Review: Isle of Waves (Isle of Wight, #3) by Sue Brown

Rating: 4.75 stars out of 5

Through the many years that they have been together, Wig Tobias and Nibs Tyler’s relationship has been tested and strained but it has always endured. But then they had never had a year like the past year. Since new owners took over the restaurant next to theirs, they have made Wig and Nibs life a living hell. The reason? Wig and Nibs wouldn’t sell them their beloved restaurant, The Blue Lagoon, which they have had for as long as they have been together. Now Nibs and Wig are harassed daily, anonymous flyers are posted everywhere with homophobic taunts and innuendos, and they feel helpless as they watch their customers dwindle and their restaurant fail.

Then the worst happens. Upon returning from Sam and Liam’s wedding, Wig and Nibs find their restaurant has been vandalized, and the local police seem as reluctant to investigate this as they did all the other problems. Demoralized, Wig and Nibs are about to give up their dream until all their friends, Paul and Olaf, Liam and Sam, and the whole Owens family come to help Wig and Nibs in their time of need. But will that be enough? Paul and Olaf have their own problems and Nibs is hiding something from Wig too.

As a gale force storm bears down on the island and The Blue Lagoon Restaurant, that just might be the end of it all unless everyone pulls together to find the culprits behind the destruction as well as the strength to go on together in friendship and love.

I found this wonderful series and its author, Sue Brown, by the first book in the series, The Isle of… Where? (Isle of Wight #1). There the author brought us to the indescribably lovely location of the Isle of Wight and the big hearted, gregarious Owens family and those that they love. First up as a couple on their way to romance, is Sam Owens, a genial, large hearted man who loves his island and his family. In desperate need of Sam and the Owens is Liam Marshall, who arrives at the island with an urn carrying his best friend’s ashes and a final wish to have those ashes thrown off the pier near town. Liam is depressed and grief has immobilized him to the point that he can not act on his friend’s wishes. Sam comes to Liam’s rescue, and then Liam comes to Sam’s. It was a remarkable journey for both men as well as for the reader. Between Sam and Liam and the entire Owen’s clan, they managed to engage the reader’s emotions while allowing us enough distance that we could still appreciate the location and the other characters Brown created for the story and series. My only issue was that the story ended a little unresolved, with questions about Liam’s visa up in the air.

With the second story, I learned that each new book will pick up exactly where the previous one will leave off, with the answers to the questions left hanging in the preceding tale. Isle of Wishes (Isle of Wight, #2) is both a mystery and a tale of two romances. How I loved that book. Liam is missing and Sam needs to find him and bring him home to the Isle of Wight. That’s both a romance and the first mystery here. Helping Sam is his police inspector brother, Paul. Paul is bisexual and never met a person he didn’t want to bed. So who does Brown create for Paul? Wisconsin Detective Olaf Skandik, a closeted mountain of a man who helps Paul and Sam find out what happened to Liam. Olaf works for a bigoted sheriff in a conservative small town, not exactly a conducive atmosphere for an out and proud English inspector to be attracted to the quiet Olaf. So, of course, while helping Sam Olaf and Paul fall in lust and maybe love with each other. More, many more problems ensue to our frustration and delight.

What problems? The same problems Liam and Sam had or that any couple from two different nationalities would have when trying to live on the same continent. There are realistic visa issues and citizenship hurdles and most of them are bogged down in the type of bureaucratic paperwork and regulations that can make this an impossibility. That works out to be as much of a roadblock as any regular mystery found here. This is a thread that works itself through all the stories and rightly so. It makes the path to love and HEA messy, authentic, and always in doubt. While the couples may fall for each other quickly, that they can remain together is never certain.

Sue Brown gets that love and romance is an iffy, questionable affair. It doesn’t matter if the relationship is recent or well established. If pressed hard enough, stressed to the maximum by outside pressures and lack of communication, not even the deepest of loves might survive under those conditions. That’s where the Isle of Waves starts, at a relationship breaking point and an established couple, Nibs and Wig, who have been a constant, loving presence throughout the first two stories. An older, long established gay couple, they have been the support for Liam and Sam and many others throughout the years. Now it’s their relationship and their livelihood in danger. And now Wig and Nibs are the ones in need of love and support and maybe even policework from Paul and Olaf when the local constabulary ignores their problems because of their homosexuality.

That’s kind of a stunning element here and probably a very realistic one as well. Up until now, the Isle of Wight has seemed relatively accepting of homosexuality with the exception of a certain confectionary making couple. But Wig and Nibs and Sam handled them easily. Now with the revelations from Wig and Nibs about the harassment and hate crimes committed against them during the past year out in the open, we start to see the community and the Isle in a different and less idealized light. It’s heartbreaking and painful and authentic in every way.

Brown never lets her couples and their relationships get off easy. With all their years together, Wig and Nibs are quietly breaking down under the pressure of losing everything they have worked so hard to build, and that just might include each other if they can’t start talking about the issues facing them. Both want to protect the other but at what cost? Those types of questions and situations feel as real as the people that make up this couple. Earthy, preening, stolid, sexy, stubborn…Wig and Nibs are totally human and wonderfully so. They engage our emotions and our hearts as they struggle to stay together and keep their restaurant afloat.

And they aren’t the only couple facing overwhelming obstacles here. Paul and Olaf arrived on the island for Sam and Liam’s wedding but Olaf can’t stay and Paul can’t leave to return to the U.S. with him. Both have jobs and lives in different countries. Do they have a future together and how will it even be possible? Even as they work to help Wig and Nibs, Brown throws up barriers to a future together even as she breaks down others to show us how much these men love each other and deserve to stay together. Do we have a resolution where Olaf and Paul are concerned? No, we don’t. Nor should we. It took Sam and Liam several stories to pull it together. I expect no less for Paul and Olaf.

When last I corresponded with Sue Brown, she indicated that there will be a new series for Paul and Olaf. I can’t wait to see what she has in store for them. Brown has a way of creating characters and situations that burrow under your skin and into your heart. It becomes almost impossible to keep your emotional distance from these men and their complex romances. Your affections become engaged from the start and stay that way through every hurdle, all the bureaucratic tape, and relationship barriers thrown up against them. And each new story feeds your need to have more, know more…about what’s coming and how they will handle it together. Or not.

I highly recommend this story and the entire series. Start at the beginning of course, if you are new to the Isle of Wight series and the men and families at its heart. I believe you will come to love them as I do. Get cracking! We have a lot more to come and I couldn’t be happier about it!

Cover artist is L.C. Chase. Chase are does a wonderful job of conveying the men, story, and setting in one beautiful cover.

Buy links: Dreamspinner Press ARe Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 220 pages
Published May 16th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published May 15th 2014)
ISBN 1627989528 (ISBN13: 9781627989527)
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store
seriesIsle of Wight #3

Series: Books in the Isle of Wight series in the order they were written and should be read are:

The Isle of… Where? (Isle of Wight, #1)
Isle of Wishes (Isle of Wight, #2)
Isle of Waves (Isle of Wight, #3)

On Tour with D.T. Peterson and The Cove (Contest)

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D.T. Peterson is here at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords today with an excerpt from The Cove, Peterson’s latest release and a contest to enter to win the Rafflecopter Prize of a.pdf copy of The Cove. Visit here to enter. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Welcome, D. T.! That’s such a great cover. Can we talk a little about your writing, The Cove, and things?

STRW: The setting for your story moves from one side of the country to another. Did you research both locations?

D.T. I’ve been driven since an early age to travel and explore, to see what’s around the next bend in the road. I didn’t need to do a lot of research as far as the settings were concerned, I’ve been to all of them several times.

STRW: What prompted you to write this story?

D.T. I started writing ‘The Cove’ reflecting on my past and the relationships that defined me, and the friends that influenced my life. There were always a few tender, intense relationships that I’ve always wondered about and I decided to explore how things might have ended differently.

STRW: How do you go about developing your characters?
D.T.: We are all drawn to what’s familiar, so I begin with people and friends that I have known. They do have a strange habit of taking on a life of their own. I tend to write as I feel it, and as the story progresses so do the characters.

STRW: What is the favorite story you have written or do you have one?

D.T. I’ve just finished writing my 2nd novel, but ‘The Cove’ will always be my favorite.
STRW: How do you go about picking the names of your characters?

D.T. Good question, other than being correct for the period, I like names which seem to mesh with the characters. It’s just a personal preference.
STRW: How long did it take to write this story? Was it something you had been thinking about for some time? Or just spontaneously jump into your mind?

D.T.: I’ve thought about writing this story for a LONG time. Of course, it was the ‘secret’ that I’ve carried with me throughout the decades. I spent well over a year writing it.

STRW: What is your favorite thing about writing?

D.T.: Writing allows me to look deep into myself and reflect, It also allows me to escape and enjoy disconnecting from the pressures of life.

STRW: : What is the worst thing about the writing process?
D.T. :Without a shadow of a doubt…editing!

STRW: *laughs* I think that most writers feel that way. This was wonderful. Thanks for stopping by ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords for a little book talk. D.T. Peterson’s The Cove is now out. The buy links are listed below. And don’t forget, everyone, to enter to win a pdf copy of The Cove at the links indicated!

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Book Name: The Cove

Author Name: D.T. Peterson
Author Bio: Writing is a passion of mine, not a full time job. I live comfortably in Suburbia on the east coast.
Author Links: https://www.facebook.com/authorDTpeterson
Cover Artist: B.K. Wright
Publisher: Beau to Beau

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Blurb: Young and idealistic, Jon and Dave meet by chance, their friendship growing stronger and leading them to a place neither has been before. Though theirs is a love forbidden, which few understand, they journey across the country together and settle in San Francisco, where they are finally free to be together as they were meant to be. When life takes an unexpected turn, however, the two young lovers are torn apart by a secret which, if unveiled, threatens to bring great shame to the family of one determined to keep them on the straight and narrow.

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Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 324 pages
Published April 9th 2014 by Beau to Beau Publishing
ASINB00JLJFK3I
edition languageEnglish

Buy Links: Amazon ARe

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Excerpt:

“Do you ever think about doing it again?” he asked me tentatively.
“Kissing you?”
“Yea.”
“All the time now,” I replied. I couldn’t lie to him, I did.
“Really?”
“Yea, what about you?” I asked.
“I do, I think about it all the time too.”
“So, why haven’t we, if we both want too?” He asked me
“I dunno, because we are afraid?”
“Yea, I know. But what are we afraid of?”
“I guess where it might end up.”
“Where it might end?”
“Yea”
“Dave,” he said, “Where are we going to end up? I need to know.”
“Fucked if I know.”
“We’ve been together all summer, and we’ve been through a lot.”
“It’s been perfect.”
“I’ve got to know,” he said, drawing closer to me.
“What?” I asked.
“Do you REALLY love me?”
I didn’t have to think about it.
“Jon, I love you more than anyone else. More than I ever thought that I could love someone.”
“And I love you too Dave. I can’t imagine ever being without you again.”
“I’d do anything for you.”
“I know, and I’d do anything with you.”
He laid there, next to me, staring into my eyes, as I fell hopelessly into his, both of us finally, realizing.
“Hey,” he said, as he ran his fingers through my hair, and he gently drew me closer, “I have to tell you something…”
“What?” I said, putting my arm around him, caressing him, and reassuring him.
“I’m not afraid anymore,” he whispered into my ear.
“You know,” I replied, softly, our lips barely separated, “neither am I. Not anymore.”
“So, it doesn’t matter?”
“No, it doesn’t matter.”
“Well, watcha waiting for?”
I wanted to kiss him again for a long time now. And finally I could, and the fear, and the worrying, were gone. I had too, I couldn’t not kiss him any longer.
We drew closer, slowly. It was awkward and we laughed a little. Finally, I pressed my lips against his; the spark was instantaneous. I could feel the pent up passion rising from deep within. It was unstoppable, and soon we were tight in each other’s arms, kissing passionately.
I looked deeply into his eyes, our lips barely separated, and I whispered to him gently, tenderly, “I love you”
Pulling me closer, and tighter, he caressed my face.
He replied, in between tender kisses, “I love you more.”
“Are you sure you want to do this?” I asked him.
“I can’t imagine not doing this,” he replied.
“Yea, I know exactly what you mean.”
Our lives, and everything that we had been through and done together, the thoughts that we shared and the emotions that we expressed, were a mere dress rehearsal, leading to this moment. The paths that we had chosen, and the decisions that we had made together, led us into each other’s arms and souls.

Tour Dates: 5/26/14 – 6/20/14
Tour Stops:
May 26: Kimi-Chan
May 27: Cate Ashwood
May 28: My Fiction Nook
May 29: MM Good Books
May 30: Michael Mandrake, LeAnn’s Book Reviews
June 2: Prism Book Alliance
June 3: Jade Crystal
June 4: Amanda C. Stone
June 5: Lee Brazil
June 6: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
June 9: Iyana Jenna
June 10: It’s Raining Men, Parker Williams
June 11: Love Bytes
June 12: 3 Chicks After Dark
June 13: Night Owl Reviews , SA McAuley
Jun 16: The Blogger Girls
June 17: Book Reviews and More by Kathy, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Hearts on Fire, Two Men Are Better Than One
June 18: Velvet Panic
June 19: Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Angel Martinez, Fallen Angel Reviews
June 20: MM Good Books

Contest Rules and Details: Visit Rafflecopter to enter to win D.T. Peterson’s Rafflecopter Prize: A .pdf copy of The Cove. Must be 18 years of age or older. Contest ends 6/20.

Review: Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny’s Lair (Knitting #5) by Amy Lane

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Just when Aiden Rhodes is sure that he has his Jeremy Bunny ready to settle down and commit to a relationship with him instead of always being ready to “rabbit’ away, Jeremy’s past arrives to shatter everything. After Jeremy endured a horrific near death beating by a mobster, he faces multiple surgeries on his way to recovery, a recovery that will still leave Jeremy with physical scarring he will carry for life.

All in the tightly close group of people around Jeremy have been affected by this horrendous event. Aiden is facing his own anger at Jeremy’s actions and he needs time to work through all the thoughts and emotions that this brutal beating has created. Aiden needs space but with Jeremy in the hospital and needing Aiden, that is the last thing he is likely to have. Jeremy is afraid that his scarred face and body will mean that he is unlovable and unwanted. Craw and Ben are keeping the mill going without their friends but only just. And Ariadne lies in the hospital bed next to Jeremy with complications to her pregnancy and worries of her own. Even as everyone is giving as much of themselves to help support Jeremy’s surgeries and recovery, they are in need in equal amounts of support themselves.

But the answer for this overly stressed and worn thin group comes in the tiny form of Ariadne’s baby girl who needs them all in her own time of need. To help Ariadne and her baby, Jeremy pulls himself together and starts to move forward in his relationship with Aiden and his friendship for everyone around him, including Ariadne’s little blackbird. And Aiden sees a Jeremy he had always hoped to find….a man who has stopped running from love and commitment and is ready for all Aiden has to offer….a future together.

I am going to start this review with a personal note to Amy Lane.

Amy Lane, Amy Lane……I have been waiting for you to fix Jeremy Bunny since you left me (and Jeremy) wrecked at the end of Knitter in His Natural Habitat (Knitting #4) two years ago. When I finished that story I felt I had been run through Craw’s temperamental woolen mill drums myself until my heart was flattened and my stomach was in knots. I love your stories and this series but that was one review I didn’t want to write because I was so upset at the end. But now I can finally say, without compunction, that you did Jeremy Bunny right in Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny’s Lair. And you made the torturous events that occurred in the fourth book feel as though they had to happen for the growth and maturity that Jeremy gains here throughout your story. I didn’t think that was possible but it did and it felt true. So, thanks. Now I can reread that book again with my tredpidation pushed aside and my love for these characters up front and secure in their futures together. Brava!

Now back to the originally scheduled review.

When discussing a book about endings, I think its appropriate that a summary of the series and the first story is in order. The first book in the series is called The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters (Granby Knitting, # 1) and truthfully it wasn’t even a series yet. It was a story in Dreamspinner’s I’ll Be Home for Christmas collection. It featured a romance between a burly monosyllabic knitter and a newly arrived self employed young man who moves in next to his alpaca ranch. Rance Crawford ” is an alpaca rancher, fiber mill owner, and self-proclaimed grumpy bastard” in Amy Lane’s words. And he was grumpy perfection. Lane paired him up with Ben McCutcheon, a sweet Easterner who inherits the house next to the ranch. It was a slow, sometime frustrating and always amusing light hearted romance filled with the author’s love of all things knitting and love of yarn. It had an endearing cover and a wonderful ending.

That first story was quick to capture the hearts of readers along with all the other memorable characters that Amy Lane created to work at Craw’s mill and yarn shop, helping to dye and create designer yarn that people would scramble to own and knit with. We met a young Aiden Rhodes, a teenager on the way to adulthood and a genius with dyes and wool. Living in the barn in a small room was Jeremy Stillson, an enigmatic skittish young man of indeterminable years. Oddly young and old at the same time, Jeremy was clearly haunted by a past and childhood that only one person knew about. He talked too much, loved the company of the animals and was as skittish as a wild bunny, ready to “rabbit” away at the first sign of approaching danger or even commitment. His vulnerability touched the readers, myself included, deeply. We took Jeremy Bunny to heart then and never let him go. Neither did Aiden Rhodes, a wolf with surprising darkness inside and a love for his Jeremy. Just as important was Ariadne, the sharp faced, thin young woman who runs the mill’s shop and teaches Jeremy to knit. We all fell in love with Ariadne too. Leaving this group of people behind in that first story was hard not only for us but for Amy Lane as well. And so the Knitting series, also known as the Granby Knitting series was born.

Four books followed, the full list is posted at the bottom of the review. Lane would take up Aiden and Jeremy’s story in How to Raise an Honest Rabbit (Knitting #3). Between those indescribably adorable covers and their marvelously quirky titles, this was a series that was attracting attention for more than just the stories within, there was also the knitting patterns featured in each book, with instructions included at the end. How I love those too! Did I say I was a avid knitter? This series just reached out and pulled me in. Any idea of maintaing any sort of emotional distance was thrown out the window from the get go. Objectivity, thy name is some other reviewer when this series is involved.

Anyhow, How to Raise an Honest Rabbit (Knitting #3) is Jeremy’s story. We find out why Jeremy is the way he is and how he came to Granby and Craw’s Alpaca ranch. It is also the beginning of romance between Jeremy and Aiden, hints of which were only floating around the narrative in the first book. And it is here that the darkness and depth found in the Knitting series is revealed. Yes, there are still some amusing scenes and joy. But the pain of the past and Jeremy’s fragile emotional center is revealed as is the explanation behind his situation and behavior. The angsts and gravity of the story brings a “realness” to these characters, with all their flaws, intelligence and loyalty to each other. If you weren’t in love before, you were by the end of this story.

Then came Knitter in His Natural Habitat (Granby Knitting, #4) and the revelatory style and genius of Amy Lane came together in an emotional rollercoaster of a story. I loved it, hated it, and cried buckets of tears before it was over. It was two romances in one. Lane continued to follow the growth in Aiden and Jeremy’s relationship while also introducing another major romance that included secondary characters from previous stories. That would be flamboyantly gay Stanley, who managed a fabulous craft store in Boulder and Johnny, a dark horse of a delivery man with secrets of his own. Like some intricately woven specialty yarn, Lane spun a tale of revenge, love and a past that refused to stay hidden. It was mesmerizing and Lane skillfully built up a atmosphere of danger and suspense that exploded in an emotional ending that left us all shattered.

This story was released two years ago in 2012 and my memories of it today are as fresh as if I had just finished the story yesterday. That fact just demonstrates what an incredible writer Amy Lane is and the power present in all her stories. Light and fluffy? I don’t think so. I don’t think she can do that. Lane’s stories always take twists and turns that will puzzle and shock you. They might leave you reeling in pain from the events and situations her characters find themselves in as well as the loss that can run like a river of angst through her stories. But never will you be able to remain objective because she has breathed life, in all its complexity, into her people and you start treating them and their stories as if they were your own.

Anyway, back to Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny’s Lair (Knitting #5). I have waited 2 long years for this story and it was beyond marvelous. The title, in part, comes from that haunting Beatles song “Blackbird” that goes “Blackbird singing in the dead of night. Take these broken wings and learn to fly…” Are you humming it yet? There is more than one blackbird here in this story and yet by the end, they have all learned to fly or will be able to do so. So many people are in all types of need here. Emotional, financial, you name it and this tight circle of friends requires it. But how Amy Lane resolves each and everyone’s situation is believable, warmhearted and totally satisfying. I finished it at 3am and promptly went and started it all over again. I mean, really, people, I had waited two years for this to happen. It wasn’t going to be over that quickly.

This review could have been finished in a few concise sentences. It would go something like this. Here is my cliff notes version:

I wanted this. I read this. I love this. I whole heartedly recommend it to all who need romance, great story telling, and knitters in love in their lives. There are bunnies galore, and mittens and knitting patterns. And characters you will never forget. Amy Lane does it again.”

But what fun is that?

Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny’s Lair is a book I will return to often. The resolution to Jeremy’s story and his and Aiden love affair has staying power. So do all the other romances found within this series. These people, these characters have become old friends and I will want to revisit them from time to time. If you are new to this series, start with the first story and work your way through the novels and the gamut of emotions Amy Lane will put you through. It is worth it. Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny’s Lair is one of ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords Best of 2014. And don’t miss out on that terrific Chain Mail Scarf pattern so important to the story and whose instructions are included at the end. I am already planning what yarn to use.

Cover art by Catt Ford who created all those incredible covers in the series. I have included all of them as well.

Books in the series in the order they were written and should be read:

The Winter Courtship Rituals of Fur-Bearing Critters (Granby Knitting, # 1)
Super Sock Man
How to Raise an Honest Rabbit (Granby Knitting, #3)
Knitter in His Natural Habitat (Granby Knitting, #4)
Blackbird Knitting in a Bunny’s Lair (Granby Knitting #5)

Book Details:
Buy Links: Dreamspinner Press ARe Amazon

Also available The Granby Knitting Menagerie by Amy Lane Paperback: Buy it here at DSP

ebook, 244 pages, A Granby Knitting Novel

Published May 2nd 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published May 1st 2014)
ISBN 1627988742 (ISBN13: 9781627988742)
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com
seriesKnitting #5

Covers to love in reverse order:

Review: Dinner at Home by Rick R. Reed

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

In one day Ollie D’Angelo lost everything. Ollie was dumped by his boyfriend, fired from his job, and his home which was technically his ex’s. But instead of being shattered Ollie found himself exhilarated. Freed of all that had held him in a job he had no passion for and a boyfriend he only thought he loved, Ollie found he could turn his passion for food into a business that filled him with joy and a renewed sense of purpose. Before Ollie knows it his Dinner at Home, a home-catering business, takes off and becomes a success.

Soon Ollie finds himself thinking that he needs an assistant and finds one in the most unexpected way. While out on a delivery, Ollie finds a young man attempting to rob his car. But instead of turning the thief over to the police, Ollie finds himself taking the young man home for a much needed meal. Hank Mellinger, the would be their, isn’t a criminal but a starving young man desperately trying to feed himself and the four-year-old niece he is now responsible for. Robbing Ollie’s car was his last act of desperation.

Like Ollie, Hank finds that one moment can change his life as well as his niece’s. Hank becomes Ollie’s assistant and potentially something more as the attraction builds between them. But Hank’s isn’t out and his fears about his past must just block any future in store for them all. Can two very different men with a passion for food find the courage to believe in a future for them both?

Rick R. Reed’s newest story, Dinner at Home, drew me in as a reader for a number of reasons. One is that amazing cover by Reese Dante that just makes you grin with the total enjoyment and openness seen in that model’s face. The other is that I love stories about chefs, food and recipes and this had it all covered. Plus it offered the addition of a romance to boot. What I found was a bunch of new recipes, some lovely characters and a story that was unexpectedly a little dark.

When diving into this story, you receive unanticipated benefits right off the mark. Each chapter opens with a recipe that will make your mouth water. The book is laid out like a menu. The prologue is the definition of an Amuse-Bouche, an appetizer that is one small mouthful, then it goes on to Winter and then Summer dishes. The first chapter is a scrumptious recipe for Sinfully Soft Scrambled Eggs that sent me running to the kitchen to try it out. It lives up to its name as it is sinfully delicious. I thought I had made great scrambled eggs before. Nuhuh. Try this recipe out and it will become your comfort food go to recipe. The same holds true for all the dinners and meals laid out here. Thankfully, Reed included a section with all the recipes at the end so you can have it at hand when you need it. And trust me, you will need it often. This man knows his food and his ingredients!

Secondly, there is Reed’s characters. I loved Ollie. Big hearted, passionate about his food, and generous in all ways, Ollie is a man to love. That his life is shattered overnight is believable, especially in these economic times. And equally true, Ollie was in a great place in which to make some positive life changing decisions. You could believe in Ollie and you do. And just as Ollie is emotionally and financially well off, Hank is his opposite. For Hank, life has been one struggle after another. That along with some poor choices, a mother who was juggling with her own demons, Hank is one troubled young man. His passion? Food. But as a excon, the jobs he is able to get are on the lower end of the pay scale with little future involved. Rick R. Reed makes us believe in him too.

Less believable? Hank’s four year old niece, Addison, who seems to be a combination of Roseanne Barr and tiny tot. I have read other similar child characters whose dialog and actions came across as more realistic than Addison does. She doesn’t ruin the story for me but neither does she improve it, in my opinion. Others may love her character and find her an utter joy. She is one of those love her or hate her personas that has an equal effect on the story and reader.

Rose, a traumatized young woman who becomes part of this family, is a character I found that I wanted more of. She just appears suddenly in this story and has a horrible back history. I don’t feel that Reed laid any foundation for her startling change into a totally different young woman at the end of the story. Had she been slowly worked into the narrative with the same care and attention to detail that Hank and Addison were then I think Dinner at Home would have felt like a deeper, more layered story than it appears to be.

Did I love parts of Dinner at Home? Absolutely, starting with Ollie and the recipes. Other parts left me puzzled and curiously hungry for more, as if some elements of a main dish had been left out during the preparation. Once you start eating, you enjoy it but can tell from the aroma and taste that the promise of the dish is still out there waiting to be completed. That’s how I feel about Dinner at Home, almost there, just needs a little more umami to bring it home.

If you are a fan of Rick R. Reed, you will love this story. If you love food and recipes to die for, this is your story. Lovers of M/M romance will enjoy this book, with reservation. I certainly enjoyed it enough to recommend it.

Cover art by Reese Dante. I loved this cover, It draws you in and makes you want to get to know the characters pictured on the cover.

Buy Links: Dreamspinner Press ARe Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 206 pages
Published May 9th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published May 8th 2014)
ISBN 162798836X (ISBN13: 9781627988360)
edition languageEnglish

Book Blast! Plane From Nowhere by Princess SO (Contest)

Book Blast! Their Plane From Nowhere by Princess So

Introducing the latest release from Princess So, Their Plane From Nowhere Book Blast. Contest: To enter to win an eBook copy of Princess So’ Their Plane From Nowhere visit the Rafflecopter link provided here.

Book Blurb: In their small town in the Pocono Mountains, Earl Knox and Hank Grisset have never been considered among the pretty ones to anyone but each other. As lucky as Hank and Earl consider themselves to have found each other, that’s about as far as luck has gone. All those Could’ah— Should’ah— Would’ah— moments a man never sees comin’, but that don’t stop him from regrettin’ them later in life. When Earl makes a life changing decision that ultimately outs him and Hank, a mysterious plane shows up at their lake house. Coming out in a small town can erase friendships in a heartbeat. But, when a rift in the family leads to a life threatening accident, only their devotion to each other is gonna get them through this; that and their plane from nowhere. Excerpt:

“Adventure is out there!” a child character’s voice called out with enthusiasm. And thus began a montage of Mr. Fredricksen’s life.

There was a reason he picked this one above all the others. Sure, Finding Nemo and that other one about the supersuits was pretty damned funny, but this one—about the boy growin’ up with his best friend, how they got married with a dream and grew old together—and mostly how life got in the way of their dream to Paradise Falls—had hit him so hard, it hung in his soul and on his skin like melted cheese, only it didn’t taste as good. Hoverin’ like smog. The more you noticed, the more you started to choke on it. And then, the next mornin’ when they’d went back to the hospital and his little Leanne handed over his first granddaughter, he’d looked up wearin’ the biggest grandpop smile only to see Gracie leerin’ at him with so much hatred and loathin’. It shouldn’t have been that way; it should have been the face of the man he loved. Earl’s heart shattered that very moment. So much time had been lost lettin’ life get in the way of his Paradise Falls. He’d nearly broke down just then, too happy to give over his granddaughter just yet and too heartbroken that Hank wasn’t with him to share in it, like he should’ah been. He’d even walked over to the window, turning his back to the others, and cradling the tiny bundle against his face. He kissed her sweet pink head, and then used it to wipe the tears from his cheek. Gracie got tired of waitin’ her turn and started puttin’ up a cussin’. She even pulled out the Lord’s name in vain. Earl just shut her out, still lookin’ out the window with his granddaughter and silently pointin’ out to the mountains in the distance to where Hank could be found, wipin’ another tear off with her fussy, little pink head. Behind him, the cussing continued. To Earl it was just another sound that separated him from them while he drowned on the inside. He couldn’t count the times he’d heard it ’cause he did his best not to. Didn’t matter where they were either, he never answered, and he never shouted back at her. Just like that day at the hospital, he let Gracie continue on until Leanne snapped about the GD word. Earl’d said nothing. He never did. No matter what Gracie threw at him, he had learned a long time ago, he couldn’t shut her up, so—he shut her out.

Tour Dates: 6/3/14 Tour Stops: Nephylim, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Love Bytes, Parker Williams, LeAnn’s Book Reviews, MM Good Books, Night Owl Reviews, My Fiction Nook, Amanda C. Stone, Kimi-Chan, Fallen Angel Reviews, Smoocher’s Voice, Cate Ashwood, The Blogger Girls, Prism Book Alliance, 3 Chicks After Dark, The Hat Party, Lee Brazil Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of Their Plane From Nowhere. To enter visit the Rafflecopter link here Book Details: ebook, 92 pages Published May 7th 2014 by Dreamspinner (first published May 6th 2014) ISBN 1627986774 (ISBN13: 9781627986779) edition languageEnglish Buy Links: Dreamspinner Press Amazon ARe Author Bio: Author Name: Princess so Author Bio: Princess so and her twin, Talon ps love to torment their editor with a nefarious world of foreign-lang, slang, local dialect, stretched/outside-of-the-box definitions, and have even been known to throw in some con-lang at times, as well. This, of course, is all thrown in there with the dyslexia soup stock they both suffer from that makes editing with them a joy {joy: n see mental illness}. But the final product comes out as richly detailed holographic worlds of Gay/MM Erotic Romance; Paranormal, Sci-fi, and War time Erotic-Romances; and along with Prin’s favorite works of Post-Apocalyptic Dark Fantasies for readers to submerse themself into and escape. Author Links: Facebook Facebook Author Page Goodreads Author Page Amazon Author Page Cover Artist: Princess So

Review: Let it Ride (Pickup Men #2) by L.C. Chase

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Pickup man Bridge Sullivan knew from the moment he met sexy California rodeo paramedic Eric Palmer that his life was going to change. Bridge got to know Eric when the transplanted New Yorker helped his friends Marty Fairgrave and his lover, ex-bull rider Tripp Colby in the traumatic events of the past year. After the season ended, Bridge’s nights were consumed by sexy dreams of Eric that had him questioning his sexuality. Bridge couldn’t wait for the season to begin so he could be reunited with Eric and see if anything past a friendship is possible.

Eric Palmer’s life has been one of rejection and pain. Abandoned by his family because of his sexuality and betrayed by a former lover, Eric’s trust issues extend deep into his heart. Only at the rodeo has Eric been able to find a closeknit group of men that have become family to him in a way he hasn’t had in a long time. Soon the rodeo circuit and the cowboys become a home where Eric feels safe and wanted.

When Bridge Sullivan starts to flirt with Eric when the new season begins, Eric is puzzled. Eric always found Bridge attractive but he thought his friend was straight. As the attraction between them flairs up, so does Eric’s fear that Bridge is only experimenting with his sexuality and that this could cost Eric the friends he needs so badly. Bridge is sure that Eric is the only man for him. But can Bridge convince Eric that he is serious? When Bridge puts it all on the line, will Eric be able to put his fears aside for a possible HEA for them both?

There is nothing like a cowboy in love. With Let It Ride, L.C. Chase continues her Pickup Men series that revolves around a small group of rodeo riders on the California Rodeo circuit. We have met Bridge and all the other characters in the first novel, Pickup Men, and now L.C. Chase is focusing the story on another one of Marty’s team members, Bridge Sullivan. Bridge and his brothers were these lively, wonderful characters that almost demanded more page time in the last story. Now Chase gives it to them and us in Let It Ride and the result is a totally satisfying romance.

This time Bridge Sullivan, pickup man extraordinaire, has found his “one” in Eric Palmer, the paramedic hired by the rodeo association to work the circuit with them. Both of the men were involved in the traumatic events of the last season which saw Tripp Colby attacked and injured badly enough that he retired from the circuit. L.C.Chase has constructed some wonderful characters here and her pickup men, Marty, Bridge, and Kent, are authentic and believable not only as professional rodeo riders but as people too. Falling back into their stories is like getting reacquainted with friends…its easy, its heartwarming, and its like you never left.

The point of view starts out from Bridge’s perspective with hot dreams of the sexy paramedic in question, Eric Palmer. Bridge has been unable to think of little else and he is questioning his sexuality because of his intense attraction to Eric. As Bridge tries to work through the process of what his feelings mean, we can see that this is not really a “gay for you” story but a man who has repressed his bisexuality until now. It was “easier” for Bridge to date women. He likes them so his feelings towards men was something he pushed aside as college experimentation. But with Eric, those old feelings are back and can no longer be denied. I like this aspect of the story. It’s not an instantaneous switchover in sexuality. Instead, Bridge spends the entire summer questioning himself, his motives, and his feelings before he decides to act on them. This feels like a more realistic approach than an immediate “hey, I’m gay for you” storyline. Plus there is the factor that Bridge Sullivan is just an accessible and immensely likable character. You want to see it his way so he can get “his guy” and his HEA.

Standing in the way of his happiness is the man himself…Eric Palmer. Eric is a complicated, fearful man made so because of his continual rejections and abandonment issues from both his family and the people who told him they loved him. Now, Eric is consumed by the fact that he is not worthy of love and that no one will ever stay with him permanently enough for a real relationship and a future together. That fear has emotionally paralyzed Eric to the point that no relationship outside of friendship is possible. Eric’s the second point of view here and it’s a necessary one for us to hear in order to throughly understand where Eric is coming from and to make his poor self esteem seem real. In another character where the author hasn’t laid the necessary foundation for that character’s relationship issues and poor sense of self-worth, then someone like Eric would come across as overly dramatic and self involved. Not here. When Eric reacts badly and in haste, we get it even though we may not like it. Eric is that skittish horse that’s been abused. He shies away because that is what experience has taught him to do. Again, this whole scenario feels believable and painful.

Honestly, I enjoyed this story more than its predecessor. I loved this couple and rooted for them immediately. The angst here is in the normal range of relationship problems as the men involved struggle with their feelings and adjust to the idea of a permanent, loving relationship. Marty and Tripp are back in minor roles here and that works as well. L.C. Chase loves her cowboys and knows her rodeo. That’s apparent in the well-rounded characters and the authenticity which with the rodeo is depicted. Both the author and her cowboys have earned a place in my heart and on my shelf with their stories.

There is a third story planned for this series, Pulling Leather (Pickup Men #3). The main character here is an astonishing choice. Bull rider Scott Gillard is back and looking for redemption. I can’t wait to see how Chase handles making this “villain” into a romantic leading man. It should be quite a ride. The expected publication date is September 1, 2014 by Riptide Publishing. I will be first in line to pick it up.

The author is also the amazing cover artist behind these wonderful covers. I have them all for you at the bottom of this review. Check out that stunner for Pulling Leather. That cover alone will pull you in and make you want to know that man’s story.

Until then you will have to start back with Pickup Men and meet all the complex cowboys that make up the Pickup Men series. Then join me in September for the next cowboy on the path to his HEA.

Cover artist for all the Pickup Men covers is the author herself, L.C. Chase. Love them, love her cowboys and their stories too.

Buy Links: Riptide Publishing ARe Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 195 pages
Published May 26th 2014 by Riptide Publishing (first published May 25th 2014)
original titleLet it Ride
ISBN139781626491472
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://riptidepublishing.com/titles/let-it-ride
seriesPickup Men #2

Books in the Pickup Men series are:

Pickup Men (Pickup Men #1)
Let It Ride (Pickup Men #2)
Pulling Leather (Pickup Men #3) expected publication date Sept. 1, 2014

Covers in this series include:

Get Your Cowboy On with L.C. Chase on her Let It Ride Tour! (Contest)!

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ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords has L.C. Chase stopping by today on her Let It Ride Blog Tour. If the name is not instantly familiar, the incredible covers that she creates are. But how many of you knew she was a terrific author as well?

Today L.C. has brought a bunch of prizes to giveaway during the tour. Contest prizes and details are listed at the bottom of the post. I love a cowboy romance and Let It Ride is the second in L.C. Chase’s Pickup Men series. Hot cowboys, a little bit of angst, and some major love…..bring it on!

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cowboy hat and boots blkwhite

L.C.Chase:

G’day everyone! Welcome to my Let It Ride blog tour and a peek into the world of rodeo cowboys. (The official schedule can be found here.) This wouldn’t be a proper tour without some prezzies, of course. Read on for giveaway details—and one very special prize! Thank you to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting my cowboys, and to all of you for hopping in the saddle to ride along!

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The Blurb:

Pickup man Bridge Sullivan is the kind of cowboy everyone wants—as a brother, a friend, a lover. People think he’s straight, but Bridge isn’t one for labels, and when a sexy male paramedic jump-starts his heart, he charges in with all guns blazing.

New York City transplant Eric Palmer grew up in foster care. While he always had a roof over his head, he never felt love or a sense of belonging . . . until he joined the California rodeo circuit as a paramedic and found a band of brothers who took him in as one of their own. Now, one in particular is making Eric’s pulse race.

When things heat up between Bridge and Eric, Bridge has to prove to Eric he’s not just experimenting with the rougher sex, while Eric must overcome his fears of being unwanted and cast aside. He knows that trusting Bridge may be the key to his happy ever after, but getting in the saddle is much, much easier than learning to let it ride.

You can read an excerpt and purchase Let It Ride here!

Book Details:

ebook, 195 pages
Published May 26th 2014 by Riptide Publishing (first published May 25th 2014)
original titleLet it Ride
ISBN139781626491472
edition languageEnglish
url http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/let-it-ride
seriesPickup Men #2

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About L.C. Chase:

Cover artist by day, author by night, L.C. Chase is a hopeless romantic and adventure seeker. After a decade of traveling three continents, she now calls the Canadian West Coast home. When not writing sensual tales of beautiful men falling love, she can be found designing book covers with said beautiful men, drawing, horseback riding, or hiking the trails with her goofy four-legged roommate.

L.C. is a 2014 Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Pickup Men; a 2013 EPIC eBook Awards Finalist for Long Tall Drink; and a 2013-2014 Ariana eBook Cover Art Awards Finalist. She also won an honorable mention in the 2012 Rainbow Awards for Riding with Heaven.

You can find out more about L.C., story extras, works in progress, and cover designs at her

Website, on her
Blog, or on
Facebook,
Twitter and
Goodreads.

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The Big Tour Contest:

In celebration and thanks, I’m offering goodies for three lucky readers . . .

COWBOYS IN PIXELS: One ebook copy of any title in my backlist. Open to worldwide entries.

COWBOYS IN PRINT: One signed paperback copy of Long Tall Drink, the extended edition. Open to worldwide entries.

COWBOYS IN PENCIL: One original 8” x 10” graphite pencil artwork by yours truly. The finished artwork will be revealed on the last stop of the tour on Tuesday, June 3. Entries are limited to US and Canada residents only.

What do you have to do to win? Just answer one or both of these questions in the comments section below (please leave an email address where you can be reached also):
1 – Who is your favorite cowboy of all time—fictional or real, past or present? Mine is Clint Eastwood as “Blondie” from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly movies. 😉
2 – Give me your best guess on what the pencil drawing is of—cowboys are a given so you’ll have to be a bit more creative. 😉
Don’t forget to leave your email address too! Contest closes at midnight Pacific Time, on June 4th. Winners will be drawn randomly on Thursday, June 5th. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

Books in the Pickup Men series to date:

Winner Announcements and the Week Ahead in Reviews, Book Tours and Giveaways

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It’s been a busy week at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords with May ending and June just beginning. It feels like summer is about to begin. Vacation for some, beach for some, and plenty of wonderful books to read and listen to for all.

Up this week I have cowboys, a mad historical impersonation, chefs, a mystery, and some mad knitters. Two long awaited sequels are here. One is Amy Lane’s Blackbirds Knitting in a Bunny’s Lair. For those of you who have been following this Granby series and want to know what happened to Jeremy Bunny, here is your answer. And Sue Brown continues with her Isle of Wight series with Isle of Waves. Don’t miss a day this week.

Congratulations to the following winners of 3 Authors Book Contests. They have been notified. Thank you to all who left comments! Happy Reading!

Winner Announcements!

Winner of RJ Scott’s Giveaway is penumbrareads(at)gmail(dot)com

Winner of Katey Hawthorne’s Fairy Bound giveaway is MHupp20032003 (at) yahoo (dot) com

Winner of S.A. McAuley’s Powerless Book Giveaway is H.B.

The Week Ahead at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords:

Monday, June 2: Let It Ride Book Tour with L.C. Chase (contest)

Monday, June 2: Let It Ride (Pickup Men #2) by L.C. Chase

Tuesday, June 3: Book Blast/Contest: Their Plane From Nowhere by Princess So

Wed., June 4: Dinner at Home by Rick R. Reed

Thursday, June 5: Blackbird Knitting in the Bunny’s Lair by Amy Lane

Friday, June 6: On Tour with D.T. Peterson and The Cove (contest)

Friday, June 6: The Isle of Waves by Sue Brown

Sat., June 7: The Actor and the Earl by Rebecca Cohen

Review: Moving Earth (Earthquake #2) (PF 2014) by T.A. Webb

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Now that Charlie Turner has moved out of his family’s home, he has time for a personal life for the first time in ages. After his father died, Charlie was busy working and raising his grief stricken younger brother while his mother mourned. Now living in his own cabin on Mountain Shadows campground, Charlie is ready to reclaim his private time and he knows just who he wants to spend it with…..Amos Greene. Aloof, gorgeous, and sexy Amos Greene. But outside of sex, does Amos want him back?

Amos Greene has more than a few personal demons to deal with. Past experience has taught Amos that when it comes to romance, you keep it cool, keep it impersonal and temporary. Then Amos meets Charlie Turner when Charlie comes to work on Amos’ art gallery. Charlie isn’t satisfied with temporary and he certainly won’t settle on being just a one or two night stand. And little by little, Amos starts to give in to Charlie’s insistence on a relationship with small steps forward and through all the walls Amos has erected over the years..

But strange, dark things are happening at Mountain Shadows and Charlie’s brother just might be in the middle of things. Soon Charlie finds himself in the middle of an investigation, and draws Amos in with him. What they find out will have repercussions for them all….

Moving Earth is a perfect title for a story about families and relationships on shaky ground. The second the T.A. Webb’s Earthquake series, the story picks up right after the end of Higher Ground. Charlie Turner, a absolutely lovable character, has shouldered his family’s burdens after the death of his dad. That meant trying to be everything to his teenage brother who is grieving and in emotional shock. Not quite father, not able to be the fun big brother, Charlie is trying hard to fill a role that isn’t his and its not working. His brother is rebelling and afraid especially when Charlie moves out of the house into his own cabin at his mother’s insistence. Webb understands complicated family dynamics and it shows in the dialog and descriptions of the family interactions that come into play in Moving Earth.

In a story full of complicated characters, each with their own baggage of personal issues, Damon Turner, the troubled younger brother, almost steals the story away from Charlie and Amos. Smart mouthed and snarky, Damon hides his fears and anger behind his aggressive behavior and disturbing circle of friends. This is the character we fear for and want to hold close. His actions towards his brother and classmates are cries for help. It makes Damon believable and someone we can relate to. And Charlie’s anger at and concern for his brother is something we get as well. Damon’s feelings about his brother’s sexuality are all over the place. Damon is at times both hurtful, hurling epithets at Charlie and then with an about face, he is accepting of his brother and Amos. In total, Damon is that teenager is search of stability and love who has had his support jerked out from under him in the most traumatic way. Clearly Damon isn’t dealing with it very well, nor would any teenager in his place. T.A. Webb navigates this tricky, prickly time for the brothers with sensitivity and authenticity that just deepens the whole feeling behind Moving Earth.

Poor Charlie. Between his brother and Amos, almost every relationship he has or wants needs an amazing amount of work. Charlie has to force Amos to look at him in a different manner than Amos’ previous sexual conquests. I liked the fact that Charlie is not a doormat here and that he demands the respect he knows he deserves. And Amos, with his pain-filled awful childhood, is a tough character to crack open. It must be Amos’ decision to open up and become vulnerable once more in order to accept Charlie and his need for a real relationship. This is a delicate juggling act that Webb handles as well as he does the one between Charlie and Damon.

As with all the interconnected Pulp Friction 2014 series, there are several mysteries running through all four stories and series. Here the author starts to amp up the suspense that surrounds the riddles of the dark events happening at Mountain Shadows campground. Dead, mutilated animals are being found in the woods nearby and who is behind this is anyone’s guess. There will be clues and perhaps some false trails laid but all are quaranteed to keep you glued to this story and all the series that go with it. And the ending here? It will startle you and send you back to the first book looking for clues and more information. Loved it, hated it (for leaving me hanging), and definitely wanting more. Much, much more.

Did all this happen in 40 pages? Why yes it did and that fact alone continues to amaze me. Its like wondering how all those things fit into the magician’s hat. It’s astonishing even as I marvel that it all works so wondrously well. I love Webb’s Earthquake series for its complicated sibling relationship as much as I do for its equally complex romance. Don’t pass this up but start with the first story Higher Ground.

The Pulp Friction 2014 (and 2013) series can all be read separately but they work best when read together to get the full impact of the characters, their intertwined relationships and the intricate plot all these terrific authors have devised. I highly recommend them all but make sure to start at the first story in each series and build up from there. I have listed the stories as they are being released below. Not listed as yet is Round Four but that is coming.

Cover art by Laura Harner

Buy Links: Amazon ARe

Book Details:

ebook, 40 pages
Published April 30th 2014 by A Bear on Books (first published April 29th 2014)
ISBN139781310924866
edition languageEnglish
seriesEarthquake #2, Pulp Friction 2014 #8

About Pulp Friction 2014: Laura Harner ~ Lee Brazil ~ Havan Fellows ~ T.A. Webb The Pulp Friction 2014 Collection. Four authors. Four Series. Twenty books. One fiery finale. Spend a year with an eclectic group of strangers brought together through circumstances, as they are tested by life, and emerge as more than friends.

The strongest bonds are forged by fire, cooled in air, smoothed by water, grounded in earth. Although each series can stand alone, we believe reading the books in the order they are released will increase your enjoyment. There will be five rounds and one final story written by all four authors.

Round One of Pulp Friction 2014:

Firestorm (Fighting Fire# 1) by Laura Harner
Cold Snap (In From the Cold# 1) by Lee Brazil
Blown Away (Where the Wind Blows# 1) by Havan Fellows
Higher Ground (Earthquake# 1) by Tom Webb

Round Two of Pulp Friction 2014:

Controlled Burn (Fighting Fire #2) by Laura Harner
Cold Comfort (In From the Cold #2) by Lee Brazil
Blown Kisses (Where the Wind Blows #2) by Havan Fellows
Moving Earth (Earthquake #2) by Tom Webb

Round Three of Pulp Friction 2014:

Backburn (Fighting Fire #3) by Laura Harner
Cold Feet (In From the Cold #3) by Lee Brazil
Blow Hard (Where the Wind Blows #3) by Havan Fellows
Tremors (Earthquake #3) by Tom Webb

Review: Saugatuck Summer (Saugatuck #1) by Amelia C. Gormley

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Topher Carlisle likes to think of himself as fabulous. Topher knows he looks fabulous, now only if he felt that way on the inside. He is turning twenty one and stands on the precipice of adulthood with life changing decisions rising up around him. Gay, gorgeous and of mixed race, Topher’s upbringing has been anything but normal. Or happy. Or safe. His mother is a drug dependent alcoholic whose mental health issues threatened his health and his sanity growing up. His other relatives are little better, giving him support on their terms, which were both emotionally and physically abusive. And while most people only see a flamboyantly gay, intelligent and perhaps superficial young man, the inner Topher is the one who continues to battle with his depression and thoughts of worthlessness.

Supporting himself through college on a swimming scholarship, Topher’s education might be cut short if he can’t get in condition to compete for the team in the fall and earn the money he needs for board. Luckily for Topher, his BFF, Mo is bringing him with her to the family beach house on Lake Michigan. A summer of swimming and, hopefully, part time work, should just do the trick if Topher can stick with the program, but that is something he rarely does. And something totally unexpected and disasterous happens….his bestfriend’s father is handsome, closeted…and it turns out, available for an affair. An affair that ruins everyones lives before the summer is over.

Now homeless, friendless and desperate Topher needs help in the worst way. And it comes in the shape of a artist named Jace who asks to paint his portrait and sees beyond the facade Topher has erected to protect himself from further pain. And he just might be the answer to this young gay man’s prayers…if only Topher will give him a chance and let him in.

What? Don’t recognize the book by the synopsis above? Not even close to the blurb you read that starts out “Hi, I’m Topher Carlisle: twenty-one, pretty, and fabulous”? Not surprising because that light, somewhat comedic summary has little in common with the dark, heartrending story that is Saugatuck Summer. Just like you, I was expecting a sort of coming of age story featuring one of those fabulous characters who burbles on in an almost stream of consciouness, missing an editor gate sort of inner monologue. You know light, kind of frothy, with hints of angst here and there. That is not, as I said, Saugatuck Summer. What I got was darker, deeper, and totally involving featuring a mess of a main character who is not instantly likable. All of which is much, much better than anything I had originally anticipated.

Instead of light romance, Gormley gives us Christopher “Topher” Carlisle, a chronic depressive who is half black, gay, and on the cusp of turning twenty one. A traumatic event sent him into a downward spiral last year in college, turning him into a black hole of depression and making him unable to attend classes or stay in shape to swim. We meet Topher as the summer starts. His bestfriend, Mo, has invited Topher to stay with her and her family at the summer vacation home on Lake Michigan free of charge. There Topher can swim himself back into shape and get a part-time job to help pay college expenses in the fall. Sounds great, right? And it would be for anyone but Topher who is also self destructive and possesses of poor self image. He is, as they say, his own worst enemy and proves it over and over again to himself to be certain.

Gormley establishes that the reasons why Topher acts the way he does are grounded in his abusive past which continues to haunt him as he cannot bring himself to cut all ties to his mother and his family. The author doesn’t dump all the horror that is Topher’s family on the reader at once which is probably a good thing because the ghastly mess that is Topher’s family and upbringing is made more effective when it is revealed in segments of painful revelations as Topher relives scenes from his childhood and other memories that refuse to stay buried. Topher himself is aware of his self destructive tendencies. He is the product of years of therapy and doctor ordered medications that help with the depression. But as the cause of most of his pain is only a phone call away, a complete breakdown is a possibility in any given stressful situation. Over and over again, Gormley’s Topher will bring us to tears even as we want to give him a shake in frustration over his actions. We get it and him. It will take a while to accept Topher as he is such a deeply flawed young man but when you do (and you will if you give him a chance), then his journey out of the darkness and into a reality where he just might find happiness is one you will wholly invest yourself in. You will love this young man and every step he takes, forward and back, are ones that you will take together.

Ah, yes, the cheating. I know that for some of you, just the mention of cheating will have you crossing this off your TBR list. And that the man who cheats is not only married but Topher’s best friend’s father might send the rest of you running for the proverbial door. To all of you, please put that issue aside and read this story. Brandon, the father, has his own demons to fight and he also is a flawed, impulsive human being. Brandon knows that this affair will end badly but like Topher, he can’t help himself. Again, Gormley provides a solid and realistic rationale for both men’s actions. You don’t have to like what they are doing, just understand that each man, or almost man in Topher’s case, has so many dark skeletons in their closet that it makes this jump into bed almost a given. Everyone here is so authentically human, painfully so that no matter how awful their actions seems, you still end up empathizing with everyone who gets pulled into this mess. And that includes the two main participants.

Gormley does an outstanding job with all her characters here. Mo, the best friend betrayed by both her father and Topher, is a portrait of loyalty and heartbreak. A married couple, Robin (an art gallery owner) and Geoff, his partner and tattoo artist, who turn out to be the grounded gay couple who helps save Topher by providing a framework of knowledge and friendship that Topher has never had before. And finally Jace, the artist who sees deeply into the troubled Topher and still wants to pursue a relationship. Each and every one is a stunner of a character. And their importance to this story and Topher is beautifully rendered in scenes that will make you laugh and cry and want to be a part of that village that starts to raise Topher up out of the hole made by his upbringing and family.

Is this an easy book to read? No, not really. But it is a wonderful one. It will pull you in, involve you emotionally and mentally. It will tear you up as you watch Topher breaking on the shoals of his illness and family history. And finally it will move you to tears and happiness as Topher finds his way to love and a future. Thankfully, Amelia C. Gormley realizes that there will never be an easy resolution to someone with Topher’s illnesses and past, only better ways to handle them with the right therapy and a balanced doctor proscribed plan of medication. So the ending is marvelously conceived and wonderfully realistic. I loved it as I did Topher and everyone else found within the covers of Saugatuck Summer.

Saugatuck Summer is a book not to be missed. It will be one to be remembered. And Saugatuck Summer will be on my Best of 2014 list at the end of the year.

Cover artist is LC Chase. That cover is beautifully deceptive. You only think it shows a lovely peaceful beach scene but look at the gathering storm clouds and the portent is clear. Just an amazing cover, one of the best of the year.

Of Special Note: Be sure to check out the Saugatuck Summer soundtrack by singer/songwriter Casey Stratton . This soundtrack is the soundtrack for Topher’s life. Stratton’s music and lyrics are found throughout the story, linking events, memories and happenings together in a seamless strand of melody. I found a new musician to love with this story. Visit his website. I think you will find the same.

Book Details:

ebook, 363 pages
Published May 19th 2014 by Riptide Publishing (first published May 17th 2014)
original titleSaugatuck Summer
ISBN139781626491168
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://riptidepublishing.com/
seriesSaugatuck #1

Buy Links: Riptide Publishing Amazon ARe

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