A MelanieM Review: Running with the Wind (Mermen of Ea #3) by Shira Anthony

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Sequel to Into the Wind

With the final confrontation between the island and mainland Ea factions looming, Taren and Ian sail with Odhrán to investigate a lost colony of merfolk in the Eastern Lands. Upon their arrival, the King of Astenya welcomes them as friends. Odhrán, however, isn’t so quick to trust the descendent of the man who held him prisoner for nearly a decade, especially now that he has someone to cherish and protect—the mysterious winged boy he rescued from the depths.

Armed with the knowledge he believes will save the Ea, Taren returns to the mainland. With Ian at his side, Taren convinces Vurin that their people must unite with their island brethren before it’s too late. When Seria and his men attack, Taren must call upon the ancient power of the rune stone to protect his comrades. But using stone’s immeasurable power commands a hefty price—and Ian fears that price is Taren’s life.

This is the final installment in the Mermen of Ea Series from Dreamspinner Press.

With Running with the Wind, Shira Anthony brings her Mermen of Ea Trilogy to a close and what a ride it has been! From the moment I met the endearing Taren, I was hooked on this imaginative saga of discovery, loss and love. From a simple seaside tavern where we find the young slave,Taren, who is ignorant of his true nature as a merman, through the pirate ships, tumultuous relationships and discovery of a divided Mermen culture, Anthony has built a deeply layered and magical universe to go along with her complicated fantasy characters. That a series of relationships is built upon the plight of a divided people and the renewal of a culture who had lost its way just gives this trilogy added depth and heartfelt angst. The author’s world building is equal to the creativity shown with the characters, all of whom she made it easy to fall in love with. And cry over.

Writing the final story, whether to a series or trilogy, is always tricky. Readers have built up certain expectations in their mind that they bring to any final installment and meeting those high expectations is almost always impossible. How does Running with the Wind measure up to mine? Pretty darn well.

We have multiple couples and their relationships to bring some closure to, in one case its two couples in one. That would be Taren Laxley who is also the reincarnation of the Ea priest Treande and his lover Ian Dunaidh, captain of the Ea ship the Phantom, who is also the reincarnated Owyn, Ea priest and lover of Treande. We get both the past and the present with these two. And then there is Odhrán and Bastian, who natures I won’t reveal here but these are two powerful characters, so much so that I almost think they “stole” the story away from Taren and Ian. I loved the slow development and revelations that occur with these two. They surprised me, confounded me and I thought their part of this tale was among the most powerful of elements.

But the Mermen of Ea also includes the unforgettable Jonat Rider, and Vurin, and so many others. Anthony’s creations are so well developed that you come to care for them all deeply throughout the course of the series and their various fates pull at your hearts at the end of the story.

As stated, the final story, especially one with as many plots as found here, has much to tie up and the narrative got a tad crowded along the way. The colony had to be brought back to its true destiny, a huge evil had to be overcome, and some of our major characters had transformations to go through in order to survive and win out at the end. I did find that some passages dragged on a little too long for me but the battles at sea and on land were vividly described, painfully believable and suspenseful. The air and sea felt charged with energy and the drama was everything I could have hoped for and expected of this writer. And yes, I cried some too.

A truism that most writers recognize and address in their stories or fables is that a price is almost always extracted from each hero/major character who uses a ancient or forbidden power. Somewhere towards the end of a tale, the hero will have to pay a profound personal cost that is the consequence for the use of magic. That happens here in Running with the Wind but not to the extent that I think the readers were lead to believe would happen by the events leading up to the last battles. Some will be happy about that and others will be let down that the price Taren pays is more of a tap to the wrist then a major sacrifice. How a reader feels about the element will dictate how they feel about the end of this story and series. I have to admit to feeling a bit disappointed, but only a little. That is my only real gripe here.

This is a wonderful universe in which to spend hours of time. And Shira Anthony has left enough room and questions that should she ever wish t0 return to it, perhaps to see how Odhrán and Bastian and the others are getting along, including a certain King, well, I would be more than happy to journey back along with her. But if that never happens, we still have the wonderful mermen and humans of the Mermen of Ea saga to keep us happy and involved in their lives. Read them all in the order they were written. Enjoy the journey and end up happy as I did as to how it all played out. It was a wonderful ride, I loved every minute and word of it.

Cover art by Anne Cain. I have loved all the covers for this trilogy. This one is lovely as is the first one. But that second cover is so indescribably gorgeous and incandescent that this one suffers a little in comparison.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press – All Romance (ARe) – Amazon Buy It Here on June 8th.

Book Details:

ebook, also available in paperback
Expected publication: June 8th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781634762151
edition languageEnglish
seriesMermen of Ea #3
charactersIan Dunaidh, Taren Laxley, Odhrán, Bastian, Seria..

Books in the Mermen of Ea Trilogy are in the order they were written and should be read:

Stealing the Wind (Mermen of Ea, #1)
Into the Wind (Mermen of Ea, #2)
Running with the Wind (Mermen of Ea #3) finale

Its A Wrap for Those Sexy Mermen of Ea with Running With the Wind by Shira Anthony (excerpts and giveaway)

Running With the Wind (Mermen of Ea #3) by Shira Anthony
Stories must be read in order. This is the final book of the trilogy

Release Date: June 8, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Anne Cain

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook and Paperback

My Interview with Shira Anthony

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Shira Anthony author of Running with the Wind (Mermen of Ea #3). Hi Shira, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.
• Describe your book to us.

Thanks for hosting me today! Running with the Wind is the final installment in my Mermen of Ea Series from Dreamspinner Press. The series is high fantasy, romance, and adventure set on the high seas. The story follows Taren Laxley, an indentured servant who dreams of sailing aboard the tall ships that put into port in the harbor town where he lives.

Taren is kidnapped by pirates, and an entire new universe opens up to him aboard their ship, the Sea Witch. But when he falls overboard during a storm trying to save a fellow crewmember, he’s rescued by the crew of the Phantom. The ship and its captain, Ian Dunaidh, aren’t what they seem. They’re merfolk shifters, or Ea. What’s more, Taren learns he is an Ea as well.

Taren and Ian’s rocky start eventually turns into a deep and all-encompassing love. Their connection is ages old, and Taren learns he has a purpose he must serve: leading his people a safe haven where they can live in peace. The final book in the series, Running with the Wind, leads Taren and Ian and the Ea to the brink of another civil war, and their happiness is far from guaranteed.

There’s magic, magical creatures, and adventure in the books, and they were a blast to write! I hope you enjoy reading them.
• Have you ever read something that made you think differently about your genre? Can you tell us what it was?

The first real gay romance I read was back in the 80s and it was between the lines of my all-time favorite sci fi/fantasy series, Darkover, by Marion Zimmer Bradley. The deep love between two men and the strength of those characters made me crave more, and eventually prompted me to take a good friend up on her suggestion that we write an MM story together (that story became Prelude (Blue Notes #4). When Marion Zimmer Bradley wrote that series, gay romance in mainstream fiction was still taboo, but the little taste of it I found there was the foundation for the genre I now love to write. I honestly can’t imagine writing anything else!
• Tell us about your character’s family life?

Taren’s parents died when he was a baby, so he never knew them. He was raised by a ship rigger, Borstan Laxley, who treated him fairly well. But Borstan pays off his gambling debts using Taren, and Taren finds himself not much more than a slave at an inn near the harbor. Later in the series, we get a glimpse back at Taren’s parents. But I won’t spoil that part!
• Compare yourself to your main character.

Wow, tough question! At the beginning of the series, Taren is a mixture of submissive slave and questioning boy. Very different from me, since I’ve never been in a situation where I’ve had to temper my need to speak my mind. Later, Taren grows more assertive, more like I am I guess you could say.
• Describe your past week as a type of landscape or a weather forecast.

Definitely a seascape! I’ve been so busy traveling to conventions, including Romantic Times in Dallas, Texas, and Animazement, in Raleigh, North Carolina, not to mention balancing writing, blogging, and real life work, that all I see right now is a very large ocean. In the distance? My vacation! And what an appropriate vacation for that kind of landscape: I’m spending 3 weeks aboard our catamaran sailboat, Land’s Zen!

Now more about Running with the Wind….

It’s here! The final story in Shira Anthony’s Mermen of Ea Trilogy, Running with the Wind. Check out the synopisis and excerpts below and don’t forget to enter the giveaway at the end.

About Running with the Wind

Sequel to Into the Wind  With the final confrontation between the island and mainland Ea factions looming, Taren and Ian sail with Odhrán to investigate a lost colony of merfolk in the Eastern Lands. Upon their arrival, the King of Astenya welcomes them as friends. Odhrán, however, isn’t so quick to trust the descendent of the man who held him prisoner for nearly a decade, especially now that he has someone to cherish and protect—the mysterious winged boy he rescued from the depths.

Categories: Fantasy, Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Romance

Running with the Wind Excerpt

SPOILER WARNING: This excerpt contains spoilers for the first two series books!
Running with the Wind
Excerpt from Chapter One

Ian leaned over the railing as the morning sunlight warmed his shoulders. A few feet away, Taren wrapped a blanket around the shivering boy, who sat with his knees hugged to his chest. He tenderly ruffled the boy’s fiery red hair. The boy leaned into Taren’s touch and made a satisfied sound much like the purr of a cat.
Not a boy, Ian reminded himself. Bastian. An Anuki. The heavenly brethren of the Ea. A dragon shifter reborn from the ashes. True, this freckle-faced dragon child looked nothing like the full-fledged beast who’d nearly killed them the day before, but they knew little of the Anuki. Had it only been a day since Seria’s men had attacked them and they’d lost Rider to Seria’s bullet?
Ian met Taren’s gaze and his grief eased slightly. Taren smiled back, his warm brown eyes hooded with exhaustion and grief, his shoulder-length hair having dried in a tumble of waves. From where he sat on the deck, Bastian watched Odhrán, keenly interested. The sphere they’d discovered not long after the destruction of the Sea Witch—an egg, Ian now knew—had dissolved beneath the water. Bastian had been choking and spluttering when Odhrán had carried him aboard. Since then, Bastian had done little but watch Odhrán with rapt attention.
Like a baby bird watches its mother. Ian frowned at his folly. How easy it was to forget this pathetic creature had destroyed the Sea Witch and nearly killed them all. If Odhrán hadn’t killed the dragon Bastian had become, they’d all have died. And yet Bastian had been reborn.
Bastian glanced up at Taren, blinked several times, then shifted his gaze back to Odhrán, who spoke in hushed tones to one of his crew. The long blond braid down Odhrán’s back dripped onto the deck and left the back of his woolen jacket sodden. Despite the bright blue of his eyes and his youthful features, Odhrán appeared as exhausted as Ian felt.
“A moment of your time?” Ian said after the crewmember trotted off toward the stairs, leaving the four of them alone on the foredeck.
Odhrán nodded and followed Ian amidships, far enough away that Bastian wouldn’t hear.
“Do you think this is wise?” Ian asked with a quick glance back at Taren and Bastian.
“What would you have me do? Leave him to drown?” Odhrán, too, appeared weary. Ian knew he still regretted having killed the fully transformed Bastian.
“He couldn’t live without Rider.” Taren’s words echoed in Ian’s mind. Rider—Ian’s oldest friend—had taken a bullet in Ian’s stead. There’d been no time to grieve.
“No.” Ian sighed. “Rider would have wanted us to care for him.” Taren would never have forgiven him for suggesting they leave Bastian to drown, and they’d lost too much to even consider it.
Odhrán nodded curtly and turned his gaze eastward. Now calm in the wake of the storm, the water sparkled with sunlight. Nothing remained of the Sea Witch but a few bits of broken timbers floating restlessly on the waves. Later, all of the men now aboard the Chimera would gather on the deck to remember the Witch’s captain, but for just a moment, Ian could almost imagine Rider at the wheel of his beloved ship.
I’ll miss you, old friend. More than you’ll ever know.
Ian shrugged off his dark thoughts and walked back to Taren. “You should get some sleep.” He squeezed Taren’s shoulder. “Odhrán and I will not let Bastian out of our sight.”
Taren pressed his lips together and nodded. How tired Taren must be that he didn’t even argue!
“I’ll join you in a bit.” Ian pressed his lips to Taren’s warm cheek.
Taren retrieved the blanket that had fallen off Bastian’s shoulders and wrapped it around him again. Naked as Bastian was beneath, Ian caught a glimpse of the wings they’d seen when they’d discovered him on the ocean floor. No longer scaled as they’d been when they’d first pulled Bastian from the water, Bastian’s wings were now covered with feathers and shimmered red, yellow, orange, and fuchsia, iridescent in the sunlight.
“I’ll be back later,” Taren told Bastian with a barely repressed yawn. “I promise.”
Bastian’s eyes revealed little understanding. Had he forgotten everything of his former life? Perhaps he was still too overwhelmed from the shock of the past day’s events to fully comprehend his situation. He’d not uttered a word since they’d brought him aboard.
Taren kissed Ian—a fleeting kiss, but one Ian needed to reassure himself that all had not changed—before heading belowdecks to rest.
Ian met Odhrán at the bow. “He’s like a fledgling,” Ian said, inclining his head in Bastian’s direction, “watching you like a bird might his mother.”
Odhrán’s brow knitted. He’d clearly noticed it as well. “I’ve asked Garan to reinforce the enchantments on the ship’s masts and sails. There’s nothing more to be done.”
“Aye. But if Bastian threatens the ship—”
“Then I’ll be forced to subdue him. Not a prospect I relish, although in his current state, he appears far less powerful than before.” Odhrán studied Bastian once again. “For now, at least, he’s content to be in our company.”
“What do you know of the Anuki?”
“They’re much like the Ea in their ability to shift to human form. I met one centuries ago, but he was nothing like this. Not a child. But what happened with Bastian….”
“Reborn from the ashes.” Ian’s heart ached once again for the loss of Rider.
“My time with one of their kind was brief.” Odhrán stared past Ian as if remembering.
Ian didn’t press the issue. Later, perhaps, he’d ask Odhrán about that encounter. “And his memories of his life with Rider?”
Odhrán shook his head. “I don’t know. I suppose only time will tell.”
Ian clenched his jaw. The realization that Bastian might not remember anything of his love for Rider made Ian’s grief that much greater.

About Shira Anthony~

In her last incarnation, Shira was a professional opera singer, performing roles in such operas as “Tosca,” “i Pagliacci,” and “La Traviata,” among others. She’s given up TV for evenings spent with her laptop, and she never goes anywhere without a pile of unread M/M romance on her Kindle.

Shira is married with two children and two insane dogs, and when she’s not writing she is usually in a courtroom trying to make the world safer for children. When she’s not working, she can be found aboard a 36’ catamaran at the Carolina coast with her favorite sexy captain at the wheel.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shira.anthony
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shira-Anthony/177484618974406
Twitter: https://twitter.com/WriterShira
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/anthony0564/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4641776.Shira_Anthony
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+ShiraAnthony/posts

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: $10 gift card and backlist book of choice. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

Here is the list of prizes (also on the Rafflecopter link):

December Diamonds Wedding Mermen Ornament
(or a free download of the audiobook version of Stealing the Wind for non U.S. Residents
Geneva Nautical Wrap Watch
Anchor Cord Bracelet

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Buy Links for the other stories in the Mermen of Ea Trilogy – now complete:

Stealing the Wind:
Add to Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18216592-stealing-the-wind

buy it at:
Dreamspinner Press – https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4101
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Stealing-Wind-Mermen-Ea-Book-ebook/dp/B00EHHZXVS
Google Books – https://books.google.com/books/about/Stealing_the_Wind.html?id=-RKzAAAAQBAJ&hl=en
B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/stealing-the-wind-shira-anthony/1116395006?ean=9781627980531

Into the Wind:
Add to Goodreads – https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20343872-into-the-wind

DP – https://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=4975
Amazon – http://www.amazon.com/Into-Wind-Mermen-Ea-Book-ebook/dp/B00K4PX4BS
B&N – http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/into-the-wind-shira-anthony/1119434211?ean=2940149579983

Tour Dates & Stops:
1-Jun
Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings

2-Jun
Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words

3-Jun
My Fiction Nook

4-Jun
Amanda C. Stone

5-Jun
Carly’s Book Reviews

8-Jun
Bayou Book Junkie

9-Jun
Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

10-Jun
Decadent Delights

11-Jun
MM Good Book Reviews

12-Jun
Inked Rainbow Reads

15-Jun
Divine Magazine

16-Jun
Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves

17-Jun
BFD Book Blog

18-Jun
The Novel Approach

19-Jun
Because Two Men Are Better Than One

22-Jun
Kimi-Chan
Happily Ever Chapter

23-Jun
Prism Book Alliance

24-Jun
Cate Ashwood

25-Jun
Love Bytes

26-Jun
Molly Lolly

In Our Book Spotlight: Two Sides of the Same Coin by Thianna Durston (excerpt and giveaway)

Two Sides of the Same Coin by Thianna Durston
Release Date: May 17, 2015

A Kindle Exclusive: Amazon Buy Link

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Thianna Durston

Blake Loughton was pretty sure life was over at the age of forty. All he did was work, work, work, except for the few hours a week he spent online with a dominant who seemed to get him. When he met his dom in person quite by accident, it changed everything, especially when he fell in love with the man behind the online persona.

At thirty-four Dusty Brandon had been involved in his alternative lifestyle for ages, but hadn’t had a sub in years until he met Blake online. The more he knew him, the more he wanted to take things further. Getting through Blake’s barriers used all the knowledge he had, but getting his boy to move to Texas took even more.

Join Blake and Dusty on their journey from meeting online to the moment Sir collars his boy. A BDSM erotic romance sure to make everything worth it. Two men. Dominance, submission, kink, and love. The Blake/Dusty Chronicles: Two Sides of the Same Coin – an erotic romance you won’t want to miss.

Pages or Words: 90,000 words

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

PG Excerpt:
December 10th ~ Texas

Walking through the doorway Dusty Brandon held back the sigh that wanted to leave his lips as the conversation in the room stalled slightly. It had been that way ever since he came out years ago. His whole damned family never knew what to say when he was around. Except for his Uncle Larry who winked at him across the room.

“‘Bout time you got here!” Larry bellowed.

Grinning, he strode through the throngs of uncles, aunts, and cousins over to a man he loved. “Happy Holidays, Uncle,” he said, giving him a hug.

“Same to you. How’s business?” Larry asked as the conversations in the room began to pick up again.

“Good. Have several new deals in the works. Found out about a company in Seattle that might be worth lookin’ into. They would add a lot. And life’s good.”

It was just the quirk of an eyebrow that told him his uncle was not in the least convinced. “Sure it is. Any new man on the horizon?”

Grimacing, Dusty shook his head. “Naw. Last one was too taxing. Needed a break.”

With one of his smiles, the kind that let you know he was up to something, Larry picked up a couple glasses of champagne and handed him one. “Sell that to someone who’ll buy it,
Nephew. Now let’s celebrate the season. I hear Carilee has somethin’ to announce.”

Snorting, Dusty took a swig of the expensive champagne. “Probably that her daughter is expectin’. She loves rubbin’ that in Mama’s nose every chance she can get.”

Even worse, four pregnancies in the family were announced, meaning four of his cousins, all younger than he was, were expecting a child. “It could be worse,” Larry mused as they watched Dusty’s mother have to smile and congratulate another of her sisters on a new grandchild.

“How?” Dusty was gay. He had known it for years and when he came out, it was because he needed to do it. It never occurred to him how hard it would be on his own mother. As her only child, he had not understood just how important being a grandmother was to her and hearing her only son was gay had been hard enough. Having the other women in the family gloat over it every time their daughter or son announced a new baby downright pissed him off.

“You could have tried to hide who you are and got someone pregnant before you came out.”

Musing on that, Dusty nodded. “Don’t think that woulda’ worked. No girl would get me that excited.”

Sales Links:

Thianna loves to write strong stories with even stronger heroes. While all of her books have an erotic overtone, it is the story that is the most important to her. “The story should be able to stand on its own. The erotic elements are an add-on.”

She enjoys writing about couples with kink, paranormal couples, and straight out strangeness. But more on that later… You can find her at mm.thiannad.com.

She also writes m/f under the name Thianna D.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thiannaDismyname?fref=ts
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/ThiannaDurstonAuthor?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/the_weremouse
Website: http://www.mm.thiannad.com

Tour Dates & Stops: June 2, 2015
Parker Williams, The Hat Party, Bayou Book Junkie, Molly Lolly, My Fiction Nook, BFD Book Blog, Inked Rainbow Reads, Divine Magazine, MM Good Book Reviews, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Havan Fellows, 3 Chicks After Dark, Rainbow Gold Reviews, Michael Mandrake, It’s Raining Men, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Happily Ever Chapter, Up All Night, Read All Day, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, Mikky’s World of Books, Hearts on Fire

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-book copy of ‘Two Sides of the Same Coin’. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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A MelanieM Review: Two Hearts One Voice (Mending the Rift #3) by Valentina Heart

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

They are at war, fearing for each other, both carrying the upbringing of their children and the survival of their country. They are kings.

With the future of the throne secured, Rin and Merin still have little time to rejoice for their children or the unity of their kingdoms. Stuck in the middle of a battlefield, their lives prove to be once again at risk, Rin heads out on a long journey home with his heirs, leaving Merin to lead their army.

Rin receives his rightful title of a king from the Kari council and for once feels as if he belongs on the throne without Merin there to guide him. Missing his husband, he raises their children the best he can, but there’s no end to the war in sight and, after months of futile conflicts, Rin sees Merin cut down in battle.

Distraught and with no patience for his council, Rin threatens the Riki, making even his own men fear him.

Can Rin cope alone and still win the war, or will his sorrow mark the end of his reign?

I fell in love with Valentina Heart’s Merin and Rin in the first two stories in the Mending the Rift series. Two kingdoms, torn by constant warfare, turn to royal marriage to stop the conflict and losses from battle. Prince Rinin, heir to the throne of Kari Kingdom, has been demanded as a war conquest by King Merinej of Jede. Rinin is an innocent, sheltered and lovely. King Merin, a warrior,experienced and bold. As part of their marriage contract, Rinin demands that Merin be faithful and in return Rinin will provide the heir Merin needs. And yes, this is a male pregnancy series.

The first two stories had an interesting format that brought y0u intimately into the thoughts of the main characters. The first book is narrated by Rinin, the second by Merin and I loved that. It was even more powerful when the traumatic events of the second story came close to shattering the characters and our hearts. So I was thrilled to see that the last story in the trilogy was out. How would it all end? Who would be the narrator of this final story?

Two Hearts, One Voice by Valentina Heart brings the trilogy to a close with a tale that, while it supplies a satisfactory happy ending, is missing the impact and drama of the first two stories. And that has to do to the manner in which it is told. We lose the powerful single person narration to a narrative of multiple points of view and a time frame that goes from immediate events unfolding to years down the line. Unfortunately, this change up in style brings about a loss of energy and power to the story. Two Hearts, One Voice fluctuates between powerful scenes of battle to the intrigue of the court, and then back again. These transitions don’t feel as smooth as they should and the momentum of Merin and Rin’s story gets lost along the way.

Another element that lessens the impact of the finale is that the power of Owner of My Heart (Mending the Rift #2) was so strong and that story so full of pain and loss, that any finale would be hard put to equal its effect upon the reader. Plus the children grow at such a speed here that its hard to connect with any of them emotionally as we do their parents. For those readers not fond of mpreg, other than the mention of the children and Rin’s after-childbirth body, this element takes a back-burner to the battles still going on and the mechanisms found at court.

So, while I was not completely satisfied with the story, I still found many wonderful scenes to throw my heart into. Merin’s segments at the front, Rin’s anger and pain….that made this story sing with life and energy. That and their love for each other that Valentina Heart made so real and gripping. I loved their love story most of all and here they get the ending they both deserved and wanted. I will have to be content with that.

Two Hearts, Once Voice is not a standalone story. As part of a series, the books must be read in the order they were written. None are long and that works if you want to read them together in one sitting as I did the first two. I recommend this series. The love story is moving, the mpreg aspect well done, and you get a HEA you want for them both.

Cover art is ok but nothing that really captures your imagination like it should.

Sales Links: Totally Bound Books – Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

Note: This book and series contains scenes of and references to Mpreg.

book, 95 pages
Expected publication: June 2nd 2015 by Totally Bound Publishing
original titleTwo Hearts One Voice
ISBN 1784305731 (ISBN13: 9781784305734)
edition languageEnglish
seriesMending the Rift #3

Books in the Mending the Rift series:

King’s Conquest (Mending the Rift, #1)
Owner of My Heart (Mending the Rift, #2)
Two Hearts One Voice (Mending the Rift #3)

A BJ Review: Manbot by Scarlet Blackwell

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

If a robot is programmed to obey your every need, wouldn’t you take advantage?

  In a future where most families can afford to own their own robot (either a manbot or fembot), that question would definitely come up for those who live a lonely, solitary lifestyle. Especially since the robots are quite lovely and designed to obey their owner’s every command. So if you had one, what would you do? Really?

Gray Benedict is lonely teacher who owns Kavan, a six-foot-three gorgeous manbot just ready to do his bidding. When his friend Mitchell mentions that he’s been getting it on with his own manbot, George, Gray can’t help but begin to look at Kavin in a different light. Unlike his friend, Mitchell the letch, Gray has scruples and a heart. He’s concerned about taking advantage and maybe even damaging Kavan. It becomes clear that Kavan is eager to serve, but Gray is a nice guy and rather than order his robot around, he finds himself falling for his ever more humanlike manbot.

This is an enjoyable and well-written novella. Kavan is equipped with software that allows him to learn from his experiences as well as his manuals. As Gray gets closer and opens up to him emotionally as well as physically, Kavan becomes more and more human. He blossoms and its so fun to follow along this process. The way Kavan so much wanted to be a real man for Gray made me think of Pinnochio wanting to be a real boy. I loved it. And Gray was so sweet in his concerns that he’d damage Kavan. He was considerate of him at all times, never treating him as an object or something he owned except when his scumwad friend Mitchel gets him to agree to loan Kavan to him for an hour.

The bond between Gray and Kavan grows on both sides, because despite being a robot, it soon becomes obvious from Kavan’s actions that he is not just obeying his owner anymore. Its interesting to see the relationship of Mitchell and George juxtaposed to that of Gray and Kavan because it shows so vividly the two sides of a coin. How some humans treat anything or anyone they believe to be lesser than them (animals, other races, religions, etc.) with cruelty. The story explores a little of what makes someone human and worthy of love and respect.

The sex scenes are hot and so fun, the way Kavan’s operating system fritzes out when he’s overcome with pleasure/orgasm is just adorable.

I thoroughly enjoyed this story and the main reasons I didn’t give it five stars is not what was there, but what I wish had been! I’d have loved it if this were longer with more in-depth world building, because I think it had so much more that could have been explored such as the friendship of the two manbots and the relationship of George/Mitchell. The process of Kavan’s developing emotions would have come across much more if we could have been given more than the small snippets of his POV snippets near the end. I’d have loved to get a peek into the doors of the Tuesday programmer meetings and explore more on how and why the bots were able to develop feelings. And finally, I totally wanted to follow along with the couple a bit on their journey. A sweet HFN ending that left me hopeful but nervous for them and definitely wanting more. I would LOVE it if this book had a sequel.

Cover art bu Unknown. Beautiful cover! Love how it gives the feel of what’s inside Kavan, the little city at the bottom marking it as urban, and the warm vs cool colors.

Sales Links: Totally Bound Publishing – All Romance (ARe) – Amazon Buy It Here

Book Details:

CONTENT ADVISORY: This titles has a HFN ending. (less)
ebook, 82 pages
Published November 21st 2014 by Totally Bound (first published August 3rd 2012)
ISBN139781784302931
edition languageEnglish

June is LGBT Pride Month! This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

President Obama Declares June LGBT Pride Month!

Hard to believe that June is here. The months are just sliding by so quickly. June is a strange month. Full of goodbyes….to school, to high school especially as the graduations are over, and young people are moving on to the next stages of their lives. And as we say to goodbye to certain things we are also welcoming in others…change being constant no matter who, what or where you are.

But one thing unfortunately does remain constant…the needs of our LGBTQIA youth. For every success like Ireland’s recent vote for marriage rights, there’s Texas trying to hard to make sure that the LGBTQIA Community remain forever locked in a battle for recognition and rights. All that as President Obama declares June LGBT Pride Month. A President coming out for LGBTQIA rights is huge and something to be celebrated. So what better way to mark Pride Month than by helping out LGBT youth in need.

In some areas, our schools provide the only shelter, safety net and meals for some children in need, no one more so than LGBTQIA youth. Yes, there are shelters around but many don’t accept our LGBTQIA homeless youth, a disgrace that is underreported. Now with so many transgendered kids in the news in need of support, lets take time to look at those organizations and shelters doing a necessary job around the nation. They are in need of our support and in any way you can manage, volunteering and monetary.

PFLAG : Support your local PFLAG chapters and national organization. PFLAG stands for Parents, Friends,( and Allies) of Lesbians and Gays. Its a wonderful organization with local chapters everywhere. From their Mission Statement:

What does PFLAG do? PFLAG supports people who are LGBTQ, their famlies, friends and alliesboth locally and nationally, providing PFLAG chapter support group meetings and resources. PFLAG also educates families and communities on sexual orientation, gender identity and LGBTQ issues. Local PFLAG chapters educate their communities through a variety of projects while PFLAG National continues to provide fair and accurate information about LGBTQ people, their loved ones, and the unique challenges they face. PFLAG also advocates for equal rights for people who are LGBTQ on local, state, and national levels. – See more at PFLAG website.

Lost ‘n’ Found Youth – Atlanta, GA: Atlanta’s only non-profit organization dedicated to taking homeless lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender youth off the street and into more permanent housing, Lost-n-Found Youth is dedicated to the advocacy and service of youth from 13 to 25 years old.

This includes a Crisis Hotline Call or text 678-856-7825 24 hours a day, seven days a week. A truly wonderful organization. You can find/donate at

Website: http://lnfy.org/
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/LostNFoundYouth

Ali Forney Center – New York City, NY. The Ali Forney Center is the largest and most comprehensive program in the nation dedicated to meeting the needs of homeless LGBTQ youth. From their website:

AN EPIDEMIC OF HOMELESSNESS
Studies have found that LGBTQ youth comprise up to 40% of the homeless youth population in New York City. In December 2007 the Empire State Coalition of Youth and Family Services (ESC) reported on the findings of the first New York City Council census of homeless youth in NYC. This data showed that 28% of the street youth identified as lesbian, gay or bisexual, 11% were unsure of their sexual orientation or were not comfortable answering the question and 5% identified as transgender with another 18% unsure or choosing not to answer the question about gender identity.

The study also verified what we see at the Ali Forney Center (AFC) everyday; LGBTQ street youth experience greater levels of sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking violence, trauma, HIV infection, mental health issues and substance abuse than their heterosexual counterparts in the homeless youth population.

Website: http://www.aliforneycenter.org/

Write and let me know about the shelters in your area. Hopefully, soon I will be able to report about a LGBTQIA Shelter in MD-VA-DC soon. Here are a few more organizations so necessary for Equality and Acceptance:

HRC (Human Rights Campaign): From their website:

As the largest civil rights organization working to achieve equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Americans, the Human Rights Campaign represents a force of more than 1.5 million members and supporters nationwide — all committed to making HRC’s vision a reality.

HRC envisions a world where lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are embraced as full members of society at home, at work and in every community.

Website: http://www.hrc.org/

Matthew Shepard Foundation: Matthew Wayne “Matt” Shepard was an American student at the University of Wyoming who was beaten, tortured and left to die near Laramie, Wyoming on the night of October 6, 1998, and died six days later at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colorado, on October 12, from severe head injuries. This foundation, formed by Judy Shepard, Matthew’s mother. From their website:

“Created to honor Matthew in a manner that was appropriate to his dreams, beliefs, and aspirations, the Foundation seeks to “Replace Hate with Understanding, Compassion, & Acceptance” through its varied educational, outreach and, advocacy programs and by continuing to tell Matthew’s story.” This includes The Laramie Project, outreach programs and much more.

Website: http://www.matthewshepard.org/

Let’s Make a Difference…one person at a time.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, May 31:

A Close Look at LGBTQIA Shelters and Organizations, Our Schedule This Week

Monday, June 1:

Wild Pitch Cover Reveal for Sloan Johnson (giveaway)
A BJ Review: Manbot by Scarlet Blackwell
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Sultry Sunset by Mary Calmes
A MelanieM Review: Two Hearts, One Voice by Valentina Heart

Tuesday, June 2:

Two Sides of the Same Coin by Thianna Durston. Book blast and contest
Running With the Wind by Shira Anthony – The Mermen of Ea Finale Tour and Contest
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Closing the Loop by Jane Davitt
A MelanieM Review: Running with the Wind by Shira Anthony

Wednesday, June 3:

Larry Benjamin’s ‘Vampire Rising‘ cover reveal and giveaway
Chris T. Kat ‘Despite the Odds‘ Book Blast and Contest
The Live Oak Tales by Stephen Del Mar Tour and Contest
A Stella Review: Knight of Ocean Avenue (Love in Laguna #1) by Tara Lain
A MelanieM Review: Tall With Room by A.J. Llewellyn

Thursday, June 4:

Book Tour: For Real by Alexis Hall (giveaway)
A Mika Review: Piece Us Back Together Anthology
A MelanieM Review: Little Wolf by R Cooper
A Mika Review: Kick at the Darkness by Keira Andrews

Friday, June 5:

A Stella Review: Alchemy Ever After by Raine O’Tierney and Sion O’Tierney
A Mika Review: Kage by Maris Black
A BJ Review: Human Choices (Guardians of the Leythe #2.0) by Jaye McKenna
A MelanieM Review: The Summer House by RJ Scott

Saturday, June 6:

YA Aurora Post
A MelanieM Review: A Councilor to the Wolves by Liv Olteano

A BJ Review: Human Frailties, Human Strengths (Guardians of the Leythe #1.0) by Jaye McKenna

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Ashnavayarian was a powerful, god-like being of the leythe, the place from which magical energies emanate. But Ash has been a bad boy. His thoughtless, selfish meddling and manipulating has led to a war and disturbances within the leythe. Ash needs to be taken down a peg or two, so the goddess Jhara punishes him by forcing him to live in human form with most of his power stripped from him. She hopes he’ll learn that using other creatures for his own amusement isn’t right and that some of the things he considers human frailties (like compassion and love) are just what he needs to learn. Of course, that doesn’t go over well with Ash, and he’s determined to thwart Jhara by any means necessary and break his exile. Jhara throws Ash another curveball when she leythe-bonds him to Toryn MacAran, a human!

Tor has never fit in and always harbored a painful emptiness inside, like something is missing. When a strange encounter at a bookstore one night ends up landing him at the feet of the handsome Ash, he may have found the answer. Ash’s touch takes his emptiness and pain away and makes him feel compete.

Both main characters are well developed and interesting in their own right, but when they come together, oh boy! The chemistry goes off the charts. I adored the interaction between these two. An emotional rollercoaster.

Ash is a self-centered, full of himself ass at the beginning of this story, but he’s so damn fun. Tor is the broken boy that I always adore. And I do adore him… except that by the end, I’m so in love with Ash that even Tor’s delicious brokenness cannot compare. These guys go through hell and back in this story, but the growth of the characters throughout is such a treat to read.

This is a complex fantasy that takes place on another world separate from the earth (from which Tor came). The world building is quite intricate and yet so smoothly woven that it never felt cumbersome as some fantasies do for me. Fast-paced, lots of wit, smoking hot sex, angst, sexy long-haired men (my fav!), and some freaky bad guys to hate from Lucano in the first section on to some of his horrible creations in the second.

And then there’s Carrik Tarn, a very interesting and pivotal secondary character. I won’t say much about him for fear of it being a spoiler, but I’d really like to know more of his background. Maybe that will come out in a sequel. Oh, and there’s this one scene where I just wanted to kick him in the nuts so bad I could taste it. Except, well, that would have been impossible even if I were there at the time.

So much happens in this book, much more than I’d expect for the number of pages. It has the depth of a much longer read–almost like an epic. I read the first half, Human Frailties, about a year ago as a freebie. Since I’d enjoyed the first half of the story quite a lot, I really have no idea why I waited so long to read the full story. But very glad I finally did because the second half took the tale into awesome territory. The second half made me fall in love.

So if you’ve read Human Frailties and never went on to read the rest, don’t wait! It only gets better.

Ash and Tor need a sequel, and actually, I’m pretty sure there is one currently in the works. I can’t wait. And one last thing–I have to mention how much I love the name Ashnavayarian and all its interesting variants!

The cover by Cinchbug depicts both characters just as I’d pictured them along with the other important elements of the story. The dark, mysterious mood is perfect.

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

Book Details:

ebook, Smashwords, 272 pages
Published September 30th 2013 by Jaye McKenna, via Smashwords
ISBN139781301308873
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.smashwords.com/books/view/363010
seriesGuardians of the Leythe #1.0

A Sammy Review: Where There’s Smoke (Panopolis #1) by Cari Z.

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

I mean, it was one thing to date the guy who’d keyed the principal’s car in high school, but another entirely to get together with someone who was rapidly climbing Panopolis’s Most Wanted list.

Edward Dinges has always been attracted to the super way of life in Panopolis. It’s a place where the Heroes and Villains meet on a regular basis and the society is as much based on presence as it is the economy. He’d always hoped to meet a hero, but he never dreamed of falling in love with a villain, and one day changes those expectations.

He’s just a guy working at a bank. Except that his boyfriend is a Villain with a thing for bombs and he’s got a Hero who seems to not think that having a boyfriend is a valid reason for the answer “no”. It’s just a matter of time until the world of good, evil, and just plain normal collide.

His eyes were fixed on me, glittering points of light within the matte-gray shadows on his skin. “I’m a bad man.”

“You’re a Villain,” I said. “But that doesn’t make you a bad person.”

So here’s the thing… I loved this! Plain and simple, it was just so much fun that I could hardly sit still from all the giddiness it brought me.

From the very first page (or, well, the dedication actually), I was sucked into this amazing and funky world that Cari Z. created. She took bits of reality and bits of all those fun comic books and movies we’ve all seen and then twisted it into this really fabulous story. In doing so, she was able to both reach deep into this theme and hit some of the topics we all wonder about (like who is the man behind the mask who ever fears) and add in some undeniable humor that again, we all think about (like how completely ridiculous some of the stories behind our favorite heroes and villains are).

She does a beautiful job of mixing characters that we traditionally shrug off as villains and making them real and human. They’re no longer these beings so far off that we can pretend are monsters (well, some of them, because I still think Pinball has some issues), but now they’re people like your brother or sister, your parents, your neighbors.

Maybe it’s not that our Heroes are perfect, maybe it’s that our legal system is broken in the same way they are.

The world felt so tangible to me, especially with the blog posts at the beginning of each chapter, which featured a really sincere and blunt look at the underpinnings of society in Panopolis. They were some of my favorite parts, as they really put things into perspective. I kind of want to know who is behind the blog posts, because I feel like they have an interesting story to tell.

I would’ve loved to see more of the relationship building between Raul and Edward in the beginning, but I was so enthralled by the general plot and world that it didn’t bother me too much. I just wanted to see more of the build up for them. We heard about it in passing, but only got a small glimpse, and I hungered for more. I also think the author could’ve pushed it more at times when it came to how conflicting feelings of love are with knowing what your lover does when he leaves, but that’s just me being picky.

I really hope there’s more than just one sequel, because I could get seriously into this world… like, I could bury myself in it and dance with glee. I’m seriously looking forward to the next one. Great read!

The cover art by L.C. Chase is quite nice. It definitely fits the identity of the Mad Bombardier and helps make it easier to picture him as a villain. My only complaint is the high contrast around the pants, but that’s more of a designers nitpicking than anything else. In general, it’s a lovely cover to pair with a kick-ass story.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 88 pages
Published April 27th 2015 by Riptide Publishing (first published April 25th 2015)
ISBN139781626492967
edition languageEnglish
seriesPanopolis #1

In the Book Spotlight: The Altered 2 by Annabelle Jacobs (excerpt and giveaway)

The Altered 2 by Annabelle Jacobs
Release Date: May 28, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Annabelle Jacobs
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

Sales Links: Amazon UK – Amazon US – All Romance (ARe)

A remote farmhouse in Cornwall seems the perfect place for Ash to settle into his recently altered status. Starting a new life there with Sam—the shifter he can’t stay away from—should be easy this far from London where they faced so much danger. So why does adjusting seem impossible?

Sam has issues of his own. He has to get used to his human form again after living the last eight years as a wolf. It’s hard when human worries weigh so heavily on his shoulders. Life is much more straightforward from a wolf’s perspective, until Ash needs his human support.  Ash’s problem is simple: he’s fearful of shifting fully. How can he believe he won’t hurt Sam when his genes were altered to create a killer? Despite repeated reassurance, his anger and resentment increase. Only one thing is certain: if Ash can’t learn to trust himself soon, he’s in danger of proving himself right.

Pages or Words: 37,000 words (approximate)

Categories: Fantasy, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Paranormal, Urban Fantasy

Ash knocked twice, only pushing the door open a little when Sam howled softly for him to come in.

“Oh, hey.” Ash stuck his head around the door, frowning when he saw Sam. “Um… Keira said today was a human day. But… er….” He came fully inside and closed the door behind him. “Don’t you fancy it?”

Ash walked over to Sam’s bed and sat down on the bottom corner, propping his elbows on his knees.

Sam sighed and padded over to sit next to him, placing his head in Ash’s lap. As soon as Ash’s fingers were in his fur—stroking back and forth—Sam felt a hundred times better. The soothing touch spread warmth throughout his body and Sam closed his eyes, letting it chase away whatever had been bothering him earlier.

Ash’s touch always had this effect on him. Sam had known what that meant from the very first time they’d met.

Ash was meant for him.

Everything about Ash: the way he looked, his scent—which drove Sam crazy sometimes—and even his voice, made something in Sam settle. Something he’d been missing for years. It was that feeling that had helped Sam to shift back in front of other people for the first time in eight years. That, and the fact that some fucking guard had a gun pointed at Ash’s head.

Sales Links:

Annabelle Jacobs lives in the South West of England with her husband, 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.

Where to find the author:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ajacobsfiction
Facebook Author Page
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AJacobs_fiction
Website: http://www.annabellejacobs.com

 Tour Dates & Stops: May 28, 2015
Parker Williams, Kristy’s Brain Food, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Molly Lolly, BFD Book Blog, Chris McHart, Inked Rainbow Reads, Divine Magazine, Bayou Book Junkie, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter, Wake Up Your Wild Side, Multitasking Mommas, Carly’s Book Reviews, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance, Mikky’s World of Books,
Kimi-Chan, Velvet Panic

Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions. Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: A book from Annabelle’s backlist

Rafflecopter Code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Its Memorial Weekend and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

It’s Memorial Weekend and the roar and rumble from the Rolling Thunder bikes going by is a fresh reminder of exactly why and who we are remembering this weekend.

A lunch in town saw people passing out poppies in rememberance and thanks for those that fought in the many wars. My dad was beyond pleased to accept the poppy and the person’s thanks for his service when she gave it to him. That and an invitation to the VFW luncheon on Monday…well, his day was made.

As was mine.

The concert on the Mall is tomorrow but its the memorials that drew people in today in crowds. While the weather was perfect, the grief and stillness at the memorials, especially the Black Wall of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was immeasurable. And haunting. For me, the Wall and all the artifacts and aura of loss that lingers over it, has the most lasting impact of collective grief and sacrifice that I have seen outside of Arlington Cemetery.

If you come to Washington, DC, whether to see the Cherry Blossoms or the Capital or White House, take time to head over to the Mall. Visit the WWII Memorial, then head over to the Vietnam Veterans War Memorial, also known as The Wall, or The Wall That Heals. Here is The Wall’s page link for those of you who have never seen it. On the home page you will find these words.

“If you are able, save for them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go.
Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own.

And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind.

Major Michael Davis O’Donnell
1 January 1970
Dak To, Vietnam
Listed as KIA February 7, 1978

Then proceed thru the website. It’s moving, its painful and their sacrifice for us in war becomes fresh once more.

Take some time this weekend to thank a veteran, in person or in memory.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, May 24 – Ireland Did It, They Really Did It! Woohoo!

Its Memorial Weekend and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, May 25:

Jane Davitt’s “Closing the Loop” Tour and Riptide Contest
In the Book Spotlight: His Womanly Ways by K. Lynn (excerpt and giveaway)
Book Tour: The Hidden Wolf by Sue Brown (excerpt and giveaway)
A BJ Review: Mountain Prey by Lyn Gala
A MelanieM Review: The Hidden Wolf by Sue Brown

Tuesday, May 26:

Lane Hayes cover reveal for The Right Time – cover reveal and giveaway
Annabeth Albert’s ‘Delivered Fast‘ (Book 3 of the series) book blast and giveaway
A MelanieM Review: Delivered Fast by Annabeth Albert
A Mika Review: Time Waits by C. B. Lewis

Wednesday, May 27:

Joy Lynn Fielding – Blowing Off Steam (Virtual tour and contest)
From the Ashes by Lillian T. MacGowan book blast and giveaway
A MelanieM Review: Blood and Ghosts by Shira Anthony
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Butt Riders on the Range Anthology

Thursday, May 28:

In the Spotlight: Mia Kerick’s Love Spell (excerpt and giveaway)
Annabelle Jacobs The Altered 2 Tour and Contest
A Stella Review: Cliff’s Edge by Laura Harner
A MelanieM Review: The Line by Angel Martinez

Friday, May 29:

Tour for Lexi Alexander and Alpha Trine
A Stella Review: No Matter What (Sex & Mayhem #4) by K.A. Merikan
A BJ Review: Human Frailties, Human Strengths by Jaye McKenna
A MelanieM Review: Tall With Room by A.J. Llewellyn

Saturday, May 30:

YA Saturday Continues:

An Aurora YA Review: After I Wake by Emma Griffiths‏

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Running With the Wind (Mermen of Ea #3) by Shira Anthony Stories must be read in order. This is the final book of the trilogy

Release Date: June 8, 2015

Goodreads Link Publisher: Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Anne Cain

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press eBook and Paperback

My Interview with Shira Anthony

Now more about Running with the Wind….

About Running with the Wind

Running with the Wind Excerpt

About Shira Anthony~

Giveaway

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Two Sides of the Same Coin by Thianna Durston Release Date: May 17, 2015

A Kindle Exclusive: Amazon Buy Link

Goodreads Link Publisher: Thianna Durston

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President Obama Declares June LGBT Pride Month!

Let’s Make a Difference…one person at a time.

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, May 31:

Monday, June 1:

Tuesday, June 2:

Wednesday, June 3:

Thursday, June 4:

Friday, June 5:

Saturday, June 6:

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The Altered 2 by Annabelle Jacobs Release Date: May 28, 2015

Goodreads Link Publisher: Annabelle Jacobs Cover Artist: Natasha Snow

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This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, May 24 – Ireland Did It, They Really Did It! Woohoo!

Monday, May 25:

Tuesday, May 26:

Wednesday, May 27:

Thursday, May 28:

Friday, May 29:

Saturday, May 30:

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Running With the Wind (Mermen of Ea #3) by Shira Anthony
Stories must be read in order. This is the final book of the trilogy

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Anne Cain

Two Sides of the Same Coin by Thianna Durston
Release Date: May 17, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Thianna Durston

The Altered 2 by Annabelle Jacobs
Release Date: May 28, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Annabelle Jacobs
Cover Artist: Natasha Snow