.

 

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Charley Descoteaux has always heard voices. She was relieved to learn they were fictional characters, and started writing when they insisted daydreaming just wasn’t good enough. In exchange, they’ve agreed to let her sleep once in a while. Charley grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area during a drought, and found her true home in the soggy Pacific Northwest. She has survived earthquakes, tornadoes, and floods, but couldn’t make it through one day without stories.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/charley.descoteaux.3
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/CharleyDescoteauxAuthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CharleyDescote
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/charleydescote/
Blog: http://cdescoteauxwrites.com/blog/

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Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: Backlist book of choice from Charley. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

Rafflecopter Code:
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Tour Dates & Stops: July 17, 2015
Parker Williams, Inked Rainbow Reads, Havan Fellows, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Molly Lolly, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Tara Lain, The Hat Party, Divine Magazine, BFD Book Blog, Bayou Book Junkie, MM Good Book Reviews, Bike Book Reviews, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Decadent Delights, The Blogger Girls, Velvet Panic, Ogitchida Book Blog, Reviews by Jessewave

It’s Back To Market Garden with Aleksandr Voinov and L. A. Witt’s On The Clock! (tour and giveaway)

 

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On the Clock (A Market Garden Novel) by Aleksandr Voinov and L.A. Witt
Published by Riptide Publishing

Cover Artist: L. C. Chase
Sales Link:  Riptide Publishing

 

 

Welcome to the Riptide Publishing/Aleksandr Voinov/L. A. Witt blog tour for the latest installment in the Market Garden series,On The Clock!

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Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for a choice of one eBook off each of our backlists (excluding On The Clock) and a $10 Riptide Publishing store credit. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on July 18th, and winners will be announced on July 19th. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Please include your email so we can contact you if you win! Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Blurb:

When Blake Raleigh’s favorite rentboys retire from Market Garden, they’re sure their friend Jason will be a perfect replacement. Though Tristan and Jared are a tough act to follow, Blake returns to London to test out their recommendation.

Jason is right on the money. Negotiations turn him on. Getting paid turns him on. The higher the stakes, the hotter things get. Each trip to London is more expensive than the last, and the webcam sessions don’t run cheap, but Jason is well worth the sticker shock.

The more time they spend together, the more Blake wants, and not just sex and transactions. But Jason’s been burned before by men who thought they were in love with him, and he’s not making that mistake again. When the lines between personal and professional start to blur, it’s going to take more than money, jewelry, and sports cars to keep Jason from clocking out and walking away.

Author Bios:

Aleksandr Voinov

EPIC Award winner and Lambda Award finalist Aleksandr Voinov is an emigrant German author living near London, where he works as a financial editor. His genres range from science fiction and fantasy to thriller, historical, contemporary, thriller, and erotica. His books were/are published by Random House Germany, Samhain Publishing, Riptide Publishing and others.

If he isn’t writing, he studies hypnotherapy, explores historical sites, and meets other writers. He single-handedly sustains three London bookstores with his ever-changing research projects. His current interests include special forces operations during World War II, the history of chess, european magical traditions, and how to destroy the world and plunge it into a nuclear winter without having the benefit of nuclear weapons.

Connect with Aleks:

Website: aleksandrvoinov.com
Blog:   “http://www.aleksandrvoinov.blogspot.com/
Twitter: “http://www.twitter.com/aleksandrvoinov”
Goodreads:   “http://http//www.goodreads.com/Vashtan”

L. A. Witt

L.A. Witt is an abnormal M/M romance writer who has finally been released from the purgatorial corn maze of Omaha, Nebraska, and now spends her time on the southwestern coast of Spain. In between wondering how she didn’t lose her mind in Omaha, she explores the country with her husband, several clairvoyant hamsters, and an ever-growing herd of rabid plot bunnies. She also has substantially more time on her hands these days, as she has recruited a small army of mercenaries to search South America for her nemesis, romance author Lauren Gallagher, but don’t tell Lauren. And definitely don’t tell  Lori A. Witt orAnn Gallagher. Neither of those twits can keep their mouths shut . . .

Connect with L.A.:

Website:   “http://www.loriawitt.com/”
Author Blog:   “http://gallagherwitt.blogspot.com/”
Personal Blog:   “http://navywifeadventures.blogspot/”
Twitter:   “https://twitter.com/GallagherWitt”
Facebook:   “http://www.facebook.com/pages/L-A-Witt-MM-Fiction/187063289526”
Goodreads:   “http://http//www.goodreads.com/GallagherWitt”

 

About the Market Garden Universe

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For love or money . . .

Welcome to Market Garden, a London club that caters to the better-off. Businessmen and bankers come here to relax and indulge in their every whim and fantasy, and Market Garden offers it all in top-shelf quality: threesomes, voyeuristic pleasures, domination, ropes and camo and leather. Men of every stripe, colour, and nationality deliver these high-end services—everyone has their reasons to sell sex. And it’s the hottest sex in town.

And sometimes, its even served with a side of true love.

  • If It Flies (A Market Garden Tale by Aleksandr Voinov & L.A. Witt
  • Quid Pro Quo by Aleksandr Voinov, L.A. Witt
  • If It Drives (A Market Garden Tale) by Aleksandr Voinov, L.A. Witt
  • Capture & Surrender (A Market Garden Tale) by L.A. Witt, Aleksandr Voinov
  • On the Clock (A Market Garden Novel) by Aleksandr Voinov, L.A. Witt
    – See more at Riptide’s Market Garden Universe page.