A Lila Review: Where Loyalties Lie by Logan Taylor‏

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Where Loyalties LIeWhen his homeland is conquered by invading barbarians, Nessir winds up not dead, but instead serving the new kings much as he once served his own. Though at first he is terrified of what they will do, across the palace and through the kingdom Abaidas and Ophion swiftly begin to make improvements their predecessor neglected. And though a married man should be off limits, Nessir finds himself falling for Abaidas anyway—and astonished when the interest proves to be mutual, and to learn that Ophion has no objections to Abaidas taking a lover.

But just as Nessir is settling into his strange, new life, he stumbles across an assassination plot—a plot he can speak of for fear of his sister’s life, unless he can convey it in a way that will not get him caught. In an act of desperation, he throws himself at Ophion, and under guise of being lovers the two work to protect the man they both love. And all the while Nessir tries to ignore the growing wish that Ophion’s affections were not merely a ruse…

 The opening scene brought us directly into the story’s setting and provided us with our first introduction to Nessir’s job, place in society, and relationship with King Amun. By the time the barbarians arrived, we have had the opportunity to learn more about Nessir and his sister.

 Abaibas’s and Ophion’s arrival changes Nessir’s future, but he decided to serve the King and his Consort without much pressure. Perhaps because both men gave him the opportunity to make his own decisions. He takes his role as the Majesties’ body servant as easy as he had done with the previous King.

 Leaving the war camp behind, the three men return to the conquered city. As the time pass, they get comfortable with each other, and Abaidas requests his husband approval to start a relationship, which he receives. Shortly after, Nessir learned about the conspiracy against the new King and staged an affair with Ophion to find a way to save the man they both love.

 Ophion protects Nessir’s sister as they tried to get more information about the attempt against Abaidas and planned to stop it. Their pretend relationship starts turning into more, but both, Nessir and Ophion, kept it to themselves.

 A combination of characters and events influenced the men’s lives, relationships, and positions. We get to witness the attempt against Abaidas, how it’s handled, at the repercussions, not only for their lives but to their separate relationships. By the end of the novella, we have the starts of a HEA with a promising future.

 Where Loyalties Lie has a good sense of location, era, and characterization since the very beginning. An accomplishment that’s sometimes difficult to grasp in a novella. The world build seems to take precedent leaving the plot points a little bare without resting relevance to the overall outcome.

 This is one of those stories that would benefit from another handful of pages. It’s a great start for a longer re-write, or perhaps, a series in the same world, even if it is with other main characters. There were some unanswered questions that can be addressed in further volumes.

 One thing I’d like to read more about is Abaibas’s and Ophion’s relationship. We know they were childhood friends, but I’d love to see their relationship unveiling. Especially, how their love story turned into an open relationship.

 The triad started as separated relationship, morphing later on into it. Even so, there’s a separation between the married couple and their third created by the inequality of the social status. In the end, it works well for them, and we get a glimpse of how hard they would work to stay together.

 Overall, I enjoyed this story. I just wanted a little more plot to join the beginnings of a great story.

 The cover is lovely and goes well with the time period and events in the story. The only drawback is the off-centered silhouettes that seemed too modern for it.

Sale Links: Less Than Three Press | Amazon (unavailable) | ARe

 Book Details:

 ebook, 89 pages
Published: March 9, 2016, by Less Than Three Press
ISBN: 9781620047293
Edition Language: English

Love Gets a Shakeup with ‘6 Days to get Lucky’ by LE Franks (guest interview, excerpt and giveaway

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6 Days to Get Lucky (A Nick Valentine Story#2) by LE Franks
Release Date: March 2, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Wilde City Press
Cover Artist: Wilde City Press

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing LE Franks author of 6 Days to Get Lucky. Hi LE thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

  • Tell us something no one else knows about your characters.

Davis “FatBoy” Newman was never supposed to ‘get the guy’. It really was his cousin Cameron in the first book – 6 Days to Get Valentine. He was only supposed to be the bouncer who set us his cousin. Apparently FatBoy had other ideas and the rest is history.

  • Have you ever written something that made you cry?

I have. Mostly I’ll just get a bit emotional during some dialog when it usually strikes.

  • Have you ever co-written with someone before?

I have. Sara York has been kind enough to share her talents in that arena on several occasions. (She’s pretty awesome, by the way).

  • What is the most difficult part of writing for you?

Time management. This year I’m keeping my obligations a little looser to allow for more fun and less stress while writing.

  • Name your four most important food groups.

I’m a lacto-vegetarian so you can probably guess. But during the dark of the night, when I’m writing to a deadline all healthy choices go out the window. So here are the four most important food groups while writing, arrayed in a semi circle around my laptop:

A) COFFEEEEEEEEEE
B) Diet Dr. Pepper

C) Hot Tamales/Mike & Ikes

D) Crunchy/Salty – [Kettle Brand Jalapeno Potato Chips / Cheetos/

Blurb

Mixologist Nick Valentine never thought love was in the cards, but after a scorching Valentine’s Day kiss from bouncer Davis “FatBoy” Newman, he’s beginning to think it’s possible. After four weeks of dry spell, Nick’s losing patience—it’s time FatBoy stop acting the gentleman and just throw him over the bar or Nick may just change his mind.

All FatBoy wants is a shot at winning Nick’s heart. As long as meddling bosses, an Irish hurling team and a bar riot don’t ruin his chances forever, he might just get lucky and take the man of his dreams, home.

 

Pages or Words: 72,000 words
Series should be read in order for maximum enjoyment
Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt

Reaching across the empty bed next to me, I rode out the last waves of my dream alone. I could still feel his phantom kiss on my lips and the sensation of a hand stroking along my thigh.

The rest of it was just a blur of emotions and sticky residue on my sheets—though I could guess at it without much effort. FatBoy Newman had been a specter haunting me at work so it was no great leap to assume he’d shouldered his way into my dreams as well.

In fact, he was at the root of my problem: I’d been having a hell of a dry spell.

Four weeks of near misses had done nothing but stoke my bad mood and turn my balls a lovely shade of indigo that matched my jeans…

Four weeks of dashed hopes…

Four weeks since the most romantic kiss of my life…

Four weeks of nothing.

Fuck the South and its mythology of the Southern Gentleman—if FatBoy Newman didn’t stop treating me like a delicate flower and throw me up against a wall soon, I was going to explode.

It was six days until St. Patrick’s Day, and FatBoy had until then to make his move, or I was moving on.

Buy the book:

Amazon | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | ARe | Wilde City Press

 

 

 

Meet the Author

LE Franks lives in the SF Bay area and writes M/M Romance in a unique mix of humor and drama with enough suspense to produce fast paced stories filled with emotion and passion and featuring characters that are quirky and complicated and sometimes a little bit dark. LE Franks is a best selling author and finalist for 2013 & 2014 Rainbow Awards. Her books are available through her publishers at MLR Press, Dreamspinner Press and Wilde City Press and Pride Publishing and online bookstores.

Where to find the author:

 

 


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Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: 6 Days to Valentine e-book & $5 Wilde City gift card for three total winner.

 

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A Stella Review :Lucky In Loveland (Welcome to Loveland #1) by K-lee Klein

RATING  3,5 out of 5 stars

Lucky In LovelandLoveland, Colorado is a special place all year around, a community of creativity and art, with scenic views and majestic mountains. But the town really shines once a year, on Valentine’s Day.

Lucky Roberts has lived in Loveland his whole life. He has good friends, strong family support, and is all about keeping his community fun and alive. The only thing Lucky has been “unlucky” with is love. But rather than avoiding February fourteenth in his hometown, he throws himself into helping others deliver their messages of love.

Enter Jack Canon. Jack moved to Loveland for a fresh start, in both his personal and professional lives. After a tough year, he’s finally hoping to just blend in, maybe carve a little niche for himself that his parents would have been proud of. What he didn’t expect was a pseudo-lumberjack with a killer body and shy smile to turn his world upside down – and he sure didn’t expect to like it so much.

When Lucky meets Jack, he feels like a thirteen year-old with his first crush. He’s clumsy, stammering, and the first greeting out of his mouth is a less than articulate, “Wow!” Words like adorable and manbun suddenly become part of his vocabulary as he discovers a deep, hidden need to romance the hell out of Jack.

And what better way to do that than during the most romantic season in the City of Love?

As I already said in my reaview of Textual Attraction (https://scatteredthoughtsandroguewords.com/2016/01/04/a-stella-review-textual-attraction-by-k-lee-klein/), I’m a huge fan of K-lee Klein. Her writing style is great and always exactly what I like to read.

Lucky in Loveland is her first self published story and the beginning of a new series called Welcome to Loveland and in my opinion she did well. I think the perfect adjective to describe it is adorable. It’s exactly the feeling I got through  all the reading.

The story starts with Lucky volunteering in the local kindergarten school where the handful little Daniel goes and most of all where the new-in-town Jack has begun teaching. He just moved to Loveland after the death of his parents.

The characters are cute and sweet together in their dates, the teasings, the stuttering, the blushing. Sweet but not childish. And the setting was unexpected, Loveland, the little town where the Valentine’s day is high celebrated. The atmosphere was magical and it carried me there with the MCs.

I honestly am looking forward to the second book to come out. If you’re looking for a light story with no drama and angst, quick and humorous, Lucky in Loveland is your book. Give it a try!

The cover designed by Karrie Jax is a winner. I particular like the colors and the style. Well done.

Sales Links:  Smashwords | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 120 pages
Published February 11th 2016 by K-lee Klein Books
Original TitleLucky In Loveland
ASINB01BPQJ2G0
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesWelcome to Loveland #1

A Lila Review: Ravenhearth by Lotus Oakes‏

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

RavenhearthEvery ten years, a letter arrives at Ravenhearth’s Abby requesting a companion for the town’s Keeper– a powerful mage that keeps the town safe from a deadly miasma. His only request is that the person comes willingly into the castle.

 Ten years before, Ash touched the last letter and felt the need to learn more about it. Over the years, he did nothing more than to survive in hopes to have a chance to be the next companion. When the next letter arrives, he’s the first one to volunteer to be sent to Ravenhearth’s Keeper.

 He’s a twenty-one-year-old orphan, interested in learning magic, and volunteering is his only chance to achieve his dream. He loved the town he moved in with his mother sixteen years ago, but he doesn’t have anything left holding him back. After convincing the Council about his desire to be the Keeper’s companion, they agreed, and a week later, Giles, the castle’s butler comes for him.

 The rest of the story takes place at the castle and expands about a year. During this time, Ash meets several characters that would play an important role in his life. He learns more about himself and the real reasons he is drawn towards magic. And he does all this under Giles’s guidance. In the end, Ash’s dreams come true, and he gets his HEA.

 Ravehearth is a novel that has the potential to be considered high fantasy if push further than its romance element. The world the author created is flexible enough to house multiple stories in its different cities. The diversity of the cast, their gifts, and their personality give this story the possibilities to being remarkable.

 We get little background information about the miasma, the magic, the mimics, the clockwork, and the world itself. Enough to feel comfortable with the things happening around the MCs, but not enough to be invested in anything else than the possibilities of a relationship between Ash and Giles or Ash and the Keeper.

 Ash life hasn’t been easy since the passing of his mother, but from an early age, he felt the calling to become the Keeper’s companion. We see him struggle with his decision and what he found when he arrives at the castle. He is a loving character that will steal a piece of your heart.

 The limitations of Ash’s POV made connecting with the other characters difficult. The readers want him to get happiness, but we don’t have a way to know if what’s happening in the castle would be enough to fulfill Ash’s expectations. I’d had like to read Giles’s POV or perhaps to have the Keeper as an omniscient narrator.

The beginning and the end of the story moves at a steady pace, but the middle drags with nothing more than Ash’s musings and dreams. Very sexy dreams, but not enough to take the plot forward. The story line is predictable, but even so, it was engaging enough to keep reading. And the magic studies are nothing more than a footnote to the story. We get more details about plants and food that the magic lessons.

 This story has great potential, but it felt short in its current incarnation.

 The cover, by Kirby Crow, shows Ash looking towards the Ravenhearth castle– the miasma visible between them– matching one of the scenes in the story.

 Sale Links: Less Than Three Press | Amazon | ARe

 Book Details:

ebook, 204 pages
Published: February 17, 2016, by Less Than Three Press
ISBN: 9781620047149
Edition Language: English

Enter the World of Hurri Cosmos’ ‘Then Sawyer Happened’ (excerpt and giveaway)

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 Then Sawyer Happened by Hurri Cosmo
Release Date: March 8, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dark Hollows Press
Cover Artist: Eden Connors

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Hurri Cosmo here today to share something about her new novel, Then Sawyer Happened.  Welcome, Hurri.

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Let’s visit Riven Creek Ranch!

The main ranch house was first built in 1809 but has since been totally rebuilt, expanded and updated. It now boasts six bedrooms, eight bathrooms, a large commercial kitchen, a beautiful patio, and meticulously maintained gardens. It has been under the Riven family name for generations.Hurri2

The first meeting between Sawyer and Trace takes place in the very pristine Riven Creek Ranch kitchen. Trace is familiar with the kitchen itself but was never made to do chores in it. Cooking and cleaning were not his thing. However, Sawyer is all about making his ranch hands as comfortable and happy as possible and that means big breakfasts and healthy lunches. Since it’s the only kitchen in the main ranch house, Sawyer Hurri3definitely frowned on the fact Trace accidentally tried to burn it down.

The main barn is a masterpiece of perfection. Sawyer is meticulous when it comes to preserving the Hurri4immaculate interior and exterior so the horses have the best possible living quarters in order to foal.

Sawyer’s manager’s cabin is also under the wing of perfect upkeep. Even though Sawyer finds himself really only sleeping here, it still reflects Sawyer’s dedication to detail and his Hurri6management style of the ranch. He is not about to allow there to be any flaws in things easily managed.Hurri5

Blurb

Trace is nursing a broken heart. He lost his job, his boyfriend of two years was cheating on him, and his apartment building burned right to the ground with all his worldly possessions. It was time for Trace to get out of Minnesota.

So Trace heads for Texas and Riven Creek Ranch, the horse farm his aunt Lois owns. But hours before he arrives, Lois is in a terrible car accident that nearly takes her life, and Trace finds himself in charge of the ranch kitchen. Sounds simple enough and it’s the least he can do for his recuperating aunt.

Then Sawyer happens.

Sawyer is his aunt’s big, beautiful, muscle bound, incredibly sexy straight ranch manager. Someone who has no clue Trace is gay. And meeting the big man should have been okay, except it was in the middle of his aunt’s kitchen at five in the morning and Trace was nearly naked. Embarrassing? Yep. But the very next day Trace proceeded to ramp up his embarrassment by quantum leaps when he nearly sets his aunt’s house on fire and the brooding Sawyer has to come to the rescue.

Seems like Trace’s “luck” followed him.

Not to mention that Aunt Lois’s “accident” was actually attempted murder. And now, they just might want Trace dead, too.

Can Trace figure out who’s behind the attempts on his aunt’s life AND keep Sawyer from finding out he’s hot for the cowboy?

He probably can’t. But he’s going to try.

Pages or Words: 60,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Crime Fiction, Erotica, Fiction, Gay Fiction, Humor, M/M Romance, Mystery, Romance, Thriller, Western/Cowboy

Excerpt:

“Sawyer! Damn. You scared me.” Trace fell back against the freezer suddenly feeling light headed. He took in the big body blocking any escape he had and his cock twitched as if it liked the idea there was no way out. “I didn’t hear you… behind me.”

“I saw your car in the driveway. How’s Lois?”

Trace shook his head in an attempt to clear it. “She’s awake and very alert… but…” But someone wants her dead. Who? Someone on this ranch? Could it be Sawyer? I trust him with my life… That’s what she said.

“But what?”

Trace looked up into hard cold eyes. The question was genuine. He cared about the condition of his aunt. But what condition did he care her to be in? “Nothing… just… well… I guess you’re going to have to know… I mean…” Damn, he had to stop acting like a horny teenager in front of this man. “Let me… I’m going to make coffee…”

“It’s made. The big insulated urn on the counter is full. Just made it about a half hour ago so it’s fine.”

“Oh. Good. Let’s sit down. I need to sit down.” Trace took a few steps forward which brought him right in front of the cowboy. He expected Sawyer to move, to back up, but he didn’t. Then Trace did the unthinkable. His body reacted on its own as he put his hand on the big man’s chest and pushed. There would have been no way on God’s green earth he would have been able to physically move the cowboy without his express permission, not to mention help. But Trace’s brain seemed to totally malfunction in this man’s presence.

And, as expected, being pushed in any direction was never going to work for Sawyer. Sawyer grabbed his wrist, twisted it tight behind Trace, which brought Trace up solid, against Sawyer’s hard body, chest to chest. Being several inches taller, Sawyer glared down into Trace’s shocked face, a smoldering look in his eyes. Trace could feel Sawyer’s hot breath on his face, sense the man’s tense muscles from his pecs down through his thighs…

Buy the book:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CKN49S8</a>

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/620302</a>

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Meet the Author

Hurri Cosmo lives in Minnesota where she holds tight to the idea that there, where it’s cold a good part of the year, she won’t age as fast. Yep, she avoids the truth as much as she avoids mirrors. But one of the reasons she loves writing is reality doesn’t always offer up a “happily ever after” and being able to take control of that is a powerful lure. Being a happy ending junkie, writing just makes them easier to find. Oh, she doesn’t mind “real life” and she does try to at least keep it in mind when she writes her stories, but she truly loves creating a wonderful couple, knowing they will fall in love and have their HEA. Every – single – time. And, of course, that is exactly the reason she loves reading this genre, too. Give her a glass of red wine, some dark chocolate, and her computer, whether she is reading or writing, and she will entertain herself for hours. The fact she actually gets paid to do it is Snickers bars on the frosting on the cake.

Where to find the author:

Other books by Hurri Cosmo:

Until You

I Believe Now

How West Was Won

The Superior Jewel

Ice Dragon Tales (contains the first two books in the series, The Servant Prince and The Servant King)

The One

Forgetting Yesterday

Saving Jack

Talasar’s Elixir (Book one in the Dragon for Hire series)

Amber Moon (Part of the Intoxicating Fantasies series)

Chase and Capture

Baby, Think it Over

the Door Keeper

Ladders

A Place to Belong

The Neighbors – A Vampire Story

Mates, Inc

Hyden’s Law (A free download!)

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9-Mar

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10-Mar

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11-Mar

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14-Mar

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15-Mar

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16-Mar

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17-Mar

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18-Mar

Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings, Sinfully Addicted to All Male Romance

21-Mar

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Final

Giveaway

Enter to win.  Must be 18 years of age or older.

 

 

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WillPride

A Paul B Release Day Review: Patience (Forbes Mates #2) by Grace R. Duncan

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

PatienceJamie Ryan was almost ready to accept he’d never find his destined mate. They’re uncommon to begin with and same-sex versions downright rare. Since his gay best friend found a destined mate, Jamie figured he was out of luck. Until end of semester stress forces him to go through the full-moon shift early. Stuck in wolf form, he runs into none other than his destined mate. Who’s human.

Chad Sutton has always had good instincts. They served him well as a detective and continued on when he went private. Those instincts tell him there’s something about the dog that comes up to him while running away from animal control that isn’t quite right. He works to put the pieces together, but is unsuccessful until his dog turns into a human before his eyes.

Jamie has no idea what a shifter mate bite will do to a human. He’s terrified to try—and possibly kill his mate. They hunt together for answers while working together on a case for Chad. It’s easy to see they belong together, but Jamie fears the gods gave him someone he can’t keep.

This second book in the Forbes Mates series was enjoyable, even though I have not read the first book in the series. I thought the way that Jamie was stuck in his wolf form for three days after he met his mate was a unique twist. Jamie tries to everything possible to make sure he is around his mate, even if he has to resort to what most wolf shifters think is an insult—acting as a dog. The problems they have with the American wolf leadership sets up potential conflicts for later books in the series.

Also noteworthy is that the Roman pantheon of gods is used rather than the Greek one. Especially touching was the offering Chad and Jamie made in front of the shrine of Jupiter at the international wolf headquarters in Rome. The epilogue sets up an intriguing storyline for the next book in the series.

Reese Dante’s cover is a nice touch. It shows our Chad kissing Jamie on the forehead in the background with Jamie’s wolf watching in the foreground.

Sales Links:   Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details
EBook, 230 pages
Published: March 7, 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
Edition Language: English
ISBN: 978-1-63476-762-0
Series: Forbes Mates
Devotion (Forbes Mates #1)
Patience (Forbes Mates #2)

A Free Dreamer Review: Salt and Iron by Tam MacNeil

Rating: 5 stars out of 5          ★★★★★

Salt and IronJames van Helsing is the youngest son of the famous monster-hunting family—and the family’s big disappointment. He’s falling in love with Gabe Marquez, his oldest friend and son of the family the van Helsings have worked alongside for years. Things get even harder for James when he becomes what he and everyone else despises most—a magic user.

He didn’t mean to evolve into such a despicable person, and he knows using magic is illegal, but there’s nothing James can do about it, no more than he can stop himself from loving Gabe. Just when things can’t seem to get worse, he and Gabe are called to help nab a network of magicians who are changing destiny. Not just any destiny, but the destinies of the van Helsing and Marquez families. James foresees a terrible fate, one in which monsters emerge from the cracks, along with his dark secret. And that’s when people start to die.

I absolutely loved “Salt and Iron”. I just couldn’t put it down. In fact, it was so addicting that it constantly made me late because I just couldn’t tear myself away from it.

The setting was unique. I don’t think I’ve ever read anything similar. I loved how the traditional myths about the Fae were carefully woven into the whole plot. It was utterly intriguing. The world building was very well done and it was easy to fall into the world.

James isn’t your average romance hero. He’s an alcoholic, occasionally swallows pills and is generally pretty pathetic. Still, I found myself sympathizing with him from the start. He’s a magic user in a family that hunts magic users. But he can’t help it, he can’t control his magic.

At times I could only gape in mute horror. There are so many truly ugly secrets hiding in this family. The revelations weren’t pretty and I definitely didn’t expect the consequences. They made me question every character at one point. I was never quite sure who was hiding what and why.

The love story is very low key. Both MCs aren’t in a very good place for most of the story, making the romantic feelings kind of take a backseat. The focus was more on the rest of the plot, which I really liked. There was a HEA for the relationship, so don’t worry.

Both the protagonists and the minor characters had real depth. It was easy to relate to James and Gabe. Some of the minor characters were really interesting as well and I loved the interactions between them and James and Gabe.

Long story short, this book was awesome. If you’re in the mood for great urban fantasy of the more violent sort, with a dash of romance, then go read this book. Just don’t expect an epic love story, or you’ll be disappointed.

I’d love to read more stories set in this universe and I’ll definitely a look at the author’s other works.

Cover: The cover by AngstyG is absolutely gorgeous. It shows the outlines of two men sitting at a dinner table. The background is completely black and the outlines are white. I think it depicts the general feel of the story really well.

It reminds me of a YA novel I read years ago, which is why I stopped to take a closer look at the book in the first place.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | ARe | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages
Published March 7th 2016 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781623809676
Edition LanguageEnglish

Its a Cocktail of Love with Dirty Martini 2: The Screwdriver by G.R. George (Renee George) (giveaway)

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Dirty Martini 2: The Screwdriver (The Other Team #8)
Author Name: G.R. George/Renee George
Release Date: March 7, 2016

Goodreads Link: https://www.goodreads.com/Renee_George
Publisher: Book Boutique
Cover Artist: Renee George

 

Blurb

Marty Lincoln and Chris Lawson are only happy when they’re in each other’s arms. Unfortunately, their relationship remains long-distance as Marty completes his final months in the Army. Chris has a new and challenging job that keeps him busy, but he yearns every day for Marty. Marty suffers from PTSD and needs Chris as his anchor. Time apart feeds the doubts each man harbors as they deal with their tragic pasts and try to hold on to the love blooming between them. Will fear make them give up before they even get started? Or will love find a way?

 

Pages or Words: 76 pages, 19,000 words
This book should be read after Dirty Martini, but it is suggested that the series be read in order as character recur throughout.
Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance

Excerpt

Mid-August…

Marty pulled up into the parking lot of Chris’s apartment complex in his mid-sized rental car. The evening heat and humidity clung to his skin. He and Chris had talked at least three times a week since that first phone call a month earlier, but he’d really wanted to see the man again. They’d decided to meet up on Chris’s first weekend off since becoming day manager at the bar. Marty had the jitters. What if they didn’t have the same chemistry? The same spark? All their intimacies since June had been via phone.

Chris had suggested video chat, but Marty had been too much of a chicken. Living in the military made a man paranoid about privacy. He pulled his tee shirt at the collar to let in some air, mustering his courage. The heat exacerbated the oily scent of the recently tarred parking lot. He smiled, remembering the choice words Chris had about the tar sticking to his tires. The outside steps leading to the second floor were concrete. Marty gripped the metal railing. His leg ached as he walked the flight to apartment 3B.

He bit his upper lip, running his fingers through his hair, as he stood at the door. His stomach ached with a misery born of anticipation and fear. His impulse was to bang down the door, but instead, he simply knocked. Twice.

The door opened. Chris smiled. “You made it.” Chris wore a kiwi-green tee shirt that brightened the green in his hazel eyes and a pair of low-slung jeans that hugged his narrow hips. His chestnut hair was neatly combed, and his narrow, angular face was clean shaven.

“You look nice,” Marty said.

Chris stepped back inside his apartment. “Come in. You’ve had a long trip. The bathroom is the door across the way.” There were two doors off the living room. Chris pointed the nearest one. “If you need to use it.”

“I’m fine,” Marty said. The living room and kitchen were combined in the small apartment. Chris had a blue couch, a coffee table, a recliner, and a small flat screen on a stand across the room from the couch in the living room. The kitchen had a three-by-three wooden table, four chairs, a fridge, dishwasher, sink, stove, and limited counter and cabinet space. The place wouldn’t win any decorating awards, but it was clean.

“Do you want to sit down?” Chris asked.

“Sure.” Marty felt let down by Chris’s mild reaction. He wasn’t sure what he’d expected, but this congenial greeting hadn’t been it. “It’s good to see you.”

“You too,” Chris said. “Can I get you a drink? Beer? Wine?”

“Sure. I’ll take whatever beer you have.” He watched Chris open the fridge and heard the telltale clinking of bottles.

Chris brought two beers into the living room. The bottles hissed as he popped the tops with an opener. He sat on the couch next to Marty. “Here you go.”

The cold bottle sweated against his hot, clammy hands. He swigged the beer, glad to have a reason not to talk for a moment. They’d talked so much on the phone over the past month that he’d assumed they’d never run out of things to say.

“So,” Chris said. “Long drive, huh?”

Wow, this conversation really was going nowhere. “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” Chris said. “Yes, of course. Why? Is everything okay with you?”

“Sure.” Marty scratched at the small hole near the knee of his jeans. “Good.” Why was this so goddamn hard? He turned to Chris and waited for Chris to meet his gaze.

They both laughed nervously.

“Maybe you should kiss me,” Marty said.

Buy the book: Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon CA

Meet the Author

G.R. George is the pen name for USA Today Bestselling author Renee George’s GLBT urban fantasy, paranormal romance, erotic romance, contemporary romance, and romantic comedy books that highlight varying themes including ménage, gay and bisexual relationships. A published author since 2005, she has written and published over 30 books in the past decade. Accolades include: EcataRomance Award for Best Paranormal Erotic Romance and Best Gay Erotic Romance and a Literary Nymph Blush Award for Best Paranormal Romance.

Where to find the author:


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Divine Magazine, BFD Book Blog, Gay Media Reviews, Happily Ever Chapter,

Inked Rainbow Reads, Bayou Book Junkie, For the Love of Bookends, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words,

The Hat Party, A.M. Leibowitz, MM Good Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews,

Full Moon Dreaming, V’s Reads, Alpha Book Club, Open Skye Book Reviews, Attention Is Arbitrary,

Up All Night, Read All Day, The Jena Wade, Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents, Charley Descoteaux,

Mikky’s World of Books, Outrageous Heroes, Cheekypee Reads and Reviews

Dirty Martini

Giveaway

Enter to win. Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

 

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Enter the World of Ally Blue with The Secret of Hunter’s Bog (giveaway)

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The Secret of Hunter’s Bog by Ally Blue
Published by Riptide Publishing
Cover art by Kanaxa

Read an Excerpt/Buy Link

Hi y’all! I’m Ally Blue. Welcome to my blog tour for my newest book, The Secret of Hunter’s Bog. Thank you for stopping by. Be sure to comment on this post, or any of the posts on the tour, for a chance to win a full set of my Mojo Mysteries series—Demon Dog, A Ghost Most Elusive, and Myth Adventures—in the winner’s choice of electronic format. Read on and enjoy!

About The Secret of Hunter’s Bog

For Koichi McNab, the shop he and his twin sister Kimmy are opening in Hunter’s Bog Mall is a fresh start after their old one burned down. A way to move on. Especially when he meets the hunky owner of the luxury camping goods store next door. Koichi’s never been an outdoorsy guy, but Will Hood just might change his mind.

Will came to Southern Alabama to establish his own life away from his big, intrusive family—and in hopes of finding Anthony, the lover who vanished two years ago. But meeting Koichi throws everything off-kilter. Anthony was a long time ago. Koichi’s right here, smart and funny and cute, and Will wants him.

As Koichi and Will become friends, then lovers, Will’s past and Koichi’s present tangle into a dangerous knot that brings them face-to-face with secrets, theft, treachery . . . maybe even murder. With their lives on the line, their only way to safety is together.

About Ally Blue

Ally Blue is acknowledged by the world at large (or at least by her heroes, who tend to suffer a lot) as the Popess of Gay Angst.

She has a great big suggestively-shaped hat and rides in a bullet-proof Plexiglas bubble in Christmas parades. Her harem of manwhores does double duty as bodyguards and inspirational entertainment. Her favorite band is Radiohead, her favorite color is lime green and her favorite way to waste a perfectly good Saturday is to watch all three extended version LOTR movies in a row.

Her ultimate dream is to one day ditch the evil day job and support the family on manlove alone. She is not a hippie or a brain surgeon, no matter what her kids’ friends say.

Connect with Ally:

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Giveaway

Leave a comment for a chance to win a full set of Ally’s Mojo Mysteries series—Demon Dog, A Ghost Most Elusive, and Myth Adventures—in the winner’s choice of electronic format. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on March 12, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. Entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

The Winds of Change and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Tree blownThe Winds of Change

Oh the winds of change are blowing so strong these days whether we want them to or not.  Several days ago, a storm came through our area, one that had devastating repercussions for the Midwest and southeast regions of our country.   For us?  Some flooding and lost power.  Nothing on the enormous level that occurred out there.  But across the street several old towering trees uprooted and fell over, ones that were here for as long as I could remember (my parents built this house), trunks at least 2 to 3 feet in diameter.

It felt as though I had lost old friends, I know the local wildlife did.  The hawks that used it to nest in, the Pilated Woodpeckers that loved it so and will have to move on  and all those  squirrel from the Grey Squirrels to our Flying Squirrels who will have to relocate. I hope they moved in time.

Those bare spots haunt me as the saws and lumber men my neighbor hired  did their job quickly, leaving nothing at all behind.  What will happen in their absence? What will fill in those holes? Will the squirrels take care of it or the neighbors?  I’m betting on the squirrels.

Changes are happening in the book world as well, the winds blowing hard there too.  Publishing houses disappearing, new ones taking root, others morphing to include different presses and audiobooks (becoming more popular here with us too)…proving even as change is hard, even painful, its necessary to survive in these times.

Nature abhors stagnation and will force a change to break it up, everywhere we look change is upon us.  Some gentle, some harsh.  Some welcome, and some…well, some we all could do without.

Hopefully the changes coming to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words will be welcome.  I’m working on them.  I need more time…always more time, a scare commodity for me at the moment.

Meanwhile enjoy the upcoming week.  Its full of wonderful books, author guest blogs and reviews.  Enjoy and happy reading.

 

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                          Blow you winds, blow!  

 

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

 

Sunday, March 6:

  • The Winds of Change and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, March 7:

  • The Secret of Hunter’s Bog with Ally Blue (tour and giveaway)
  • Sports of the Seasons Blog Tour (M/M series) by Leigh Carter
  • Its a Cocktail of Love with Dirty Martini 2: The Screwdriver by G.R. George (Renee George) (contest)
  • A Free Dreamer Release Day Review: Salt and Iron by Tam MacNeil
  • A Paul B Release Day Review: Patience by Grace R. Duncan

Tuesday, March 8:

  • EARTHQUAKES – A NEW AMSTERDAM STORY by Kelly Wrye Loose Id Tour/Contest
  • Hurri Cosmos ‘Then Sawyer Happened’ tour and giveaway
  • A MelanieM Review: Dormant Heart by Lane Swift
  • A Stella Review :Lucky in Loveland by K-lee Klein
  • A Lila Review: Ravenhearth by Lotus Oakes‏

Wednesday, March 9:

  • 6 Days to get Lucky virtual tour and giveaway
  • In the Spotlight: Stay With Me by Lily Adile Lamb (excerpt and giveaway)
  • AMelanieM Review: Night and Day by Rowan Speedwell (release day review)
  • A F.D. Review: The Prince’s Consort by Antonia Aquilante
  • A Lila Review: Where Loyalties Lie by Logan Taylor‏

Thursday, March 10:

  • Special Guest Blog by Grace R. Duncan on her release “Patience”
  • Ana J. Phoenix book blast for ‘For Never and Always (excerpt and giveaway)
  • Mario Kai Lapinski: Jakob & Ivo book blast and giveaway
  • A MelanieM Review: Blood and Clockwork by Katey Hawthorne
  • A Paul B Review:  Patience by Grace R. Duncan

Friday, March 11:

  • Brina Brady ‘Spanked in the Woodshed’ book blast and giveaway
  • Its Release Day for A Tested Love by Kayla Jameth (excerpt and giveaway)
  • A Stella Review:Go Tell On the Mountain by Nick Wilgus
  • A Jeri Review: The Taste of Ink by Francis Gideon
  • A Ali Audiobook Review: Spirit by John Inman

Saturday, March 12:

  • Cover Reveal for Beastly Businessmen and Guitar Gods by Asta Idonea