Fickle, Fickle, March and Love and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Fickle, Fickle March & Love

Ah March! So fickle, so surprising! Here in Maryland, we had almost 80 degree weather two days ago. Flowers were blooming as were trees including the famed cherry trees. Pollen counts were up! Thoughts of gardening danced in my head as emails from local garden markets flew into my mailbox announcing they were opening early this season! Then yesterday here came the snow and the plunging temperatures, forcing all those happy plans right out of the mind, reminding me that yes, its way too early for all those wonderful outside type endeavors. March is often a smack of reality. A gentle breeze followed by gale force winds. A lovely day of sunshine that’s tipped on its head by hail and a foot of snow. You never know quite what a day in March will bring.

Sometimes love is like that too.

A simple date that turns into something more. A summer fling that becomes that love you can never forget. And in the case of some of our favorite stories, that man you met might just turn into something unexpected. Maybe a wolf, panther, owl, lion, or even in a story that still has me laughing a sloth. Maybe he’s an alien instead of a were! Angel or demon? Dragon or ancient eternal knight? Oh, how I love those stories. And judging from the Best of Lists, so do all of you. So here goes our giveaway for this week.

~This Week’s Giveaway ~ He Turned Out To Be What? Contest

What stories are on your He Turned Out To Be What? List. The books can be supernatural, science fiction, alternate universe,whatever. Its just that one of the main couple has to be a surprise in one way to the other. He can be warlock, alien or were ~ is there another category I’m missing? Sexuality is out. We are talking different being here, magical entity, demon, different were than the other. That’s cool too. I’m hoping for some new stories that I haven’t read here. Dolphins, Meerkats, all good. Go for it! Two random readers who submit lists will be chosen to receive a $10 gift certificate. Giveaway ends Saturday, March 11th at midnight.Get Kraken! lol

Winner Announcement

New Love, New Beginnings Love Story Giveaway winners are:

DSP gift Card: jenf27 and H.B. Congratulations both of you

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 5:

Fickle, Fickle, March and Love (This Week’s Giveaway)
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is Looking For Reviewers

Monday, March 6:

DSP GUEST POST Lucie Archer on My Paradise is You
Audiobook Review Tour For NR Walker’s Red Dirt Heart #2
Release Day Blitz: The Broken Butterfly by Caitlin Ricci
Retro Review Tour – Garrett Leigh – Misfits (Urban Soul #1)
FreeDreamer Review: Misfits (Urban Soul #1) by Garrett Leigh
A Lila Audiobook Review: Red Dirt Heart #1 by NR Walker and Joel Leslie (Narrator)
A Lila Audiobook Review: Red Dirt Heart #2 by NR Walker and Joel Leslie (Narrator)
A VVivacious Release Day Review: Talking in Code by Ariel Tachna

Tuesday, March 7:

DSP GUEST POST Sean Michael on Just the Right Notes
A Caryn YA Release Day Review: Driven by MB Mulhall
A Lila Release Day Review: The Mystery of the Curiosities (Snow & Winter #2) by C.S. Poe
A Paul B Review: The Chain of Their Sins (Taking Shield #4) by Anna Butler
A Stella Review: Momo, My Everything by Posy Roberts
An Alisa Review: Rough Edges by Cardeno C

Wednesday, March 8:

DSP GUEST POST Marek Moran on The Sparky
DSP GUEST POST CC Bridges on Love in the Time of Hurricanes
A Jeri Review: After the Fire by Felice Stevens
A Stella Review: Beneath the Stars by Lynn Charles
A VVivacious Release Day Review: Shaper by Christine Danse
An Ali Release Day Review: Darkness (Common Law book 3) by Kate Sherwood

Thursday, March 9:

GUEST POST Skylar M Cates on Secrets of You
Riptide Publishing Tour and Giveaway: Darkness (Common Law book 3) by Kate Sherwood
A Paul B Review: The Otto Digmore Difference (The Otto Digmore Series #1) by Brent Hartinger
A Vvivacious Review: Insight by Santino Hassell
An Alisa Review: Fangs Like Me by Lyssa Dering

Friday, March 10:

COVER REVEAL: Separation by Louise Lyons
INTERLUDE PRESS TOUR Ghosts & Ashes by FT Lukens
Release Blitz for Bedside Manner by DJ Jamison
A VVivacious Review: You Had Me at Hero by Michael P. Thomas
An Ali Review: We Three Kings by AF Henley
An Alisa Review: Hunter by Dakota Storm
A Stella Review: Three Hearts by Grace R. Duncan

Saturday, March 11:

Blog Tour: Audiobook of DRAMA MUSCLE (Nicky and Noah mystery #2) by Joe Cosentino, performed by Chip Hurley
A MelanieM Review: Dragon Soldier by Mell Eight
A MelanieM Audiobook Review: DRAMA MUSCLE (Nicky and Noah mystery #2) by Joe Cosentino, performed by Chip Hurley

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Romancing the Wrong Twin by Clare London and Rusty Topsfield (Narrator)

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

How tangled can a romantic web get?

When gruff mountaineer Dominic Hartington-George seeks sponsorship for his latest expedition, his London PA insists on a more media-friendly profile—like dating celebrity supermodel Zeb Z.

Zeb can’t make the date, so he asks his identical twin, Aidan, to stand in for just one evening. Aidan, a struggling playwright, shuns the limelight to the extent people don’t even know Zeb has a sibling, but he reluctantly agrees.

When the deception has to continue beyond the first date, Aidan fights to keep up the pretense. Dominic likes his sassy, intelligent companion, and Aidan starts falling for the forthright explorer. But how long can Aidan’s conscience cope as confusion abounds? Will coming clean as “the other twin” destroy the trust they’ve built?

So… I had a hard time with this story. I thought the concept was interesting, but had trouble with some of the execution. Dominic is forced into a PR relationship to help him get a sponsorship deal and Aiden stands in for his supermodel brother when Zeb can’t make it.

I understood both Dominic’s and Aiden’s points of view in the story, but had a hard time connecting with the characters. Throughout the story it just seemed that they would both internally whine about their situations or the people around them and to me it made them quite off putting. While we see them both jump into a physical relationship without much talk about the future and feelings, I can understand their feelings being hurt through misunderstanding, but didn’t really feel the characters emotions.

Rusty Topsfield did a nice job narrating this story. I was able to keep track of the story and characters which is always nice. I didn’t like some of the voices he had for characters and a few secondary ones seemed quite similar, but the whiny quality of some of the voices he used along with the whininess of the characters didn’t help.

Cover art by Bree Archer is nice and follows the pattern for the series.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 6hrs 21min
Published January 3, 2017 (ebook first published November 1, 2016) by Dreamspinner Press
Edition Language: English

New Love, New Beginnings. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

New Love, New Beginnings. Hey, Its March!

March sails in this week full of itself! March is a month just popping with meaning and celebrations of all kinds. The Vernal Equinox begins March 20th (although it has felt like Spring here for days). There’s the Ides of March (poor Caesar), St. Patricks Day (get out your green), World Wildlife Day is on the 3rd, International Forest Day is on the 21st and more religious days than I will go into here. Here in the States, even Daylight Savings Time returns (ugh).

For me, however, it signals the return of spring. New growth of all types from buds and tiny leaves appearing from shrub to perennial flowers to birds busy with their nesting building in anticipation of young to follow. The eagles at the National Arboretum have already laid their first egg of the season. Yes, love is in the air whether it be new love or that of established lovers like the eagle pair I just mentioned. Of course, that’s my link to my topic this week and perhaps this month.

Love stories! What’s your preference? Do you even have one? New Love, New Beginnings. Lovers Reunited, Second Chance at Love? I have to admit I have a huge fondness for the second trope. I love it when ex-lovers get a chance to have their HEA, to get that love that de-railed back on track after whatever broke them up and time gone by (go ahead count up the cliches, lol). But then again, ah, those stories of men finding their soul mates and never letting go, no matter the obstacles. They grab me too. Ok, I love them both. How about you? Do you all have a preference? Yes? No? I’m dying to find out. Giveaway time!

Give me your favorites and why.

New Love, New Beginnings Love Story Giveaway

This week its name your favorite New Love, New Beginnings Love Story Giveaway. Random reader chosen will get a $10 Dreamspinner Press gift card. Its a short contest. A new one starts next Sunday. So comment all week along until midnight Saturday, March 4th. Leave your email address, along with your favorite new love stories and why you love them. Winner will be announced next Sunday along with our new contest! Hey, its Spring, lets go crazy with love stories!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, February 26:

After the Fire by Felice Stevens Release Day Blitz
In Our Author Spotlight: Catt Ford on Cross My Heart and other releases
Release Blitz – Rick R Reed’s Class Distinctions
New Love, New Beginnings. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, February 27:

In the Spotlight: Ethan Stone on Hacked Up
INTERLUDE PRESS TOUR Beneath the Stars by Lynn Charles
SNAPSHOTS release blitz by Addison Albright
A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: We Met in Dreams by Rowan McAllister
A Stella Release Day Review: Until You by TJ Klune
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Romancing the Wrong Twin by Clare London and Rusty Topsfield (Narrator)
An Alisa Release Day Review: Black Market Blood (New Canadiana #2) by Francis Gideon

Tuesday, February 28:

RIPTIDE TOUR BLOG and Giveaway: As La Vista Turns by Kris Ripper
Release Blitz/Review Tour – Ghost (Sanctuary #9) – RJ Scott
Release Blitz – Posy Roberts’ Momo, My Everything
A Melanie Release Day Review: Countermind by Adrian Randall
A Paul B Review: Credo (Demon Elite 8) by April Kelley
A MelanieM Release Day Review : Ghost (Sanctuary #9) by RJ Scott

Wednesday, March 1:

COVER REVEAL Between the Secrets by S. Ferguson
DSP GUEST POST Karen Stivali on Moment of Fate
DSP GUEST POST T.A. Chase on Why I Love Waiters
A Caryn Review: Goodnight My Angel by Sue Brown
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Snowblind by Eli Easton
A Stella Release Day Review: My Paradise is You (World of Love) by Lucie Archer
An Alisa Release Day Review: The Real Thing by BG Thomas

Thursday, March 2:

HARMONY INK PRESS GUEST POST Adrian Randall on Countermind
DSP GUEST POST Rowan McAllister on We Met in Dreams
A Jeri Release Day Review: Secrets of You by Skylar M Cates
An Alisa Review: Tortoise Interruptus by JL Merrow
An Alisa Review: Chinese Morning (Dragons Schooled #3) by Emily Carrington

Friday, March 3:

Blog Tour: Ardulum: The First Don by J.S. Fields
Blog Tour Fallen Angel by Eden Winters
DSP GUEST POST: BG Thomas on The Real Thing
A Lila Review: Jumping In (ALPHAS #6) by Cardeno C.
A Melanie Release Day Review: The Sparky by Marek Moran
A Paul B Review: Webb (Demon Elite 9) by April Kelley
An Alisa Release Day Review: Why I Love Waiters by TA Chase

Saturday, March 4:

Release Blitz – Nell Iris’ Unconditionally
Release Day Blitz: Guns n’ Boys: Bloodbath by K.A. Merikan
A Stella Review: Beneath the Stars by Lynn Charles
A MelanieM Review: Love Tokens by Megan Derr

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Kieran: The Atherton Pack 4 By Toni Griffin and Nick Flint (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

“You need to go to Atherton,” they said. Easy for them. The higher-ups at headquarters don’t have their whole world on the line. When Detective Damon Kelly’s bosses send him across the state on a “simple” cyber fraud case, he never thinks he’d meet his mate, then risk losing Kieran by doing his job. No matter what other possible angles Damon works, his partner Grant Davis is sure Kieran’s best friend Corey’s their guy, and Grant is bent on bringing him in.

After the birth of their Alpha’s son, the Atherton Pack needs another beta. Kieran Baxter couldn’t be happier to accept. What Kieran doesn’t expect is for all hell to break loose his first week on the job. Clashing with his mate at every turn, and fighting a human cop who wants to arrest Corey for hacking a government database, wasn’t part of the plan either.

As more evidence piles up, a bigger, scarier picture comes into focus that could threaten not only the Atherton Pack, but everything the world knows.

This was another great addition to the Atherton Pack series. Damon is thrown for a loop when he meets his mate while investigating his mate’s best friend while also trying to guide his work partner away from the obvious suspect. Kieran is excited to meet his mate, but doesn’t know how to reconcile his friendship with his mate’s job. A lot of other things went on than just Damon and Kieran’s relationship and I can’t wait to see how all the changes in the world of shifters will affect the future books.

Damon is determined to do the right thing with his job, while also leading them away from the truth in order to keep the pack safe. When he is forced to take drastic measures to keep his mate and other shifters safe he hopes it will all work out. Throughout this story I could feel how conflicted Damon was with his job and mate knowing what he had to do, but he was determined to have a relationship with Kieran despite everything. Kieran has a lot of trouble accepting the situation he has been put in and knows he has to look at things from all sides to get the whole story. These two went about the opposite of the others and jumped into sex and then have to learn to make everything work after the fact.

Nick Flint did a wonderful job again narrating this story. I was able to understand the characters through the voices and emotions he portrayed. We saw a lot more characters points of view in this story and he easily kept them each unique so there wasn’t any mix up what was going on.

Cover art is wonderful and follows the pattern for the series.

Sales Links: Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 7 hrs 27 min
Published: January 6, 2017 (ebook, published October 19, 2016) by Mischief Corner Books
Edition Language: English

Series: The Atherton Pack #4

An Ali Audiobook Review: Everything Changes (Resilient Love #1) by Melanie Hansen and Robert Nieman (Narrator)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

What happens when friendship catches fire?

Former Marine and lower-leg amputee Carey Everett keeps a grueling schedule of counseling fellow war veterans and their families. The injury he received in Afghanistan forces him to rely on a reserve of strength he didn’t even know he had. A much deserved vacation will let him reconnect with his best friend, who saved his life and has been there for him through devastating injury and painful recovery.

Part-time EMT and aspiring singer Jase DeSantis has been in love with Carey for years, but he’s come to accept that his straight friend will never be able to offer more. Jase fills his days with band rehearsals, ambulance shifts, and willing groupies, all while trying to cope with debilitating PTSD.

A week of sun, fun, and music in San Diego changes Jase and Carey’s lives forever when their relationship takes an unexpected turn. Jase has been longing for that change, but it leaves Carey reeling with confusion. As Jase fights to hold things together, Carey deals with doubts, fears, and his own preconceived notions about labels and the true nature of love.

I really liked this. It had a bunch of my favorite things….friends to lovers, hurt/comfort and some fantastic dirty talking. The story mostly takes places in the present but there are some flashbacks to their time in Afghanistan. When the story begins they’ve been through a lot and have not visited each other in awhile although they talk on the phone frequently. What is supposed to be an average visit turns in to them becoming physical with each other. While Jase has known for a long time that he loves Carey, Carey identifies as straight and has never thought about crossing from friends to lovers.

As the story goes on Carey admits that he cares deeply for Jase but he really struggles with what it would mean for his life should he begin to identify as bisexual or gay. I think this part of the story was really well done and I felt it was a very realistic situation. They have a great foundation of friendship and they’re the rocks in each other’s lives. It makes sense that it would turn into a physical one.

I especially liked how well these two communicated with each other. There were some bumps in the road but they were open and honest about it. I wish we’d see that more in stories. I can’t imagine you could make such big changes in your life without having some things to think through and I loved how they talked about this every step of the way.

This book was narrated by Robert Nieman and I thought he did a great job. He did a good job on both of the MC’s as well as the side characters. He happens to be one of my favorite narrators in this genre so I was pleased to see he was doing this book.

This was my first time reading this author and I’m looking forward to reading more by her. I plan to move on to the other books in this series as soon as possible. I also loved the narration and if you enjoy audiobooks then I definitely recommend this media.

Cover art by Natasha Snow Designs works perfectly for the story and characters.

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook
Published January 12th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published March 13th 2015)
ASINB01N20ODJP
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesResilient Love #1

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Open Road by M.J. O’Shea and Robbie D (Narrator)

Rating: 1 star for the audiobook and 4.5 stars for the e-book—overall 4 stars

I was asked to review the audiobook edition of this story, but I have to say up front that I had to DNF it within the first hour. I couldn’t stand the voices the narrator was using. They were so over-the-top flamboyant and campy that I felt they were insulting to my friends who are gay. They fed a stereotype that I oppose using. So, the narration didn’t deserve more than one star.

That being said, I’ve enjoyed MJ O’Shea’s work in the past, and the premise of this story was intriguing so I went to the e-book copy I had previously purchased and was unread in my “TBR library,” and I’m so glad I did because this story was a wonderful love story between two men who’ve been friends all their lives, and slowly but surely, become lovers over the course of their “road trip” together.

On his thirtieth birthday, Angus is dumped by his lover of ten years, and it sets him off on a bender that becomes so bad he loses both his job and his apartment. It isn’t until he finally checks on him that his BFF, Reece, takes matters into his own hands. Feeling guilty because he should have realized silence from Angus signaled something was very wrong, Reece not only makes plans to move Angus in with him, he also makes the arrangements to take Angus away for a few days.

The thin, wan ghostly appearance of his BFF is shocking enough, but add to that the fact that the usually bright and bubbly Angus isn’t even speaking, and Reece knows he’ll need all the patience in the world to help the man he secretly loves back to his former state. Reece would do anything for Angus, and this story shows just how much he does. It also reveals the journey Angus has to make to come back from the depths of despair. Deciding to extend their initial trip from Oregon to California by a few more days, the two men head to Vegas. Another extension takes them to New Orleans, and so it goes as they make their way across country.

Angus is living on his savings from his former job, but Reece is a book editor and is financing most of the trip as well as working remotely on his laptop once in a while. And this is the only quirk I had with the story. I’m an editor, and to be honest, in my experience, editors don’t earn enough to make it across the state—never mind the country! LOL

Regardless, the story is so wonderful that I can be kind and overlook that little issue. These men are so endearing—Reece so strong and supportive and Angus so sweet and adorable. It’s a match made in heaven—or by a romance author. If you are interested in friends-to-lovers romances, or simply enjoy a sweet MM romance, by all means, pick this up. Just make sure you do it in e-book, not audio.
~~~~~
The cover art by L.C. Chase depicts a road fading into the distance with a muscular man in sleeveless T-shirt staring off toward the end. Very appropriate for this story.

Sales Links

eBook & Audiobook Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published July 25th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
Original TitleOpen Road
ISBN 1634773160 (ISBN13: 9781634773164)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Audiobook
Published January 11th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published July 25th 2016)
Original TitleOpen Road
ASINB01N9PWGM

URL

An Ali Audiobook Review: Murmuration by T.J. Klune and Kirt Graves (Narrator)

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

In the small mountain town of Amorea, it’s stretching toward autumn of 1954. The memories of a world at war are fading in the face of a prosperous future. Doors are left unlocked at night, and neighbors are always there to give each other a helping hand.

The people here know certain things as fact:

Amorea is the best little town there is.

The only good Commie is a dead Commie.

The Women’s Club of Amorea runs the town with an immaculately gloved fist.

And bookstore owner Mike Frazier loves that boy down at the diner, Sean Mellgard. Why they haven’t gotten their acts together is anybody’s guess. It may be the world’s longest courtship, but no one can deny the way they look at each other.

Slow and steady wins the race, or so they say.

Something’s happening in Amorea. And Mike will do whatever he can to keep the man he loves

But something’s wrong with Mike. He hears voices in his house late at night. There are shadows crawling along the walls, and great clouds of birds overhead that only he can see.

So this book is a trip. It’s impossible to discuss the plot without spoilers so I’m going to skip that. I will say that this book had me hooked from the beginning. At first I wasn’t sure what was going on. Then part way in I thought I had figured it out. I was wrong. Then I had a new theory and I was part way right. And then…….gah. (I could do this all day.)

Here’s what you need to know. The writing was fantastic. It is some of TJ’s best work imo. I literally couldn’t put this down because I was dying to know what was going on. There are plot points that I really disliked. Plot points I’m not comfortable with. And yet……..I was captivated by this story.

There is a really unique romance. It’s so different than anything I’ve ever read before. It’s this sweet, pure, 1950’s courting type romance and I never would have thought that was my thing but apparently it is. (I still need my smut and won’t be running off to find these kind of romances in general but it really worked with the plot).

The end keeps you guessing. I mean right up to the very end. The very last paragraph or two. I was holding my breathe and while I knew I was intrigued I under estimated how emotionally invested I was because all of a sudden I had tears in my eyes.

I did most of this on audio and the narrator, Kirt Graves, was excellent. One of the best I’ve listened to. I got about half way through on audio and then switched to reading because I was so impatient to find out what was going to happen. I then switched back to audio for the last few chapters. If you like audios I recommend doing this story that way. It was top notch and really added to the overall storytelling.

Cover by Reese Dante: I love the cover. I had seen the guy on the cover on some other books so I didn’t think much about it going into this story. After reading it though, I have to say the cover is perfect for the story.

Sales Links

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio
Published January 16th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press LLC (first published October 28th 2016)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Of Comfort Reads and Love Stories. This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Of Comfort Reads and Love Stories

We’ve been talking about our top books for comfort reading and love stories, some of which have ended up on each list with authors common to both. I had to admit it got me thinking what makes a ‘comfort read’? What is that indefinable something a story contains or that an author offers that makes us want to read it over and over again.? Is that its a “known quantity”? That we go into that story knowing that the pleasures (and even some pain) it holds are ones that not only have touched us so deeply but that fulfill some hope or want in us? Tales that reach us in multiple ways? We love these men, their journey to love and a long term relationship, whether it be a contemporary world or something supernatural or otherworldly. And we love these authors and their talent to create not only believable, vivid men and beings as well as for their ability in which they pull us into their characters lives and worlds over and over again, making it feel like home every time we read these stories.

That’s a wonderful gift and it shows in how many of the same authors and stories/series show up in list after list, including my own. My gratitude to them. And thank you to all our readers who contributed these last few weeks and days, letting us look into your favorite lists and authors too. You’ve definitely added to my TBR pile and brought back a few books I’ve forgotten. Thank you!

Of course, our lists keep growing as we find new authors and new stories to share with you and hopefully, you our readers to share with us. I love reading your lists too.

Here’s some of our readers favorite couples and Love stories/series:

♡H.B. loves:

Jory and Sam from Mary Calmes’ A Matter of Time series
Jin and Logan from Mary Calmes’ A Change of Heart series
Rand and Stefan from Mary Calmes’ Timing Series
Ty and Zane from Abigail Roux/Madeleine Urban’s Cut & Run series
The couples (Dex/Sloane, Ashe/Cael, Calvin/Ethan) from Charlie Cochet’s THIRDS series
Tucker and Elliot from Josh Lanyon’s All’s Fair series
Kit and J.X. from Josh Lanyon’s Holmes & Moriarity series
Gaven and Vlar from J.C. Owen’s Gaven series
Neil and Andrew from Nora Sakavic’s All for the Games series

(I agree H.B. You named Tucker and Elliot, 2 I left off of mine by accident, Gaven and Vlar because I had just forgotten about them! Argh! Thank you for bringing them back to mind.)

♡From Didi:

Jonty and Orlando, and Ty and Zane by Abigail Roux (and by Madeleine Urban)
Here’s my addition favorite couples to the above:
– Kit and JX from Holmes & Moriarity series by Josh Lanyon
– Tucker and Elliot from Fair Game by Josh Lanyon
– Mark and Stephen from I Spy series
– James and Sedgwick from the Dickens with Love
– Lucien and Stephen from A Charm of Magpie series
– Whyborne and Griffin from Jordan L. Hawk’s Whyborne and Griffin series
– David and Murdo from Enlightenment series

Again, thanks, Didi, I see some I’ve been meaning to get too. This is a wonderful reminder!

♡And from Jen:

Some of my favorite couples are:
Whyborne and Griffin from Jordan L. Hawk’s Whyborne and Griffin series
Jonty and Orlando from the Charlie Cochrane’s Cambridge Fellows series
Cole and Jae from Rhys Ford’s Cole McGinnis series
Charlie and Travis from NR Walker’s Red Dirt series
Laurie and Sasha from Harper Fox’s A Midwinter Prince series
Gray/Caleb & John from Jordan L. Hawk’s SPECTR series
Crick and Deacon from Amy Lane’s Promises series

Crick and Deacon were on my Comfort list, Jen, but I so agree with you! So were Charlie and Travis, Cole and Jae, love them! Do you know there are series here I need to add to my list? Yay! Thank you all to add to my staggeringly high TBR pile!

Winner Announcements!

♥︎Winners of our Comfort Story Reads are:

Purple Reader
Shirley Ann

♥︎Winner of our Love Story Read/List is:

Didi

Congratulations to you all. Stella will be in touch with you about your prizes. Now all our readers keep you eyes turned to us for more giveaways coming soon! Meteorological Spring is within 2 weeks. I’m sure we’ll think of some way to celebrate new beginnings and the coming of Spring! Give me your suggestions and stay with us!

📚

Now for this week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words. We handed out a new list of questions to authors for our author interviews and the results have been wonderful. Everything from how they feel about their covers to what they think about ebooks and Gary Stu writing. Don’t miss out on those. Plus we have plenty of Release Day Reviews and audiobook reviews for those who love to listen as well as read! Something for everyone!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, February 19:

Of Comfort Reads and Love Stories
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, February 20:

Release Blitz – Find Me (Rent Me Series #5) by Brina Brady
Release Day Blitz College Discipline by Caitlin Ricci
Release Day Blitz Unzipping 7d by J.C. Long
A Jeri Review: Down By Contact by Sloan Johnson
A Lila Review: A-dork-able by J.D. Walker
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Tropical Depression by BA Tortuga
A PaulB Review: Dead Camp book 3 by Sean Kerr

Tuesday, February 21:

Review Tour – NR Walker’s Imago
Jared’s Family Blogger Tour and Giveaway
DSP GUEST POST Andrew Grey on Poppy’s Secret
Review Tour – Lyssa Dering’s fangjunkie27
A MelanieM Review: Imago by NR Walker
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Leaning Into Love (Leaning Into #1) by Lane Hayes
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Unzipping 7D (Unzipped Shorts #2) by J.C. Long

Wednesday, February 22:

DSP GUEST POST: Catt Ford on Cross My Heart
TWO NATURES* by Jendi Reiter 4 Tour
A Caryn Review: Unspoken by R.A. Padmos
A Jeri Release Day Review: Off Stage (Off Stage #1-2) by Jaime Samms
An Alisa Release Day Review: Rushing Love (States of Love) by Meg Bawden
An Ali Audiobook Review: Murmuration by T.J. Klune and Kirt Graves (Narrator)

Thursday, February 23:

DSP GUEST POST Meg Bawden on Rushing Love
Release Day Blitz Justin’s Season by S. M. Sawyer
RIPTIDE BLOG TOUR Dating Ryan Alback by J.E. Birk
An Alisa Review: Dating Ryan Alback by J.E. Birk
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Open Road by M.J. O’Shea and Robbie D (Narrator)
An Ali Audiobook Review: Everything Changes (Resilient Love #1) by Melanie Hansen and Robert Nieman (Narrator)

Friday, February 24:

DSP GUEST POST Matthew Lang on Better with Bacon
Book Blitz: Fallen Angel by Eden Winters
Release blitz: AFTER THE FIRE by Felice Stevens
Release Blitz & Review Tour – Goodnight My Angel by Sue Brown
A Stella Release Day Review: Ringo and the Sunshine Police by Nick Wilgus
A PaulB Review: Max (Demon Elite 7) by April Kelley
An Alisa Audiobook Review: Kieran: The Atherton Pack 4 By Toni Griffin
A PaulB Review: The Chains of Their Sins (Taking Shield #4) by Anna Butler

Saturday, February 25:

3 day release blitz: *Snapshots by Addison Albright*
DSP GUEST POST Ariel Tachna on Talking in Code
A MelanieM Review: Man and Tree by Wayne Mansfield

An Alisa Audiobook Review: Behr Facts (Foothills Pride #3) by Pat Henshaw and David Ross (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Big, burly CEO Abe Behr is dismayed to discover someone—possibly a family member—is stealing from Behr Construction, which primarily employs Behr relatives. Abe takes the unprecedented step of hiring an outsider, likable CPA Jeff Mason, to go over the books and help find the culprit. They are drawn to each other as they talk to workers, including Abe’s two younger brothers and their shifty cousin.

Since he has sacrificed romance all his life to build the business, Abe’s surprised by his feelings for the handsome Jeff. He’s even more shocked when they are confronted by bigotry in the Sierra Nevada foothills community, which is being inundated by gays moving from the San Francisco area. As he and Jeff get closer, Abe must come to grips with coming out to a family and community that aren’t very tolerant. Fortunately, being the head Behr helps him find his footing and grab onto love when it bites him.

This is a nice continuation in this series. Abe has pretty much considered himself asexual as he has never found someone who has really awakened his attraction before. He is surprised when he realizes that he is definitely attracted to Jeff and doesn’t know what to do about it, it gets harder when he realizes he is in love.

We see this story from Abe’s point of view giving us a good view of his thoughts and feelings and how he is quite oblivious to many things going on around him. I love seeing Abe stand his ground against the naysayers in his family and community when he realizes that there is a problem. I had a bit of confusion with a few of the secondary characters actions and things they were saying at one point and then completely contradicting it a little bit later. It didn’t take away from the story, but just left a little niggle in the back of my head trying to figure out what was going on a bit.

David Ross once again did a wonderful job narrating this story. I was able to connect with the characters through his he showed the characters’ emotions in his reading of the story. He accurately portrayed Abe’s confusion of his feelings and what actions to take.

Cover art by AngstyG is great and gives us a great visual of the characters and follows the pattern for the series.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Audible | Amazon | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audiobook, 2hrs 59min
Published January 5, 2017 (ebook first published October 28, 2015)
Edition Language: English

Series: A Foothills Pride Story

A Lila Audiobook Review: Hanging The Stars (Half Moon Bay #2) by Rhys Ford and Greg Tremblay (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Angel Daniels grew up hard, one step ahead of the law and always looking over his shoulder. A grifter’s son, he’d learned every con and trick in the book but ached for a normal life. Once out on his own, Angel returns to Half Moon Bay where he once found…and then lost…love.

Now, Angel’s life is a frantic mess of schedules and chaos. Between running his bakery and raising his troubled eleven-year-old half-brother, Roman, Angel has a hectic but happy life. Then West Harris returns to Half Moon Bay and threatens to break Angel all over again by taking away the only home he and Rome ever had.

When they were young, Angel taught West how to love and laugh but when Angel moved on, West locked his heart up and threw away the key. Older and hardened, West returns to Half Moon and finds himself face-to-face with the man he’d lost. Now, West is torn between killing Angel or holding him tight.

But rekindling their passionate relationship is jeopardized as someone wants one or both of them dead, and as the terrifying danger mounts, neither man knows if the menace will bring them together or forever tear them apart.

Hanging the Stars is a beautiful second chance story. I have a soft spot for young couples that get an opportunity to reconnect and this story doesn’t disappoint. The connection between Angel and West still runs through them after a decade apart. What they had made a difference in the men they became and what they wanted for their future.

The story starts strong and directly into the action. We get adrenaline filled scenes that set the path for the characters to see each other again. There are small coincidences that make their first encounter even more meaningful. Having them get together without trouble or misunderstandings worked for the story.

Each main character has a very defined backstory that intertwines with the other. They have family and friends in common, but at the same time, they have a separate story that’s only theirs. And that’s what makes their story special. A lot is going on against them, but they are ready to face everything together.

All the twist and turns are fast-paced and keep the reader trying to flip the pages faster. Well, in this case for the audio to hurry up. But this also is the reason I didn’t give the story a higher rating. It was easy to miss an important element with all the information coming our way.

Overall, this is an interesting addition to the story. We get to see Lang, Deacon, and Zig again. Plus, I love Roman and his relationship with Angel. I hope the author give us more stories in this series because there are several characters with a lot of potential for love.

Greg Tremblay did a good job giving life to the characters and making them unique. Especially the young ones.

The cover by Reece Notley is nice but a bit generic. Plus, the model’s picture has been used in several stories recently.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner | iTunes | Audible

Audiobook Details:

Narrator: Greg Tremblay

Length: 7 hours 41 minutes

Published: January 12, 2017 (Audio Edition) by Dreamspinner Press

ASIN: B01N9PZE6V

Edition Language: English

Series: Half Moon Bay

Book #1: Fish Stick Fridays

Book #2: Hanging the Stars

Fickle, Fickle March & Love

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