Category: Contemporary fiction

A Sammy Review: In the Shadow of a Hero by Anna Mayle

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

“How much is a kiss worth? Or a hopeless relationship?”

Nick shook his head. “With the right person, it would be worth everything.”

In the Shadow of a Hero coverLife for Maxwell Thomas has not been easy. As a child, he had some light in the form of his father, Momma D, and the man who took them in and created a family with them, Detective Nathaniel Wraithe. But even those lights were put out by a tragic incident, and now Maxwell lives with blood on his hands.

He’s become a wanderer, one of the many homeless in the city who blends into the brick walls and fire escapes. One night, while on one of those fire escapes, he witnesses a young boy being attacked. Torn, he makes a move to save the boy, but gets a whole lot more than he bargained on and the one choice to step in brings a devil from his past back.

On top of it all, beat cop Nick Kenna has taken an interest in Maxwell, putting him right in the middle of the mess unfolding right before them.

Nick had never been so confused about what he wanted. Everything had been so straightforward before, black and white as the Ford Crown Victoria model police cruisers at the station. Maxwell existed in the gray so completely that Nick didn’t know how to relate to him. Everything was measured on a sliding scale in Maxwell’s mind. The world wasn’t static, it moved and breathed and Maxwell had become more than adept at rolling with the motion of it.

Though it took me a while to actually get into this book, I ended up enjoying myself. It wasn’t necessarily a mystery, as we pretty much knew who was doing what, but it definitely had some elements of suspense that I really appreciate in my books. It also had parts that verged on dark, but never really quite crossed the mark for me, but still, it was a nice read.

Nick was a very lovable character. It was strange for me to read about a kind of clumsy cop who really isn’t cut out to be a detective. Usually in books with a cop as the main character, they are really good at their job, but Nick was more of just a really good guy who wanted to help people and did that through being a beat cop. It was different and a bit refreshing.

Maxwell, on the other hand, was entirely self-destructive and I felt for him. Unfortunately, for some reason, his thoughts in my ebook were not italicized, which was quite jarring for me at first. It felt like the perspective was switching on me super quickly, but I eventually garnered that those parts were meant to be thoughts, but for a while it was quite difficult for me to get used to.

They made an interesting pair, and while I felt their connection, I almost wish I felt it just a bit more. The tension could’ve been written with a bit more thickness, but in general, the story was nice.

One of the parts that I am pretty dissatisfied is the ending. I really wanted to know the resolution of all the dirty cops and see them meet up with the agent one more time. It just felt there needed to be some closure for that element of the story. Still, I’d definitely be on the lookout for more by this author. I feel like she has a lot of great potential.

The cover art by Les Byerley is, unfortunately, not a good indication of the story within. It makes it look like there may be some kind of sci-fi element, but there’s not, and in general, the cover is just not appealing.

Sales Links:  Resplendence Publishing – All Romance (ARe) – Amazon / Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 225 pages
Published June 22nd 2011 by Resplendence Publishing
original titleIn the Shadow of a Hero
ISBN139781607353430
edition languageEnglish

Its Back to Bluewater Bay with Amy Lane’s Deep Of The Sound (tour and giveaway)

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Deep of the Sound by Amy Lane
Publisher:  Riptide Publishing
Cover Art by L. C. Chase

Sales Links:  Riptide Publishing

The books and universe of Bluewater Bay has been a favorite of Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words from its inception.  Now  this series and one of our favorite authors combines to produce Deep of the Sound by Amy Lane!  Check it all out below and don’t forget to leave a comment with your email address in the body should you be chosen for this fabulous prize!BWBlogo_Web

About Deep of the Sound by Amy Lane

Cal McCorkle has lived in Bluewater Bay his whole life. He works two jobs to support a brother with a laundry list of psychiatric diagnoses and a great-uncle with Alzheimer’s, and his personal life amounts to impersonal hookups with his boss. He’s got no time, no ambition, and no hope. All he has is family, and they’re killing him one responsibility at a time.

Avery Kennedy left Los Angeles, his family, and his sleazy boyfriend to attend a Wolf’s Landing convention, and he has no plans to return. But when he finds himself broke and car-less in Bluewater Bay, he’s worried he’ll have to slink home with his tail between his legs. Then Cal McCorkle rides to his rescue, and his urge to run away dies a quick death.

Avery may seem helpless at first, but he can charm Cal’s fractious brother, so Cal can pretty much forgive him anything. Even being adorkable. And giving him hope. But Cal can only promise Avery “until we can’t”—and the cost of changing that to “until forever” might be too high, however much they both want it.

About Author Amy Lane!

Amy Lane exists happily with her noisy family in a crumbling suburban crapmansion, and equally happily with the surprisingly demanding voices who live in her head.

She loves cats, movies, yarn, pretty colors, pretty men, shiny things, and Twu Wuv, and despises house cleaning, low fat granola bars, and vainglorious prickweenies.

She can be found at her computer, dodging housework, or simultaneously reading, watching television, and knitting, because she likes to freak people out by proving it can be done.

Connect with Amy:

Website: http://www.greenshill.com
Blog: http://www.writerslane.blogspot.com
Twitter: @amymaclane
Facebook group: Amy Lane Anonymous
Goodreads: goodreads.com/amymaclane

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Giveaway

Every comment on this blog tour enters you in a drawing for an eBook package of all of Amy Lane’s backlist titles with Riptide! (Excludes The Deep of the Sound and anthologies.) Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on June 20, 2015. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Don’t forget to add your email so we can contact you if you win!

 What is Bluewater Bay?

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Welcome to Bluewater Bay! This quiet little logging town on Washington state’s Olympic Peninsula has been stagnating for decades, on the verge of ghost town status. Until a television crew moves in to film Wolf’s Landing, a soon-to-be cult hit based on the wildly successful shifter novels penned by local author Hunter Easton.WolfsLanding_transparent

Wolf’s Landing’s success spawns everything from merchandise to movie talks, and Bluewater Bay explodes into a mecca for fans and tourists alike. The locals still aren’t quite sure what to make of all this—the town is rejuvenated, but at what cost? And the Hollywood-based production crew is out of their element in this small, mossy seaside locale. Needless to say, sparks fly.

This collaborative story world is brought to you by eleven award-winning, best-selling LGBTQ romance authors: L.A. Witt, L.B. Gregg, Z.A. Maxfield, Aleksandr Voinov, Heidi Belleau, Rachel Haimowitz, Anne Tenino, Amy Lane, SE Jakes, G.B. Gordon, and Jaime Samms. Each contemporary novel stands alone, but all are built around the town and the people of Bluewater Bay and the Wolf’s Landing media empire.

– See more at Riptide Publishing’s Bluewater Bay Universe page.

The books in the Bluewater Bay universe each stand alone and may be read in any order. If you’d like to read them in order of publication, it’s as follows with links to our reviews:

Starstruck by LA Witt
There’s Something About Ari by LB Gregg
Hell on Wheels by Z. A. Maxfield
Lone Wolf by Aleksandr Voinov, L.A. Witt
Lights, Camera, Cupid! (A Bluewater Bay Valentine’s Anthology
The Burnt Toast B&B by  Heidi Belleau and Rachel Haimowitz
Wedding Favors by Anne Tenino
The Deep of the Sound by Amy Lane
When to Hold Them by G. B. Gordon

Need Some Spice In Your Life? Christine D’Abo Delivers with “The Dom Around The Corner” and a few Recipes! (giveaway)

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The Dom Around the Corner by Christine D’Abo
Publisher: Riptide Publishing
Cover Artist: L. C. Chase

Sales Links:  Riptide Publishing

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to welcome Christine D’Abo here today to talk about her latest release The Dom Around the Corner and a few recipes to make our mouths water.

~

 

Thank you for having me here today! Let me introduce myself. I’m Christine d’Abo and I’m an author and lover of erotic romance. I’ve been writing seriously for ten years and have been published for the last eight of those. I love video games, superheroes, and anything that will mess with your mind. I’m also a secret ninja, but I’m unable to discuss those matters. Shhh…

In The Dom Around The Corner, Gavin teases Simon about his ability to cook. There’s nothing worse than your accountant knowing how often you eat out! I’m totally going to come to Simon’s defense and tell you right now that the boy really can cook! Here is one of his favorite recipes to make. If Gavin is really lucky, then maybe Simon will make it for him.

Skillet Chicken Divan (Dairy-Free)
Ingredients:
2 cups diced chicken breasts or thighs, raw (skinless/boneless is best for this recipe)
2 cups broccoli florets
1 cup raw cashews (not the roasted kind!)
2 cloves garlic
1 cup white or yellow onion, large dice
1 cup organic chicken stock
1 tsp kosher salt
1.5 tsp curry powder
1/2 tsp ground coriander
10 grinds fresh black pepper
Lard or your preferred Paleo-approved fat
Optional: 1/4 cup flaxseed meal
Click here to visit the website for complete instructions!

And for dessert!

Easy Decadent Truffles
Ingredients:
1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese,
softened
3 cups confectioners’ sugar, sifted
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips,
melted
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla

Directions:
In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar until well blended. Stir in melted chocolate and vanilla until no streaks remain. Refrigerate for about 1 hour. Shape into 1 inch balls.
Click here for the original site reference.

If you would like to learn more about me, please pay a visit to my website -www.christinedabo.com. I’m also very active on Twitter as @Christine_dAbo and have a monthly newsletter. If you’d like to sign up, simply click here to fill out the form.

Now About The Dom Around The Corner

The Dom Around the Corner cover

Simon is jaded. His bookstore is failing, his personal life is nonexistent, and he’s tired of the local scene. He’s desperate for a change, and hopes to find it at Escape, the hot new BDSM club in town.

What he finds there is Gavin. One look at the sexy submissive is all he needs to know that his trip to Escape was the right decision. And their night of no-holds-barred kinky sex feels like only the beginning . . . until his promising new sub vanishes with the dawn.

Then Gavin walks through the door of Simon’s bookstore—for business, not pleasure. To both of their surprise, he’s the consultant Simon hired to help save the store. As they work together, Simon realizes that he might have another shot at happiness, if only he can convince Gavin that he’s worth sticking around for.

Author Bio

A romance novelist and short story writer, Christine has over thirty publications to her name. She loves to exercise and stops writing just long enough to keep her body in motion too. When she’s not pretending to be a ninja in her basement, she’s most likely spending time with her family and two dogs.

Connect with Christine:

Website: christinedabo.com
Blog: christinedabo.blogspot.ca
Facebook: facebook.com/AuthorChristinedAbo
Twitter: @Christine_dAbo
Tumblr: christinedabo.tumblr.com
Pintrest: pintrest.com/christinedabo
Goodreads: goodreads.com/christine_d_abo

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Giveaway

Leave a comment at each tour stop along the way. One lucky winner will get tea from David’s Teas! Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on June 20. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Don’t forget to add your email so we can contact you if you win! Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Contest prizes provided by the author and Riptide Publishing. 

3 Wounded Hearts, One HEA in Friday at the 7-Eleven by J. T. Hall (excerpt and giveaway)

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Friday at the 7-Eleven by J. T. Hall
Release Date: June 3, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: BSClay

Sales Links: Torquere Press

Blurb:

Brent’s a bully who picks on his workmate Alex. What Brent doesn’t realize, however, is that Alex wants him, but is too scared to ask. Meanwhile Brent’s convinced that all he needs is a firm hand to push him down and force him to be a good guy.

Then he meets Craig, a muscled veteran working at the local 7-Eleven. Craig knows a switch when he sees it, and Brent’s got it written all over him. He needs a hard takedown and some training to harness that sadistic side. Craig decides that what might be best is for all three of them to get together. Only by embracing honesty and self-control can each of them find what they need.

Pages or Words: 17,000 words

Categories: BDSM, Contemporary, M/M Romance, Menage/Poly

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Excerpt:

Craig couldn’t help but chuckle, as the day’s events unfolded.

He’d had his eye on Brent for some time—weeks, in fact. Six feet tall with light brown hair in a neat cropped style, muscles that advertised his time at the gym, and gorgeous blue eyes. What was there not to notice? The guy scowled a lot, though, and moved with a jerky, decisive style. Brent was a guy used to giving orders, and he wasn’t happy about it.

Craig had known Brent would love taking orders. Yet, it had to be from somebody with the power and the balls to back it up.
Happily, fifteen years as a Marine had given him that power.

As he cleaned up around the drinking fountain and the snack area, Craig grinned, recalling the feel of Brent’s mouth on his cock, the way the guy had challenged him, and then ended up begging for release. Brent’s little tagalong had been watching, too.
Younger guy, blond and lean, probably more into running than lifting weights. Obviously a submissive, and pining after someone who might not give a fuck about him. But cute. Very cute.

 

About J. T. Hall

J.T. Hall has a bachelor degree in Creative Writing and a Master in Education. She has long been active in the LGBT and local leather community and does charity work including AIDS education and suicide prevention. Currently, J.T. works as a technical writer in the healthcare industry and lives with her partner and teenaged daughter in sunny Arizona.

Where to find the author:

Facebook
Facebook Author Page
Twitter: https://twitter.com/JTHall7
Blog: http://jthallwriting.wordpress.com

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Friday at the 7-Eleven’. Must be 18 years of age or older. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Tour Dates & Stops: June 17, 2015

Parker Williams, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Full Moon Dreaming, Jessie G. Books, Inked Rainbow Reads, Kimi-Chan, Havan Fellows, Happily Ever Chapter, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Hat Party, Molly Lolly, Decadent Delights, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Bayou Book Junkie, Redz World, My Fiction Nook, Velvet Panic

A MelanieM Review: Drama Queen: A Nicky and Noah Mystery by Joe Cosentino

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Drama Queen CoverIt could be curtains for college theatre professor Nicky Abbondanza. With dead bodies popping up all over campus, Nicky must use his drama skills to figure out who is playing the role of murderer before it is lights out for Nicky and his colleagues. Complicating matters is Nicky’s huge crush on Noah Oliver, a gorgeous assistant professor in his department, who may or may not be involved with a cocky graduate assistant…and is also the top suspect for the murders! You will be applauding and shouting Bravo for Joe Cosentino’s fast-paced, side-splittingly funny, edge-of-your-seat, delightfully entertaining novel. Curtain up!

Reading Drama Queen by Joe Cosentino reminded me of watching some of those early tv detective shows…you know the light hearted ones that didn’t take themselves too seriously.  Unlike shows along the lines of Criminal Minds or CSI, back then the formula called for a lively and fast paced storyline and a couple in love.  Think “Moonlighting” (my favorite), “Hart to Hart”, “McMillan and Wife”..well you get the idea. The quips came fast and furious, the love between the main characters never in doubt (mostly), something their repartees reinforce, and the investigations are launched as the body(ies) start to fall almost as soon as the opening credits are over.  It was enjoyable, accessible, and if it was sort of predictable, well there was comfort in that as well.

Quite frankly we never got to know the people being killed off, so their murders didn’t leave much of an impression other than to act as the starting point of the script and mystery.  That sort of happens here.  Nicky and Noah’s grand murder mystery adventure takes place within the cloistered, somewhat incestuous hothouse atmosphere of a small town college drama department.  Even without the murders, this department has enough angst and maneuvering going on “backstage” it doesn’t need the drama in the play that is being staged as the book opens.   Professors are vying for tenure, students and teachers are swapping more than reposts, and a long seated crush is about to be revealed!  Its over the top, melodramatic and viewed through the lively, inquisitive and theatrical eyes of Professor Nicky Abbondanza.  Outside of the Treemeadow College theater club and the Drama Department, Nicky has two things he obsesses about…his nine and a half inch long penis and Noah Oliver,  the stunning assistant professor going for tenure in his department.  We get to “hear” lots and lots about both of them, so just be prepared.

Noah is younger,  holding a few secrets of his own but clearly meant for Nicky from the get go.  That they are going to get together is never in doubt as the bodies, yes as in more than one, start to fall.  As members of the Theater Club and Drama Department dwindle down by various lethal means, Nicky and Noah’s romance takes flight along with the investigation.

Did I enjoy myself?  Absolutely!  There’s nary a dark and scary grit to be found here, nothing raw or actually terribly believable.  It’s lighthearted fare, meant to be fun and that’s the spirit that I read it in.  Outside of hearing a little too much about Nicky’s giant appendage and how he wields it, I thought the interdepartmental manipulations and tactics fun and realistic, more so than some of the characters.  No matter, they often came to a quick end before their lack of substance started to bother me.

Want something quick and lively to read?  A story that won’t stress your heart or thoughts for that matter?  A “feel good” (in more ways than one) story for murder enthusiasts and lovers of detective stories?  Then Drama Queen: A Nicky and Noah Mystery by Joe Cosentino might just be the thing for you.  I’m hoping that this is just the start for Nicky and Noah.  If Jessica Fletcher could have so many murderers in Cabot Cove, why shouldn’t the same hold true for Treemeadow College?

Cover art works.  Its got drama galore from the design to the fonts used.  I like it!

Sales Links:  Lethe Press (paperback) –  Amazon  Buy It Here

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 176 pages
Published May 26th 2015 by Lethe Press
ASINB00YCJSEJO
edition languageEnglish

A Stella Review: Chasing the Rainbow by Kade Boehme

Rating:  3 stars out of 5

Chasing the Rainbow coverBobby Gugino realized he may have met the man of his dreams in Jody Olsen, only neither of them were gay, so far as Bobby knew. But when Jody came out and ended his marriage, Bobby’s entire worldview was skewed, and his own health issues lead to his own coming out. Fast forward four years and Bobby runs into Jody again, but Bobby may be too busy making up for lost time to see how great they are together.

Jody Olsen’s got guilt and mommy issues, but his coming out was smooth and his life had settled into a mundane pattern of kissing frogs while waiting for prince charming and helping run his mother’s book store in New York’s East Village. When Bobby comes bumbling back into his life with a surprising shared passion for the written word and an endearing love for sugary Frappuccinos, Jody can’t help but be quickly swept up by the man.

The struggle to be patient with Bobby and his being unsure about being committed to someone is not an easy one. Does Jody hope for his happy ever after with Bobby, or is the lure of chasing the rainbow too much to fight against?

Sometimes writing a review isn’t easy at all. Especially if you don’t have a lot to say about the book and your full review could be explained in one sentence. I know I’m in the minority here because Chasing the Rainbow by Kade Boehm is a well-loved book and I’m feeling a little uncomfortable at writing my opinion, but I try to always be honest in what I say.

I’m a huge Kade fan. He writes beautiful and emotional books that affect me. Most of the times. This one? In my opinion something went wrong. I’m not sure what, because, of course, the story is interesting, sweet and real. It’s a quick and light read with just couple of dramatic scenes. Nothing too heavy, a lovely way to pass your afternoon on the beach. I don’t even want to focus my thoughts on the plot or the development of the relationship between MCs. There was nothing wrong in them so everything I could say would be pointless. But when I finished reading Chasing the Rainbow my first impression was: “did I read a Boehme’s book?”. Definitely it wasn’t what I was expecting. It left me unsure so I took some time to think about.

I finally can say it was really nothing special for me. Maybe because I missed the emotional part I usually get from Kade’s work, maybe the timing wasn’t right, I don’t know. I simply couldn’t feel the characters at all.

I’m giving Chasing the Rainbow a three stars rating even if I would have given lesser. But I can’t ignore the book in its entirety and just basing my rating on something that went wrong in MY reading.

Cover art by Reese Dante. A really sweet cover. Have you seen the smile? I’m in love with it!

Sales Link:  Amazon    Buy It Here

 

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 156 pages
Published May 15th 2015 by Kade Boehme (first published May 14th 2015)
edition languageEnglish
url http://kaderade.blogspot.com/search/label/Chasing%20the%20Rainbow

In the Spotlight: The LD50 of Memories (‘Division P’#4) by A. R. Moler (excerpt and giveaway)

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The LD50 of Memories (‘Division P’#4) by A. R. Moler
Release Date: June 10, 2015

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: BSClay

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Sales Links:   Torquere Books

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Navy Pilot Cameron Bradshaw and orthopedic surgeon Mason Flynn are fast working towards solidifying their new family. But life is full of bumps and bruises– from a sudden lack of diapers for their daughter to Mason’s bigoted father passing away. Cam is having scary psychic shock episodes too. After a terrible experience doing a Division P body-finding job, Cam’s shields crash hard and he suffers life threatening physical side effects. The solution complicates their lives further. Still, between Jane, their new nanny, and the men reconnecting with an adult sibling apiece, they can see their new family forming around them. Maybe it’s time to make it all official?

Pages or Words: 41,600 words

Categories: Bisexual, Erotica, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance, Urban Fantasy

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Can’t breathe. No air. Try harder. Pressure. Blackness. Fear. Can’t Breathe. Can’t breathe.

“Cam! Cam! Wake up! It’s not real!” The voice was familiar. He wanted to touch it so badly. The dirt was cold and heavy and he couldn’t draw a breath to scream. Suddenly, there was warmth against his lips and a pinching sensation on his nose. Hot air was forced into his lungs. A heavy surge of tingling energy roared through his body. More air. The blackness was lifting. More air. He coughed. His lungs objecting to the force. Gasping. Sucking in clean cool air. Warm hands on his skin. Cam’s eyes slowly dragged open.

Mason was staring down at him, an expression of blatant concern on his face. “You stopped breathing.”

Cam realized he was lying flat on the hospital bed, head tipped back a little, with Mason kneeling beside him. The woman doctor that had sedated Cam earlier was a step behind Mason. She handed Mason an oxygen mask and he pressed it gently against Cam’s face.

“Try to breathe normally,” Mason said, taking Cam’s hand and placing it over the plastic mask.

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

About Author A.R. Moler:

A.R. Moler is a chemistry professor at a community college, a homeschooling mom and an avid science fiction fan. She is a devotee of first hand research for her writing whenever possible and to this end has – learned to fire a handgun, been rappelling, ridden with both EMS and the police, flown a helicopter, bought a motorcycle and learned to ride it. She has traveled to nearly all the places where her stories are set and taken hundreds of photos for documentation. She has been writing since her high school years, but only recently has become published. She recently launched a website for her writing http://armoler.com

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amoler
Website: http://www.armoler.com

STRW Spotlight Contest Header

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘The LD50 of Memories” by A.R. Moler. 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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Final

Tour Dates & Stops: June 16, 2015
Parker Williams, MM Good Book Reviews, BFD Book Blog, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Full Moon Dreaming, Jessie G. Books, Inked Rainbow Reads, Kimi-Chan, Havan Fellows, Happily Ever Chapter, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Hat Party, Molly Lolly, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Bayou Book Junkie, Redz World, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Velvet Panic, Iyana Jenna

A Paul B Review: Pride’s Children by Evan T. Konnor

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

“Kids are great. They’re a gift and we have to take care of them.”

Pride's Children coverAs Taylor Jensen and Ethan Walker form a family with Taylor’s two children, the two press forward to change Ontario’s law concerning adoption by gay parents. Will their fight be cut short by radical elements before they can argue their case?

Set during the fight for gay adoption in Ontario, Pride’s Children by Even T. Konnor tells the story of Ethan Walker, a newspaper columnist and civil rights reporter and Taylor Jensen, a family law attorney. They have chatted before at a local park where gay men go to cruise. While they have never hooked up, the strike a comfortable acquaintance with each other. One night, Taylor asks Ethan to follow him. Instead of taking him some place to have sex, Taylor takes Ethan to a pizzeria for what he terms their first date. The two hit it off and exchange contact information.

This new relationship faces several obstacles as it begins. Taylor has been a widower for the past three years and has two small children. Ethan has lost his friend and unrequited love several years ago. He is also dealing with missing his son who moved out to Alberta shortly after he was born. As such, Ethan fears giving his heart to someone as his was broken tragically once before. However, both men find qualities in the other they are both impressed by and decide to see where these feeling take them.

The two men are also working toward changing Ontario’s laws banning adoption by gay partners. Ethan has been researching the issue for his newspaper column. Taylor has been acting as the attorney for some the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the province. Their actions have drawn attention to a radical religious organization headed by a former minister who makes the man from Westboro seem like Mary Poppins. Taylor and Ethan must deal with this group’s attempts to sidetrack their mission and keep their newly formed family safe.

I enjoyed how Taylor and Ethan seem to be the person the other one needs to heal their past pain. Taylor is dealing with the loss of his wife, two precocious children and a disapproving mother who does not understand his new lifestyle. Ethan must cope with losing not only his friend and should have been lover but also the loss of his son in his life. The romance is well done even if their initial contact was in a place where romance does not usually occur. The author makes good use of the struggle for gay rights as a backdrop for this well crafted romance and thriller.

The cover is taken from stock photos from shutterstock.com. The combined photos represent our newly formed family. While it is nicely done, it does seem sort of plain with the white backdrop. The rainbow lettering of PRIDE’S reminds one of the gay pride flag while the Children part of the title looks like it could have been written by the eight year old.

Sales Links: Amazon   Buy It Here

Book details
Ebook, 350 pages
Published: December 1, 2014 by DeeKay
ISBN: 978-0-9938628-1-6
Edition: English

Can Too Much Love Be Not Enough? The Bohemians by Sean Michael Has The Answer (excerpt and giveaway)

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The Bohemians by Sean Michael
Release Date: June 3, 2015

STRW In The Spotlight Header

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Torquere Press
Cover Artist: BSClay

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Sales Links: Torquere Books – Amazon

STRW Author BookSynopsis

Topaz is a free-spirit, loving easily, though searching for his true soul-mate. As soon as he meets Quincy, he realizes this is the man who has been calling for him in his dreams and he offers his whole self, body, heart, mind and soul, without thought.

Quincy gives away his heart too easily, and has been hurt in love more than once. Still, that doesn’t stop him from falling head over heels for Topaz when he first meets the man.

It seems like a match made in heaven, but Topaz lives with two men who are his best friends, and also his lovers. Will Quincy ever be able to understand that Topaz has more than enough love in his heart for his best friends and his soul-mate, or will Topaz’s bohemian ways be too much for Quincy to understand?

Originally published in the Bus Stories Anthology.

Pages or Words: 28,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, M/M Romance, Ménage/Poly, Romance

STRW Spotlight Book Excerpt

Topaz parked the bicycle in the back yard and backed into the kitchen, bags in hand. “Daisy? Ku? I brought tomatoes and cilantro and some spinach on my way home from Rosa’s. They had beautiful honeydews, too.”

Grinning Leonaka grabbed the sacks with huge, calloused hands, shiny black hair held back in a braid. “What did she say, Topaz?”

He sighed, heading for the refrigerator for some tea. “She said I have to wait for him to come to me. That the spirits want me to be patient and calm.” He poured a glass and then brought the pitcher to the table, refreshing Leo’s and Stephan’s before kissing Stephan’s cheek. “I don’t do patient so well, Daisy.”

Topaz settled into a padded chair, watching Leo wash the food in the bright, sun-drenched kitchen. One of the kittens climbed up for her love, his fingers stroking her soft ears without hesitation.

Stephan smoothed the edge of Leo’s t-shirt down with graceful fingers and then came over and began to rub his shoulders. “You don’t do patient well? Leo, do you believe that?”

“Little bit, I have seen you sit for hours and hours, untangling a single skein of thread. You might be eager, but you are the most patient man I know.” Leo chuckled, gaze warm. “He’s that special?”

Topaz relaxed under Stephan’s magical fingers, the worries and negative energy of the day fading. “You should see his eyes, Ku. There’s something about them. Something I want to know all about.”

“They are a pretty blue,” Stephan added. “I haven’t seen you this excited about someone in a long time, Sunshine.”

“Oh, Daisy. It’s been so long since I had a soul mate. Someone who looked at me like Leo looks at you.” He turned his head, kissed Stephan’s fingers. “I know you two love me, but part of my heart is missing. Maybe making those eyes laugh is a piece of that.”

He heard Ku’s soft cluck, the worried sound that meant that Leo was sure he was leaping into open air without a net. Again.

Stephan’s hands tightened on his shoulders and then pet him gently, his friend sitting next to him. “How can we help, Sunshine?”

“Rosa did my cards, Daisy. She says he’ll come. That I should be still.” Topaz grinned, taking Stephan’s hand in his.

“That doesn’t mean we can’t let the universe know I’m interested though. I’m thinking some long meditations, a cleansing bath, a few candles lit in hope.” He gave Stephan a grin. “Maybe some more wildflowers?”

STRW Author Bio and Contacts

Often referred to as “Space Cowboy” and “Gangsta of Love” while still striving for the moniker of “Maurice,” Sean Michael spends his days surfing, smutting, organizing his immense gourd collection and fantasizing about one day retiring on a small secluded island peopled entirely by horseshoe crabs. While collecting vast amounts of vintage gay pulp novels and mood rings, Sean whiles away the hours between dropping the f-bomb and pursuing the kama sutra by channeling the long lost spirit of John Wayne and singing along with the soundtrack to “Chicago.”

A long-time writer of complicated haiku, currently Sean is attempting to learn the advanced arts of plate spinning and soap carving sex toys.

Barring any of that? He’ll stick with writing his stories, thanks, and rubbing pretty bodies together to see if they spark.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100004713810507
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites
Twitter: seanmichael09
Other: http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca/
Other: http://www.seanmichaelwrites.com/

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Tour Dates & Stops: June 15, 2015
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