An Alisa Review: Terrible Twos by Megs Pritchard

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

terrible-twos-by-megs-pritchardAfter leaving University, Zach struggled to find employment. When he eventually found work in a call centre, he was ecstatic.

 But from day one he had a problem.

 After an accidental run-in with the manager, Geoff, Zach was under no illusions that his days were numbered.

 While dealing with is work issues, Zach is left devastated when his sister dies.

 Now, struggling at work with a boss who may or may not like him, Zach is now raising his two young nephews alone.

 One night a chance encounter with Geoff changes everything. But is Geoff willing to stand by Zach or will he walk away?

 This was a cute story.  I have read a couple of this author’s books before and I was hoping I would enjoy this one just as much and I defiantly did.  Zach is working so hard to be an adult, but no matter what he has been hit with problems or something going bad in his life.

 

Zach is just getting into the swing of things at his new job when he is hit with the news that his sister and brother in law have died in a car crash.  Suddenly he is a father to two young boys that are missing their parents.  To top it off his boss keeps giving him more and more crap at work and Oliver, his oldest nephew, is going through the terrible twos.

 

This story is told from Zach’s point of view and you can’t help but feel for him and his situation.  I can’t imagine having to raise two little boys with no support system what so ever.  Not knowing what John is thinking really makes him seem like a jerk from the beginning, but even he admits to it when Zach confronts him.  At some points I really wished John had a bit more of a backbone than just running scared when something goes wrong, I mean Zach has enough going on than to deal with more crap.  I absolutely loved Zach’s nephews, this author didn’t paint the kids as perfect like most do, I could just picture everything that they did because it was exactly the kind of thing most kids really do.

 

Cover art by AM Snead is adorable and gives sweet visuals of Zach and his nephews.

Sales Links

 Amazon

Book Details:

ebook

Published: January 30, 2017 by Megs Pritchard

Edition Language: English

A MelanieM Release Day Review: Tropical Depression (Stormy Weather #2) by B.A. Tortuga

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

tropical-depression-by-ba-tortuga2nd Edition

Sequel to Rain and Whiskey

The weather in the Florida swamps is looking a little rocky for retired football player, Galen, his laid-back lover, Shane, and their gator, Vic.

When Galen buys into a football team, promoting and wheeling and dealing are the name of the game. He’s so busy he hardly gets to see Shane anymore, which means a lot of lonely naps on the couch.

Shane is tied up with managing the bar, covering for unreliable bartenders, and serving drinks to good-time party boys. Used to be Galen couldn’t get enough of him. Now he can hardly pry Galen away from the phone, and Shane starts to wonder where he stands in Galen’s life. Will things ever be the way they were?

When Galen starts to forget their dates, the pressure builds, jealousy and hurt swirling into a tropical storm. Galen and Shane need to seek shelter in each other before everything they’ve built is washed away.

Now I love me some Shane and Galen, that’s true.  And goodness knows that sometimes in the swamps, there isn’t much to do but kick back, drink, have tons of sex and love on each other.  But oh my is there a ton of loving, sex, sex, sex in Tropical Depression.   I’m surprised that alligator didn’t come out of the pool and yell ‘enough, boys, take a breather’ at them.

And what I’m missing is those plot bits that fit so nicely in between the hot sex.  These two men are so sweet with each other, the dialogs and conversation so great, especially when Momma comes into it, and then a puppy called Goober, plus there an alligator in a pool and a bar with regulars.  So much ‘stuff’ to fill with plot threads that I crave that when I get more sex between the guys, well, it started to get a little old by the end. Then each starts to realize what the real issues were that have been getting between them.  Len working too long at a job he really wasn’t happy doing, Shane as well being a manager when he’s happiest as a bartender and all the time they just want to spend time at the Bait Shop and with each other.  Sweet, sappy, and why we love their story. And them of course.

Followed by more sex.

The swamps, the locals and this couple and the way B.A. Tortuga puts her touch on all three is why I read this series.  This was a nice addition to it but the first was terrific.  I can’t wait for the next one to roll out.  Knowing this couple, trouble is on the way.

Cover Artist: Alexandria Corza.  Cover works for the setting. I think I’m over the whole shirtless torso thing by now.

Sales Links

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Book Details:

ebook, 2nd Edition, 200 pages
Expected publication: February 20th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published August 2006)
Original TitleTropical Depression
ISBN 1635334357 (ISBN13: 9781635334357)
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesStormy Weather #2

 

 

 

Cover art by

Sales Links

 

Book Details:

ebook, 2nd Edition, 200 pages
Expected publication: February 20th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press (first published August 2006)
Original TitleTropical Depression
ISBN 1635334357 (ISBN13: 9781635334357)
Edition LanguageEnglish
URLhttps://www.dreamspinnerpress.com/books/tropical-depression-by-ba-tortuga-8160-b
SeriesStormy Weather #2

A MelanieM Review: fangjunkie27 (FangFinder #1) by Lyssa Dering

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

fangjunkie27-fangfinder-1-by-lyssa-deringOne human. One dhampir. Seventy-two hours where anything goes.

Shameless vampire addict Eli spends every waking moment chasing pleasure, securing invites to vampire den after vampire den via the vampire/human social network FangFinder. This weekend, he’s signed up for his most extreme adventure yet, a 72-hour party where a legal contract serves as his voluntary consent to anything and everything the den members decide to do to him…

Strong and silent type Orion is the only member of his den without fangs, a dhampir who wears metal points on two fingers so he can give the human guests what they crave. What he craves is a release for the savage half of his nature; he wants to force a human into submission. When his fellow den members inform him that Eli has signed up for just this treatment, Orion lays claim to him for the weekend.

But Eli would never have agreed to spend three days with a half-breed, and he’ll fight Orion’s touch every chance he gets. Even if the pleasure he finds in the dhampir’s grip is more intense than anything he’s ever felt with a vampire…

fangjunkie27 (FangFinder #1) by Lyssa Dering is a  dark, violent short tale of 72 hours in a junkie’s life.  Instead of drugs or alcohol, Eli is chasing the high he felt from his first vampire bite and there’s nothing he won’t do or hasn’t done to get it.  He’s an addict in every way, including the sometime denial, the back history that helps with an addictive nature and the worst of an addictive’s personality.  On top of that?  Eli is somewhat masochistic (he wavers on this), likes being forced, is prejudiced towards dhampirs, in his words…he’s a “mess, a suicidal mess”.

Orion is unusual in this sort of fiction.  He’s a dhampir that is fangless (his solution to that is neat but one I’ve seen before), mortal and angry about that.  That last bit is  quite understandable. Yes, he gets called names under the guise of being “one of the gang”, yes, he’s looked down on for those characteristics by Eli who wants a ‘true vampire’.  Let the beatings and non-con sex ensue. I said it was  dark and violent.  Orion truly doesn’t have that much more going for him at least outside of the job at the den.  All he seems to have is this “den”, no other outside income or place of his own. So in a way he’s as dependent as Eli because of his less than desired stature.

There is a  redeeming factor to Orion.  He wants to give the people who come to him what they want.  Part of the game for him is figuring that out.  Eli is more puzzling than normal and that makes Orion even angrier.  Yes, more beatings and angry sex.

To give Dering some credit, its not quite as basic as that.  There’s some layering going on to both characters which is why this story got 3 stars.  But in the end you’re spending the weekend with a masochistic junkie and the angry, insecure somewhat sadistic Dom in charge of him. Look at that sentence and think hard about that. There’s an unlikely ending tacked on here probably to give reason for a second story but instead it just makes you wonder why this vampire den isn’t charging for this “cure’ for addiction.  To me this just felt unfinished, not enough payment for having to stay with Eli for 72 tortuous hours.  I’m stopping now before I rethink that 3 star rating.

For those of you who enjoy dark fiction, erotica, BDSM without restraints (no restraints here-that’s part of the contract at the den), a dhampir with quirks and fangs of his own and an blood addict on a downward spiral, this book is for you.

Cover art is dark which is certainly suitable for this story.

Sales Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU
Book Details:

 

Kindle Edition, 81 pages
Published February 2nd 2017 by Disobedient Publications, LLC
ASINB01N0WXHMR
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesFangFinder #1

A Jeri Review: Down By Contact (Wilmington Breakers #1) by Sloan Johnson

Rating: 4  stars out of 5

a-jeri-review-down-by-contact-by-sloan-johnsonAs a big fan of the author’s Homeruns series, I couldn’t wait to dive into this new series. Bridging the gap between the last series and this next was seamless, as the last book’s main character had a twin brother- who plays football.

Zach is in his second season playing football for the Willmington Breakers. His goal is to keep his head down and work hard. He gave up the idea of having a relationship with anyone because he didn’t want to come out of the closet. Until the team gets featured in a reality show and the camera man following him around was his first love.

Griffin can’t believe his luck. Of all of the players, he has to be assigned to follow the one guy he could never forget. While he understood that Zach chose football over him, it still hurt. And now they were going to be in each other’s pockets.

What starts as the two men ignoring both their past and their heat that is still there, it is a slow burn until they can’t deny themselves any longer. I enjoyed that it was Zach playing the suitor, trying to win Griffin back and Griffin the one holding back to protect not only himself, but Zach and his career.

One of my favorite parts was when they went back to where is all began. I do love a full circle.

There was, of course, the teammates who didn’t want to accept a gay player and the teammates who really stood up for Zach. In the real world I don’t know that there would be as many accepting players, but who knows. I’d like to think that this world has come a long way. 

There definitely could have been more of the reality show aspect in the story as it played a big part in bringing them back together, but it was still satisfying.

And there was the tease of the next book- Lincoln and Nixon. I look forward to this next one as well as it will be nice to read a love story about two older men instead of men in their 20’s.

You don’t have to like football at all to really enjoy this book.

Sales Links

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 209 pages
Published January 28th 2017 (first published January 26th 2017)
ASINB01N1435ER
SeriesWilmington Breakers #1

A Lila Review: A-dork-able by J.D. Walker

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

a-dork-able-by-j-d-walkerAlister Redgrave knows he’s a dork. He dresses in ill-fitting suits and trips over imaginary obstacles constantly; then there’s his Star Trek underwear. Still, he hopes to find the love of his life one day. And when he meets Jaiden Greyson, the new Assistant CFO in the Finance department, Alister knows he’s found his dream guy. Except, Alister makes a fool of himself repeatedly in front of Jaiden and decides he doesn’t have a chance in hell.

Jaiden Greyson doesn’t know what to make of Alister when he meets him. A more klutzy guy had never existed. But despite all that, there’s something about the man that draws him in, and he’s determined to find out what it is, no matter the antics of a jealous coworker intent on ruining everything.

Jaiden has Alister in his sights, and Alister won’t know what hit him, in the best sense.

A-dork-able is a sweet & simple story. It’s a fast tale that reads like a diary confession more than a drama-filled story. Alister does an excellent job as a narrator even when he gets lost at times. I wanted more from Jaiden but that’s one of the shortcomings of a short story.

The plot is predictable but it works. The author gave the characters enough depth to get the reader to want more, but at the same time, allowing the story to move at a quick pace. Alister’s mishaps might sound a bit over the top but the light weight of the story is enough to make them seem as an endearing quirk.

The main characters are thirty-seven and forty-one, something that I love. They’re comfortable with their sexuality and sure of what they wanted in a partner. They have good chemistry and their work relationship isn’t a concern to their love life. It brought them together.

Yes, there are some miscommunications, awkward moments, and a couple of things that might not work out of fiction, but overall, this is a good short story. A quick read for a quiet afternoon or to read between two longer stories.

The cover by Written In Designs is cute but I don’t see the characters in it. Well, personality-wise, that is, the clothing it’s up to par.

Sale Links: JMS Books | Amazon | Nook

Book Details:

ebook, 38 pages

Published: January 21, 2017, by JMS Books
ISBN: 9781634863186
Edition Language: English

In the Release Day Spotlight: Unzipping 7D (Unzipped Shorts #2) by J.C. Long (excerpt and giveaway)

Title:  Unzipping 7D

Series: Unzipped Shorts 2

Author: J.C. Long

Publisher: NineStar Press

Release Date: February 20

Heat Level: 5 – Erotica

Pairing: Male/Male

Length: 10600

Genre: Erotica, Erotica, travel, exhibition, PWP, hook-up apps, sexting, businessmen

Add to Goodreads

Synopsis

Jordan Price is used to the boring wait in airports, given that he practically lives on business trips. He’s all set for this to be more of the same, until he meets a self-described power bottom on Unzipped—a guy who happens to be in the same airport. It seems like a perfectly good way to kill time until his flight, but soon Jordan realizes that Heath, his newfound friend on Unzipped, will be taking the same flight, and the wheels in his head get spinning. Jordan is determined to test Heath’s bottoming skills himself, and if he has his way, the flight will be anything but boring.

Excerpt

Unzipping 7D
J.C. Long © 2017
All Rights Reserved

Jordan didn’t bother formulating a reply; it would just be a waste of time. He sat around, catching up on his fantasy football team until they called for boarding. It was pure luck that Jordan spotted Heath going to join the boarding call, wearing a T-shirt and khaki shorts. Jordan had priority boarding—one of the few benefits his job actually provided on his work flights—but he decided to forgo the slightly quicker boarding in order to fall in line behind Heath.

“Hello, 7-D,” Jordan said softly, enjoying the way Heath jumped a little before glancing back at him. “You’re pretty handsome in person—though you look better without your clothes on, if you don’t mind me saying.”

The back of Heath’s neck turned pink, along with his ears, and Jordan felt a devilish grin coming on. It looked like his dirty app pen pal blushed easily. There were so many ways he could have fun with that, if only they were seated together.

That same regret ran through his mind on repeat as the line slowly progressed. When it was his turn to present his ticket and photo ID to the attendant, he did so without taking his eyes off Heath’s ass as he went before him. It was a damn fine ass.

Once Jordan entered the plane, he was greeted by the sole flight attendant, who, with a big fake smile plastered on her red-painted lips, said, “Thank you for flying Alliance Air.”

Jordan languidly made his way down the aisle, gaze raking over Heath as he loaded his luggage into the overhead compartment above row seven.

He didn’t know if it would work—didn’t even know if Heath would appreciate it or go along with it—but he decided to give it a try. The overweight businessman who had taken the bench next to him while waiting at the gate was currently seated in seat 7-E, the window seat.

“Excuse me, sir,” Jordan said, leaning around Heath and ignoring the What the hell are you doing? look Heath shot him. “Sorry to disturb you, but I was wondering if I could persuade you to switch seats with me?” Jordan put his hand companionably on Heath’s shoulder. “My friend here and I are flying back home for his brother’s wedding—he’s the best man—and we were supposed to work on bachelor party plans, but we’re sitting apart. I know it’s inconvenient, but could we trade? I have an aisle seat.” Jordan showed the man his ticket.

The man heaved a great sigh, like Jordan was asking him to do something truly inconvenient and not just move to a seat a few rows farther back in the plane. He was fully prepared for the guy to say no, but he didn’t. Instead he got up and shuffled past Jordan and Heath, reaching up and removing his carry-on from the overhead bin.

“Enjoy your wedding,” he said in a wheezy voice before he took Jordan’s ticket and waddled back along the aisle.

Excitement building, Jordan tossed his carry-on in the overhead compartment and took the window seat, grinning cheekily at Heath when he got situated. “You just going to stand there holding up traffic, buddy?”

Blushing once more, Heath finished putting away his bags and took his seat, shifting uncomfortably as he buckled his seat belt. Jordan spread his legs a little and let his knee touch Heath’s, almost laughing when the other man nervously moved it away.

“What are you doing?” Heath asked in a low voice.

“Nothing,” Jordan said, face innocent even as he lowered his hand to his crotch, giving it an obvious squeeze. As he expected, Heath’s gaze followed his hand right to where he wanted it. “I figured it’s going to be a boring three-hour flight, so might as well make it more interesting.”

Heath’s eyes narrowed suspiciously. “How?”

“Oh, we’ll figure something out, I’m sure.”

Purchase

NineStar Press | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Smashwords

Meet the Author

J.C. Long is an American expat living in Japan, though he’s also lived stints in Seoul, South Korea—no, he’s not an army brat; he’s an English teacher. He is also quite passionate about Welsh corgis and is convinced that anyone who does not like them is evil incarnate. His dramatic streak comes from his life-long involvement in theater. After living in several countries aside from the United States J. C. is convinced that love is love, no matter where you are, and is determined to write stories that demonstrate exactly that. J. C. Long’s favorite things in the world are pictures of corgis, writing and Korean food (not in that order…okay, in that order). J. C. spends his time not writing thinking about writing, coming up with new characters, attending Big Bang concerts and wishing he was writing. The best way to get him to write faster is to motivate him with corgi pictures. Yes, that is a veiled hint.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | eMail

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Release Blitz – Find Me (Rent Me Series #5) by Brina Brady

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK


Cover: Book Cover By Design


Length: 90,000 words


Rent Me Series
Rent Me (Book #1) Amazon US | Amazon UK
Own Me (Book #2) Amazon US | Amazon UK
Make Me (Book #3) Amazon US | Amazon UK
For Me (Book #4) Amazon US | Amazon UK 


Blurb


Dmitri and Brennen have been happily married for five years, raising their five year-old daughter. Brennen practices law and mob-free Dmitri works with his brother Mischa at their night club. Dmitri enrolls into some BDSM workshops with Master Ethan as his mentor.

An order from an old drug lord friend disrupts their lives. Brennen worries about Dmitriís life, his law career, and the safety of Dominika. Antonio Cortezís request takes them to Germany to fulfill Dmitriís last obligation to his gangster friend.

Once they arrive in Germany, Dmitri plans to spend time with his husband in the evenings. During the day he and Mischa do Antonioís bidding. Everything changes when an unexpected event rips their family apart.

Brennen meets many challenges as he tries to deal with his new responsibilities. To make matters more complicated, Dmitri’s ex-wife Nika sues for custody of their daughter.

 
Author Bio
 

I am from Huntington Beach, Ca. I taught various subjects at a Continuation High School in Los Angeles, California for 27 years. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts Degree in history, Secondary Social Science Credential and a Master’s Degree in Secondary Reading and Secondary Education from California State University, Long Beach. I also enrolled in some creative writing classes at UCLA. You can contact me at brinabrady@gmail.com. 

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

valentines-day

Of Comfort Reads and Love Stories

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

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

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

rainbow-hearts

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

♡H.B. loves:

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

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

♡From Didi:

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

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

♡And from Jen:

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

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

Announcement clip art

Winner Announcements!

♥︎Winners of our Comfort Story Reads are:

Purple Reader
Shirley Ann

♥︎Winner of our Love Story Read/List is:

Didi

 

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

📚

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

book-blanket

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

tropical-depression-by-ba-tortugaimago-by-nr-walkerunzipping-7d-by-j-c-longeverything-changes-audiobook

Sunday, February 19:

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

Monday, February 20:

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

Tuesday, February 21:

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

Wednesday, February 22:

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

Thursday, February 23:

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

Friday, February 24:

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

Saturday, February 25:

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

open-road-audiobookdating-ryan-alback-by-j-e-birkthe-chains-of-their-sins-taking-shield-04-by-anna-butlerringo-and-the-sunshine-police-by-nick-wilgus

 

 

A Jeri Review: Paint the Stars (Free Fall #3) by Christina Lee and Nyrae Dawn

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

paint-the-stars-by-nyrae-dawn-and-christina-leeI’ve had a soft spot for Ezra since book 1 of this series and I was so happy he got his own book. He was featured pretty heavily in book 2 which just whetted my appetite for more of him.

Ezra is an introverted artist who doesn’t let a lot of people see who he really is. He’d much prefer to binge on Netflix than go to a club with his friends. While Conner (book 2) came the closest to really getting to know Ezra as his roommate, Ezra still kept him at arm’s length. Until Daevonte starts to wiggle his way into Ezra’s life.

Daevonte is a yoga instructor at a studio where Ezra has been commissioned to paint another mural. A lover of life and sex, he wants to hook up with the quiet painter. But Ezra doesn’t do the hook up thing. So after some false starts, they become unlikely friends.

As you can imagine the friends part of the book evolves. It is a nice slow burn which really fits with Ezra’s character. He is demisexual- meaning he has to really connect with someone as a person before he feels any attraction to him. So as the book progresses, as does the connection between Ezra and Daevonte.

I really love that books are starting to have main characters on different  colors of the rainbow. Of course gay (this is the genre we are reading) and bisexual (which opens a lot of past story lines), but now we are seeing a lot more asexual, demisexual, and pansexual. I love seeing these people represented and their stories told in such a manner that makes you truly understand what it is they are about.

Because Ezra is demisexual, this book actually inadvertently gives us my favorite trope- friends to lovers.  Daevonte is so confident in who he is and has a unique way of starting to bring Ezra out of his shell- without trying to change who he is. He has utter respect for Ezra and it shows.

We, of course, get glimpses of the guys from past books. In fact, I really love that they have a once a week dinner together.  AND that one of the secondary characters develops a het relationship. Real life.

Book one, Touch the Sky, is my favorite of the three but this is definitely a very close second.

The cover illustration is gorgeous and seeing all three covers together is perfectly cohesive.

Sales Link

7104e-waxcreative-amazon-kindle

Book Details:

Kindle Edition
Expected publication: February 20th 2017 by Christina Lee and Nyrae Dawn
ASINB06WRQ4LVH
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesFree Fall #3

Two Publishers Announcements

Announcement clip art

Two Publishers Announcements

 

📚First from Painted Hearts Publishing formerly known as Dark Hollows Press:

painted-hearts-publishing

Dark Hollows Press is thrilled to announce an exciting new change! As of 02.14.2017 we are now Painted Hearts Publishing! Who we are remains the same, but we believe our new name to be a better reflection of our diversity. From sweet to erotic, from paranormal to contemporary, from male/female to LGBT, we remain committed to bringing you the best in romance publishing today.

Visit us on the web at www.paintedheartspublishing.com

📚Secondly and sadly, from Samhain  Publishing, a final announcement:

samhain-logo

Greetings, Samhain Readers.

It’s with a heavy heart that we announce Samhain Publishing will be closing at the end of February. Due to the declining sales we’ve been experiencing with this changing market we’ve come to the sad conclusion it’s time to call it a day.

 

The last of our new titles launch February 21st; I hope you will check them out and support them as you have so many other Samhain titles through the years.”

 

Our site will go dark at the end of the day, February 28th. Please take a few moments and visit, buy what you might have been planning on getting someday in the future, but download and back up your bookshelf because you won’t have access to it after February 28th.

 

Thank you for all your support through the eleven years we’ve been open. It’s been a pleasure to bring to market new voices in publishing and new works from familiar authors. From start to finish, we’ve always kept what the reader wants in mind and hope you enjoyed what we had to offer.

https://www.samhainpublishing.com

 

This is the second time we’ve had a closing announcement from Samhain  Publishing but it looks to be their final one.  Last time, they pulled back and tried to stay open but as you can see, it didn’t work.  Again, we bid them farewell.  Those of you who still have books there or books you wish to buy, please make note of their deadline to backup your Samhain bookshelf.