Book Blast/Contest: On Tour with S.A. McAuley and her release “Damaged Package”

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S.A. McAuley is Back with Sexy Men and Their Damaged Pasts!

Can Romance Be Far Behind?

Check Out “Damaged Package” by S.A. McAuley Today!

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S.A. McAuley, author of the Borders War series and more, is back toting sexy, damaged men on the road to romance.  Check out the excerpt below and find the link to enter to win an eBook copy of “Damaged Package” for your own.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter to win.

Book Title: Damaged PackageDamagedPkgBanner
Author Name: S.A. McAuley
Cover Artist: Garrett Leigh
Publisher: Self-Published

Author Bio: I sleep little, read a lot. Happiest in a foreign country. Twitchy when not mentally in motion. My name is Sam, not Sammy, definitely not Samantha. I’m a pretty dark/cynical/jaded person, but I hide that darkness well behind my obsession(s) for shiny objects. I’m the macabre wrapped in irresistible bubble wrap and a glittery pink bow, I suppose.

Author Links:
Facebook – http://www.facebook.com/authorsamcauley
Facebook Author Page – https://www.facebook.com/samcauleywrites/app_10026589669034,
GoodReads – http://www.goodreads.com/authorsamcauley
Instagram – http://instagram.com/authorsamcauley
Newsletter: https://www.facebook.com/samcauleywrites/app_1002658966903
Tumblr – http://authorquestionmark.tumblr.com/
Twitter – http://www.twitter.com/AuthorSAMcAuley

 

Blurb:

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Forced into early retirement from his career as a SWAT officer for the city of Detroit, James Deacon knew that when he failed it would be a fall of epic proportions. He’s been living life by the tips of his fingers for over twenty years, and his new gig organizing a group of misfit military types into a functioning team—including his reluctant ex-fiancée—won’t return him to stable ground anytime soon.

Trevor Barrow has been on the move for the last seven years—hitting the road when relationships became too real or too much work. He’s home now, working in the hazardous world of bike messengers in the Motor City, and the only one of his eight siblings who knows he’s returned is his sister Cat. It’s not as if reconnecting with them matters anyway, because it’s likely he’ll be gone again soon.

Both men are lugging some heavy baggage, but when they chance upon each other in a dive bar it’s hard to deny their flaws are more like symbiotic quirks. Trevor’s backpedaling instincts and Deacon’s dance-dance party past may just be intersecting at a time when things are about to get explosive in Detroit.

 

 

Excerpt:

Deacon paid for their last-round of drinks and they stood at the bar as the lights clicked on. He reached out and swept back a lock of Trav’s fringe, letting his fingers linger against Trav’s sweat-slick skin.

“You gotta let me take you home,” Deacon said.

Trav scoffed and took a drink of his beer. “Worst pick up line ever.”

“I thought the worst was saying that I’d never seen you at Honest John’s before?”

“Yeah. You’re pretty bad all around.”

But instead of feeding Trav another line, Deacon made the conscious decision to give an honest reply. “Dating’s just not my scene.”

Trav tipped his head and studied him. “You know what? I don’t know if I’m supposed to believe you and be reeled in by how unconventional you are, or if this is all a game for you.”

He shrugged. Already he knew there was little he could do to sway Trav either way—Trav was perceptive. “I’ll give you time to decide that for yourself. In the mean time, though, I’m serious. Let me at least ride with you in the cab back to your place. I don’t live far from you and it will make me feel better to know you’re safe.”

“I ride a bike in downtown Detroit for a living, James. Pretty sure I can handle myself.”

Deacon’s lips curled into a smile at both Trav’s use of his first name and his brash confidence. “I’m positive you can.”

“Well, then… What? That doesn’t…” Trav pursed his lips together in a thin line and left the remains of his trailing thoughts unsaid. Trav took another swig from his beer, emptying the cup and setting it on the bar. “Whatever. Yeah, you can take me home. But I’m not inviting you up. Got it?”

Deacon would take it. He held out his hand and waited for Trav to decide it was okay to take this one small step. When Trav’s fingers curled around his after only a heartbeat of hesitation, Deacon worked through the lingering crowd to the front door, unable to wipe the triumphant smile from his face.
The ride back into the city didn’t take as long as it had to get out to Ferndale. The city became a ghost town after a certain time of night. And they’d passed that threshold hours ago. They rode in silence, with hands still touching if not intertwined, and when they pulled up to the Park Shelton, Deacon paid the cabbie and got out with Trav.

It took a moment for Trav to realize what had just happened. He watched the cab drive away, glared at Deacon, back down the road, then put his hands on his hips. “Whoa. Whatcha doing getting out of the cab? I distinctly remember not inviting you up.”

“Huh,” was all Deacon said as he pointed at the cab disappearing around a corner. “But there goes my ride.”

“I’m not a first date slut.”

Deacon groaned playfully, but his heart skipped a happy beat to hear Trav considered this a date, too. “You’re not going to make me count out dates or something like that, are you?”

Trav’s fingers drummed against hips as he seemed to be considering his options. Yet barely restraining a smile at the same time. “Just for that response? Maybe.”

Deacon dropped to his knees on the sidewalk, and raised his clasped hands to the heavens, pleading to Trav in an overly loud voice, “Please, Trevor Barrow! What do I have to do for you to let me up to your apartment, Trevor Barrow? I just want to watch the History Channel or maybe So You Think You Can Dance, Trevor Barrow. I promise I have nothing lewd or lascivious—”

A group of female college students walking by giggled at his display, providing a running commentary as they eyed the scene unfolding on the sidewalk. “Dude, Trevor Barrow, you should let him up.” Then, “He’s cute. He can come back to my place.”

Deacon couldn’t have planned his public begging session better.

Trav blushed and laughed out loud. “Alright. Off your knees.”

“At least for now!” one of the girls yelled as they turned the corner.

Trav sighed, offered his hand and pulled Deacon up toward the front entrance of his apartment building. “You’re going to give me a reputation, Deacon.”
“I earn every reputation I give.”

Deacon smirked and held the door open for Trav once he’d swiped his key card.

“Where did the tears suddenly disappear to? The histrionics?”

He shrugged. “I got my way.”

Trav stopped in the doorway and looked up at Deacon wide-eyed. “Holy shit. You really are certifiable.”

Deacon ran his finger along Trav’s jawline, wanting nothing more than to kiss Trav. But whether Trav wanted to believe it or not, what happened between them next was up to Trav. “Cat’s completely right. She just should have waited for you to find that out on your own.”

Trav shook his head, his voice laden with sarcasm, but his stunning eyes crinkled at the corners in silent laughter, “Yeah, like that would’ve taken me long.”


DamagedPkgBadgeTour Dates: 7/14/14

Tour Stops: MM Good Book Reviews, Parker Williams, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Havan Fellows, Prism Book Alliance, Nephylim, Velvet Panic, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Fallen Angel Reviews, My Fiction Nook, The Hat Party, Sinfully Sexy, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Amanda C. Stone, Love Bytes, Smoocher’s Voice, Dawn’s Reading Nook, Full Moon Dreaming, Pants Off Review, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake, Iyana Jenna, Emotion in Motion, Kimi-Chan

 

Buy Link:  S.A. McAuley website   Amazon    ARe

Rafflecopter Prize: Signed paperback of Damaged Package (contest open internationally)

Rafflecopter Code:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Who’s “Running Wild”? S.E. Jakes on Tour with Her Newest Story and Series! (contest)

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A favorite author  here at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords, S.E. Jakes,  is stopping by today with a snippet from the first book in her  Havoc series, Running Wild. What’s the series about?  The Havoc Motorcycle Club!  Sexy bikers….I can’t wait.

Contest: To help celebrate, Riptide and SE Jakes is offering the chance to win an $100 Riptide Gift Certificate to one lucky winner.  To enter to win visit here to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway.  Entries close at midnight, Eastern Time, on July 20, and winners will be announced on July 21st. Contest is valid worldwide.

Here’s S.E. Jakes with some more teasers on the new story…

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RunningWild_150x300(1)Thanks so much to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting me on the tour for Running Wild: Havoc Book 1. This is the start of a brand new series, with different heroes for each book and HEAs at the end of each book. Sean Rush and Ryker stole my heart a long time ago, and I’m excited for you guys to meet all of them.

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Here’s a snippet from a scene toward the middle of the book. Ryker has just proved to Sean that he doesn’t mind his MC knowing they’re together — by kissing the hell out of him in front of everyone. And then he tells Sean to get on the back of his bike, so he can take Sean home. Sean has objections…

 

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Still, I kept my voice down so no one could hear when I told him, “I’m not riding in the bitch seat.”

He was trying not to grin, but failing. “Why not?”

“I know exactly what it means when you ride on the back of a guy’s bike.”

“Really?”

“It means you fucking own me, Ryker.”

“Don’t I?”

His words were a low rumble that shot straight to my dick and holy fuck . . . I had no answer. Well, obviously I did, but I refused to put voice to it.
I was out—that wasn’t the issue. And obviously being out wasn’t an issue for him either. But the MC shit, we’d never talked about it, what it meant for us. All these men knew about our relationship, knew he was looking out for me. Knew he considered me his

I swear I had to remind myself to breathe.

“Get on the bike, Sean.”

This time, Ryker’s tone left no room for argument. If anything, it made me harder. I stopped thinking—par for the course when I was around Ryker—and I got on the bike behind him.

 

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RunningWild_400x600RUNNING WILD: Havoc Book 1

Embrace the danger…

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

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

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

*Read an excerpt
*Order Running Wild

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FYI, I’m also writing a m/f MC series under the Steph Tyler name—the first book of that series, Vipers Run is out now as well. And there’s a very light crossover in that you’ll see names of MCs that are main characters in my Vipers series—namely Vipers MC, along with the Heathens. Havoc’s friendly with Vipers, not so much with Heathens (they seem to be everyone’s enemy at the moment).
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SE Jakes writes m/m romance. She believes in happy endings and fighting for what you want in both fiction and real life. She lives in New York with her family and most days, she can be found happily writing (in bed). No really…

You can contact her the following ways:

  • Website
  • You can email her at authorsejakes@gmail.com
  • Facebook Page  Facebook.com/SEJakes
  • Twitter  Twitter.com/authorsejakes
  • Goodreads Group  Ask SE Jakes
  • Tumblr   sejakes.tumblr.com
  • Instagram  instagram.com/authorsejakes
  • Truth be told, the best way to contact her is by email or in blog comments.

She spends most of her time writing but she loves to hear from readers!

SE Jakes is the pen-name of New York Times Bestselling author Stephanie Tyler (and half of Sydney Croft) — please go to my media kit to learn more!

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Contest:   Enter to win an $100 Riptide Gift Card. Entries close at midnight, Eastern Time, on July 20, and winners will be announced on July 21st. Contest is valid worldwide.  Visit the link below to enter to win and for further contest details. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

More Winner Announcements and the Week Ahead at ScatteredThoughts

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It’s the 13th already?  How the time just flies by, it will be August before we know it and there is still so much I have to do.  And that’s inside, outside and at my desk.  Trying different things on the blog, so if you see bits appear and then disappear, you know I am tinkering, albeit in my Scatteredway.

❖And I have a question for you all.  How important is it for you to have a review blog with one reviewer or multiple reviewers?  When a review blog has more than one reviewer, do you remember the individual reviewers name or just the review?  This inquiring mind wants to know….thanks.

I have several winner announcements to make.  The winners of the following contests are (all have been notified):

  • Of Madeleine Ribbon’s “Faire Protector“Contest:  the winner is JeanReads2
  • Of Mina MacLeod’s Swords,Sorcery and Sundry Contest:  the winner is felinewyvern
  • Of B.A. Tortuga’s Wolf Run:  the winner is JillP
  • Of Eden Winter’s Diversion Tour:  the winner is Karen R.
  • Of Havan Fellows’ Hidden Needs  Tour:  the winner is Allison H.
  • Eric Thompson’s “Absolute” Book Tour & contest:  the winner is Serena

More to come.  Congratulations to all the winners.  Thank you to everyone who left comments and participated.  You rock my world!  RJ Scott’s contest is still open so don’t forget to drop by and leave a comment to be entered into her terrific giveaway.

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I have been reading lots of new authors, to me at any rate.  Rory Ni Coiliean, Lou Sylvre, and Charley Descoteaux in advance of some upcoming book tours and I can’t wait to share some of their stories with you.   I am also reading the next in Kendall McKenna’s Strength of the Pack series, Strength the Mate, and its blowing me away.  Look for my review this Saturday.

What can’t I share?  Riptide has made me promise not to talk about Aleksandr Voinov’s final story in the Scorpion series, A Taste For Poison.  But do I love this story? Yes.  Do I love this character and series?  Absolutely.  Not a romance by any means but that’s fine.  That term doesn’t work for a story as brutal at times as this has been.   But it is so outstanding that  I would more readers would find it and spread the word.  I am also reading, viewing, whatever you do with a photograph non fiction book, a book of photographs taken of different drag queens called, appropriately dr.a.g. (bookthefilm edition).  The pictures by various photographers are glorious as are the drag performers inside. I can’t wait to share my review of that with you as well.

But enough of what’s still in progress, here is the week I have planned for you all this week:

Monday, July 14:

  • On Tour with SE Jakes and her latest release Running Wild (contest)
  • Book Blast with SA McAuley and “Damaged Package” Tour and Contest

Tuesday, July 15:

  • T.A. Chase’s Mountains to Climb “What’s His Passion?” Imprint Book Tour/Contest
  • Audio Book Tour:  Tara Lain’s The Pack or the Panther Tour/Contest
  • Review:  Running Wild by SE Jakes

Wednesday, July 16:

  • On Tour with L.A. Witt and Noble Metals, a Steampunk Romance (contest)
  • Review:  Noble Metals by L.A. Witt

Thursday, July 17:

  • In the Author Spotlight:  Angel Martinez and her Endangered Fae series (contest)
  • Book Blast:  Jennifer Cie’s Down On The Other Street Story Collection (contest)

Friday, July 18:

  • Diana DeRicci’s “Not Quite Broken” Book Blast and Contest
  • Does Size Matter?  Find out with Sean Michael’s Size Matters Book Tour/Contest

Saturday, July 19:

  • Review:  Strength of the Mate by Kendall McKenna

 

I want to leave you all with two summer cocktails to drink if you are watching the World Soccer Cup in Brazil or just hanging out.  Whether your teams lost or in the finals, here are two drinks for you:

sangriafloraSangria Flora

Created by St. Germain

1 bottle Sauvignon Blanc or Dry White Wine
1 cup St-Germain
2 Fresh Peaches
5-6 Fresh Strawberries
6 Fresh Raspberries
1 bunch Fresh Grapes

Stir ingredients in a pitcher or carafe. Soak for approximately 15 minutes (or longer if desired). Serve in an ice-filled glass, then telephone your physician and regale him with stories of your exemplary fruit consumption. Serve with St-Germain spoon-straws to enjoy the fruit while drinking

 

 

MangoCarnivaleSVEDKA Mango Carnivale
Created by SVEDKA

1 ½ oz. SVEDKA Mango Pineapple
½ oz. SVEDKA Vanilla
½ oz. Fresh Lime Juice
½ oz. Simple Syrup
8-10 Mint Leaves
3-4 Dashes of Angostura Bitters

Combine mint leaves, simple syrup and fresh lime juice in a Collins glass. Add crushed ice and swizzle. Fill three quarters of the glass with more crushed ice and add SVEDKA Mango Pineapple and SVEDKA Vanilla-then swizzle again. Top with crushed ice and then float a layer of bitters on top. Garnish with mint sprigs.

 

 

Cover Reveal, Contest, & More! The Nesting Habits of Strange Birds by Charlie Descoteaux

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BirdsBadgeOrangeQ   Check out the gorgeous cover of The Nesting Habits of 

Strange Birds along with a blurb and excerpt below!!!

Author: Charley Descoteaux

Cover:  D.W. Skinner (photographer), Paul Richmond (designer)

Dreamspinner Press

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Pre-orders and The Trevor Project by Charlie Descoteaux

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First I’d like to thank Pride Promotions for arranging this tour, ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords for inviting me to visit their lovely space, and D.W. Skinner and Paul Richmond for my gorgeous cover!

I’ve been writing for a long time, but The Nesting Habits of Strange Birds is the first full-length novel I get to share with the world. During all the years I spent writing, and dreaming of the day when I could say I am a novelist, I also made plans.

I don’t set out to write political or message novels, but after growing up in the Bay Area in the 70s and spending my share of time in the trenches, it’s hard to separate the activist from the author. Like many other writers, I have trunk novels that will probably never see the light of day (you’re welcome ;)). Each of those trunk novels included a plan for giving a portion of any earnings to a relevant charity.

The two main characters in The Nesting Habits of Strange Birds, Phil and Lee, have both been touched by depression and suicide—and since The Trevor Project is one of my favorite national charities, it seemed like a good fit.

I’ll donate $1 for every pre-order of The Nesting Habits of Strange Birds to The Trevor Foundation, in support of their efforts to provide crisis intervention and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth.

Visit my blog for a running tally of pre-orders. I’ll update the tally every few days, and post the final total on August 11.

Thank you all for helping me raise awareness, and a little cash, for this very worthwhile cause!

Pre-order The Nesting Habits of Strange Birds through Dreamspinner Press. [Link]

Contest:  Rafflecopter Prize: E-Copy of the book when it comes out.  Use the link provided below to enter the contest.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press    eBook          Paperback

Book Name: The Nesting Habits of Strange Birds

Author Name: Charley Descoteaux
Author Bio:
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 let her sleep once in a while. Home is Portland, Oregon, where the weather is like your favorite hard-case writing buddy who won’t let you get away with taking too many days off, and in some places you can be as weird as you are without fear. As an out and proud bisexual and life-long weird-o, she thinks that last part is pretty cool.

Rattle my cages, I’d love to hear from you!

Author Links:

Cover Artist: D.W. Skinner (photographer), Paul Richmond (designer)
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover The Nesting Habits of Strange BirdsBlurb:

All he ever wanted was to be a normal guy….

Phil Brask spends his days in the basement of his mentor’s Victorian home, converting legal documents into electronic format. When the pipe feeding the water heater bursts, Lee Redding arrives in the plumber’s truck and draws Phil away from the narrow focus of his computer and camera lens. Lee gives Phil hope for a life beyond the walls he’s constructed using the nesting habits of migratory birds and dense legal files, a guided tour through a world filled with romance and music…maybe even family. But there’s a reason Phil retreated behind those walls, why he panics at a simple touch.

Lee has a good life—working with his uncle and on his mother’s farm, playing bass in a horrible metal band, and hooking up when he pleases—but he’s always suspected something was missing. When he meets the hot photographer with the icy-blue eyes, he knows exactly what that something is. Phil isn’t like other guys, but neither is Lee beneath his carefree exterior. Maybe Lee’s the perfect guy to show Phil that everything doesn’t have to be done the hard way and “home” isn’t a four-letter word.

 

 

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Excerpt:

“Your pictures, they’re amazing.” Lee said, his voice calm and steady and filled with sincere awe. “What’s this in her beak?”

Lee carefully scrolled forward, and Phil realized Lee had thumbed through all the pictures from that morning and some from last evening as well. He’d been out of it longer than he thought.

“It’s a spiderweb. Hummingbirds use them to build their nests.”

Two sentences. Phil couldn’t remember when he’d last gotten two sentences out just the way he’d intended. He smiled and raised his eyes to Lee’s. They seemed to mirror what he was feeling. Relief; happiness; desire. The next thing he knew, Lee’s lips brushed his lightly. Phil trembled but didn’t pull away. Pride in his perfect speech along with the giddy feeling inspired by Lee’s smile allowed Phil to give in to desire, just for a moment, to take a chance it would end well. Lee leaned toward him, but not so their shoulders touched, and kissed him just a few seconds longer. He kept his mouth almost completely closed, but Phil tasted a hint of hot chocolate. Or maybe the heat came from Lee.

“Whoa,” Lee sighed as much as said.


Birds600x600BannerOrangeQTour Dates: 7/11/14
Tour Stops:
Parker Williams, Hearts on Fire, Emotion in Motion, Love Bytes, My Fiction Nook, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Jade Crystal, Smoocher’s Voice, Full Moon Dreaming, Lee Brazil, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Iyana Jenna, Amanda C. Stone, Tara Lain, Redz World, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Fallen Angel Reviews, Romance the Night, Velvet Panic, Kimi-Chan, The Hat Party, MM Good Book Reviews, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Lee Brazil, Decadent Delights, Havan Fellows, Kimber Vale, EE Montgomery, Michael Mandrake, Cate Ashwood, Dawn’s Reading Nook
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Review: One Door Closes (Secrets of Neverwood #1) by G.B. Lindsey

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

One Door ClosesYears ago, Calvin Ware was one of many of the foster children that Audrey Elizabeth Rasmussen brought into her home, Neverwood, to shelter, comfort and raise.  Following the death of his foster mom, Calvin has returned home to Neverwood to try and save the house and continue his mother’s mission to give shelter to those children most in need of a home and compassion.  However, it’s not just Calvin to whom she has left the house but two other foster sons as well.  Devon McCade, Calvin Ware and Daniel Redmond each held a special place in Audrey’s heart and now its up to them to save the house they were raised in and honor their mother.

But the house is mortgaged up to the rotting roof and a ruthless builder is giving them only a short amount of time to come up with the money needed to restore the mansion or have it repossessed and condemned for development.  Calvin, Devon and Daniel haven’t seen each other in years as each went their own way after turning 18.  Only Calvin remained close and in touch with Audrey.  That reality, plus resentment and the fact that they can’t agree on the restorations needed is keeping them divided and the house in danger of falling down around them.

All the boys have secrets between them and one of Calvin’s turns up on Neverwood’s doorstep as a contractor looking to help restore the mansion.  Will Cabot, Calvin’s high school crush, remained behind in town and is now an accomplished contractor.  Will offers to work on the mansion to restore it but Will and Calvin’s past is acting as a barrier to any new relationship between them.  Old secrets must come forth before any of the boys can move forward towards happiness, love and a new chance for the home they call Neverwood.

One Door Closes is the first book in a Secrets of Neverwood trilogy written by 3 different authors.  Available individually or as a complete collection, the trilogy is focused on three foster brothers,  Devon McCade, Calvin Ware and Daniel Redmond, who were brought to Neverwood by Audrey Rasmussen to live until their 18th birthday.  Upon her death, the three men learn their foster mother has left them the house equally and now must work together to restore Neverwood and continue her mission of sheltering unwanted children.  One Door Closes by G. B. Lindsey is Calvin Ware’s story.

I love the idea behind the Neverwood stories.  The trilogy plot of three foster brothers, each with their own closely held secrets, is an engrossing concept, one that is easy to connect with.  None of the brothers were  particularly close when they lived at Neverwood and only Calvin appears to have remained in touch with Audrey after leaving foster care.  Told from Calvin’s perspective, you get the viewpoint of the child he was when he arrived at Neverwood and that of the returning, grieving adult.  Calvin is a man on overload.  Burdened by secrets from his past that he has never dealt with as well as some closely guarded issues in adulthood, Calvin is suffering from a combination of guilt, resentment towards his two other foster brothers, pressure from an unscrupulous developer and mired in a financial quagmire left by Audrey’s estate.  The impact of all those problems upon Calvin weighs as heavily on the reader as it does on the character due to the beautifully scripted moments that highlight scene after scene.

Lindsey has filled her story full of poignant characters and unresolved issues that stem from childhood angst and trauma.  This is a story full of grey, a matter of  muted tonality and shading instead of darkness and light.  It feels realistically written with scenes and plot lines that radiate authenticity and a certain amount of desperation due to the situation Calvin and his brothers find themselves in and the chilling nature of their backgrounds that brought them to Neverwood.  However, instead of the drama and high impact one might expect from such a storyline and the anticipated revelations that  comes from long buried secrets, the  grey scale of the narrative continues throughout the story.  Its as it the very vivacity of life has been removed under the burdens they all carry and even the secrets uncovered make a much smaller impression upon the reader than they should.

I appreciated G.B. Lindsey’s approach to her story and the well-rounded characterizations that include many human frailties as well as a certain hopefulness as well as the ability to forgive and be compassionate.  Calvin’s battle to overcome a shared  event from his past  as well as his quiet, loving regard for Audrey make Calvin a most admirable character.  But, as with real life, it takes a while to pull up some of the issues that are alluded to continually in the story. That dragged out admission as well as others bogged down the narrative making it painfully slow at parts and  almost at a standstill at others.  How well you deal with this type of slow reveal and tempered be calmed storytelling will impact your enjoyment of this story.

I intend to read all three novellas that make up the Neverwood trilogy and I can’t wait to see how each author handles the remaining brothers stories.  It should be exciting and informative.  If you are looking for a romance, then this might not be the story for you.  There is a halting relationship here but its buried under layers and only emerges at the very end.  But as a marvelous character study and to appreciate an author’s well crafted approach to her story, then I recommend One Door Closes to you.

Cover art not credited.

Buy Links:     Carina Press              ARe                            Amazon  One Door Closes

Books in the Neverwood Trilogy include:

One Door Closes (Secrets of Neverwood #1) by G.B. Lindsey
The Growing Season (Secrets of Neverwood, #2) by Diana Copland
The Lost Year (Secrets of Neverwood, #3) by Libby Drew
Secrets of Neverwood Collection by Libby Drew

One Door ClosesThe Growing Season Neverwood 2 coverThe Lost Year Everwood 3 coverSecrets of Neverwood Trilogy cover

 

 

 

 

 

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Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 149 pages
Published June 30th 2014 by Carina Press
ASINB00I15VKGE
edition languageEnglish
seriesSecrets of Neverwood

A Wonderful Fourth, A Beautiful Weekend and the Week Ahead!

flowers June

 

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Our 4th of July BBQ went off without a hitch and the remnants of Hurricane Arthur brought us gorgeous weather with bright skies, low temperatures, and enough breeze to keep the bugs away.  Perfection!  Now today is rest, cleanup and leftovers!  It’s going to be great!  Hope everyone is having a marvelous weekend, whether you celebrated or not.

Here is how the week ahead is looking:

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Monday,  July 7:  

  • Secrets of Neverwood Anthology Book Tour/Contest
  • Merry Farmer’s Somebody to Love Book Tour/Contest
  • Jackie Nacht’s “Full Moon Torn”‏ Book Blast/contest

Tuesday, July 8:

  • Ethan Stone’s Vegas Hustle Book Tour/Contest
  • Somebody to Love by Merry Farmer (review

Wednesday, July 9:

  • On Tour with RJ Scott (contest)
  • Review: Neverwood Anthology

Thursday, July 10:

  • Review: Wolf Run by B.A. Tortuga

Friday, July 11:

  • Review: In Despair by Megan Derr
  • Cover Reveal by Charlie Descoteaux

Saturday, July 12:

  • Review:  Faire Protector by Madeleine Ribbon

 

 

June 2014 Summary of Reviews and June’s Best Covers

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June header

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June 2014 Book Review Summary

*Key:
S series
C contemporary
F-fantasy
SF-science fiction
PN-paranormal
SP-supernatural
H-historical
HR-horror
N-Nonfiction
YA-young adult

Rating Scale: 1 to 5, 5 stars is outstanding

5 Star Rating:

Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny’s Lair by Amy Lane C,S
Cold Feet by Lee Brazil C, S*
Diego (Endangered Fae #2) by Angel Martinez F, S
Isle of Waves by Sue Brown C, S*
Swords, Sorcery and Sundry by Mina MacLeod, F, S*

4 to 4.75 Star Rating:

Apollo’s Curse by Brad Vance (4.25) F, SN
Cross & Crown by Abigail Roux (4.5) C, S
Duty to the Crown by Rebecca Cohen (4.25) H, S
Finn (Endangered Fae) by Angel Martinez (4.5) F, S
Let It Ride by L.C. Chase (4) C, S
Miles and the Magic Flute by Heidi Cullinan (4.25) F
Nothing But Smoke by Daisy Harris (4) C, S
Stranger on the Shore by Josh Lanyon (4.25), C
The Actor and the Earl by Rebecca Cohen (4) H, S
The Dog Trainer by Owen Keehnen (4) C
Voodoo ‘n’ Vice by K.C. Burn (4.25) SF, S

 

3 to 3.75 Star Rating:

Dinner At Home by Rick R. Reed, (3.75) C, S
Out of the Gate by E. M. Lynley (3.75) C

2 to 2.75 Star Rating:

None

*rounded up to 5 stars

Best Covers of April 2014

 

GranbyKnittingMenagerie[The]LGBlackbird Knitting in a Bunny's Lair coverCover_NothingButSmoke

Miles and the Magic Flute

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Isle of Waves coverDinner at Home coverOutoftheGateLGLet It Ride cover

 

 

 

 

 

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Photographic Covers and Non Photographic Covers:

Dinner At Home, cover by Reese Dante
Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny’s Lair, cover by Catt Ford
Granby Knitting Menagerie, cover by Catt Ford
Isle of Waves, cover by L.C. Chase
Let Ir Ride, cover by L.C. Chase
Miles and the Magic Flute, cover by Wilde City Press
Out of the Gate, cover by Reese Dante
Nothing But Smoke, cover by Kanaxa

 

 

On Tour with Eric Thornton and his latest release, Absolute!

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Contest:  Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Absolute’.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Use the Rafflecopter link provided below to enter to win. Good luck and happy reading.  Contest prize provided by Pride Promotions.

Book Name: Absolute
Author Name: Eric Thornton

Author Bio: Eric Thornton writes just about all the time. He writes short stories and has one novella out. He wishes he could be taken seriously as an author and does his best to try and write longer books.

Author Links: https://www.facebook.com/ericbkroberts

Cover Artist: Eric Thornton
Publisher: Amazon Digital Services
Goodreads Absolute Page

Buy Link:          Amazon
absoluteBlurb(s): Kristian doesn’t know how much longer he can stay a bachelor. Coastal is full of sexy people. In the meantime, he lives with four guys that watch over him no matter what.

When Julius spots Kristian—and damn he is hot—he doesn’t know how much longer he can hold back.

Will they get together? Do they connect? Or will things become tense?

Excerpt:

Julius calmed his breathing a bit before he turned to Kristian and provided a soft, gentle kiss.

“You are amazing. You know that?”

“And you are amazing. We so have to do this again.”

“Sure. But how about you take me on a date first.”

“Who’s paying?”

“I’ll pay,” Julius replied and laughed.

An hour later, Julius and Kristian went out for a nice walk. The cool ocean breeze brought a smile to Julius’s face. He hadn’t gone for a simple walk for a while. Normally someone wanted to fuck and leave him behind. But that wasn’t the case at all.

And as they walked, he felt Kristian’s hand take hold of his. The feeling brought a smirk to his face. He was good and comfortable. Good and happy. And if Kristian truly did like him like he hoped was the case nothing was gonna turn out bad in their favor.

Maybe they would end up becoming a steady couple. That would be nice.

That would be the ticket.


Tour Dates: 6/30 – 7/4WillPride

Tour Stops:
AbsoluteBadge6/30: Kimi-Chan
7/1: Fallen Angel Reviews, Hearts on Fire
7/2: MM Good Book Reviews, My Fiction Nook
7/3: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Prism Book Alliance
7/4: Amanda C. Stone

 

 

Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Absolute’

Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

Get Diverted with Lucky, Bo and Eden Winters’ Diversion Book Tour (contest)

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Do the names “Lucky” Lucklighter and  Bo Schollenberger rings any bells for you?  Well, they should.  Lucky and Bo are the heart of Eden Winter’s Diversion600x600GreyBannerDiversion series, one of ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords all time favorites.  Diversion, the book that started it all, is now out in its 2nd Edition.  And for all of you new to the series, this is a wonderful time to get acquainted with these two complicated and undeniably sexy men.

Contest: As a part of the tour, Eden Winters and Pride Promotions has brought an eBook copy of Diversion to give away.  To enter visit the Rafflecopter link here and below.  Must be 18 years of age to enter.  Contest ends 7/11.

At the moment there are 3 books out in the Diversion series, and a fourth on the way.  So if you are like me and love to sink your teeth into a couple with multiple books to their story and more coming, then this is the series for you!  Don’t miss out on the excerpt and blurb below.  Here are the stories in the order they were written and should be read to understand these complex men, their growing relationship and the events that occur:

A ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords 5 – Star Series by Eden Winters:

Diversion (Diversion #1)
Collusion (Diversion #2)
Corruption (Diversion #3)
Manipulation (Diversion #4) coming soon

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Book Name: Diversion (2nd edition)

Author Name: Eden Winters
Author Bio:
Captivated young by story-telling, Eden Winters’ earliest memories include spinning tales for the family’s pets. Her dreams of writing professionally took a sojourn into non-fiction, with a twelve-year stint in technical documentation.

She began reading GLBT novels as a way to better understand the issues faced by a dear friend and fell in love with the M/M romance genre. During a discussion of a favorite book, a fellow aficionado said, “We could do this, you know.” Good-bye gears, motors, and other authors’ characters; hello plots and sex scenes. So far that’s produced such award winning novels as The Wish, Settling the Score, The Angel of Thirteenth Street, Duet, Naked Tails, and Diversion.

Somewhat of a nomad, Eden has visited seven countries so far. She currently calls the southern US home, and many of her stories take place in the rural South. Having successfully raised two children, she now balances the day job with hiking, rafting, spoiling her grandchildren, and stalking the wily falafel or elusive tofu pad Thai at her favorite restaurants. Her musical tastes run from Ambient to Zydeco, and she’s a firm believer that life is better with fur kids and Harley Davidsons.

For more information about Eden, please visit her website at http://www.edenwinters.com. Be sure to look for Eden’s soon-to-be-published works: A Matter of When and Manipulation.

To follow/contact Eden Winters use Author Links:

Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000035_00023]Book Details:
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Publisher: Rocky Ridge Books

Blurb:

There are good guys, bad guys, and then there’s Lucky.

Former drug trafficker Richmond “Lucky” Lucklighter flaunts his past like a badge of honor. He speaks his mind, doesn’t play nice, and flirts with disaster while working off his sentence with the Southeastern Narcotics Bureau. If he can keep out of trouble a while longer he’ll be a free man–after he trains his replacement.

Textbook-quoting, by the book Bo Schollenberger is everything Lucky isn’t. Lucky slurps coffee, Bo lives caffeine free. Lucky worships bacon, Bo eats tofu. Lucky trusts no one, Bo calls suspects by first name. Yet when the chips are down on their shared case of breaking up a drug diversion ring, they may have more in common than they believe.

Two men. Close quarters. Friction results in heat. But Lucky scoffs at partnerships, no matter how thrilling the roller-coaster. Bo has two months to break down Lucky’s defenses… and seconds are ticking by.

Buy Link:   Rocky Ridge Books  

 

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Excerpt:

The door flew open and Lucky made a grab. He rammed Bo’s back against the wall, setting off an automated hand dryer. Lucky ignored the hot air wafting over his arm, slammed his mouth hard against Bo’s, and shoved his leg between the man’s thighs. They devoured each other’s mouths, no hesitant tender kiss, but a release of tightly coiled passion. Tongues intertwined, each man sifted fingers through the other’s hair, tugging closer.
Below their belts their bodies followed suit, Lucky rutting against Bo’s firm thigh in an old-as-time mating rhythm. I’m going to blow in my jeans and I don’t give a fuck.

Lucky’s overwhelmed brain yielded up a single clear warning: someone might walk in. Mouths joined, he danced them toward a stall without breaking contact. A condom machine hung on the wall at an awkward angle. A handwritten sign proclaimed, “Out of Order.” Damn it!

At this rate, he wouldn’t last long enough to wrap his meat anyway. He wrestled them both into a stall, and slammed and locked the door behind him.


BadgeDiversionTour Date: 7/3/14

Tour Stops: Parker Williams, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Prism Book Alliance, Amanda C. Stone, Fallen Angel Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Full Moon Dreaming, Velvet Panic, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake, Iyana Jenna, Nephylim, MM Good Book Reviews, EE Montgomery, Boy Meets Boy Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Havan Fellows, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Hearts on Fire, Angel Martinez, My Fiction Nook

 

Contest Prize:  Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of Diversion

Rafflecopter Code: <a id=”rc-7d5bb763″ class=”rafl” href=”http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/7d5bb763/&#8221; rel=”nofollow”>a Rafflecopter giveaway</a>
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Book Blast: Havan Fellows and her “Hidden Needs” (book of course, & contest)

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Havan Fellows is celebrating the release of her book, Hidden Needs with a one day book tour and contest.  To enter to win an ebook copy of Hidden Needs plus one book from her backlist, visit the link at the bottom of the page and follow the directions.

Here is an excerpt from the story…..

 

Book Name: Hidden Needs
Author Name: Havan Fellows
Author Links:

 

Book Details:

Cover Artist: Allison Cassatta
Publisher: Appleton Publishing Avenue
Havan Fellows-Hidden Needs 200x300

 

 

Blurb(s): Archer Hehnier is a hard-core businessman through and through. He’s not afraid to make the merciless decisions, to put in the long hours, to lose himself in his work for the greater good of his company and his clients…even if it means losing a piece of himself in the process. But when does a man with a mind always turning at two hundred rotations per second get his personal needs met?

Dalton is an uncompromising businessman, who could, no doubt, go toe-to-toe with Archer in the boardroom—but that’s not the room Dalton wants to tackle Archer in.

With a little help from his friends at the premier BDSM club, The Sanctuary, Dalton hopes to fulfill every one of Archer’s hidden needs.

**Previously released as part of the Don’t Read in the Closet V.II M/M Romance Collection in 2011. Since then it has been reworked and edited for your reading enjoyment.

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Excerpt:

I watched him walk in exactly at seven. You could set your watch by him. I knew his routine—bar for a double scotch neat then a corner table for two, but only he would occupy it. As usual on Thursdays, he ordered the fisherman’s catch: salmon, a spring salad with strawberries, and steamed baby veggies. The only starch he allowed to pass between those thin sharp lips tonight was a well-buttered roll, no potatoes for my man, and no alcohol with dinner either. He favored water with fresh squeezed lime and was very adamant with the server about the simple fact lemon was not a substitution.

Even at this late hour and having put in a full day of numbers, his attire was never mussed—Armani was safe on his capable body. I couldn’t wait for him to roll in here Friday. It was my favorite day to see him. He broke away from his favored charcoals and wore color. The third Friday of the month…hmm…oh yes, green. Love him in his deep green suit with the lighter shade silk shirt and tie.

I always found it amusing how everyone maneuvered around his table, purposely walking on the other side of tables out of their way. My man had an aura about him, sort of a “back the fuck off before I eradicate you with just my thoughts” type of thing going on. Of course he wouldn’t curse. Foul language was beneath someone who could make a grown man cry with just a cock of the eyebrow.

Yes…Archer Hehnier was a badass in constant control of his surroundings. All of them. From the strangers that walked in and out of his life to the paid help at his overpriced house. I even suspected that he had a way of turning all the traffic lights green on his drive home, but hadn’t been able to test that theory yet.

So why did I eat at this same restaurant practically every night and memorize his routine? Simple, he had something I wanted, and I had something he needed. And I do believe that green Friday would be the day I explain this to him. That should be interesting.


Tour Date: July 1, 2014WillPride

HiddenNeedsBadgeTour Stops: Parker Williams, MM Good Book Reviews, Fallen Angel Reviews, Romance the Night, Amanda C. Stone, Lee Brazil, Romance the Night, Prism Book Alliance, Emotion in Motion, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Decadent Delights, Redzworld, Dawn’s Reading Nook, My Fiction Nook, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Because Two Men Are Better Than One, Smoocher’s Voice, Love Bytes, Night Owl Reviews, Full Moon Dreaming, Iyana Jenna

 

Contest:  Hidden Needs contest is a Rafflecopter Prize: Copy of Hidden Needs + Copy of book from Havan’s backlist.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Visit the link below for all the details, contest rules and dates.
Buy Link:   Amazon   ARe

a Rafflecopter giveaway