A MelanieM Review: Male Bonding by Angela Claire

Rating: 2.75 stars out of 5

Mark Ryan is stabbed in the back by a guy he thought was his friend and is fired from a Fortune 500 company he trusted was his future. He’s not in the mood for any male bonding. Some good hard sex, however, is another matter.

Jamie Wilkes’ real last name is not quite as brand-worthy as Rockefeller, but it’s mighty close. When he wanders by Mark’s mammoth glass beach house and finds the hot corporate titan in residence, he jumps at the chance to get to know his secret crush better. If Mark wants to mistake him for a surfer or a beach bum, Jamie’s fine with that. What he’s not fine with, though, is Mark’s closed-off attitude.

The prince believed to be a pauper and the would-be CEO who’s fallen off the corporate ladder both realize this could finally be their chance at something real.

Male Bonding by Angela Claire is a romance in the “mistaken identity” trope.  Here it’s the bum/surfer who’s really a multimillionaire, a not unfamiliar role seen in books and stories. Jamie Wilkes has been crushing on his handsome older neighbor down the beach but believes he’s hetero until another female neighbor sets him “straight”.  So when he sees Mark Ryan on the worst night of Ryan’s life and the man assumes he’s a beach bum, he lets the assumption stand.

What follows is a confused semi pursuit by each man taking  turns when the other temporarily runs into an emotional wall, or they have a fight, throwing hurtful words at each other.

An early M/F/M scene is altogether unnecessary imo and will have most M/M romance readers putting down the story due to it’s graphic M/F content. It’s also doesn’t make me like Jamie very much.  Mark has just been fired under the worst conditions.  Jamie is lying to him (albeit Mark’s behavior isn’t much above jerk here as well).  But Mark is clearly close to full on depression, Jamie is pushing a threesome onto him, saying he wants to push Mark’s boundaries….and this is a man under enough stress as it is?

Of course, Jamie doesn’t back off, bounding into Mark’s life until it’s a case of instant love.  You can almost guess the rest of the story.  And oh yes, there’s a dog too.

It’s not that it’s a bad story, just a too familiar one that starts with a jarring scene that makes no sense to me if you were setting up a romance between these men.  Perhaps others will feel differently.  I’ll leave that up to you.

Cover art by Natasha Snow is terrific.  Works for both the characters and the storyline.

Sales Links:  Loose Id | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition
Published July 31st 2017 by Loose Id LLC (first published July 10th 2013)
ASINB074G3MXZG

A Caryn Review: Becoming Andy Hunsinger by Jere’ M. Fishback

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

The opening of this book really summed up the theme and was nicely done (even though the quote was misattributed to Dr. Seuss’s The Cat in the Hat https://quoteinvestigator.com/2012/12/04/those-who-mind/)

Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don’t matter and those who matter don’t mind.

This is a year in the life of Andy Hunsinger, a gay man entering his senior year of college at Florida State University in 1976.  He’d always suspected he was gay, but that summer had his first sexual experience which not only confirmed that he was queer, but made him want to explore that world and that side of himself.  He moved into a cheap apartment for privacy, and proceeded to expand his life.

The level of detail is pretty extraordinary (at times to the point of boredom, especially in the beginning of the book), as the author takes us through the experience of a young man living alone for the first time, paying bills, feeding himself, and overall learning how to be responsible.  Meeting new people outside of his previous comfort zone, going to new places, and gradually coming out.  Learning how to cruise men at the bar, finding a boyfriend for the first time, and navigating a relationship with someone who was not out and never wanted to be.  I don’t remember 1976, but I loved the descriptions of the handlebar mustaches, the clothes, and the music.  I was shocked to read about sex without condoms, but then again, this was before the AIDs era, when most gay men didn’t worry about STIs.  Andy is exposed to a level of homophobia that I am so happy is no longer so prevalent – demonstrating against Anita Bryant was a pivotal moment for him, and for me her platforms sound absolutely ludicrous in 2017, but that was Andy’s world.  Everything changed for Andy after that moment – he decided to live his life as an out gay man.

Andy’s coming out process was very realistic and believable.  Being forced out of the closet at work, coming out to his family, joining the campus “Gay Rap Group”, coming out to his friends…  He met these hurdles with trepidation, but handled them with grace, and was blessed to have loving and supportive friends and family.  And exposed to enough gay men who didn’t have the same experience to know exactly how lucky he was, so he never took them for granted.  The ordeals some of his friends went through were absolutely harrowing, and unfortunately are still happening today.

I enjoyed Andy as a character, the detailed descriptions of everything Andy saw and felt, his eclectic friends, his amazing family, and the way he took all of that and used it to become a better man.  I think there was a lot of character development.  The only reason I can’t give the book a higher rating is that it was so unemotional.  The descriptions are vivid, but never moved me.  I watched Andy fall in and out of love, but he always felt a little detached from everything.  I think it was a matter of too much telling and not enough showing – the introspection was good, but at times Andy seemed almost indifferent.  Granted, the end of the book was a bit more feeling, but it wasn’t enough.  It took longer than usual for me to read the book, and it was not wasted time, but I have no desire to read it again, and will think twice before reading more from this author.

Cover art by Natasha Snow is very nice – the water tower in the back is an important symbol in the book – but the model’s clothes and hairstyle are definitely not 70s.

Sales Links:

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Book Details:

ebook, second, 194 pages
Published August 14th 2017 by NineStar Press (first published December 30th 2014)
ISBN139781947139619
Edition LanguageEnglish
URLhttps://ninestarpress.com/product/becoming-andy-hunsinger/ settingFlorida (United States)

An Ali Review: My Dark Knight (Kings Of Hell MC #2) by KA Merikan

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Love or hate. Life or death. No inbetween. No compromise. No rules in love and war.

Knight. Party monster. Handsome Savage. Doesn’t do monogamy.
Elliot. Obsessive. Intense. Uncompromising.

Newly single, Knight is done with relationships. All he’s interested in is bringing down The Count, an Internet personality who is tarnishing his family name. An opportunity to crush him comes when the audacious clown shows up at the Kings of Hell MC clubhouse to film for his YouTube channel. But when Knight meets Elliot, the man behind The Count, he no longer knows what to do with him.

Knight has never seen a more pathetic creature than Elliot. He’s also never met anyone who needed him more. Skinny, messed up, and a bucket of trouble as thick as tar, everything Elliot does seems to be a wordless death wish. No matter how much Knight hates Elliot’s alter ego, under the makeup and theatrics hides a fragile young guy with a passion for history, and Knight can’t help but catch Elliot every time he falls.

Elliot has bad taste in men. Always hopelessly attracted to violent brutes, his favorite is a long dead serial killer. But he gets more than he’s bargained for when he seizes an opportunity to meet the man of his dreams. The ghost is manipulative and dangerous, offering Elliot all he’s always wanted, for a price he can’t possibly pay.
Elliot is faced with an impossible choice between two men. 
One alive, one dead.
One carnal and honest, one drizzling sweet, poisoned promises into his ear.
One unwilling to commit, the other promising an eternity together.
And Elliot doesn’t settle for half-measures. He craves a love that is all or nothing, passion that will consume him, and desire to burn him alive. 
Elliot is ready to either get that, or die trying.
The set up for this book was presented to us at the end of the first book and I wondered how the authors were going to deal with Elliot since he seemed a bit nutty.  I should have known they wouldn’t shy away from the crazy.  I spent the beginning of the story a bit gobsmacked at Elliot’s behavior.  He was in infatuation with a serial killer and I couldn’t quite get my head around his character.  But as the story went on, I found myself feeling sorry for him and then really liking him.  Yes, he was a bit of a mess, but he was also a sweet guy that just needed someone to love him.
I absolutely loved these two together.  They start as adversaries but over the course of the story they become good friends and of course, eventually fall in love.  I really enjoyed their banter and it was entertaining to see Knight have to admit he was falling in love.  By the end I was totally invested in their romance and I felt they were really good together.
The supernatural aspect of the story continues and there were some very interesting twists in regards to this part of the plotline.  I really enjoyed it a lot.  It was pretty fast paced and entertaining.
We see a bunch of the characters from book one and both Laurent and Beast are in this a lot.  The end of this book sets up the third one in the series and I am already eager to get my hands on that one.
This is the second book in the series and I think these should be read in order.  You could follow this easily enough but I think you need to know the back story to really enjoy this one.
I found this completely and totally entertaining and I would definitely recommend it to fans of the series.
Cover:  I really like this cover.  It fits the plot well and is in the same style as the first book in the series.
Sales Links:  Amazon
Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 466 pages
Published August 10th 2017 by Acerbi & Villani ltd
ASINB074L7R7CG
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesKings of Hell MC #2
CharactersElla, “Travis Mercier,

Love YA Fiction? Check Out This New Release! My Life as a Myth (Seasons of Chadham High #1) by Huston Piner (character bios, excerpt and giveaway)

Title:  My Life as a Myth

Series: Seasons of Chadham High, Book One

Author: Huston Piner

Publisher:  NineStar Press

Release Date: August 28

Heat Level: 1 – No Sex

Pairing: No Romance

Length: 70700

Genre: Historical YA, coming of age, depression, drug/alcohol use, family drama, friends to lovers, grief, historical/late 1960’s, homophobia, humorous, no HEA or HFN, tear-jerker, YA

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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Huston Piner today on his My Life as a Myth tour.  The author has brought along some character bios and information for our readers as well as an excerpt and giveaway.  Check it all out below!

~ My Life as a Myth Character Bios and Information ~

Character Bio – Nick Horton

Nick Horton is fourteen years old, stands five foot seven, and weighs a lanky one hundred twenty pounds. He’s naturally shy, quiet, and tends to have low self-esteem. His eyes are a deep brown, and his brown hair is long enough to irritate his father but not long enough to look cool. While neither academically gifted nor exceptionally athletic, he is in the advanced English class, is quite literate, and loves the poetry of Walt Whitman.

Character Bio – Bobby Warren

Bobby Warren is only five foot two, with emerald green eyes and whitish-blonde hair that’s just short of shoulder-length. His mannerisms are delicate, and he is very lean, but he’s also strong and wiry. Bobby is intelligent, perceptive, independent, and a great lover of Jazz music. He has known and accepted he is gay for some time.

What would the fans want to know about Nick beyond the basics?

Nick is prone to bouts of depression. While he recognizes he’s not attracted to girls, he’s initially confused about why he’s aroused by boys. His attraction to Bobby is instantaneous and builds the more he gets to know him.

What would the fans want to know about Bobby beyond the basics?

Bobby falls for Nick the instant he first lays eyes on him. In all of their early encounters, he is struggling to keep his attraction in check, while growing desperate for Nick to show any sign of being attracted to him.

Synopsis

Can a cool reputation really deliver on promises of happiness?

Nick’s got problems. He’s a social outcast who dreams of being popular, he’s an easy target for bullies, and he doesn’t understand why he’s just not attracted to girls. So, after a series of misunderstandings label him a troublemaker on his first day of high school, he’s really stoked to have Jesse Gaston and his gang take him in.

Jesse starts a PR campaign around campus to give Nick a new image, and the shy loser soon finds himself transformed into an antiestablishment hero. While Nick would rather explore his growing attraction to Bobby Warren, he’s forced to fend off would-be girlfriends and struggles with the demands of acting cool. And things at home are spinning out of control as the Vietnam War’s destructive impact threatens to change his life forever.

Nick’s story is both humorous and haunting–a journey of ridiculous misadventures, unexpected psychedelic explorations, and tragic turns of fate. Can a world still reeling from the sexual revolution and the illicit pleasures of marijuana and underage drinking accept two boys in love? Can Nick and Bobby’s relationship survive a hostile time when acid rock rules, status is everything, and being gay is the last taboo?

Excerpt

My Life as a Myth
Huston Piner © 2017
All Rights Reserved

Chapter One: Wouldn’t It Be Nice

Wednesday, August 27, 1969. 4:45 p.m.

My first day of high school. Boy, do I wish I could start over. I mean, I need to start over. I bet if you were me, you’d feel the exact same way.

What a day. It’s bad enough that I’m already the casebook example of a loser. A social life? I don’t have one. My few acquaintances don’t really count. If I vanished out of their lives, they’d never even notice. My only real friend is Bruce Philemon. He says I just need to try harder. So to help me try harder, I’m starting this journal.

 

Okay, about today: There I was, in front of the elementary school, waiting for the bus for my first day at Chadham High. Three or four girls were standing on the sidewalk talking with four or five guys. The girls had clearly spent a lot of time deciding what to wear, and given the way the guys were looking at them, they were all smiles.

Now, these guys were all bigger than me. And while we might have gone to the same middle school, they were two or three years older and looked kind of dangerous. So I decided to keep a safe distance.

High school—the great unknown. All I knew was we’re expected to be “adolescents,” which apparently means “emerging adults,” and act mature, and be interested in girls. And see, for me that’s a problem. How am I going to get a girlfriend when they gross me out? I mean, guys talk about how girls make them feel, but just looking at the Playboy Bruce swiped from his dad kinda made me feel sick.

So anyway, I’d been standing there a couple of minutes when Andy Framingham showed up. Now I’ve known Andy since first grade and he’s one of the most profoundly stupid people I’ve ever met. He had a can of Coke (his mother doesn’t trust him with bottles), and he foolishly tried to chat up one of the girls (a bad idea). One of the guys was obviously her boyfriend.

I moved a little farther away from what I knew would soon become “the scene of the crime.” A couple of the guys—who were all cracking their knuckles—started talking to Andy. Now, I was too far away from the scene of the crime to hear the exact conversation, but I got the idea one of the big guys challenged Andy to put his soda can somewhere that would probably be real painful.

At that point, Andy actually got down on one knee like he was saying his prayers—which I thought was a pretty good idea. Then he held up the Coke can like he was trying out for the Statue of Liberty and swung it down onto the sidewalk with the speed and force of a jackhammer.

It erupted like Mt. Vesuvius and sprayed the side of Andy’s head. The fizz also hit two of the big guys all over their shirts and chins. And as the can spun around, it ruined the girls’ first-day-back dressed-to-impress fashions.

Just as they all prepared to kill Andy and hide the corpse, Mr. Wiggins, the elementary school principal, came running from the building. He yanked Andy out of harm’s way and announced he was reporting everyone to the high school principal. Then he pulled out his notepad and started taking names.

At first, I thought I’d been far enough away from the scene of the crime to avoid guilt by association, but no. Mr. Wiggins finished writing down the name of the last soda-splattered girl and marched over to me.

“Name,” he said.

“Nick, uh, Nicholas—Nicholas Horton, sir.”

“Horton? I remember you. Still making trouble, eh? Well, this time Mr. Fuddle will see you pay for it.”

“No, sir. I’m Nicholas Horton. Not Raymond.”

The whole six years I went to Chadham Elementary, Mr. Wiggins treated me like a punk because he kept confusing me with my older trouble-making brother. But I’d hoped to put all that behind me at Chadham High. My plan was simple: keep doing what I’d done in middle school and lay low for four years. It should have been easy. After all, Raymond had been long gone by the time Mr. Fuddle took over as principal. But now, identified as an accessory to the crime, I would be squarely on Fuddle’s radar screen. Not good!

Mr. Wiggins warned everyone not to move and went inside to type up our death sentence. Then he came back out, slapping an envelope against his thigh. He stood there glaring at us until the bus came, gave the envelope to the driver, and watched to make sure we all got onboard.

Needless to say, the trip to Chadham High wasn’t very festive.

When we turned into the parking lot, I caught sight of a tall bald man in a cheap suit. His white shirt looked dingy, and the skinny tie could have come straight from a game-show host’s wardrobe. It was none other than Mr. Fuddle himself, arms crossed and scowling. Mr. Allen, the assistant principal, stood next to him. A couple of inches shorter than Mr. Fuddle but beefier, he was dressed just as square. He wasn’t smiling either.

Mr. Fuddle boarded the bus and gave each of us the stink eye before speaking. The driver handed him the envelope, and he read off the names of the condemned. Somehow, my name had gone from last on Mr. Wiggin’s list to first on Mr. Fuddle’s. Andy Framingham’s name concluded the roll call. With that, Mr. Fuddle told us to “stop by” his office during our lunch breaks, and emphasized we’d better see him before eating.

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Smashwords | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Meet the Author

Huston Piner always wanted to be a writer but realized from an early age that learning to read would have to take precedence. A voracious reader, he loves nothing more than a well-told story, a glass of red, and music playing in the background. His writings focus on ordinary gay teenagers and young adults struggling with their orientation in the face of cultural prejudice and the evolving influence of LGBTQA+ rights on society. He and his partner live in a house ruled by three domineering cats in the mid-Atlantic region.

Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

Tour Schedule

8/28    Books,Deams,Life

8/29    MM Good Book Reviews

8/30    A Book Lover’s Dream Book Blog

8/31    Love Bytes

8/31    Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

9/1      Happily Ever Chapter

9/1      Stories That Make You Smile

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Release Blitz – Annabelle Jacobs’ Maybe This Time (excerpt and giveaway)

 

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK
 
Length: 60,000 words approx
 
Cover Design: Natasha Snow
 
Blurb


Moving into a new home starts with a bang when Ryan Blackwell celebrates turning thirty. Being hungover means he’s bleary-eyed and clumsy the next day, but even in that state, he can appreciate how sexy and fit his neighbour is.


Matt Thomas isn’t looking for anything long-term—one and done is usually his life rule. Why settle down early, like his sister, when casual relationships are so easy? With Ryan living in the same building, chance encounters are inevitable. When one night together becomes two, a friends-with-benefits deal seems a natural progression.


There’s only one problem: sex with no strings relies on matching expectations, so Ryan can’t help worrying. His huge heart always wants more, but Matt’s been clear about his limits. As passion leads to caring, they’ll have to make some tough decisions—maybe this time, breaking some rules will be worth it if that means they’ll get to share a future.

Excerpt

Nudging him once more, Josh nodded at the other side of the road. “Talking of which….” All four of them turned to look at the guy jogging towards them. 

Wearing black shorts and a tight-fitting blue top, the guy looked fit. Broad shoulders, slim body, and firm thighs. Hard to guess his age from that distance as his hair was almost all a silvery-grey colour. As he got closer, Ryan got a better look at his face and… huh. Not that old—late thirties maybe.

The guy was either oblivious to the four men staring at him or didn’t give a shit. He jogged right past them and into Ryan’s building without saying a word.

Okay then. 

With a rental van and a car full of boxes, it was obvious one of them was moving in. Didn’t that warrant at least a polite hello? Apparently not. 

Liam chuckled, breaking the moment. “I’m guessing he’s not interested.” 

Shame. “Stop ogling my new neighbours and help me get all this shit inside.” The three of them groaned but got moving.



Author Bio

Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with three rowdy children, and two cats. An avid reader of fantasy herself for many years, Annabelle now spends her days writing her own stories. They’re usually either fantasy or paranormal fiction, because she loves building worlds filled with magical creatures, and creating stories full of action and adventure. Her characters may have a tough time of it—fighting enemies and adversity—but they always find love in the end.

Twitter – https://twitter.com/AJacobs_fiction
Website – www.annabellejacobs.com
Email – ajacobsfiction@gmail.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/ajacobsfiction

Giveaway

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Three Player Game (Bluewater Bay) by Jaime Samms

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Vince’s life has improved immeasurably since he moved to Bluewater Bay two years ago. He’s gone from working for a man he hated, to helping found a company he believes in. And he and boyfriend, Pete, have built a delicate balance of power between them that keeps them both grounded and thriving.

Almost, anyway.

Pete’s job on the set of Wolf’s Landing is demanding. He needs lots of downtime off set, and that’s where Vince’s firm but gentle control isn’t always enough. And for Vince, Pete’s constant high-energy needs are turning out to be more than he can handle alone.

It’s no surprise to either of them, then, that sparks fly when Vince’s coworker Lee enters the picture. Outwardly, Lee is tough and confident, but when a bad back confines him to Pete and Vince’s spare room, the cracks start to show and his desire for connection begins to peek through.

Pete and Vince both like what they see under Lee’s prickly outside, but now the three men must learn that love isn’t about beating the game—it’s about balance, trust, and letting each other in.

From the minute I started reading this, I was confused.  I felt like there was a relationship history—whether friends, lovers, or enemies—missing from the setup because we should know who they are and how they fit together.  It didn’t help that each chapter was narrated by a different MC so three alternating POVs and two of them were already a couple. Should we have known this? I still don’t know.  But even with giving that alternating POV, I wasn’t getting enough information on the men to actually care about them.  I didn’t even know what they looked like, although there was one early mention of one of them having curls and another with Asian heritage. So I studied the cover photo and I studied the blurb and I went back twice to reread my review of the first Bluewater Bay story from this author, and there I was at chapter eight, and still clueless. 

Somewhere in the middle, I realized that maybe the chef and the other “money man” they were talking about was the same couple from the first book this author wrote for this series.  I was right and discovered it was How the Cookie Crumbles, but considering I read that over eighteen months ago—which was over 500 books ago for me—and the author is using two minor secondary characters in this book, I think she would have been much better off assuming we knew nothing about these men at all, and maybe later in the story, showing us the connection.  There wasn’t enough character-building to get me invested in this threesome.  Pete and Vince were not presented as a strong couple.  I got that they were together, but I didn’t feel emotion from Vince, and Pete came across as a sex kitten looking for someone to dominate him when he needs to be less hyperactive.  Lee was rude and obnoxious throughout most of the book, so I honestly didn’t care at all what happened to him. I certainly couldn’t relate to him at all and simply wanted to move past him, whether it was his own POV chapter or one of the others. 

Toward the end, I started to feel the connection between the threesome, and overall, by the conclusion of the story I was pleased with all of them, but I can’t honestly recommend this as a good example of a ménage book.  To me, there needs to be a deep connection between all three men, and that didn’t come across as the case here.  There were connections—like the old connect-the-dots games I played as a kid—but not enough to recommend this. 

~~~~~

The cover by LC Chase was very informative in that it features three handsome men.  As I said before, I actually referred to the cover a few times to get an idea of what the characters looked like.  The threesome pictured—interestingly and maybe subconsciously?—are pictured as three separate characters facing in different directions and not all embracing one another.  Freudian? Or a portent of the contents of the book?   

Sales Links:  Riptide Publishing | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 263 pages
Published August 14th 2017 by Riptide Publishing (first published August 2017)
ISBN139781626496699
SeriesBluewater Bay #20

A Kai Review: Like Two Parting Seas (States of Love) by Zhara Freytes

 

Rating: 2.75 out of 5

After two years of internet chats and crappy video calls, Nathan and Leonardo will finally meet face-to-face, and the anticipation is killing them both. Their slow-simmering desire to be together soon boils over as Nathan shows Leo around his hometown of Boise, Idaho. Witty conversation fills their days, passion fills their nights, and both young men know they belong in each other’s lives. But how can a romance, let alone a relationship, work when Nathan’s career is in Boise and Leo must soon return to his home in Italy? Since neither is ready to say goodbye to the budding love affair, they’re determined to find a solution before the end of Leo’s holiday.

Well, the story’s premise was great. The long-distance friendship turning into something more, caught my eye and I needed to read this. I thought would be a sweet and great story. Unfortunately, the execution was disappointing. The story was flat, really fast paced and felt very incomplete.

The plot was Okay and could be so much more if it had been better developed. Unfortunately, the novella was really short to the reader really to connect with it.

There were a lot of events where the author “told” what happened and didn’t “show” it. That was frustrating. I couldn’t get a sense of the MC’s friendship before they met face-to-face, nor when they truly hooked up. Even when they were together spending time with each other, there were gaps in the story telling. That was a big turn off for me about the story.

The sex wasn’t much described. Actually, it was basically off-pages and it felt like we were losing a part of the story where the MC’s was really bonding their feelings.

The novella wasn’t all bad, though. This book is part of States of Love series. In this series, each author selects one state and surround their story around that area.

Idaho is where Like Two Parting Seas’ story took place and I really liked to know more about this state: some of its sights and culture.

I also liked the easy and fluid writing. I would be very interested in reading a longer romance by this author, where she could actually develop the story.

The end was abrupt and without a conclusion. A kind of HFN, that absolutely needs a sequel.

The cover art by Brooke Albrecht is nice and sweet. I like it!

Sales Links

Dreamspinner Press 

Amazon

Book Details:

Ebook: 49 pages

Publication: August 30th, 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

Séries: States of Love

ISBN13: 9781635338966

Edition Language: English

In the Spotlight: Zhara Freytes on Writing, Characters, and her release ‘Like Parting Two Seas’ (author interview)

Like Two Parting Seas (States of Love) by Zhara Freytes
Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: Brooke Albrecht
Purchase Link:  Dreamspinner Press

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Zhara Freytes here today talking about her latest release Like Two Parting Seas. Welcome, Zhara!

~ Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with Zhara Freytes ~

  • How much of yourself goes into a character?

I tend to write from personal experiences because I feel it makes my writing more authentic, but I also like to give my characters their own personality that might defer from my own in a lot of ways. So I would say it’s an even balance depending on what the story is and what the message that I’m trying to get across is.

  • Do you feel there’s a tight line between Mary Sue or should I say Gary Stu and using your own experiences to create a character?

There definitely is a tight line. A character should be multidimensional and should be their own person. Making them like anyone else, making them have no flaws, is doing an injustice to any character an author might create. Using personal experiences can help, but it’s important to remember that you’re not writing about yourself, so to speak. You’re writing someone else’s story through your writing.

  • Does research play a role into choosing which genre you write?  Do you enjoy research or prefer making up your worlds and cultures?

Research, for me, is important, especially when writing about a real place or culture. I wouldn’t want to misrepresent something that might offend someone. Even in the supernatural genre, I think it’s important to research and make sure the world you’re creating is your own and that you’re not stepping on any toes.

  • Has your choice of childhood or teenage reading genres carried into your own choices for writing?

Definitely. I think it helped me realize what genres I like more and which I could relate to more so that in my writing it will sound authentic and not forced.

  • Have you ever had to put an ‘in progress’ story aside because of the emotional ties with it?  You were hurting with the characters or didn’t know how to proceed?

Yes, more than once. Sometimes I get so sucked into the world of my characters that I start to believe I’m the one going through it. It’s heartbreaking to watch your characters suffer because they become your children, your family. You want them to be happy and when the story isn’t heading that way, it can be emotionally stressful.

  • Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

I like happy for now ending more because I think it’s more enjoyable for the readers to make up their own conclusions about what happens in the future. I never want to force my readers to accept something that they, maybe, don’t agree with. HFN allows everyone to make their own ending and be happy with the result.

  • Do you read romances, as a teenager and as an adult?

Yes. Romance is my absolute favorite genre to read. Especially because there’s so many different romantic relationships to explore and the content it neverending.

  • Who do you think is your major influence as a writer?  Now and growing up?

I don’t think I have a specific major influence other than life itself. There’s so many stories that need to be told and I enjoy telling them and putting my own spin on them. Life is the best experience that I can have as an author.

  • How do you feel about the ebook format and where do you see it going?

The internet grows by the year and I think nowadays it’s so much easier to read something off a phone or tablet and not have to deal with a paperback. Sure, it’s always nice to read a paperback, but it’s so much simpler to not have to lug a physical book around and be able to pull it up on your electronic and read it whenever. I think as the days go on, it will become more popular.

  • How do you choose your covers?  (curious on my part)

I like to have it represent something from the book. If it’s a book that has a strong music influence, I’d like my cover to have something with music on it.

  • Do you have a favorite among your own stories?  And why?

No, I don’t think so because each story is unique and it wouldn’t be fair to my characters to choose a favorite. It’s like choosing a favorite child; not a very nice, or easy, thing to do for most.

  • What’s next for you as an author?

I hope to only grow as an author, make the next book bigger and better than the last. That’s my goal.

Blurb

After two years of internet chats and crappy video calls, Nathan and Leonardo will finally meet face-to-face, and the anticipation is killing them both. Their slow-simmering desire to be together soon boils over as Nathan shows Leo around his hometown of Boise, Idaho. Witty conversation fills their days, passion fills their nights, and both young men know they belong in each other’s lives. But how can a romance, let alone a relationship, work when Nathan’s career is in Boise and Leo must soon return to his home in Italy? Since neither is ready to say goodbye to the budding love affair, they’re determined to find a solution before the end of Leo’s holiday.

 

Blog tour for Survivor by T.M. Smith (giveaway)

Title: Survivor
Author: T.M. Smith
Genre: M/M Romance
Release Date: August 22, 2017

Taylor Langford’s world is torn apart when he is only thirteen years old—his parents killed, leaving him alone and orphaned. With no living relatives, he’d certainly be another statistic if not for the intervention of the policeman who found Taylor in the crawl space where his mother hid him that fateful night. Despite the tragedy and resulting anguish in his life, Taylor knows how lucky he is.

Frank Moore is a rookie with the Dallas Police Department when he and his partner answer a call in Devonshire, one of the city’s more affluent neighborhoods. They think the young boy in various pictures throughout the home has been kidnapped until they find him, shaken but alive. Officer Moore recognizes the pain in the kid’s eyes, having lost his own mother to cancer when he was just a boy. He steps in, making sure Taylor is placed with a loving foster family. Over the years, Frank becomes a permanent fixture in Taylor’s life.

A decade later, the case remains unsolved and the once gangly, uncertain teenager is now a college graduate who knows exactly what he wants. He’s coming home to the man that helped mold and shape his life, the man he’s loved for as long as he can remember, Frank Moore. But Taylor isn’t the only person returning to Dallas, and while Frank is distracted by his own conflicting feelings and the new bond growing between the two, the past creeps up on them, determined to finish what was started ten years earlier.

A note from the author…

I hope you enjoy Frank and Taylor’s story. It’s been a long road to get them settled, but I’m happy with where this story has taken them. When I started this book, the intent was to write a stand-alone story, but that has changed. Characters continually evolve throughout the writing process, and there are several characters in the book that want to tell their story. I’ve grown especially fond of Rory and I can’t wait to write his book, which will take us back to when he first joined the Bureau, and continue on to his happy ever after.

Please be advised: This is a May/December romance, and as in life, there are sexual situations that take place prior to the main characters finding their way to one another. This is not gratuitous; it is meant to show character growth and self-realization. There is absolutely no cheating.



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A military brat born and raised at Ft. Benning Georgia; TM Smith is an avid reader, reviewer and writer. A Texas transplant, she now calls DFW her home. Most days she can be found curled up with a good book, or ticking away on her next novel. 

Smith is a single mom of three disturbingly outspoken and decidedly different kids, one of which is Autistic. Besides her writing, she is passionate about Autism advocacy and LGBT rights. Because, seriously people, Love is Love!

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Release Blitz for Healing Him (The Den Boys #2) by Amanda Brennan (exclusive excerpt and giveaway)

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Title: Healing Him
Author: A.T. Brennan
Series: The Den Boys #2
Release Date: August 29th 2017
Genre: MMM Erotic Contemporary Romance

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BLURB

“I hated that I was like this, but after years of trying to work through it I was beginning to feel like I’d never be normal.” ~ Cody

Hiding the fact that I was in love with my best friend Isaac used to be the most complicated part of my day, until a chance meeting with a handsome stranger named Jonah sent my life into a tailspin. Scars from my past have stopped me from giving in to my desires for so long, but I’m done being afraid. I want both men. I just don’t know if I’ll be able to trust that anyone can love me.

“I knew it was a bit messed up, but there was no jealousy or envy when I thought of my men together.” ~ Isaac

I’ve loved Cody for as long as I’ve known him, but have always held back because of his past. Then I met Jonah and I knew there was no way I could choose between them. I want it all—the man I’ve loved for so long, and the one I’m quickly falling for. It’s not going to be easy, but nothing worthwhile ever is.

“I wanted to believe it was all true, but I couldn’t push aside the fear that I was just a distraction until the two of them got together.” ~ Jonah

After having my heart broken I never thought I’d find love again. I wasn’t looking for anything real, and then I met not one, but two men I can’t resist. Isaac and Cody are everything I ever wanted but didn’t know I could have. I want to believe the three of us can work, but a part of me can’t get past the fear that I’ll be the odd man out, again.

*This is Book 2 of The Den Boys series, but can be read as a standalone – no cliffhangers.

*This book is intended for an 18+ audience and is a story of male/male/male romance and love. There are graphic depictions of man parts doing naughty and sexy things, so please be sure this is the kind of book for you before reading.

Find Healing Him on Goodreads

Purchase: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Available on Kindle Unlimited

EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT

Jonah

I was no stranger to attraction and I did okay when it came to picking up, but between what I felt for Cody and now what I was feeling for Isaac, I was confused as fuck.

If it were any other situation I would have continued to flirt with Isaac, then maybe see if he wanted to leave with me, but Cody complicated things.

It was obvious there was something going on between the two of them, and while Isaac was sending all the right signals, I didn’t feel right going for it if it would hurt Cody.

Again, I had no idea why the fuck I was thinking like this. I’d met Cody once, and it had been pretty obvious that he wasn’t looking for anything from me. I didn’t know why I was feeling such loyalty for him, but it was right there in the forefront of my mind.

Giveaway: Win an ebook of your choice (gifted via Amazon)

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About the Author

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A.T. Brennan, who also writes under the name Mandie Mills, is a romance and erotica author. A native of Ottawa, Canada, she enjoys picking up and moving from city to city every few years. A former member of the Canadian Armed Forces, current entrepreneur and freelance writer, she enjoys spending her days working on her many projects and her nights writing and not getting enough sleep. Currently she lives on Canada’s East Coast with her family, both two- and four-legged. She enjoys collecting books and exploring the different sides of romance and romantic expression in her works.

Links: Website | Facebook | Facebook Group | Twitter | Amazon

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