Category: M/M Book Reviews

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Slave Hunt (The Subs Club #5) by J.A. Rock

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Review:  CONTAINS POSSIBLE SPOILERS

slave-huntThirty people. Two hours. Only the strong will survive.


When Riddle decides to put on a slave hunt, the Subs Club is on board. Tops hunting bottoms in the woods with paintball guns? Yes. Captives strung up on whipping posts, at the mercy of their captors? Hell yes. But on the morning of the hunt, nothing’s going according to plan. Miles and Drix are at odds over Miles’s reluctance to move in together. Dave is determined to show up D, who thinks Dave won’t last two minutes in the woods. Gould finds himself torn between obeying his master’s orders and living out a longtime fantasy. And Kamen inadvertently becomes a double agent when he aligns himself with two different parties.

By the end of the hunt, alliances will be forged and broken, loyalties will be tested, relationships will be strengthened…and someone will barrel roll. Narrated by ten different characters, Slave Hunt tells the story of two hours in the woods that will change everyone forever. Or at least, remind them that love is the greatest victory of all.

In the last two years, I’ve read quite a few stories written to “tie up” the loose ends in a series, and this is by far one of the very best. In fact, it’s so good that I actually rated it higher than most of the other stories in the series.  Highly enjoyable and extremely clever in its execution, J.A. Rock wrapped up the series and left me with a memory of the guys of The Subs Club that I’ll treasure for a long time.

After thinking about it for a day or two, I realized what I loved most about the story was the inclusion of the POV of the Doms of the four principal subs. There’s actually ten POV’s in this story, and at first I thought that would be bizarre, but it worked well because we got to see the boys through the eyes of their Doms and their friends. And although we saw some of the Dom’s introspection through interactions with their subs in the other stories, actually getting inside their POV in this one gave me a whole new appreciation of just how perfect each Dom is for his or her sub. 

Miles, with his need for pain and his difficulty in sharing his feelings was never a particularly lovable character, and he’s still not in this story, however he does finally open up to a few people. The turmoil now is that, three years after meeting Drix, Miles still can’t vocalize a request for Drix to move in with him. Reflecting on how he should answer his son when the boy asks how many fathers he has, Miles thinks about responding that he has one father and “one charming guardian whom your father loves deeply” but isn’t in your life “because your adoptive father is fear’s own ward.” Even though I loved his recognition of his own weaknesses, it was Drix’s perspective on their coupledom and on his sub’s needs and desires that made me want to go back and reread their story, Pain Slut, once more. 

Kamen’s story, Manties in a Twist, was originally one of my favorites, and though I enjoyed him in this book, it was RYAN who took the blue ribbon for best character.  The little man wrote each of his POV chapters in CAPS. According to Kamen, “Ryan is the kind of guy, you see him, and you want to hold him with your whole soul…” I pretty much agree with Kamen after this story. It’s hard to recall my favorite scene between the two, but I certainly enjoyed the time spent at the post after Ryan “captured” Kamen and Ryan’s inner dialogue, “no shit, I loved calling this fucking giant my boy.” By the end of the book it was quite evident that these two were made for each other. 

Gould and his Master, Kel, and alternate Dom, Greg, had a much more enjoyable dynamic in this book than in their first story, 24/7.  That’s really attributable to the time that has passed, and how much Gould has worked on his issues, both with a psychologist and with Kel over the past few years.  But he’s so much happier and well-adjusted now that it was easy to see how much he’s changed for the better. As his story ended he was right where he needed to be—content with his two lovers and ready to be made to “beg and mean it”.

Of all the couples in this series, it was really hard to pick the one I liked best, but I have to admit it turned out to be Dave and D, principally because of how well I got to know them during this hunt. If you had asked me before I started the book, I would have definitely said “No way!”

Within their POV’s and through observation in scenes told from the perspective of Drix and Kamen, I learned what really makes these men tick and was taken on a journey to the heart and soul of their relationship. David is a gregarious character, always willing to talk and joke and be sociable, while D is quiet and reserved and has a difficult time expressing his love out loud. One would think they wouldn’t mesh, but they certainly do.

Dave was one of the most well-prepared subs on this hunt. Despite wearing the most skintight camo pants ever invented—“my pants made balloon animals out of my intestines”—he and D had practiced being in the woods, with D showing him how to track and to evade capture. Thinking back about his practice times in the woods before the event, he gave quite a good summary of his and D’s personalities—“I’d killed a squirrel with the slingshot. Mostly by accident. I’d cried for twenty minutes over its body, while D eyed the carcass like he wanted to take it home and cook it.  I made him help me hold a funeral instead.” I included that quote here because it really sums up how diverse/opposite their two characters seem to be, but as with many introverted, soft-spoken men, there’s more to D than appears on the surface. And in D’s final reflection, he reveals much of the depth of his love for David as he thinks about being given “the love of a man who gives me all of himself, even when I’m not sure what to do with it.” 

If you’ve followed the Subs Club, this is a must read.  If you haven’t, definitely pick up the first book.  Each sub has a particular kink reflected in the title of their story and because the time frame is spread out over several years, we get to enjoy each sub as he meets his new Dom, or Master and Dom as in Gould’s case, and we also get to revisit the others and appreciate how much they’ve matured. But this finale is the epitome of that. It’s just too terrific for words, and I obviously highly recommend it.

Cover art by Kanaxa is typical of the series.  Its simplicity is not only its hallmark but its finest feature.

Sales Links

Riptide Publishing

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Book Details:

ebook, 1st edition, 166 pages
Expected publication: October 17th 2016 by Riptide Publishing
Original Title Slave Hunt
ISBN139781626494275
Edition LanguageEnglish
URLhttp://riptidepublishing.com/titles/slave-hunt
Series The Subs Club

Cover Reveal for Quarry – Book 2 of The Vampire Guard by Elizabeth Noble

 

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Quarry – Book 2 of The Vampire Guard by Elizabeth Noble

(Available for pre-order from DSP Publications on October 17, 2016)

DSP Publications Sales links: eBook  PaperBack  Series page

Cover artist: TL Bland

Blurb

The members of the Vampire Guard—Jonas Forge, spy and soldier turned cop; computer hacker extraordinaire Blair Turner; Declan, thief, con man, and ex-pirate; and medical examiner and werewolf Dr. Lucas Coate—face a dangerous and elusive enemy.

And this time, it’s personal.

Over the course of three hundred years, a man has touched each of their lives in ways they are only just realizing. When a hunt for a psychotic killer in the present resurrects memories and clues from the past, they discover how they have been affected and are bound by the existence of a ruthless vampire criminal. Now, while preventing a heist at a high-tech art show and thwarting several large-scale explosions, the team must employ their unique blend of science and supernatural abilities to put an end to the machinations of the man toying with their lives.

This time, he won’t slip through their fingers.

This time, it’s more than a case. It’s a hunt, and Forge, Blair, Declan, and Lucas won’t stop until they’ve captured their quarry.

Excerpt

Chapter 1

Southern California, Present Day

Declan sprinted into traffic and across the street, dodging cars effortlessly as he ran. Blair bolted after him.

Cars were speeding through the street, horns blaring when they were cut off by other vehicles traveling in from intersecting thoroughfares. Squealing tires followed almost immediately in the wake of all the various tones from the horns. The noise was ear-shattering, and the commotion caused by traffic lights out of control was almost impossible to comprehend. Blair was running after Declan at such a high rate of speed that headlights and streetlights appeared as streaks crossing his path. It was dizzying.

One car swerved wildly, and Declan was cut off, nearly running right into its bumper. The cacophony of horns and tires increased trifold. Blair was willing to bet most of the drivers never saw Declan weaving through the pandemonium since he moved so quickly.

“Bastard,” Blair grumbled.

Blair was a vampire, the same as Declan, and could see Declan’s actions though human or werewolf eyes weren’t able to. Too bad Blair couldn’t mimic Declan’s smooth moves. A car careened around a corner and right into Declan’s path. He jumped up, slid across the hood on his ass, and hit the pavement running without missing a beat.

Blair hated him.

Blair’s actions were less than smooth, and trying to keep up, even though he was the faster runner between them, made him feel horribly inept. His attempt at Declan’s move over and around the cars resulted in Blair’s face narrowly escaping an intimate meeting with the pavement.

Growling, he shoved off the ground and raced after Declan. They were chasing a human; it shouldn’t be this hard to catch the guy. The man was smart; he was using the flow of traffic, or, more precisely, manipulating the traffic to stay ahead of Declan and Blair. Whether he knew he was being chased by vampires, or even believed they existed, Blair had no idea. Now wasn’t the time to figure it out either.

Where the hell was Forge? Shouldn’t Blair’s soul mate be dropping from a rooftop or charging from some alleyway to tackle this asshole they were chasing about now? It was Forge’s usual MO, and Blair suspected Forge liked doing things that way.

Trouble was, he wasn’t doing it now.

They were separated by enough distance it wasn’t possible for Blair to hear Forge. The transmitter in his wristband wasn’t working. They were both vampires and soul mates, so they shared a very powerful emotional bond, each experiencing the other’s emotions. Their bond wasn’t going to help with details on their exact position, however. Blair suspected the traffic-light hack wasn’t the only hack going on right now. Their wristbands relied on radio frequency, as well as Bluetooth, and something was being used to jam their transmissions.

Blair would have to figure that little detail out later. He was preoccupied with keeping up with Declan and their suspect right now. Maybe he and the fourth member of their team, Lucas Coate, a werewolf bonded to Declan, were more reliant on the technology they used daily than their mates, but Jonas Forge and Declan had been born long before the use of electricity, let alone wearable wireless communications. They’d worked together as intelligence operatives without such tools and without the Internet. Blair really wished they’d get on with showing off those skills about now.

Declan rounded a corner, and Blair raced after him. There was less traffic on this street. Surely they’d catch up to the man they chased. The guy hit the fencing around a construction site at a full run, leaping halfway to the top and scrambling over the top before he jumped to the ground.

Barely breaking stride, Declan bent his knees and cleared the fence in one bound, landing neatly—and on both feet—on the other side. Blair heard him mutter something in French that sounded very unkind. The fact that they couldn’t catch a human who was slower and weaker, with worse eyesight in the dark, was clearly pissing Declan off.

Those details were certainly pissing Blair off. “Any time now, Forge,” he mumbled. The frustration he felt from his mate told Blair that Forge and Lucas weren’t close by and were struggling to get a fix on their location. Didn’t that just make their situation even better?

Blair tried to hurdle the fence Declan-style, but his leap fell short, and he slammed into the top rail, doubling over it with a grunt. He grabbed it and swung over but didn’t land nicely on his feet. Instead he dropped into a disorganized heap in the dirt. Blowing out a growl, he got to his feet and sprinted after Declan again.

Declan stopped at one end of the site. It looked like some sort of upscale apartment complex and appeared to be one of those places with stores, wine bar, restaurants, and loft apartments—all with a convenient parking garage underneath. Blair remembered seeing them referred to as lifestyle centers.

“Where’d he go?” Blair was a bit breathless.

Declan held one hand up and cocked his head, saying, “Shh… I think….” He pointed out a direction. “Over there. Hear him?”

Blair nodded and ran with Declan through the partially built complex. Thuds and pings echoed around the area and bounced off varied textured surfaces. It was difficult filtering the exact location of the sounds, but Declan seemed to be following a determined path. Blair followed Declan. Blair was the guy who did the research and ran the tech end of their team. He was stay-in- the-surveillance-van guy, not go-out-into-the-field guy. Those roles belonged to Declan and Forge. Blair liked the van and wanted his job back.

Being in the van was going to have to wait, for now he had this job. Everything had gotten mixed up and out of whack with this assignment, which was what left Declan and Blair chasing an annoyingly slippery human through a construction site.

The trail Declan followed took them up an escalator or, more to the point, where an escalator was in the process of being installed. When they reached the top, Declan waved Blair to the right, and he took a left. Blair didn’t question Declan’s instincts and concentrated on the sounds around him. Footsteps: his, Declan’s, and two other sets, not one.

“What the crap?” Blair muttered. The footsteps were going in two different directions, which was why Declan had them split up. Blair stopped and glanced around. It was dark in here, but vampire sight didn’t require much light. Up one level and farther to the right, something moved. Blair sprinted in that direction. He gave up on Declan’s fancy leaping and bounding moves and took the stairs.

Halfway up he stopped and turned around. Holding his breath, he stood and listened. Forge was always telling him to utilize the strongest sense a vampire had—his hearing. Right now what he was hearing didn’t make sense. Blair might never be the warrior Forge was or the spy James Bond wished he was, like Declan, or a man such as Lucas who adapted to and was comfortable in every social situation. But he wasn’t without his own skill set.

Warning bells were ringing in his head. It took him a few seconds to narrow down the cause: a series of clicks and a barely audible whine. Blair checked his wristband again. Still no signal. He turned in a slow circle. Now he heard no footsteps other than Declan’s, and he had slowed to a walk. No one was speaking, but Blair did hear breathing. Three distinct patterns. One he recognized as Declan. The other two were in close proximity to each other, and at least one of them was the man they’d chased in here. The layout of the building and the materials used were making it difficult, since sounds were bouncing off partially constructed walls.

He looked down at the main level. Declan had come back into view and was gazing up at Blair. He shrugged and spread his hands wide.

Another series of clicks and a buzz.

Blair tried his wristband a second time. Neither that, nor the earbud he wore, was working. He had no signal, but someone did, and it was a private system—that much Blair had already figured out. Noise from the transmission came to Blair in bits, but nothing he could make sense of. Yet he felt he should recognize the noise.

After moving down the stairs a few steps, Blair stopped and listened again, then shook his head very slightly.

A different noise, a snapping sort of sound, made both him and Declan look to the left. Declan held up his hand and stalked silently in the direction of the sound. Blair knew the sound but couldn’t place it.

“Shit,” he said, only loudly enough that Declan was the single person who would hear him. Blair started running down the steps. The hair along the back of his neck rose, and a shiver worked down Blair’s spine. Whatever that noise was, it meant danger. He was sure of it.

Another click.
Blair shouted, “Declan!” He dove off the side of the steps and launched himself at Declan. Declan turned in time to catch Blair. At the same time, a low rumble started beneath their feet. The floor vibrated, and the low rumble erupted into a deafening roar.
“What the—” Declan hissed as Blair wrapped both arms around his shoulders and used his momentum to shove them both backward.
The flooring several yards from them opened up. Brick, metal, and glass dropped through to the parking level below, creating a deafening roar. Dust and dirt billowed up from somewhere beneath them. Declan pushed off the floor and spun them around and away from the blast. A brilliant flash of light struck, and then dust and debris turned everything hazy and dark. The stores and wine bar disappeared as Declan and Blair were plunged down, along with chunks of cement, into the cavernous depths of the parking garage.

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Elizabeth Noble bio:

Elizabeth Noble lives by the adage “I can’t not write”. She can’t remember a time when she didn’t make up stories and eventually she learned how to write them down. A part of every day is spent living in worlds she created that are filled with intrigue and espionage. Using a real love of scifi and urban fantasy highlighted by twisty plots she crafts stories taking place in a slightly altered version of our world.

When she’s not chronicling the adventures of her many characters Elizabeth is a veterinary nurse living in her native Cleveland, Ohio. She shares her little brick house with an adorable canine princess and her tabby cat side-kick. Elizabeth is a fan of baseball, basketball (go Cavs and Indians!) and gardening. She can often be found working in her ‘outside office’ listening to classic rock and plotting her next novel waiting for it to be dark enough to gaze at the stars.

Elizabeth received several amateur writing awards. Since being published two of her novels have received honorable mentions in the Rainbow Awards. Her novel Jewel Cave was a runner up in the 2015 Rainbow awards in the Gay Mystery/Thriller category.

Please visit Elizabeth Noble at:
Emotion in Motion: http://www.elizabeth-noble.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elizabeth.noble.77

Facebook group: On the Patio with Elizabeth Noble: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1551582581800123/

Twitter: @elizabethnoble1
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/elizabethnoble1/
Elizabeth’s direct email is: elizabeth.noble19@gmail.com

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Visit The Vampire Guard:
The Vampire Guard website: http://elizabeth-noble-thevampireguard.weebly.com/
Email members of The Vampire Guard: jr.vampx@gmail.com

In the Spotlight: Slave Hunt (The Subs Club #5) by J.A. Rock (giveaway)

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Slave Hunt (The Subs Club #5) by J.A. Rock
Riptide Publishing
Cover by: Kanaxa

Read an Excerpt/Buy it Here

Hi! I’m J.A. Rock, and I’m touring the internet to talk about Slave Hunt, Book 5 in The Subs Club series. Thanks so much to the blogs that are hosting me on this tour, and be sure to leave a comment with your contact info for your chance to win a $15 Riptide Publishing voucher.

About Slave Hunt

Thirty people. Two hours. Only the strong will survive.

When Riddle decides to put on a slave hunt, the Subs Club is on board. Tops hunting bottoms in the woods with paintball guns? Yes. Captives strung up on whipping posts, at the mercy of their captors? Hell yes. But on the morning of the hunt, nothing’s going according to plan. Miles and Drix are at odds over Miles’s reluctance to move in together. Dave is determined to show up D, who thinks Dave won’t last two minutes in the woods. Gould finds himself torn between obeying his master’s orders and living out a longtime fantasy. And Kamen inadvertently becomes a double agent when he aligns himself with two different parties.


By the end of the hunt, alliances will be forged and broken, loyalties will be tested, relationships will be strengthened…and someone will barrel roll. Narrated by ten different characters, Slave Hunt tells the story of two hours in the woods that will change everyone forever. Or at least, remind them that love is the greatest victory of all.

Slave Hunt is available from Riptide Publishing: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/slave-hunt

About The Subs Club Universe

After the death of their friend Hal at the hands of an irresponsible dom, submissive friends Dave, Kamen, Miles, and Gould band together to form the Subs Club—an organization seeking to expose dangerous local doms. The club slowly evolves as romances blossom, loyalties are tested, and tensions mount in a community already struggling for unity in the wake of Hal’s death.

From domestic discipline to knife play to fashion paraphilia, and from family drama to new jobs to first loves, the members of the Subs Club explore life’s kinks inside and outside of the bedroom as they attempt to let go of the past and move forward.

Check out the universe at Riptide Publishing: http://riptidepublishing.com/titles/universe/subs-club

About J.A. Rock

J.A. Rock has worked as a dog groomer, knife seller, haunted house zombie, standardized patient, cashier, census taker, state fair quilt hanger, and, for one less-than-magical evening, a server—and would much rather be writing about those jobs than doing them. A lover of m/m BDSM romance, J.A. lives mostly in West Virginia, and always with a beloved dog, Professor Anne.

Website: www.jarockauthor.com
Blog: http://jarockauthor.blogspot.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/jarockauthor
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ja.rock.39

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Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Slave Hunt, one lucky winner will receive $15 in Riptide Publishing credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on October 22, 2016. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

A Paul B Review: The Promise (Sirius Wolves #4) by Victoria Sue

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

the-promise-by-victoria-sueMarcus Flint enjoys his job as the US government’s Lupine Liaison Officer.  He has been working closely with Blaze, the Supreme Alpha werewolf and his mates to deal with the Winter Circle terrorist organization that is trying to keep weres and humans apart.  He admires some the characteristics of his werewolf friends like their lifetime mating and the fact that they are very tactile.  Being a double amputee from the last war, Marcus believes that he will never have that, as his former lover Justin rejected him after he came home from overseas.

Kellan believes he is lupus non gratis around his pack. He was forced to help the psychopath Michael with his schemes because his mate was being threatened.  Most of the wolves of the Jefferson pack cannot forgive him.  Only those of Orion’s Circle seem to understand the pressure he was under to protect his mate.  When it is revealed that his mate is Marcus, the human, most wolves do not believe that it is possible.

Ricoh meanwhile is having problems with his mates.  Hunter, the Jefferson pack alpha, continues to ignore him.  Nate is still missing after fleeing when his life is spared for killing Darric.  And as he begins to be around Marcus, he is developing feeling for that man too.  He does not understand how this could be as he already has his mates, or so he thought.  When Nate shows up with an anti-werewolf minister looking thin and tired, the group knows that something is terribly wrong.  As the group plans a rescue, Hunter goes and tries to talk to Nate, making him shut down further.  The group must now recalculate their plans to save Nate while somehow not alienate the human population any further than the anti-were agitators have already done.

This fourth book in the Sirius Wolves series continues the integration of humans and werewolves that started in the previous books.  Orion’s Circle (Aden, Blaze, Conner, and Darric) take more of supporting roles as Marcus, Ricoh, Nate, and Kellan drive this story.  We also begin to see that not all wolves are behind the ruling council.  Nate is obviously been tortured to the point where he is suffering a bit of Stockholm syndrome.  Marcus thinks no one can care for him because of his physical appearance.  Ricoh believes that both of his mates of basically rejected him while Kellan has been rejected by his own pack for the most part.  The ending of the book takes a unique twist in the furthering of the goals of Orion’s Circle.  As usual, I cannot wait to read the next in the series.

The cover by E Connors is fairly standard for the series.  A well built shirtless man in jeans is set in front of a starry night sky.  However, I’m not sure which character he is suppose to be though.

Sales Links

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Book Details

EBook, 139 pages

Edition Language:  English

Published:  January 14, 2016 by Dark Hollows Press

ISBN:  978-1-944054-31-1

Series:  Sirius Wolves

Orion’s Circle (Sirius Wolves #1)

Broken Circle (Sirius Wolves #2)

A MelanieM/Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: The Weight of It All by N.R. Walker

Rating: 5+ stars out of 5

the-weight-of-it-all-by-nr-walkerAfter being dumped by his long-term boyfriend for being overweight, Henry Beckett decides to make some drastic changes. In a vain attempt at getting his boyfriend back, Henry does the most absurdly frightening thing he can think of.

He joins a gym.

Reed Henske is a personal trainer who isn’t sure he’ll ever be ready to date again. He’s sick of guys who are only interested in the perfect body image, never seeing him for who he really is.

As Reed tortures Henry with things like diet and exercise, Henry enamours Reed with recipes and laughter. As the friendship lines start to blur, Henry is convinced there’s no way Thor-like Reed could ever be interested in a guy like him.

Reed just has to convince Henry that life isn’t about reaching your ideal bodyweight. It’s about finding your perfect counterweight.

The Weight of It All by N.R. Walker proved to be a bit of a wonderful issue here at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words.  Two of us had each read it and fallen in love.  What to do about the review? The only solution was a combined review. Here’s our thoughts on The Weight of It All by N.R. Walker:

Barb, the Zany Old Lady:

This was a truly enjoyable story on so many levels. First and foremost, Henry is probably the most likable guy I’ve met in a long time. Reed is equally personable, though more subtle in the way he grabbed my attention.

Very humorous, as this tale unfolds, it’s evident that it’s about more than simply guy meets guy. The story explores societal norms about bodyweight and the fact that one’s self-perception of body image goes a long way toward both emotional and physical health and long-term success. I respect this author’s treatment of the topic and appreciate the encouragement toward a way of life that includes both healthy eating and exercise as a way to reach balance. So many authors subconsciously, or purposely, encourage dieting and slimming down as a way to attract a man’s attention. That wasn’t the case here, and I applaud the author’s efforts in keeping the focus on the inner self rather than the outer shell. Wrap all this up in a story that contained two very endearing characters, and it’s one I would highly recommend.

From MelanieM:

I think this is really the best book N.R. Walker has written.  The character of Henry especially was so surprising.  I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone like him in any novel before.  Its not just his intelligence, or his self depreciating manner, but his slow acknowledgement of his life choices, good and bad, his adjustments towards a healthier life style.  Its just such an amazing exploration of one person’s journey from one state to the next and all the while, Henry remains Henry at the core.  Walker has created a character with such a basaltic center to his personality that as other things change, we know that the foundation that is  Henry will not. Reed is also someone who has been crafted along the same memorable lines, although perhaps in an altogether  different mold (or so we are lead to believe at the start).  Together Henry, Reed, Anika and her boyfriend Sean, and all that incredible dialog that had me laughing, giggling, and sometimes sniffling more than a little…well, this will be in my top 10 books of the year.

As with all N.R. Walker stories, the pace has a natural flow to it, never hurried, never slow, it just carries you along with the characters as Henry fights his inclinations to take the easy path, and then as the choices he makes gets more natural for him and then part of his schedule.  I can’t being to share the joys you will find inside this story, inside these characters.  Its a journey I never wanted to see end. and its an exploration you need to take for yourself.

Its one both Barb and I highly recommend.

Cover art is simple and perfect.

Sales Links

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Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 244 pages
Published September 12th 2016 by BlueHeart Press
Original TitleThe Weight of It All
ASINB01LYGV7HD
Edition LanguageEnglish

In the Spotlight: The Captain’s Promise by T.J. Land (excerpt)

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The Captain’s Promise (Adrift #4) by T.J. Land
NineStar Press

Cover Artist: Natasha Snow
Release Date: October 17, 2016

Purchase Links

NineStar Press |  Amazon  |  All Romance Ebooks 

COUPON CODE: Get 20% off preorder on NineStar Press website with coupon code “preorder”

* (Good until release day)

Book Blurb

Now that the crew of The Prayer have settled down on an uninhabited alien world, their captain intends for them to forge a new life for themselves. But Khurshed’s plans are interrupted when the ship receives a distress call from a nearby planet. While most of his lovers are excited by the prospect of making contact with their new neighbors, First Officer Antoine argues that responding might endanger the crew. As it turns out, his fears are well placed…

Excerpt

T.J. Land © 2016

All Rights Reserved

Dirty, panting, and sweating like a pig, Rick stood back and surveyed his greatest achievement. Ten rows of newly sown green beans, ten rows of spinach, and ten rows of zucchini; the first crops he’d planted outside the rigorously controlled and monitored confines of The Prayer’s oxygen garden in four years. The first Earth crops that had ever been planted on this planet. In this galaxy, even.

“Bitchin’,” he said to himself.

“Don’t curse in front of the baby vegetables,” said Thomas, slinking up behind him and draping his lanky arms over Rick’s shoulders. “You don’t want ’em growing up as warped and perverted as you, do you?”

“Fuck off, Meléndez,” Rick drawled, tilting his head up to accept a kiss.

“How come our first crops are fucking greens? I haven’t had a donut in close on five years. Why can’t you plant some…bread seeds?”

“Wheat, you ignorant loser. We don’t have any grain.”

When they’d first set out from Earth, they’d been equipped with everything they needed for the duration of the one-and-a-half-year journey to Pluto, including a cargo hold full of supplies for the dwarf planet’s fledgling colony. They’d had nutrient shakes, chewable protein bars, enough canned food to feed one hundred people for four years, the reliable bounty of Rick’s vegetable garden, and flour. When they were set adrift by the enemy, they’d comforted themselves with the knowledge that they’d die of boredom and cabin fever long before they starved. Even so, Rick recalled vividly the bleak looks on everyone’s faces three years ago when Echo had informed them that the last of the flour was finished.

“Besides, donuts? That shit’s bad for you. Echo’s fruity desserts aren’t doing it for you anymore?”

Thomas made his meh face. “He’s been using that weird melon-shaped thing we found a lot lately. I can’t get used to the aftertaste. It always feels like someone coated the back of my tongue in cement.”

“Don’t let Echo hear you say that. He’ll be whatever his equivalent of upset is. And he might poison your dinner.”

Their new vegetable garden had been planted in the lee of the rocky hill next to which The Prayer currently squatted, her landing gear obscured by the long grass. Being situated in the planet’s temperate zone, they wouldn’t have to worry about the periodic decades-long draughts that assailed the southern regions. Because Antoine’s current fascination was the local marine life, they were within walking distance of the beach. There was another ancient abandoned town a few miles east, though Rick wasn’t all that eager to go exploring again just yet. Not after what had almost happened to Zachery and the captain.

Khurshed, Rick reminded himself. That’s what he asked you to call him.

Thomas was resting his chin on Rick’s head, a habit he’d picked up since Rick had started shaving his scalp. The explosion that had taken his eye had also burned off a good chunk of his hair, and Zachery had said it was as good a time as any to try a new haircut. Rick had agreed. Then, stupidly, he’d given Zachery free reign to experiment on him. The result was so arrestingly hideous that he’d had no choice but to go bald. Thankfully, it turned out that all three of his boyfriends thought his new look was sexy as hell. Rick wasn’t so sure, but he couldn’t deny that having his bare scalp stroked and fondled made it feel as though someone had pumped kerosene into his dick.

“Comfortable up there, asshole?” he inquired of Thomas.

“Sorry,” he said, not sounding the least bit sorry. “It’s the price you pay for being my shortest boyfriend.”

“Okay, I’m gonna bite your nipples off for that,” said Rick, peeling off his gloves and turning around so he could get at them.

When Rick had first met Thomas, he hadn’t thought much of him. He’d come off as a bland everyday nice guy, maybe a bit of a worrywart, with unassuming good looks. Nothing special. As they’d gotten to know one another better over the course of the four years they’d been lost in space, they’d become amicable acquaintances, though not quite friends. Rick had liked him while never being one hundred percent comfortable in his presence, his feelings towards the ship’s security officer muddled by what he now recognized as a huge, unacknowledged crush. Then the captain had come along and dragged them all into bed with him, and after that, everything had worked out.

Rick wasn’t the type to rate his boyfriends; he felt as drunkenly, giddily in love with the captain and Zachery as he was with Thomas. That said, they were all vastly different people, and they each had their own place in Rick’s life. Thomas was the one Rick went to when all he wanted was someone to make him smile. When he’d emerged from the medical pod, Thomas had been the first to be allowed to see his empty eye socket, and in the weeks that followed, Rick had turned to him whenever he started thinking dark thoughts. No matter what else was going on, Thomas always made him feel good.

“Oh yeah,” Thomas said, his breath hitching as Rick settled a hand over his dick.

Rick smirked. One of the reasons Thomas always made him feel good was that making Thomas feel good was so, so damn easy.

“You’re such a whore,” he told him, rubbing the spot behind his left ear like he was a cat. As Thomas sagged against him, mumbling incoherently, Rick kissed him hard, grinding their dicks together while he moved his hand from Thomas’s ear to massage the back of his neck. As soon as Rick had learned where Thomas’s soft spots were, he’d realized that he could do pretty much anything with him.

“You like that?” he asked. Not because he had any doubt that Thomas did. It was just nice to see Thomas try and fail to make his tongue work, because sweet gentleman Thomas never ignored a question.

“Y-yeah,” he husked. “’S nice.”

Rick smirked. I have so got your number, pretty boy.

“How about we go inside?” Rick said. “Wouldn’t want to traumatize the baby beans, would we?”

Pairing: MM, MMM

Orientation: Asexual, Bi, Gay

Identity: Cis, Trans

Length: Novelette

Words: 18300

Pages: 42

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Author Bio

T.J. Land is a South African writer of erotic romance and sometimes other things. Her main inspirations right now are her plants, Emily Carroll’s art, and her seething hatred for the final season of Downton Abbey. She hopes you’re hanging in there.

Check out NineStar Press’ events calendar for information on additional blog stops for The Captain’s Promise and other upcoming releases!

A MelanieM Review: All Hallows’ Eve by Annabelle Jacobs

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

all-hallows-eve-by-annabelle-jacobsWill a centuries-old broken heart ruin the promise of new love?

Dominic Ashworth is descended from a long line of witches, although the family practice of witchcraft died out generations ago. Forever connected to a dark history, the house he grew up in remained in the Ashworth family for generations until his estranged father sold it.

On a mission to check out the new owners, Dominic runs into Caleb Jones and gives the gorgeous man his phone number—but getting a date should be the last thing on Dominic’s agenda.

Caleb and his best friend, Zach Briceworth, are oblivious to the heartache and magic tied to the foundations of their new home. When strange things start to happen, the truth emerges and surprises them both, especially as everything revolves around Caleb’s new love interest.

After a shaky start, Caleb and Dominic settle into an easy relationship, falling faster than either of them expected. But with Halloween approaching, the possibility of danger increases. The past is not always as it seems, and the ripples of a tragic event threaten to put an end to everything between them.

Arriving just in time to satisfy our needs for some supernatural reads comes this terrific tale of thwarted love and hauntings of the heart from Annabelle Jacobs.  All Hallow’s Eve is a tale of two love stories, each separated by centuries but connected by family ties and one house.  The Ashworth witches and their family house has been tied together by a dark history…until one estranged family member sells it to unknowing new owners.

Its such a delicious plot.  A family of witches, ancient lands…and a new owner.  What could possibly happen?  In this case its, Dominic and his sister who own a local bookstore (plus a aunt) who are still keepers of the Ashworth history and as well as being witches themselves.  Too late to keep their father from selling their house, they need to get to know the new owner for any number of reasons.  That Caleb is gorgeous and gay?  A complication that Dominic hadn’t counted on.

Jacobs has to weave not only present  day characters and their stories into that time frame and mysterious goings on but also put into play the centuries old heartbreak and mystery at the core of this story.  An entire storyline, complete with characters, dialog, and history had to be created as well.  Realistically enough that we felt for them equally as we do for those in present times.  Its quite the accomplishment that we come to do so, especially so at the end of the story.

I thought the author  did a wonderful job of building the suspense and dread just through the house itself.  From the anticipatory walk down the stairs in the basement to the behavior of the cat, sometimes just the creepiness of the atmosphere was enough to make your skin crawl.    You were really waiting for the ghost to pop out and say boo.

While I wish more could have been made of the fact that the father’s role was short of disastrous in this, from selling the house to not supporting his kids, only to quickly return? Hmmm….I wished for more there.

However, the rest of the story absolutely satisfied.  I loved the rush to figure out how the past was going to return and  endanger those in the present and who was going to be affected the most.  It was chilling when it had to be, poignant when called for, and romantically heartwarming for all at the end. And at All Hallows’ Eve.  Amazing and quite wonderful.

I definitely recommend this story.  Its a terrific read at this time of year or anytime actually.  Grab it up and have a spooktacular time!

Cover art by Natasha Snow is terrific and works for the story.

Sales Links

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Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 248 pages
Published October 5th 2016 by Annabelle Jacobs
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Edition LanguageEnglish

Storming Love: Tsunami Tales are Here with NIc Starr’s Sebastian & Owen (exclusive excerpt and giveaway)

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Sebastian & Owen (Storming Love: Tsunami #3) by Nic Starr
MLR Press

Cover Artist: Kris Jacen

Release Date: 7th October 2016

Sebastian & Owen is book #3 in the Storming Love: Tsunami series from MLR Press. Three authors each contributed a story about a couple facing the same tsunami event.

Blurb

Owen’s eagerness to win Sebastian back turns to desperation as a tsunami threatens to tear them apart.

The last twelve months have been hard on Owen Hewitt and even tougher on his relationship. For six years, Sebastian Carmichael has been the love of his life, but that love is put to the test as Owen sinks into injury-induced depression.

Living with chronic pain and unable to do the things he used to do makes him feel like a failure, and causes him to believe he’s holding the younger Sebastian back.

When Sebastian takes some time out and leaves to stay at their holiday house, it could spell the end of the relationship. But as a tsunami bears down on the Tasmanian coast, it could spell the end of everything.

This book can be read standalone.

Exclusive Excerpt

It was only a couple of days into the new year and they were fighting already.  Sebastian’s expression was thunderous —his eyes were narrowed and his jaw was clenched so tightly that Owen could see the muscle in his cheek ticking.

“I’m sorry —”

“Don’t.” Sebastian held up his hand.

Seeing Sebastian holding him back, putting that distance between them, tore at Owen’s heart. He felt the emotion prickle behind his eyes and blinked back the tears.

“I can’t take any more of this, Owen.” Sebastian thumped his chest, his voice breaking as he continued. “You know I love you. I love you with all my heart. For Christ’s sake, I’ve loved you since I was twenty-two. There is no one else for me —you’re it.” Sebastian ran a hand through his dark hair and shook his head before meeting Owen’s gaze head on. “What is it going to take for you to believe that you’re enough, that you’re all I’ve ever wanted? The last year… Well, before that, I never would have pictured us here, doing this, arguing all the time, or tiptoeing around each other.”

“I know and I’m —”

“Don’t say it.” Sebastian’s eyes flashed. “If you say you’re sorry one more time…”

Owen bit back the automatic apology that teetered on the tip of his tongue. “You don’t deserve the last twelve months. I know I’ve been hell to live with —short-tempered and angry. It’s not fair on you and you don’t deserve it. Plus I haven’t been able to do the things we usually do. It’s no wonder you’re pissed off with me.”

Sebastian’s eyebrows rose. “Pissed off? Are you kidding? I couldn’t give a shit about you not being able to do things with me.” He huffed in obvious frustration. “I mean, I miss being able to share the time doing the stuff we used to. Kayaking isn’t the same with Matt or one of the other guys, but that isn’t why I’m pissed. I understand you can’t do what you used to be able to do, but it’s physical, Owen. You aren’t choosing not to be with me when I want to go out and do something active. You have a physical limitation. A busted shoulder. I understand that.”

“But you shouldn’t have to.” Owen hated that Sebastian had to change his life to fit in with him.

“Don’t be ridiculous. You’re the one who’s concerned, not me. I worry about you, obviously. Do I wish you didn’t have the shoulder injury? Hell, yes. Do I wish you weren’t in pain and could sleep undisturbed through the night? You bet I do. And do I want you to enjoy an afternoon spent kayaking? Too right. But I want all those things because I know how much you love the feel of being out on the water. I want you to be able to run and swim and paddle, but not for me —for you. If we can never do any of those things together again, I’ll be okay, because there’s so much else we do do with each other. My happiness and desire to be with you isn’t linked to outdoor pursuits, it’s linked to being with you whatever we are doing —our morning chats over coffee, walks out on the island, watching those stupid comedies you love so much. Hell, even doing the housework.”

Owen stood speechless, unsure what to say as Sebastian sighed and turned away. He watched as Sebastian strode to the window and stared out at the city beyond. Owen gathered his thoughts, trying to work out what to say so he didn’t open his big mouth and say something he’d regret. He seemed to have a habit of putting his foot in it lately and he didn’t want to make the already tense situation worse. Before he could speak, Sebastian spun around and faced him again.

“Look, Owen. As much as it pains me to say this, I think we need some time apart. We’ve both said what we wanted to say.” — have we? — “Some distance will give you some time to digest what I’ve said, and I really hope you think it over. I mean every word. I love you, Owen, bunged up shoulder or not. It hurts me that you don’t trust enough in my love to believe that. That’s what causes me the most pain —that you doubt us. I thought we were past that, that we were strong, that we were more than…” His voice trailed off and the look of anger had been replaced with sadness.

Owen swallowed past the lump in his throat, arms itching to pull Sebastian into his arms, but Owen remembered the raised hand from earlier in their conversation and didn’t want to risk Sebastian pulling away. He didn’t think his heart could stand the rejection. Instead, his hand dropped to his wrist and he toyed with the leather wrapped securely there. “I —”

Sebastian didn’t let him finish. He offered a small smile. “It’s okay, Owen, really. I think if I stay we’ll just ending up fighting more. So I’m going to Bruny.” Sebastian put a finger to Owen’s lips. “Now before you say anything, it’s not for long. I’m not leaving you. I’m just giving you some space. I’ll stay there for a couple of days, maybe a week. I’ll work from the house out there. While I’m gone, maybe you can work out what you really want, perhaps see the surgeon and talk about getting the surgery you need.”

Owen finally reached out his arms —there was no way he wanted to let Sebastian go but Sebastian put his hands up again. “Owen, let me leave.”

Owen fought the urge to ignore the gesture and the words, to pull Sebastian to him anyway, but eventually nodded. As much as his throat ached and his heart felt heavy, he knew Sebastian was right and he did have to get his shit together. But that didn’t make it hurt any less when Sebastian only relaxed once he had Owen’s agreement.

He smiled gently, stepped forward and wrapped Owen in a tight hug. “Thank you,” he whispered against Owen’s cheek.

Given Owen’s recent worries about their age difference, why did it feel like Sebastian was the grown up in the relationship?

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Buy Links

MLR Press 

Add it to your Goodreads shelf here.

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About Nic Starr

Nic Starr lives in Australia where she tries to squeeze as much into her busy life as possible. Balancing the demands of a corporate career with raising a family and writing can be challenging but she wouldn’t give it up for the world.

Always a reader, the lure of m/m romance was strong and she devoured hundreds of wonderful m/m romance books before eventually realising she had some stories of her own that needed to be told!

When not writing or reading, she loves to spend time with her family-an understanding husband and two beautiful daughters-and is often found indulging in her love of cooking and planning her dream home in the country.

You can find Nic on Facebook, Twitter and her blog. She’d love it if you stopped by to say hi.

Giveaway

I’ve created a Rafflecopter giveaway to celebrate the release of Sebastian & Owen. Here is the information in case you want to include it on your blog.

The prize is a $10 Amazon Gift card. The Rafflecopter will start shortly and close on 18th October.

Here is the link.

a Rafflecopter giveaway
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Direct link: http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/d18d078d9/