An Alisa Release Day Review: Just Like Cats and Dogs (Sanctuary #1) by B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Can cats and dogs ever get along, let alone fall in love?

Sam knows you can never go home again. As an orphaned feline shifter raised by wolves, being an outcast is nothing new to him. But the pack is still his family, and when one of them passes away, Sam returns to the New Mexico desert to say good-bye.

Gus is a loner who rarely returns to his pack, but as fate would have it, Sam is there when he chooses to visit. The history between Gus and Sam is tumultuous, to say the least, but when Gus gets an eyeful of the grown-up and gorgeous version of his childhood bully, he can’t control his reaction. And he isn’t alone.

The attraction is powerful, but so are their differences. And with trouble brewing in the pack and danger surrounding them, Sam and Gus might not have the opportunity to seek common ground.

This action-packed shifter novel is the ultimate opposites attract and enemies-to-lovers romance, and it includes a bonus novella, In the Dog House.

This was a great story. Gus feels a connection to Sam when he sees him again and even stands up for him against the pack when he thinks it is necessary. When they see each other a few months later it impossible to miss how strong a connection they have to each other.

Unfortunately Sam and Gus have always been loners and don’t know how to communicate well, which causes a few misunderstandings when they are first together. Gus and Sam both want reassurance from the other, but aren’t comfortable saying it and end up saying or doing the wrong thing. The love these two have for each other one they open up is a wonderful thing, both willing to give up everything for the other.

We get to see both of these character’s points of view which helps understand what they are thinking even if they aren’t quite following it with their actions. The mate bond in this story is a bit different than the claiming bite during sex and it done. Both characters have to work and focus on their relationship for the bond to fully form and grow, I loved how this worked for the characters. The novella, In the Dog House, is great and gives us a look at Gus and Sam down the road. It also brings in a new character that seems to be important to the next book in the series and I can’t wait to read more about this new pack.

Cover art by Alexandria Corza great and I love the visuals of Sam and Gus, both in human and animal form.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 206 pages

Published: 2nd Edition, January 25, 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781635332988

Edition Language: English

Series: Sanctuary #1

A Stella Release Day Review: Nachos & Hash (Mary’s Boys Novella One) by Brandon Witt

RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Darwin Michaels is living his dreams in the Mile High City. While Denver offers the perfect job, scrumptious dining, and whirlwind dating options, Darwin is losing hope he’ll find the right man to spark his interest for more than a one-night stand—until he sets eyes on Cody Russell.

Cody has just accomplished his life’s goal—get the hell out of Kansas. In one fell swoop, he lands a job at Hamburger Mary’s and gets a newfound family and the chance to be with other gay people! All that’s missing is someone special. But when Darwin shows his interest, Cody is sure it’s too good to be true. After all, what can Darwin possibly see in the high school dropout serving him nachos?

As Darwin falls in love, Cody struggles to realize his worth. When his past threatens the fragile life he is building, Cody spirals into a moment of dark desperation. But Darwin is determined to show Cody that love and family and home are there for him… will Cody accept what is offered?

Darwin is on a cheap date with (the awful) Mark and after two seconds with the boring and nonsense man found on Match.com, he starts planning his escape until ManDonna helps him getting rid of his date. While swearing off online dates, Cody happens in his life. Cody, the waiter who can’t shut up for a moment. Cody who has just moved to Denver where he is living his dream, go away from Kansas and finally be himself in a safe place like Hamburger Mary’s with people who actually care for him. Darwin has everything he wishes from his life except a boyfriend, a real one, someone to find a HEA with and Cody seems to be the right one.

Brandon Witt is one of my favorite authors, I adored everything he wrote so far, this novella, the beginning of a new series called Mary’s Boy was awesome in the writing, in the dialogues, in the setting, in the characters. I loved not just Cody and Darwin, but most of all the second characters, like Pat and Stevens, the owner, who have become Cody’s new family.

In Nachos & Hash I truly adored how I soon and easily was able to feel and see the love between all the characters. It wasn’t necessary the use of “I love you”, it was clear in their thoughts, words, actions. I saw their strength, I sadly saw their weaknesses and their unfounded inadequacy.

As always, Brandon entertained me with an emotional reading full of real persons. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series, I’m so excited for Vahin to have his own HEA.

The cover art by AngstyG is lovely, I like it.

Sales Links

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 122 pages

Expected publication: January 25th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ASIN B01N1Z5WDW

Edition Language English

Series Mary’s Boy #1

A Stella Review: Whiteout (Seasons of Love #1) by Elyse Springer

RATING 4 out of 5 stars

Noah Landers wakes up one day with a headache and no memory of where—or who—he is. Jason, the man taking care of him, tries to fill in some of the blanks: they’re in a cabin in Colorado on vacation, and Noah slipped on ice and hit his head. But even with amnesia, Noah knows Jason is leaving out something important.

Jason O’Reilly is sexy as hell, treats Noah like he’s precious, and seems determined to make this the romantic getaway they’d apparently dreamed of together. But Noah’s more concerned that he’s trapped alone with Jason in the middle of a blizzard while his slowly-returning memories bring hints of secrets and betrayal.

Noah’s not sure what’s the truth and what’s a lie. But as he learns who he is—and who Jason is to him—he’s forced to reevaluate everything he believes about himself, about loyalty . . . and about love.

Noah wakes up from a fall and can’t remember his own name and who is the person with whom he is sharing a cabin on Christmas time in the middle of a blizzard. He seems to be Jason, his boyfriend but is this the truth? Are Noah and Jason their true names?

Whiteout is the first book in the Season of Love series by Elyse Springer and the author debut novel. A lovely debut book, well written, engaging and with loveable characters. I’m so happy I found a new author I truly enjoyed.

In Whiteout we see Noah slowly get his memories back, flashback after flashback. We see him doubt Jason and their love, but he can’t deny (and it’s clear for the reader too) the attraction and chemistry between them. We see him finally remember everything and be brave and honest with himself and Jason. The book is divided into two parts, in the first one the plot is focused on the MCs, being in a cabin in the middle of nowhere there is really no space for secondary characters. And there, I started to understand where the story was going but I was very curious to see how the author would develop the novel. I have to say I loved this book very much, although it didn’t surprise me in the plot, it surprised me in the development, especially in the second part. I loved how determined Nathan was at showing Jason who he really was and how powerful his love was. I liked the secondary characters I met later and I can’t wait to read their own stories.

I can say Whiteout was a success to me and I’m very interested in reading the coming books even if not all of them will be mm stories. Highly recommend it.

The cover art by Natasha Snow is well done, I like the artist style and all the covers in this series are well done and fitting.

Sales Links

Riptide Publishing

BOOK DETAILS

only listed at Amazon in paperback

Kindle Edition, 276 pages

Published January 23rd 2017 by Riptide Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-62649-511-1

Edition Language English

Series Season of Love #1

A Lila Review: The Impossible Boy by Anna Martin

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

This is not your average love story.

Ben Easton is not your average romantic hero. He’s a tattooed, badass, wannabe rock star, working in a perfectly horrible dive bar in Camden Town. His life is good, and he’s totally unprepared for how one man will turn it upside down.

Stan isn’t your average heroine. As a gender-fluid man, he proudly wears his blond hair long, his heels sky-high, and his makeup perfectly executed. A fashion industry prodigy, Stan is in London after stints working in Italy and New York City, and he quickly falls for Ben’s devil-may-care attitude and the warm, soft heart Ben hides behind it.

Beneath the perfect, elegant exterior, Stan has plenty of scars from teenage battles with anorexia. And it only takes the slightest slip for his demons to rush back in while Ben is away touring with his band. With the band on the brink of a breakthrough, Ben is forced to find a way to balance the opportunity of a lifetime with caring for his beautiful boyfriend.

The Impossible Boy is more than a romance. It’s the story of a young man adjusting back into life when dealing with anorexia. And how his sexuality, love life, and career were affected by it–before and after. It can be considered a coming of age novel set in London.

The book is divided into two parts. The first sixty-four percent is more of an introduction to Stan’s and Ben’s life and romance. I’d have been okay if the book ended there. Not that the rest isn’t worth it, but the second part felt like an addition or a longer view to a well-established relationship.

We spent a lot of time experiencing the story as Stan. And perhaps, that’s one of the reasons I find a disconnected between the two parts of the story. Almost like he blocked us from what was really happening, just like he was doing with the rest of the world. But by the end of the story, it’s easy to see that we were indeed blocked. It was part of Stan’s coping mechanism and we need to understand it like Ben had to.

The amount of detail in the story could be a bit overwhelming, but just like Stan, it was like learning more about the country, new people, and himself. One thing I appreciated was how the symptoms of Stan’s anorexia were presented as part of his personality, and not as a checklist to diagnose his medical condition.

This story is mostly sweet. It has a very young adult feel even when the main characters are older than what’s expected. There’s a slow burn that becomes love making; never fucking. They go on dates, spend time together, talk about work, and hang around with friends. The topics discussed are serious but there’s not a lot of angst. If not for Stan’s anorexia, this could be a fairytale romance.

All the secondary characters are great. The bandmates acted as normal young people trying to get into the spotlight. They’re not perfect, but they do work well together. They look out for each other and are a family. I do need to accept that my favorite character in the book was Tone, not the MCs. He’s more than Ben’s & Stan’s best friend, he’s the reason they understand each other. Plus, he’s lovely.

Overall, this is a good read. Just be sure you’re looking for something more than a simple romance story. It’s slow-paced and some of the switches between scenes can be quite abrupt, but it brings the story together in the end.

The cover by Garrett Leigh is beautiful. It fits Stan perfectly, not only physically, but emotionally.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | Nook

Book Details:

ebook, 204 pages
Published: January 17, 2017, Dreamspinner Press (Perchance to Dream)
ASIN: 1635332052 (ISBN13: 9781635332056)
Edition Language: English

RIPTIDE Tour: Whiteout by Elyse Springer (giveaway)

Whiteout (Seasons of Love #1) by Elyse Springer
Riptide Publishing
Cover by: Natasha Snow

Read an Excerpt/Purchase it here at Riptide Publishing

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Elyse Springer here today to talk about her recent release, Whiteout. Welcome, Elyse!

Hello! I’m Elyse, and welcome to the blog tour for my new release, Whiteout! This is the first book in the Seasons of Love series, and I can’t wait to introduce you to Noah and Jason.

About Whiteout

Jason O’Reilly is sexy as hell, treats Noah like he’s precious, and seems determined to make this the romantic getaway they’d apparently dreamed of together. But Noah’s more concerned that he’s trapped alone with Jason in the middle of a blizzard while his slowly returning memories bring hints of secrets and betrayal.

Now available from Riptide Publishing. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/whiteout

About Elyse Springer

Elyse is an author and world-traveler, whose unique life experiences have helped to shape the stories that she wants to tell. She writes romances with LGBTQ+ characters and relationships, and believes that every person deserves a Happily Ever After. When she’s not staring futilely at her computer screen, El spends her time adding stamps to her passport, catching up on her terrifying TBR list, and learning to be a better adult.

She’s always happy to chat with other readers, and you can find her online at:

Website: http://elspringer.com
Twitter: @ElyseSpringer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elysespringerwrites

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Whiteout, one lucky winner will receive a $20 Amazon gift card! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 28, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

An Ali Review: Duncan Andrews Thrillers Vol. 1 (Duncan Andrews Thrillers #1-4) by Stephen Osborne

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Private detective Duncan Andrews’s best friend Gina is a witch. His dog is a zombie. And his dead boyfriend, Robbie, is a ghost. So it’s hardly any wonder that he uses his connection to the supernatural to help him solve cases. In Pale as a Ghost, Duncan’s on the trail of a serial killer who may not be human, while also trying to move on in his dating life. In Animal Instinct, someone is using the skull of a powerful wizard—Gina’s father—to control animals and attack young Ashton Marsh. In The Scarlet Tide, Duncan’s latest case leads him to Chicago and a band whose members are all vampires. And in Dead End, Robbie’s cousin Jason has moved into a house that’s haunted by a serial killer, and Gina’s on the run from witch-hunters. Through it all, Duncan must solve the case and balance a complicated personal life.

Pale As Ghost

This first book introduces us to Duncan and his band of misfit friends. He’s a private detective who just so happens to have a best friend who’s a witch, a dog who’s a zombie and a dead ex-boyfriend who’s ghost lives with him. During this story Duncan works on two different cases, a missing girl and a blue ghost that is haunting a family. There’s some action and some comedy and it a little bit of bittersweet as Duncan realizes that a ghost can’t meet his needs and maybe it’s time for him to move on to a living boyfriend. I enjoyed this first book and getting to know this crazy cast of characters.

Animal Instinct

On this installment someone is using the skull of a powerful wizard to control animals and they’re not doing good things with them. Duncan’s friend Gina is distressed because the skull is that of her father and she knows how much damage he could do. Something serious happens that prevents Gina from being able to help and in addition Robby decides that maybe it’s time to move on to the after life. This one was one of my favorites. The plot was fast paced and entertaining and the side stories with Robby and Gina were emotional in parts.

The Scarlet Tide

Book three has Duncan heading to Indianapolis on case. This leads him to a rock band made up of vampires. He sets out to destroy them but the charismatic leader, Hunt, gains a psychic hold on Duncan, and forces him to look at things in his life he doesn’t really want to. There’s a lot going on relationship wise in this book and the author keeps me guessing as to how things will end up in the long run. The rest of the plot was fast paced and super entertaining.

Dead End

This story finds Duncan investigating the ghost of a serial killer that is haunting Robbie’s cousin’s house. Duncan goes in thinking it will be an easy case until the ghost almost kills him. Things get serious quickly and they have their hands full with this ghost. There is also a major plot development with the ongoing plot line between Duncan and the men in his life.

Some of the books I liked more than the others but overall I felt that this was a really good box set. Duncan is a great MC and his attitude was super fun and entertaining. There is a unique cast of characters who all add to the overall story line. The romance aspect was as entertaining as the mysteries were. I enjoyed the author’s writing style and while the first person story telling style doesn’t always work for me, it did here. I’ll definitely be continuing with the other books in this series.

Covers by Anne Cain: I liked all of the covers for these books. I think they are really well done. They are cohesive and yet each stands out. I especially like the use of color on them.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 642 pages
Published December 2nd 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN 1635331080 (ISBN13: 9781635331080)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesDuncan Andrews Thrillers #1-4

A Free Dreamer Review: Speakeasy by Suzey Ingold

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

In the height of the Prohibition era, recent Yale graduate Heath Johnson falls for Art, the proprietor of a unique speakeasy tucked away beneath the streets of Manhattan where men are free to explore their sexuality. When Art’s sanctuary is raided, Heath is forced to choose between love and the structured life his parents planned for him.

I totally have a thing for the Prohibition era and the whole air of forbidden love and fun it brings, so I was thrilled to discover “Speakeasy”. I will say that while I find the era fascinating, my historical knowledge about is pretty much non-existent. If you want to know if this story sticks to historic facts, then I’m not the right person to ask.

Heath is a good boy. Quiet, obedient, good grades and never disputes his parents’ decisions. Of course they don’t know that he actually prefers men and has no intention of marrying the girl his mother picked for him. I really liked Heath from the very beginning. He really matures over the course of the book and finally starts living his own life.

Art was a true gentleman and I loved the way he wooed Heath. It was charming. He can easily relate to Heath’s need to keep quiet and please his parents, having a very similar background. There’s no unnecessary drama about money, since both MCs aren’t exactly poor. This way, there was more room for real plot.

The romance was rather slow burn and there was absolutely no explicit sex. Every time, Heath and Art were together, I truly felt their infatuation and got that silly grin of the newly in love myself. It was wonderful.

There were only two minor things I didn’t like so much. The HEA was a bit too easy for me, given the circumstances. And I’m not a huge fan of first person present tense POV. I decided to give this book 5 stars anyway, simply because it was such a very charming love story.

Overall, I really, really liked “Speakeasy” and I will definitely keep an eye out to other works Suzey Ingold.

The cover is absolutely gorgeous. It’s what made me take a closer look at the book in the first place.

Sales Links

Interlude Press

Book details:

Kindle Edition, 218 pages
Published February 18th 2016 by Interlude Press
Original TitleSpeakeasy
ASINB01BN54KOM
Edition LanguageEnglish

A Paul B Review: The Last Dragonet (Dragon Prophecies #1) by Shannon West and Susan E. Scott

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Luca Wessex is a dragon spawn. Born of a Red dragon and human mother who died in childbirth, Luca belongs to the lowest class of dragon society. Keeping away from the gangs that most of the spawn seem to form, Luca just wants to get by in life. He works a few hours a week at a corner market run by an elderly man who has been more of a father to him than his own abusive one. His troubles begin when a couple of Golden dragons, the ruling class of dragons, ask him about the local gang leader. Full blooded dragons look down on spawn so it looks like he is screwed no matter what happens.

Dmitri and his brother have been sent to get information from Luca. Trying to convince the little spawn to cooperate is not easy. Even being attacked by the gang of spawn is not enough to convince Luca that Dmitri is his best option. The one thing he does know is that Luca does not know the true secret to his heritage and just how valuable he is to dragon society. And one thing that a dragon knows about is treasure. Dmitri knows that he must move quickly if he wants to have Luca not only as part of his horde but also in his life.

Dmitri takes Luca to his home in remote Russia. If he thought fighting spawn in the United States was bad, Dmitri runs into more problems at home. Dmitri’s parents are not thrilled to have the half breed staying in the mansion. Dmitri’s neighbor, who happens to be Luca’s grandfather, wants Luca to stay with him, no matter what it takes. And Dmitri must also convince Luca that he is not just part of his horde but wants something meaningful with him.

This is a great start to the new Dragon Prophecies series by West and Scott. Poor Luca has had a rough life and things in the beginning do not seem to improve for him. Being attacked and then virtually kidnapped for his own protection, he doesn’t really trust anybody. He falls for Dmitri but only wants to pursue things if he is more than just a treasure to be hoarded. The prophecy at the end of the book needs to be explored more in future books in this series. I cannot wait for the next book to come out.

E Connor’s cover design is gorgeous. A built man with his shirt open stands in front of a Russian mountain with a dragon circling the mountain. It fits the book perfectly.

Sales Links

Dark Hollows Press

Buy It at Amazon

Book Details

Ebook, 147 pages

Edition Language: English

Published: December 20, 2016 by Dark Hollows Press

ISBN: 978-1-946379-03-0

Series: Dragon Prophecies

The Last Dragonet (Dragon Prophecies #1)

A MelanieM Review: The Case of the Wandering Wolves (Trickster’s Eye #1) by Mell Eight

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Six years ago Latrans found his mate—and had to let him go. Now York has returned pleading for Latrans’ help. His daughter has been kidnapped and Latrans is the only person York trusts to get her back. But a simple matter of rescue proves to be far more complicated than anticipated, and even having his mate at his side may not be enough to win the day.

I dive right into every Mell Eight book with enthusiasm and a certain amount of expectation on what I’m going to find in her stories. Her imagination almost certainly provides me with something new to think about, great characters and a wildly entertaining story. However, The Case of the Wandering Wolves (Trickster’s Eye #1) by Mell Eight did provide some a couple of elements I liked, it mostly had me scratching my head in disappointment. Why? Because there are huge holes in the narrative here and in the thinking of the characters and plot.

It all revolves around the mate bond and what happens when that occurs. Unfortunately here, the mate bonding is between were and human, twice over. In the first pairing… Latrans and York, Latrans first pushes his attraction/need for his mate unto the human with disastrous results. It didn’t help that York is closeted, only has the slightest leanings or interest in men (he might be bisexual, a path not investigated here). But Latrans does eventually leave his mate alone, knowing that as a human, York cannot feel the same as he does. Realistic, and totally abandoned when another were/human pair appears later in the story.

That human is expected to adjust to the fact that they are a part of a bonded pair, a fact that shocked me given the factors surrounding that pair’s history. (Spoilers) . Its even more unbelievable given York’s stilted little speech about forgiving Latrans’ stalking bonding behavior etc. at the end of the tale. One, where did that language come from? A therapist? A brochure? It didn’t sound like anything the man had said previously in any of his conversations, so it was jarring. Secondly, the child and her welfare. Let’s just say, that got a little mixed up here as well. At least in my opinion.

There is a mystery. Two actually. One gets solved fairly quickly. The other? Well the villain is not really never in doubt. The ending is a HFN and this story a set up for a series that seems to revolve around the detective agency that Latrans runs with his friend called The Trickster’s Eye (Latrans is a were coyote). I will mostly likely pick up the second book to see what happens. It can only get better.

Cover art is so so. It could also be so much better.

Sales Links

Less Than Three Press

Amazon

Book Details:

ebook
Published January 11th 2017 by Less Than Three Press
ISBN139781620049358
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesTrickster’s Eye #1

An Ali Release Day Review: Gaining Trust (Kiss of Leather #5) by Morticia Knight

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Chuck isn’t sure what he needs and Master Jordan can’t wait to show him.

Stone’s shy junior investigator, Chuck, can no longer deny his interest in the BDSM lifestyle. The beautiful connections and raw emotions he’s witnessed between so many of the Doms and subs at Kiss of Leather leave him yearning for something he’d never dared hope he could have—unconditional love and care from a man. He isn’t sure if he can take the chance of having a real relationship when he’s not out to his meddling parents yet, but the sexy Master Jordan, Gavin’s friend and the owner of Club Consequence, makes him want to take that chance.

Master Jordan has been biding his time until he can get next to the super-fine Chuck. Gavin warned him that Chuck isn’t in the lifestyle, but there’s something special about him that speaks to Jordan’s heart. When they’re finally alone, the chemistry is off the charts and Jordan can tell it won’t take much to bring Chuck willingly into the world of BDSM.

An unexpected development in the case of Corey’s kidnappers shocks them all, but not as much as what happens with Chuck’s family. Jordan teaches Chuck that secrets hold power over the person keeping them, and that gaining trust can only be achieved through complete honesty.

I loved this story just as much as I have with all of the others in this series. Chuck and Jordan have been dancing around each other for the last couple books, so it was great to see them finally get their own story. It’s great to see Chuck’s trust building in Jordan when he has to deal with his combative family dynamic.

We got a quick look at Josh and David working to fix their relationship problems from the previous book, but leaves a little mystery for the future with the possibility of an additional owner for the club that gives the opportunity for more characters to come into play in future books. The rest of the book was on Chuck and Jordan’s budding relationship. Once they got going they moved pretty fast, but they had a lot of build up that had been in the background in the previous books, so they weren’t just jumping in.

They mystery of Corey’s previous dom continues throughout this book and brings in some new twists that may play a bigger role in later books. I look forward to reading more in this series while they solve the mystery, but also to see more of all the wonderful characters in this series.

The cover art is great and follows the pattern for the series.

Sales Links: Pride Publishing | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 142 pages

Expected Publication: January 24, 2017 by Pride Publishing

ISBN: 9781786515384

Edition Language: English

Series: Kiss of Leather #5

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Whiteout (Seasons of Love #1) by Elyse Springer Riptide Publishing Cover by: Natasha Snow

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Whiteout (Seasons of Love #1) by Elyse Springer
Riptide Publishing
Cover by: Natasha Snow