May Is Happily Underway and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

May Is Happily Underway!

The mailbox is yellow, coated with pollen, azaleas are in full bloom, and bluebirds are busily nesting. Yes, that picture above is mine. And it’s raining today.  Happy May indeed.

Remember when we were talking about what’s old is new again?  One of the books this week is a prime example. The Prisoner of Zenda was a novel by Anthony Hope, written in 1894.  It was also several black and white movies including one made in 1937 by Ronald Coleman, Raymond Massey, and Douglas Fairbanks for those of you who love old movie classics.  This week I will be reviewing The Henchmen of Zenda by K.J. Charles.  Ah, yes!  The familiar turned new!

If you have noticed some familiar titles reappearing lately, it’s due to authors getting their rights back and self publishing their stories.  We support their efforts and hope you will tool  Enough said.  Or maybe not enough.  Let me know.

Lately, I’ve had fantasy and science fiction on the mind with all of the MCU movies and Star Trek movies out there that I adore so much.  I’ve always read both genres growing up and even now grab them up left and right.  I feel a fantasy and SciFy binge coming on…

Be prepared!

In the meantime, I hope you are all out enjoying the wonderful May weather (if you have any where ever you may be).    Let me know what May activities and books have you in thrall.

 

Here’s our schedule this week….

 

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, May 6:

  • A MelanieM Review: Contraband Hearts (Porthkennack #10) by Alex Beecroft
  • This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.

Monday, May 7:

  • Harmony Promo Jeff Adams
  • Review Tour and Giveaway – The Sinner & The Saint (EM #8) by RJ Scott
  • Review Tour – Sarah Hadley Brook’s A Love To Remember
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: The Sinner & The Saint (EM #8) by RJ Scott
  • A Stella Review : A Love To Remember by Sarah Hadley Brook
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Valor On The Move (Valor #1) by Keira Andrews
  • An Alisa Audiobook Review: Infamous (Famous #2) by Jenny Holiday and Michael Fell (Narrator)

Tuesday, May 8:

  • Release Blitz – Amy Aislin’s  On The Ice
  • A Chance at Love by Silvia Violet Release Tour
  •  Release Tour and Giveaway: Detour by Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore
  • This Time Around by Aimee Nicole Walker Release Blitz  and Giveaway
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review Rebel by Rhys Ford and Tristan James (Narrator)
  • A Stella Release Day Review: Plummet to Soar by  Z.A. Maxfield
  • An Alisa Review : Beholden by Kris T Bethke
  • An Ali Audiobook Review:  Leaning Into Touch (Leaning Into #4) by Lane Hayes and Nick J. Russo (Narrator)

Wednesday, May 9:

  • DSP Promo BA Tortuga
  • Review Tour – Forged in Fire (Asheville Arcana #2) by Ari McKay
  • Review Tour – Jay Northcote’s  Second Chance
  • A MelanieM Review:  Forged in Fire (Asheville Arcana #2) by Ari McKay
  • An Ali Review:Contraband Hearts (Porthkennack #10) by Alex Beecroft
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review:  Second Chance by Jay Northcote

Thursday, May 10:

  • Release Blitz – Owned by the Sea by L M Somerton
  • DSP Promo Z.A. Maxfield on Plummet to Soar
  • An Ali Review:  Restraint (Power Exchange 4) by AJ Rose
  • A MelanieM Review:  The Henchmen of Zenda by K.J. Charles
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review:Love in Spades (Four Kings Security #1) by Charlie Cochet
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Test Of Valor (Valor #2) by Keira Andrews
  • A MelanieM Review: Magic Ties Together by Nina Begonia

Friday, May 11:

  • Book Blast – Survivors by Jessie Pinkham L
  • ELI EASTON on Robbie Riverton: Mail Order Bride
  • Review Tour –Hawk In The Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4) by Sam Burns
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Fox and Birch (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #3) by Sam Burns
  • A Free Dreamer Review: Hawk In The Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4) by Sam Burns
  • An Alisa Review : Five Dares by Eli Easton

Saturday, May 12:

A MelanieM Review: The Dragon of Ynys by Minerva Cerridwen

 

 

 

Release Blitz Tour – Hawk In The Rowan (The Rowan Harbor Cycle #4) by Sam Burns (excerpt and giveaway)

 

 
Length: 45,000 words approx.



Cover Design: Melanie Harlow @ Clause & Effect

 
The Rowan Harbor Cycle Series
 
Book #2 – Wolf and the Holly
Book #3 – Fox and Birch
 
Blurb
 

Devon Murphy has been back in Rowan Harbor for three months. He’s taken on a host of new responsibilities, and is in a serious relationship for the first time in his life. He loves the town and its inhabitants, but it’s starting to feel like too much for the former drifter.


Now there’s a storm on the horizon, and it doesn’t seem like things are going to slow down and let him catch his breath. A blizzard is brewing, and three people have gone missing in the woods south of town. Devon needs to find them before time runs out.


This book is the fourth of nine in The Rowan Harbor Cycle, not a standalone. Devon and Wade will return in book seven for their HEA.

 
Excerpt
 
Standing next to Annie Anderson as she inspected his knitting, Devon felt like he was waiting for a teacher to grade a test he already knew he’d failed. Every time he thought he was getting the hang of knitting, he made a mess of something.


“I’m honestly not sure what you did here, honey. You’ve got the same number of stitches, but that cable just isn’t right.” She held it up toward the overhead light and peered at the half-made sock.


He could make a plain row with his eyes closed, but whenever he tried the cable pattern, the result was twisted and gnarled, all sharp edges and wrong angles instead of smooth, intertwined curves.


She set the sock down on the counter and smiled at him. “I have an idea. Why don’t we just change the pattern? Play to your strengths, that’s what I always say.”


Salli, coming up behind her, snorted. “No, you always say face your fears and embrace the steek.”


“I have no idea what that means,” Devon told them, sighing and leaning on the counter. “Am I totally hopeless?”


Annie ruffled his hair. There weren’t many people in town he would accept that from, but Annie Anderson was . . . well, she was about the only one. Maybe Madame Cormier, the venerable witch on the town council, but he doubted the serious, dignified lady would be interested in ruffling his hair.


“You’re fine,” Annie said, and rested her hand on his. “This is all new to you, but you’re learning fast. You’ll get there. It just takes time.”


The intense look she gave him implied she was talking about more than knitting, but Devon wasn’t sure he wanted to ask what she meant.


“It looks kind of cool, even if it’s wrong, like tree roots or vines or something,” Salli observed as she took a bite of the apple she was carrying and leaned across the counter toward Devon. “You’re not staying for knit night, are you?”


That made him frown. “Why not? You guys don’t want me here?”


He’d thought he was getting better at handling the shop’s busiest night of the week. There were always dozens of people, coffee and tea, snacks—heck, sometimes people even brought wine—and at first, the night had been a little overwhelming. Running a shop packed with people was a lot of work, especially when they all wanted to ask questions about merchandise he was still learning himself.


But he was getting the hang of the job, or so he’d believed.


Annie and Salli were looking at him like he was the biggest idiot ever born.


“What?”


Annie sighed, shook her head, and looked over at Salli. “How much do you want to bet he hasn’t done anything?”


“How much of a sucker do you think I am?” Salli asked with a snort and took another bite of her apple.


“Devon, honey, do you know what day it is?” Annie asked.


“Um, Wednesday?”


Salli picked up his weirdly cabled sock with the hand that wasn’t holding the apple, inspecting the row of stitches. “Wednesday,” she agreed. “Wednesday, February . . .”


He took a second of mental calculation to place the date. It wasn’t as though he had a schedule that forced him to pay close attention to that. So it was Wednesday, February—


“Fourteenth,” he answered. Then he realized what they were getting at. “Oh, come on you guys. Valentine’s Day? As much as I like chocolate, why would I be interested in a candy-industry holiday?”


The two women shared another look before Salli leaned in toward Annie. “Maybe you were wrong about him getting the hang of this.”


Annie shook her head, resolute. “Absolutely not. He just needs time.” She took the sock from Salli and stuffed it into the bag where Devon was keeping it, along with the cake of gray yarn. “And right now, he needs to go upstairs and put on nice clothes.”


“Do what?”


They both stared at him.


“But why? I mean, it’s not like Wade and I have anything planned.”


Neither woman said a word.


He sighed and turned to stomp off toward the stairs to his apartment. “Fine, I’ll put on different clothes. But if Wade asks why I’m all dressed up, I’m blaming you two.”


All the way up the stairs, he muttered to himself about interfering friends and small-town gossip. His boyfriend wasn’t into hearts and flowers. Wade was a serious guy, and when he wasn’t being serious, he still wasn’t the romantic type. The lack of romance didn’t bother Devon. He was comfortable with Wade not being over-the-top romantic.


Sure, everyone wanted to know they were valued, but Wade was good at telling Devon that without words or chocolates. It was there in the way his face lit up when he saw Devon at the end of a long day, or his pleased sigh when they woke up spooned together. It was definitely there in the way Wade made them breakfast on Thursday mornings. Wade was enough without some day invented by capitalism to sell heart-themed merchandise.


But if it would please Salli and Annie, he would change clothes. He toed his shoes off as he passed the doorway, then tossed his T-shirt and jeans in the hamper as he passed it. Halfway into the walk-in closet, he turned and stripped off his plain white briefs, adding them to the dirty clothes. If he was going to go to the trouble of dressing up, he might as well put on nice underwear too.


Twenty minutes later, he was examining the results in the mirror. All black except for a dark red button-down, and he just might have found a pair of underwear to match the shirt. His auburn hair was still a mess, but nothing ever fixed that. People always seemed to think it was an intentional mess, so he didn’t worry about it.


Instead of slipping his sneakers back on, he decided on a pair of black boots. They weren’t much nicer, but he didn’t own a truly fancy pair of shoes. He hadn’t ever had the money for that.


He glanced over to the window to check the sky, not even sure why he’d bothered. It was the same as it had been for almost two weeks: gray and threatening. It felt ominous, but he’d never spent a February in Rowan Harbor before, so maybe it was normal. No one else seemed bothered, so he was trying to keep his concern to himself.


He didn’t want to be the guy who went around asking, “Cold enough for you?”


When he got back down to the shop, Salli and Annie were still standing at the counter, and they turned to examine him. Annie twirled her finger to indicate that he should turn around. Confirming the fact that Annie was a creature of pure magic, Devon complied without complaint.


No, he didn’t think she’d magically forced him to turn around. He just hated the idea of disappointing her, so he did what she wanted.


“It’s passable,” Salli said, her tone grudging, as though she thought he could have done much better.


Annie walked over and patted him on the shoulder. “I think you look very nice, dear. I don’t know why your hair won’t lie flat, but I suppose that’s the way people like it.”


He shrugged but didn’t answer.


“Jeez, look like you’re headed for your own execution, why don’t you?” Salli asked. “It’s Valentine’s Day. It’s not like he’s going to take you out for fried grasshoppers or something.”


Devon scrunched up his nose. “Do they serve that?”


Salli shrugged but then nodded. “Somewhere, no doubt. I mean, it’s all protein, right? But nowhere in Rowan Harbor that I know of.”


“You’ll make the boy nervous, Salli,” Annie told her, waving her off. “I’m sure Wade knows his taste well enough to feed him. And if I remember correctly, Wade’s quite the cook.”


He looked between the two of them and shook his head. “I’d promise not to say I told you so, but I don’t think I’ll be able to stop myself.” Sometimes it would be convenient to lie, he thought. It was a recurring theme in his wishes, but there were worse things than being known for telling the truth.


The two of them ignored the admission of impending rudeness and fussed over his hair for a minute.


“That’s even worse,” Annie said with a sigh, stepping back.


Salli gave a sharp nod. “Perfect.”


He was about to open his mouth to once again tell them that they were crazy, but the electronic bell over the door jingled, and they all turned to look.


It was Wade, looking windblown and gorgeous. He was wearing date clothes too, a white button-down and pinstripe trousers. That wasn’t so shocking; Wade dressed up when he intended to go out for dinner.


But . . .


In one hand, Wade held a long-stemmed red rose. In the other was a picnic basket.


Part of Devon wanted to groan. Salli and Annie had been right, and how did they know Wade better than him? Never mind the fact that they had spent decades around the man and he hadn’t; weren’t he and Wade supposed to be some sort of fated soul mates? How had he not seen this coming a mile off?


It wasn’t too hard to admit, if only to himself, that most of him thought it was adorable and endearing. Wade had made a picnic.


Wait.


“It’s February, Wade,” he said. “It’s going to snow.”


Everyone in earshot groaned, including a lady sitting halfway across the shop who had been engrossed in her knitting. She pushed her project into her bag and stood. “I guess I’d better get to the grocery store and pick up some essentials in case it gets bad.”


Salli leaned back against the counter. “Should we cancel knit night?”


“Please,” Devon said with a roll of his eyes. “People would show up for knit night if there were an earthquake currently happening. Worst comes to worst and you can’t get home, you can sleep on the bordello sofa. It’s comfy.”


Annie quirked an eyebrow. “Bordello sofa?”


Normally Devon didn’t explain the sofa, but the exchange with Annie reminded him that she was older than his grandmother. Bordello wasn’t a word he used in conversation with his elders, and his cheeks heated at having to explain. “That was what Mom called it. I’m sure it was never—”


Annie waved him off. “I get it. Now, since you shouldn’t be going out, you two should go sit on your bordello sofa and eat the lovely meal I’m sure Wade has made for you. Shoo, off you go.”


Wade gave him a shy smile and held up the basket. “A picnic in your apartment okay?”


Devon couldn’t say no. Not because he didn’t want to disappoint Wade—he couldn’t even lie to spare Wade’s feelings—but he found that, surprisingly enough, he kind of wanted to eat a picnic in his apartment.


He was glad he’d changed clothes. Salli winked at him as they headed toward the stairs, and even though he knew she was going to give him hell later, he was grateful to have her as a friend.


“Everything okay?” Wade asked, his voice tinged with a nervousness that Devon wasn’t used to hearing from him.


He looped his arm through Wade’s. “Yeah, I think so. Unexpected, maybe, but just fine.”
 
About The Author


Sam wrote her first fantasy epic with her best friend when she was ten. Like almost any epic fiction written by a ten year old, it was awful. She likes to think she’s improved since then, if only because she has better handwriting now.


If she’s not writing, she’s almost certainly either reading or lost down a wikipedia rabbit hole while pretending to research for a novel.


Facebook
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A MelanieM Audiobook Review: The Hockey Player’s Heart (Hockey Hearts) by Jeff Adams and Will Knauss with Finn Sterling (Narrator)

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

When hockey star Caleb Carter returns to his hometown to recover from an injury, the only thing he’s interested in is a little R & R. He never expects to run into his onetime crush at a grade school fund-raiser . Seeing Aaron Price hits him hard, like being checked into the boards. The attraction is still there, even after all these years, and Caleb decides to make a play for the schoolteacher. You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take, right?

Aaron has been burned by love before and can’t imagine what a celebrity like Caleb could possibly see in a guy like him. Their differences are just too great. But as Aaron spends more time with Caleb, he begins to wonder if he might have what it takes to win the hockey player’s heart.

The Hockey Player’s Heart (Hockey Hearts) by Jeff Adams and Will Knauss combines several elements that made this an automatic listen.  First and foremost is hockey!  I love hockey and hockey players and this story has that in hockey star Caleb Carter who is returning home to rehab his injury.  Secondly? The chance for an old crush to reignite into something more.  Caleb has always had something for Aaron Price who long ago used to tutor him in math.  Now both are grown and will get the chance to meet again back in FosterGrove, their hometown where Aaron teaches math.  Yes! Second chances!  Another favorite trope of mine.  And thirdly?  The fact that Aaron’s been hurt before and doesn’t see himself as anyone lovable or good enough for a relationship.

The character of Caleb is by far my favorite.  Strong, generous, thoughtful, yet not perfect, Caleb is the one you instantly connect with.  Aaron the teacher I absolutely adored.  The scenes with his students shines with the knowledge of someone with understanding of what makes a great teacher.  It’s with his students and within the framework of his profession that Aaron is a whole person. Outside of it, then Aaron is a person full of doubts and issues of self-worth.  I thought the authors did a sensitive job with Aaron’s past and yet, in many respects for me, this aspect of Aaron…his constant insecurity issues almost became an irritating factor after a while. Especially when faced when the hurt he was causing without actually having more discussions.

Yes, it all came right at the end through a totally charming scene that showed Aaron how wrong he’d been.  Still.  While I appreciated the need for Aaron to work through his issues, I just felt as though it went on far too long considering the length of the story.  More romance, less nattering about.  Because together they are wonderful!

The narration by Finn Sterling was terrific.  I loved his voice for Caleb, and he juggled all the roles easily, even the feminine voices, like Caleb’s sister’s and Aaron’s students which did come across as young as they were written.  Well done!  Listening to this story, the time flew by,  I was able to lose myself in their romance and have a wonderful doing doing it.  That lets me definitely recommend this audiobook to you as well.

Cover art: Bree Archer. Love this cover.  It’s bright and happy, with Foster Grove’s main street laid out behind  Caleb!  Great job.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio, Dreamspun Desires #50
Published March 30th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press (first published January 16th 2018)
Edition Language English
SeriesHockey Hearts #1
CharactersAaron Price, Caleb Carter
settingF oster Grove, New York (United States)

An Alisa Release Day Review: In the Desert (States of Love) by Elliot Joyce

Rating:  5 stars out of 5

 

Can a Navajo trans teen and a nerdy Catholic find the place they belong… and maybe themselves? In the desert, anything is possible….

 

When Wren came out as transgender before his senior year, it cost him most of his friends. His father hopes joining a Boy Scout troop might help Wren meet other young men his age and be accepted for who he is.

 

Felipe Nieves wants the new guy in the troop to feel comfortable, and he reaches out to Wren. They become fast friends… with something more beneath the surface. Those feelings confuse Felipe, since his religion considers this a sin—and he’s always assumed he was straight—but he can’t help pining for Wren. Asking him out will take courage, and getting together won’t be easy… but through their friendship, both young men might find their identities… and learn to embrace them in a unique coming-of-age story set against the beauty of the American Southwest.

 

Ohh, both of these boys are adorable. Wren is still dealing with coming out and all the backlash he received but finds friends and acceptance joining his brother’s Boy Scout troop. Felipe doesn’t have many friends other than Kyle and Travis but sees something in Wren that draws him.

 

I love trans stories because they seem to get so much more in depth than many. This was different getting to see an accepting and loving family along with the new friends Wren has made, many are when the characters are older and usually haven’t have good experiences. I was able to connect easily with these characters, they didn’t try to hide their emotions but needed some help to accept their feelings. The encouraging friends and family helped both of them the most. This was such a feel good story and shows how much love and acceptance can help anyone.

 

The cover art by Brooke Albrecht is nice and perfectly understated.

 

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

 

Book Details:

ebook, 106 pages

Published: May 4, 2018 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 978-1-64080-448-7

Edition Language: English

Series: A States of Love Story

 

An Ali Review: The Perfect Whore (Storm and Lightning #1) by Josephine Myles

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Being the object of everyone’s sexual fantasies ain’t all it’s cracked up to be…

On a mining colony planet a long way from Earth, bandit Jedd Lightning dreams of making enough money to get his ship spaceworthy again. During a robbery at a high-class brothel, he meets gorgeous alien rentboy Storm and is instantly smitten—but the heist goes south and Jedd has to high-tail it out of there with only half the loot.

Enslaved by a fierce Madam, Storm’s shapeshifting talents make him the most sought after whore on Talmak. He literally can’t stop himself becoming his client’s fantasy lover. Sick of enforced transformations, he wants to escape, but he’s closely guarded and has no experience of the unfamiliar city outside the brothel.

Storm is willing—and eager—to do anything to persuade Jedd to break him out of his gilded prison. Lucky for him the arrogant outlaw needs Storm’s help to free his crewmate, held as hostage by a vicious mob boss who wants Jedd to complete the theft he was hired for. Storm keeps blowing away Jedd’s expectations—but with both the law and the mob against them, they could end up with nowhere left to run.

This was a really unique story.  I’ve read a lot of this author’s books in the past but nothing like this.  Even the writing style seemed different.  I wasn’t sure what to think of this at first.  I didn’t care for Jedd until mid way through the book.  He was a bit obnoxious but he grew on me as the story progressed.  Storm was was engaging from the beginning.  I think my favorite part was the snarking at each other that they did.  There were some pretty funny exchanges between the two.
This is pretty fast paced and it ends with nothing resolved.  It is obvious that this is the first book in the series.  I know that is bothersome to some readers but I didn’t mind how it ended.  I’m curious as to how their story and relationship will progress.
My biggest complaint was I would have liked more world building.  We’re thrown into the middle of a world that’s not really explained.  I had a lot of unanswered questions.
 Overall though, it was a very enjoyable story and it was different which is always a positive thing for me.  I will definitely be reading the next book in the series.

This cover was done by Lou Harper and I like it.  I think it is a good representation of how the two MC’s are described and it perfectly captures the vibe of the story.

Sales Links:

Universal Buy Link

Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 201 pages
Published April 26th 2018
ASINB07C7H5ZBX
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesStorm and Lightning #1

Erin McLellan on Writing, Locations, and her release Life of Bliss (Love Life #2) by Erin McLellan

 

Life of Bliss (Love Life #2) by Erin McLellan

Release Date: April 30, 2018

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Erin McLellan here today to talk about the characters in her latest story, Life of Bliss.  Welcome, Erin.

~ Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Interview with Erin McLellan ~

Who inspired Victor’s character? 

He was very likeable as the BFF who was a rock for Niles while Skyping with him from his job on a cruise ship throughout Life on Pause. I don’t usually go into detail on a secondary character in a review but I did for him when I reviewed Life on Pause. 

Is he based on someone you’ve met?  And, by the way, thank you for giving him his own story in this sequel.  

You’re welcome! I am so happy you loved Victor! He was one of those characters that just seemed to jump off the page when I started writing him. When I was drafting Life on Pause, I didn’t have clear plans to write him and/or Todd a sequel, but he ended up being so charismatic and fun that I didn’t want to let him go.

I wouldn’t say that Victor is based on any one person, but when I originally wrote him, I thought a lot about the friends in my life. It was really important to me that he be an awesome friend, and I’m lucky to have had a lot of good examples to pull from. Also, a handful of Victor’s one-liners are courtesy of my friend, Dillon. They both have very snarky, quirky senses of humor, and I’d often have conversations with Dillon that ended with me saying, “Can I steal that joke for my book?” And he always says yes because he’s wonderful. Life of Bliss is dedicated to him.

What was your favorite scene in Life of Bliss?

Oh! This is such a hard one. My favorite is the scene during Remy’s wedding reception. Todd and Victor get increasingly tipsy and their feelings for each other peek through. Of course, when their inhibitions start to lower, they get this crazy idea that they should elope! It was the first scene I envisioned—the origin, so to speak—when I thought of the story!

I also have a soft spot for the scene with the possum, and any scene that involves sticky notes.

Who or what inspired this enemies to lovers story?

In Life on Pause, where the characters first meet, their disdain for each other is pretty explosive, but their chemistry was somewhat of a happy accident, I guess. I hadn’t planned it. Though, I have to admit that my husband and I were not the best of friends when we first met, so perhaps I pulled sub-consciously from that experience a bit!

Other parts of the story had more real-life inspiration. My husband and I went to Eureka Springs, AR, one of the settings in the story, before we were married. We loved it and were really tickled by all the wedding-themed stuff. A lot of the Oklahoma City scenes are based on real places, like the gay bar and some of the restaurants. Lastly, the idea for this story came from one of my late-maternal grandmother’s diary entries. She wrote about how a lot of her friends didn’t have weddings during the Korean War, but instead eloped to Arkansas where there was no marriage-license waiting period. That tidbit has always stuck in my head, especially as some places in Arkansas, like Eureka Springs, have very wedding-themed economies.

What do you enjoy most about writing MM romances? 

It’s important to me to write queer characters, and while I’ve now written three m/m romances, I plan to write m/f and f/f as well. In fact, I’m writing an m/f with a bisexual woman right now!

I’ve had fun writing m/m romances set in the Great Plains (like Oklahoma) because it’s not a setting I’ve seen very often in m/m romance, and when I have, it’s the place people are trying to escape from, or they’re all cowboys. Not to knock cowboys, because they’re great, but they certainly aren’t common anymore. I grew up in Oklahoma, so I know a ton of queer people who have built their lives there, who cope with the good and the bad of living in a conservative, flyover state every day. It’s important to me to show what that might look like.

Lastly, I enjoy writing soft, squish-worthy heroes, so why not write two in one story!

Life of Bliss Tagline:

Pretending to be boyfriends is easy. Being accidental husbands is not.

Blurb:

Nobody plans to accidentally marry their frenemy-with-benefits.

Todd McGower and Victor Consuelos do not like each other. They can’t have a conversation without insults flying, and Victor seems to get off on pushing Todd’s buttons. The fact that their antagonism always leads to explosive sex . . . well, that’s their little secret.

Victor has a secret of his own. His full-blown crush on Todd is ruining his sex life. He hasn’t looked at anyone else in months, and he’s too hung up on Todd to find a date to his cousin’s wedding.

In a moment of weakness after a heart-stopping night together, Todd agrees to be Victor’s fake boyfriend for the wedding. Victor will have his plus-one—which will get his family off his back—and Todd will get a free mini-vacation. It’s a win-win.

But pretending to be fake boyfriends leads to real intimacy, which leads to too much wine, and suddenly, Todd and Victor wake up with wedding bands and a marriage license between them. That was not their plan, but a summer of wedded bliss might just change their minds.

Series: Love Life #2 (note: can be read as a standalone)

Genre: m/m contemporary romance

Length: 53,000 words

Buy Links:

Author Bio:

Erin McLellan writes contemporary romance with characters that are complex, goodhearted, and sometimes a little quirky. She likes her stories to have a sexy spark and a happily ever after.

Erin has a bachelor’s degree in creative writing from Oklahoma State University and a master’s degree in library and information studies from the University of Oklahoma. Though no longer a public librarian, Erin still enjoys being surrounded by books and readers, but now she hopes to find her stories on the shelves as well.

Originally from Oklahoma, she currently lives in Alaska with her husband and spends her time dreaming up love stories set in the Great Plains. She is a lover of chocolate, college sports, antiquing, Dr Pepper, and binge-worthy TV shows.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.erinmclellan.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/emclellanwrites

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/erinmclellanwrites/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorerinmclellan/

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/erinmclellanwri/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/erin-mclellan

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2qACRYv

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16700859.Erin_McLellan

 

Giveaway

Here is a Rafflecopter giveaway for 3 copies of Life on Pause. It runs from April 30-May 7 and the author will contact the winners! Must be 18 years of age or older.  Good luck everyone!

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Review Tour – The Perfect Whore (Storm and Lightening #1) by Josephine Myles (excerpt and giveaway)


 

 

 

 

 

Cover Design: Lou Harper

 

Length: 58,000 words approx
Blurb

 

Being the object of everyone’s sexual fantasies ain’t all it’s cracked up to be…

On a mining colony planet a long way from Earth, bandit Jedd Lightning dreams of making enough money to get his ship spaceworthy again. During a robbery at a high-class brothel, he meets gorgeous alien rentboy Storm and is instantly smitten—but the heist goes south and Jedd has to high-tail it out of there with only half the loot.

Enslaved by a fierce Madam, Storm’s shapeshifting talents make him the most sought after whore on Talmak. He literally can’t stop himself becoming his client’s fantasy lover. Sick of enforced transformations, he wants to escape, but he’s closely guarded and has no experience of the unfamiliar city outside the brothel.

Storm is willing—and eager—to do anything to persuade Jedd to break him out of his gilded prison. Lucky for him the arrogant outlaw needs Storm’s help to free his crewmate, held as hostage by a vicious mob boss who wants Jedd to complete the theft he was hired for. Storm keeps blowing away Jedd’s expectations—but with both the law and the mob against them, they could end up with nowhere left to run.

April 26 – Drops Of Ink, Gay Book Reviews, Joyfully Jay
Apirl 28 – Bonkers About Books, Two Chicks Obsessed
April 30 – Cupcakes & Bookshelves, Making It Happen, Lelyana’s Book Blog
May 2 – RAM PA Group, Blazing Zane Book Blog, My Book Filled Life
May 4 – Jim’s Reading Room, Mirrgold, Bayou Book Junkie, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, OMG Reads, Book Review By Virginia Lee, My Fiction Nook Lillian Francis

 

 

Excerpt

 

“Stick ’em up, people. This is a raid. I want all your valuables, right now…” The last words trailed away as Jedd took a really good look at the naked, sweaty couple on the bed. His target, the Right Honorable Senator Artaxico Thrublet, was on his knees behind one of the most gorgeous bodies Jedd had ever clapped eyes on. A body on hands and knees. A most decidedly human and male body…

Shit, had he gotten the wrong room? Jedd squinted at the client, trying to work out if it really was the senator. ’He was definitely Talmaki, with his lizard-like body, orange, hairless skin and bulging eyes . But no, he’d studied footage of Artaxico and recognized his large nose and the ridiculous looking rows of diamond studs up both his pointed ears.

“Hold on, just let me finish. Uh!” Artaxico shuddered to a stop, his belly wobbling as he panted obscenely. Jedd winced at the sight. He knew interspecies mating went on—everyone had heard the tales—but intellectual knowledge wasn’t the same thing as having it thrust in your face. Talmaki just weren’t his idea of sexy. Okay, there had been that one time he’d got drunk enough for a fumble in an alleyway, but the alien’s cock had been kind of scary, and things hadn’t got very far. But maybe the gorgeous young whore was used to those luminous, scaly shafts of meat. Maybe he even enjoyed them. Was he enjoying Talmaki cock right now? He was certainly hard enough.

Right now Jedd couldn’t see the expression on the whore’s face as it was buried in the mattress, but maybe that was for the best. There was no way he could be handsome enough to do that incredible body justice. No wonder the senator had decided to try him as a change from the celebrated Divine. The rentboy moaned through his own orgasm, just moments after the senator, and drenched the sheets below him in spunk.

Artaxico withdrew, revealing an intimidating length of glowing scarlet cock, then collapsed back onto the bed. He reached out to pat a perfectly formed buttock. “Run along now, sthweetie. I wouldn’t want you to get caught up in any of this nasty business.” The lad scooted down to the end of the bed facing Jedd, exposing an equally impressive prick which was filling up again in what must be a record-breaking time.

And as for his face… Suns above! Those were lips Jedd would give anything to see stretched around his dick. But no, he had a job to do, and he wasn’t about to get sidetracked by some hyper-sexed rentboy, no matter how astoundingly gorgeous he was.

“The boy stays,” Jedd ordered. Artaxico gave him a puzzled look, but Jedd pressed on. “I want your datapod and passcode, now!”

“Not a chance in hell. That passcode is top level sthecurity,” Artaxico lisped. “I really don’t imagine there’s anything an ignorant monkey like you could do that could force me to sthpeak.”

Okay, just as he’d feared, but Jedd had his back-up plan. “Oh yeah?” Jedd strode over to the bed and grabbed the lithe young man under the arm. There was a brief moment where he was distracted by the sensation of naked skin against his own, but he couldn’t afford to lose any time so he pulled the whore upright, holding the charge gun to his temple. “Your strumpet gets it if you don’t talk. And don’t think this is a bluff. I never bluff.” He pulled the lad tighter to him for emphasis, but this had the unfortunate effect of bringing more of his own body in contact with those taut muscles, and his face even closer to the thatch of chestnut curls. His nose was on a level with the top of the whore’s head, and he pulled in a lungful of the most divine, arousing musk. Feeling a familiar tightening in his pants where he brushed up against those pert buttocks, Jedd cursed his over-active libido. “I’m warning you! The code, now!”

Artaxico just laughed, a mocking bray that wound Jedd up worse than finding a firebug had crawled into his beer. “Utter nonsense! I’ve stheen killers before – by the sthuns, I employ enough of them, and you really don’t have that look in your eyes. You’re just an overgrown wassat, aren’t you?” The senator twitched his nose in a near perfect imitation of one of the pesky rodents.

Jedd fumed. First a monkey, now a wassat. He turned the gun on the senator. “Okay then, if you don’t give me that passcode this instant, you get it. I mean it!”

“Like you’ll ever be able to get it off me if I’m dead. Does that antique piece of crap even have the power to kill? Looks more like something my wife would carry to stun any overconfident admirers.”

Goddammit, how could the man tell? Jedd waved the gun as threateningly as he could. “You willing to take that risk?”

Artaxico laughed again, getting up to his feet. “What risk? There’s security everywhere in this place, you know? I’m just going to stroll out of here and call the guards, and you’re not going to do a thing to stop me.”

Oh, wasn’t he? Jedd aimed at Artaxico’s head and pulled the trigger. “Ha! Not so clever now, are you?”

“Is he going to be all right? That was just a stun, wasn’t it? “ The godlike young man had a voice to match his physique—a rich and sultry baritone that rumbled against Jedd’s breastbone.

The senator snored before Jedd had a chance to answer, and the lad melted back against him, sighing with what sounded like relief. Their close contact made a certain part of Jedd’s body grow stiffer while the rest seemed to want to melt into a puddle.

Would the rentboy mind sneaking in a quickie? Jedd would even pay if he had to, the lad was that gorgeous. Or would the stun charge have set off the internal alarm system? Probably best not to risk dawdling too long.

Still, seemed a shame to waste a moment like this now that Artaxico was unable to interfere. Jedd loosened his hold and let the young man turn in his arms. Holy fuck, Jedd could feel the whore’s massive erection prodding his thigh.

He took a deep breath, forced it out. Focus. Not here. Not now. Just gather information. “Captain Jedd Lightning, at your service. And who might you be, gorgeous creature?”

The man chuckled, stepping away from him and turning to fix him with a pair of intensely soulful deep green eyes. “My working name’s Divine, but you can call me Storm.”

“Divine? But… You’re meant to be a girl!” Jedd spluttered.

The young man gave a maddening, secretive smile. “Divine can be whoever you want, Captain. Divine is simply the title of your ideal lover.”

“So they swap you around depending on what the johns want? There are other Divines?”

“Something like that. But please, call me Storm.” A plaintive note sounded in his voice and his lower lip jutted in an almost-pout. “No one ever does these days.”

Storm. It suited him, as there was a wildness in those eyes that Jedd thought he recognized, something he glimpsed in his own reflection every morning. Focusing on Storm’s eyes proved a challenge, though, when there was all that naked flesh to feast his gaze on. Smooth, bronzed skin, with just enough hair between those dark nipples to make him want to run his fingers through it. Jedd’s gaze followed the trail down all the way to the most majestic cock he’d ever seen. It reached up invitingly, as if seeking Jedd’s hand.

“You have quite an imagination, don’t you?” Storm said, staring down at himself as if in fascination.

 

 

English through and through, Josephine Myles is addicted to tea and busy cultivating a reputation for eccentricity. She writes gay erotica and romance, but finds the erotica keeps cuddling up to the romance, and the romance keeps corrupting the erotica. Jo blames her rebellious muse but he never listens to her anyway, no matter how much she threatens him with a big stick. She’s beginning to suspect he enjoys it.

Jo’s novel Stuff won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Bisexual Romance, and her novella Merry Gentlemen won the 2014 Rainbow Award for Best Gay Romantic Comedy. She loves to be busy, and is currently having fun trying to work out how she is going to fit in her love of writing, dressmaking and attending cabaret shows in fabulous clothing around the demands of a preteen with special needs, an incessantly curious pre-schooler, and a bun in the oven!

Website and blog: josephinemyles.com/
Facebook: facebook.com/josephine.myles.author
Twitter: @JosephineMyles

 


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Release Blitz and Giveaway – Whisper (Skins #2) by Garrett Leigh

 

 
Cover Design: Black Jazz Design
 
Length: 260 pages
 
Skins Series
 
Dream (Book #1) – Universal Buy Link
 
Blurb
 

Standalone second book in the Skins series.

Lonely physiotherapist Harry Foster has the world at his feet. A full client list, a six figure Instagram following, and a publishing deal for a book he doesn’t have time to write until his agent offers him a break—a retreat to the wild south west coast.

Cornish horseman Joe Carter is lonely too. Rescuing horses and managing Whisper Farm takes up most of his days, and by night he plays chicken with the farm’s perilous bank accounts.

At his sister’s unwelcome suggestion, he rents his only bedroom to a bloke from the city, and when Harry arrives, he’s everything Joe isn’t—calm, patient, and gorgeous enough to be exactly the kind of distraction Joe doesn’t need.

Harry doesn’t have time for distractions either—even shirtless farmers riding bareback past his bedroom window—but his moody host proves impossible to ignore.

On paper, they have nothing in common, but Joe is beautiful…glorious, and when an accident puts his life in Harry’s healing hands, the whisper of true love is inevitable. If the trouble that put the farm on its knees in the first place doesn’t get in the way.

Garrett Leigh is an award-winning British writer and book designer, currently working for Dreamspinner Press, Loose Id, Riptide Publishing, and Fox Love Press.


Garrett’s debut novel, Slide, won Best Bisexual Debut at the 2014 Rainbow Book Awards, and her polyamorous novel, Misfits was a finalist in the 2016 LAMBDA awards.


When not writing, Garrett can generally be found procrastinating on Twitter, cooking up a storm, or sitting on her behind doing as little as possible, all the while shouting at her menagerie of children and animals and attempting to tame her unruly and wonderful FOX.


Garrett is also an award winning cover artist, taking the silver medal at the Benjamin Franklin Book Awards in 2016. She designs for various publishing houses and independent authors at blackjazzdesign.com, and co-owns the specialist stock site moonstockphotography.com with photographer Dan Burgess.


Website: http://www.garrettleigh.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/garrettleighauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Garrett_Leigh

Sean Michael on Take Out and his new release ‘The Eager Boy (Iron Eagle Gym, #6) by Sean Michael (author guest blog)

The Eager Boy (Iron Eagle Gym, #6)  by Sean Michael
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art: LC Chase

Buy links:

Dreamspinner Press | Amazon |  Barnes and Noble | Kobo

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Sean Michael on tour for his new release The Eager Boy.  Welcome, Sean.

♦︎

 

Thank you to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for hosting me today!

So the guys in The Eager Boy bring in a lot of take-out, or go out for dinner. They’re both busy and that’s what’s convenient for them. They have a favorite place for breakfast and when they gt on the bike and go, there’s the odd neat little restaurant they wind up patronizing.

I have places where I like certain foods – chicken fingers and fries from the local Milano Pizzeria are the best. Wings on the other hand, I like from Gabriel’s. And House of Pizza makes the best slice in the neighborhood. My very favorite meal to get delivered (or take-out) though is from St-Hubert. They are a bbq quicken place and I love their chicken. It’s moist and flavorful and the skin is crispy and absolutely yummy. They’re coleslaw is good, too – just needs a little bit of salt. And they have millefueille for dessert which is this yummy layered flaky pastry with custard and whipped cream in layers. So good.

Of course, I don’t have the gym that Robin and Stack have. They certainly make indulging in fried foods and other take-out look easy to counter. The benefits of being a fictional character!

Do you have a favorite spot to get take out from, or to get delivered?

Hopefully men of The Eager Boy will deliver the read you’re looking for!

Sean

Smut fixes everything

Blurb:

Eight months ago Robin Secoya left his lover and master, Stack Lobond, because he didn’t believe Stack really cared about him. He was sure that for Stack, any warm body would do, and Robin wasn’t willing to be just a warm body anymore.

A chance meeting at the Iron Eagle Gym brings them back together, and old feelings aren’t far from the surface. They decide they can’t pass up a second chance at romance. But this time, it isn’t just Stack’s demanding career as a big-cat vet putting strain on their relationship. Robin also has a new job that takes up a lot of his time.

Will their kinky love affair crash and burn a second time, or can they find the balance that will allow the passion between them to flourish?

About the Author

Best-selling author Sean Michael is a maple leaf–loving Canadian who spends hours hiding out in used book stores. With far more ideas than time, Sean keeps several documents open at all times. From romance to fantasy, paranormal and sci-fi, Sean is limited only by the need for sleep—and the periodic Beaver Tail.

Sean fantasizes about one day retiring on a secluded island populated entirely by horseshoe crabs after inventing a brain-to-computer dictation system. Until then, Sean will continue to write the old-fashioned way.

Sean Michael on the web:

WEBSITE: http://www.seanmichaelwrites.com

BLOG: http://seanmichaelwrites.blogspot.ca

FACEBOOK: https://www.facebook.com/SeanMichaelWrites/

TWITTER: seanmichael09

INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/seanmichaelpics/

A MelanieM Review: Hard to Get (Haven’s Cove #2) by Jaclyn Quinn

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Gabe D’Angelo has it all. Designer clothes, luxury cars, a cool confidence most would envy, and a never-ending supply of money—and men. When he arrived in Haven’s Cove to be there for his best friend, he never imagined he’d end up extending his stay indefinitely. Small town living isn’t so bad after all, and the views are magnificent—especially the view of a sexy, rugged blond. But when that mysterious, brooding man refuses all Gabe’s advances, he is forced to take a step back and truly look at the person he’s become.

Nate Black moved from Boston to Haven’s Cove for his family. He’s missed small town living and the simple, tranquil life that comes with it. What he doesn’t bargain for is the pushy, spoiled playboy who’s set his eyes on Nate as his next conquest. Knowing this man has the potential to crack the foundation of his quiet life, Nate will do everything he can to protect his safe, closed-off world.

Is one man worth loving? Is the other worth the sacrifice? Or is the love they’re searching for not just hard to get but completely out of reach?

After the first story (Hard to Let Go) in Haven’s Cove series where we met both men, I was curious to see where the author was going to take these men an their relationship.  Now we get our answer in Hard to Get (Haven’s Cove #2). For starters, Nate Black is someone you like immediately and Gabe is that individual you don’t.  At least for me.  And that opener for this story increased that tenfold.

Gabe became that person who see’s others as an object to triumph over, to “win” and move on.  When a reader such as me is already on the side of Nate, a character like Gabe is already in the losing position here as far as my heart and connections go.   And he stayed that way for some time.  It drew down my ability to invest in his redemption and my belief that he truly felt something for Nate and his daughter in such a short amount of time.

Even his friends in the story didn’t believe him (via the author).  Trust me that didn’t help either when trying to build the case that the man had an unrevealed character he has yet to show people.  Or that a huge change of heart and ways was coming.  As it was.

What really makes this story, and in fact, the entire series work, is that Jaclyn Quinn can write wonderful characterizations.  So in effect, you are mad at the people she’s created that feel so believable for behaving in such an abominable manner and not the writer. Yes, you don’t like their actions but you believe in their story.  So great job there.

The rest of the romance that follows the growth of Gabe’s character and Nate’s ability to learn to trust in Gabe.  While the pace feels sweet and fast, especially when a child is involved, it’s still comes across as real.  As does their friends and family.  Mothers push when not wanted, although I found her actions surprising again when there is a child involved.  I won’t even begin to discuss Gabe’s family and father.

The Haven’s Cove series has become a romantic gem of stories that  started with Hard to Let Go and now with  Hard to Get.  I already see the next couple on the horizon and can’t wait for their story as well.  I don’t really consider this a standalone because it’s great to have the background and foundation work of the first novel before reading this one.  Read them both in order.  I highly recommend them if you’re a lover of contemporary romance.

Cover art:  Cate Ashwood Designs does a very good job of capturing both characters.

Sales Links:AMAZON US/AMAZON UK

Book Details:

ebook
Published April 19th 2018 by self-published (first published April 17th 2018)
Original TitleHard to Get: A Haven’s Cove Novel
Edition LanguageEnglish
Series Haven’s Cove :

Hard to Let Go (Haven’s Cove #1)

Hard to Get (Haven’s Cove #2)