Category: M/M Book Reviews

Series Recap Tour for K.A. Merikan’s Guns n’ Boys Series (excerpt and giveaway)

Series Recap Tour & Giveaway

Guns n’ Boys Series 

K.A. Merikan 

 

Author: KA Merikan
Series Links
 
Guns n’ Boys: He is Poison (Book #1) Amazon US  Amazon UK
Guns n’ Boys: He is Mine (Book #2) Amazon US  Amazon UK
Guns n’ Boys: Paris (Book #2.1) Amazon US  Amazon UK 
Guns n’ Boys: Homicidal Instinct (Book #3) Amazon US  Amazon UK 
Guns n’ Boys: Swamp Blood (Book #4) Amazon US  Amazon UK 
Guns n’ Boys: Chokehold (Book #5) Amazon US Amazon UK 


Blurb
 

‘Guns n’ Boys’ is a twisted, dark erotic romance mixed with a crime thriller. It’s a long, turbulent journey of one couple deeply entrenched in the dealings of their mafia family. Behind the morbid humor and extreme violence hides the intense love affair of Domenico Acerbi, the mafia’s best hitman, and Seth Villani, the Don’s son.

Together, they have to deal with their blooming affection for each other, their familyís homophobia, their own prejudice, lust, jealousy, and violence. In true anti-hero fashion, they do so in most morally ambiguous ways. 


Author Bio


K. A. Merikan is the pen name for Kat and Agnes Merikan, a team of writers, who are taken for sisters with surprising regularity. Kat’s the mean sergeant and survival specialist of the duo, never hesitating to kick Agnes’s ass when she’s slacking off. Her memory works like an easy-access catalogue, which allows her to keep up with both book details and social media. Also works as the emergency GPS. Agnes is the Merikan nitpicker, usually found busy with formatting and research. Her attention tends to be scattered, and despite pushing thirty, she needs to apply makeup to buy alcohol. Self-proclaimed queen of the roads.


They love the weird and wonderful, stepping out of the box, and bending stereotypes both in life and books. When you pick up a Merikan book, there’s one thing you can be sure of ñ it will be full of surprises.


Website: http://kamerikan.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KA_Merikan
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KAMerikan/
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/KAMerikan/

Giveaway

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An Ali Review: Looking for Group by Alexis Hall

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

looking-for-group-by-alexis-hallSo, yeah, I play Heroes of Legend, y’know, the MMO. I’m not like obsessed or addicted or anything. It’s just a game. Anyway, there was this girl in my guild who I really liked because she was funny and nerdy and a great healer. Of course, my mates thought it was hilarious I was into someone I’d met online. And they thought it was even more hilarious when she turned out to be a boy IRL. But the joke’s on them because I still really like him.

And now that we’re together, it’s going pretty well. Except sometimes I think Kit—that’s his name, sorry I didn’t mention that—spends way too much time in HoL. I know he has friends in the guild, but he has me now, and my friends, and everyone knows people you meet online aren’t real. I mean. Not Kit. Kit’s real. Obviously.

Oh, I’m Drew, by the way. This is sort of my story. About how I messed up some stuff and figured out some stuff. And fell in love and stuff.

This was a lovely story about two young men finding friendship and then love after meeting on line.  The gist of the story is that in the course of playing online games, Drew and Kit become friends and then fall for each other.  At the core though this book is about the importance that online friends can have in our lives.  I love looking at that subject because I know I have personally made a few friends online and they have been wonderful additions to my life.
The writing was really well done and the author painted such a well developed world that I felt like I knew what it was like to be caught up in these online games.  And I don’t.  I’ve never actually played any of these type games.  As a result of my real life experience there were a few scenes that were hard for me to get through.  I didn’t really understand what was going on.  There is a great glossary in the back that you can use to look up things.  Sometimes I took advantage of that and other, more extensive gaming scenes, I just skimmed.  I don’t think I missed anything by skimming them.  If there were inside comments or jokes I wasn’t going to get them anyways.  Overall it didn’t matter because the friendship and love story still came shining through.  I still got all of that and I enjoyed it immensely.  I think this book will be a special read for those who do have gaming experience and/or those who have made real life connections from their online lives.
Cover by Simone’:  I like the cover a lot.  I think it fits the story really well.
Sales Links
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Book Details:
Kindle Edition, 273 pages
Published August 27th 2016 by Riptide Publishing
Original TitleLooking for Group
ASINB01L54O60O

An Alisa Review: Broke (Chicken Ranch #2) by Amanda Young

Rating:  4 stars out of 5

 

broke-by-amanda-youngGarrett has fallen on tough times. Once a construction worker, he now depends on the desires of others to feed his little brother and keep a roof over their heads. As one of the many rent boys at Chicken Ranch, Garrett lives in constant fear, torn between making enough money to survive and getting busted for doing something illegal and immoral to pay the bills.

Miller is a workaholic with a chip on his shoulder. It isn’t until his beloved Grandma passes away that Miller dares to temporarily return home to the town he despises. Once there, he faces a surprise inheritance that causes more problems than solutions and the man he left behind to pursue his dreams.

Their reunion comes with an abundance of complications and old feelings. Bitterness and anger swiftly turn into desire and a rekindled love that threatens more than their hearts. Things take a turn for the worst when Miller provokes a threat to Garrett’s custody of his little brother. Having already lost Garrett to familial obligations once, Miller fears they’re doomed to repeat the past, only this time Garrett will be the one who’ll walk away.

 

Amanda Young did a nice job with this story.  Garrett will do anything to take care of his little brother, even being a rent boy.  He has long since given up his hope of having a relationship since his brother takes up most of his time and energy.  When Miller gives him a different option he believes it is too good to be true.

 

I really liked both of these characters.  Both are stubborn and don’t want to show any weakness by giving one way or another, which causes a bit of doubt on both of their ends.  Garrett’s brother also has the stubborn gene and will do anything to make their relationship work out.  It was easy to connect with these characters and see their relationship grow as it had in the past.

 

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

 

Sales Link

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Book Details:

ebook, 166 pages

Published: 2nd Edition, August 30, 2016 by Amanda Young

Edition Language: English

Series: Chicken Ranch Gentleman’s Club #2

A Stella Review: Three More Wishes (Three Wishes #2) by Sean Michael

RATING 4 out of 5 stars

three-more-wishes-rainbow-islandCome to Rainbow Island, where all your sexual fantasies will come true.

James, Guard and Damien are back, still running their resort, where every fantasy, no matter how perverse, may come true. The three men continue working out the bumps in their threesome, but when it comes to their clients, they’re a well-oiled machine. Which works perfectly for the three new couples arriving in paradise.

Cameron is losing his sight, and he knows that he’ll be useless once it goes completely. He’s cashed in everything to leave his life behind for one last fling. Xander is on the island for a fantasy, too. He’s looking for someone to love on, someone to care for and Cameron seems to be the perfect match, but can they make it work?

As a writer, Ben always writes the script, which is why his fantasy is to give up control. He’s told his fantasy can’t be fulfilled, so he settles in for a relaxing vacation on an island paradise instead. Is he really as safe as he thinks he is?

Finally, Leo is a consummate top, always wanting to better his technique. He wants to know what it’s like to be a sub, but it won’t be easy for a Dominant to bottom for five days. Leo will do his dead-level best to measure up—his only worry is who the boys choose to be his fantasy top…

Don’t miss out on these fantasies come true.

Reader Advisory: This book contains a scene of fisting as well as scenes of kidnap and dubious consent

I’m a huge fan of Sean Michael, once a month I need to read something by him, a re-read or a short, anything is good.

Three More Wishes is the book two in the Rainbow Island series, incredibly I missed the first one but apart for some more details about the relationship between the three hosts of the island,  James, Guard and Damien (which I would love to know), this re-release worked well as a standalone to me. If you already have read this author, you’ll know what to expect. Sean Michael is great at writing very hot scenes, sexy and dirty just how I like them. And the sex is never pointless, it’s just the guarnish to lovely and sweet plots.

In Three More Wishes I get to know three new couples and their relative meetings and starting of new relationships.

Cameron and Xander were probably the sweetest couple, they are a match made in heaven. One blind, desperate man, ready to end a life with no sight and with no possibilities for him to survive, meet Xander, protective, already trained up on the world of the blind people. It was very emotional seeing Cameron first so resigned and then start to believe in Xander and the reality of a future together.

Ben and Tip relationship was more adventurous, Ben is a writer interested in knowing what it means to be kidnapped. Things don’t go exactly how Ben expected, on the contrary he will find the unexpected Tip. And I can assure you, since I didn’t read the blurb before starting the book, for a moment I truly thought he was kidnapped.

The last couple was probably my favorite. Leo and David story was hot and cute. Leo is a dom looking for another dom who will help Leo better understand sub’s minds. That dom is David but David is also in love with Leo since forever.

I enjoyed Three More Wishes a lot. Of course there are four stories in just a little more than two hundred pages, there is no space for a lot of development but what I got greatly satisfied me. I can’t wait for the next installment, especially cause I want more  James, Guard and Damien scenes.

Just a note, read the warning at the ending of the blurb, if you’re not comfortable with those triggers, better stay away from the book.

The cover art by Posh Gosh is just okay, I like it but in my opinion it’s not fitting. I can’t understand who is the couple depicted. For this book a cover with no people at all would have been a winner. In fact I like more the cover of the old edition.

Sales Links

Pride Publishing

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BOOK DETAILS

  • Reader Advisory: This book contains a scene of fisting as well as scenes of kidnap and dubious consent.
    Publisher’s Note: This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

Kindle Edition, 2nd edition, 222 pages
Published August 9th 2016 by Pride Publishing (first published September 13th 2011)
ASIN B01HQ4N2NO
Edition Language English

Rainbow Island Series

  • Three Wishes #1
  • Three More Wishes #2

A MelanieM Release Day Review: The Pill Bugs of Time (Offbeat Crimes #2) by Angel Martinez

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

the-pill-bugs-of-timeRelationship and communication issues plague Officer Vikash Soren, but those are nothing compared to facing stick-throwing tumbleweeds, pill bugs and…time travel?

Vikash Soren, the perfect police officer except for his odd paranormal ability, never seems to lose his temper. Always serene and competent, he’s taken on the role of mediator in a squad room full of misfits. But on the inside, he’s a mess. Unable to tell his police partner that he loves him, Vikash struggles silently, terrified of losing Kyle as a lover, partner and friend.

But life in the 77th Precinct doesn’t leave much room for internal reflection. A confrontation with a stick-throwing tumbleweed in Fairmount Park leads to bizarre consequences involving pill bugs, statues and…time travel? If Vikash manages to survive the week and stay in one point in time, he might be able to address normal things like relationship problems. He just needs Kyle to have a little more patience. Maybe a few centuries’ worth.

Those wonderful oddball paranormal police officers of the 77th Precinct are back in their second crime novel, The Pill Bugs of Time (Offbeat Crimes #2) by Angel Martinez and I couldn’t be happier.  I first met up with them in the wildly offbeat and downright scrumptious Lime Gelatin and Other Monsters (Offbeat Crimes, #1) and now get to step back into that paranormal police squad and the romance of Kyle and Vikash to see what’s happened to them all.

Normal was something one left at the door when assigned to a paranormal police station. Officer Vikash Soren had seen that demonstrated the first time he had set foot inside the 77th. During roll call, the man who would later become his partner had accidentally shot fire from his fingers at the ceiling. Someone else’s fire, as it turned out. In the weeks that followed, he had encountered an animated leather jacket, worked with a vampire, a lizard man and various officers of dubious paranormal talents, and had helped stop the killing spree of an alligator snapping turtle the size of a sedan.

It would follow that nothing should surprise him anymore.

But when he walked into the squad room that morning, late due to a doctor’s appointment, his colleagues had gathered around the periphery of the room to watch Greg Santos in a fistfight with a puddle of water.

That’s how Chapter One starts as Vikash wanders over to the desk of his police partner/off duty lover, Kyle, as they also watch the morning’s events unfold.  All in all, pretty typical for them, hilarious for us…and oh thanks whoever for the marvel that is Angel Martinez’s twisty turny imagination. Because as great as the fight with the puddle of water?  That even better, “really, guys?” solution to it all.   Yep, I was home, smack dab right where I wanted to be.  Where just when you think it can’t get any stranger, then weird up and rides in the door sailing past a tumble weed made of post it notes who just happens to be called Tim.

Of course, there is a largely personal element looming over all the nuttiness here.  Vikash and Kyle’s new relationship is teetering on the edge of failure because of Vikash’s struggles with his own demons.  His fears have cost him relationships and jobs before but never has he really cared.  Now he does but  Vik doesn’t know how to break his pattern.  Its so familiar, this heartbreaking inability to break out of a pattern that’s become so infused, so self fulling that it may cost this man the love of his life. Martinez pulls us in so deeply into Vikash and Kyle’s confusion that we sometimes forget that Vik’s chasing after giant time traveling pill bugs with sentient leather jackets and vampires who find blood distasteful.  Ok, no we don’t.    But it makes everything else seem so perfectly part of their lives too.  Normal is overrated here.

Can’t forget about Kyle as he’s never far from Vikash’s life, thoughts and struggles of the heart.  Kyle’s pain is on the table too when Vik loses out to his fears and diminishes their relationship daily in small ways, all the while continuing their partnership as policer officers.

I think I love that so much. Layered, believable, characters like Vik and Kyle that fall in love, never have an easy time of it, and all while pursuing some of the most insanely creative and imaginative paranormal crime cases you will want to read about.  And while one case may be solved, the relationship just gets eased into the next stage of growth and all our wonderful cast of investigators proceeds forward anew…with some wonderfully great new additions as well.

I love Offbeat Crimes and The Pill Bugs of Time is a grand new story in this series.  Its all there.  Humor, wild adventures and love…Angel Martinez style! I can’t recommend them highly enough.  Grab this and the first story up today.

Cover art by Posh Gosh is the one branding the series.  It works.

Sales Links:

Pride Publishing

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Book Details:

ebook, Revamp Edition
Expected publication: September 20th 2016 by Pride Publishing (first published June 27th 2015)
ISBN139781786514721
Edition LanguageEnglish

SeriesOffbeat Crimes – add to your Goodreads shelf here:

Publisher’s Note: This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

Pre-order Date: 9th August 2016
Available exclusively to Pride Publishing: 23rd August 2016
General Release Date: 20th September 2016

Its Release Day for The Pill Bugs of Time (Offbeat Crimes #2) by Angel Martinez (Guest Post)

the-pill-bugs-of-time

The Pill Bugs of Time (Offbeat Crimes #2) by Angel Martinez
Pride Publishing
Release Day: September 20

Cover Art by Posh Gosh

Buy It Here

Pride Publishing

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Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have some of the Paranormal Officers from Offbeat Crimes and the 77th Precinct here to answer questions for our readers:

~~~

thepillbugsoftime_facebook

Questions for Paranormal Officers: Time in a Bottle

We’re back with the officers of the 77th Precinct for another series of questions in the squad room. Actually, we’re amazed they let us come back…

If we could bottle time travel and put it up on a shelf so you could pick any period in history for your travels, what time would you choose?

Wolf (wolf cursed into human form): Before humans got here would be good.

Shira Lourdes (stress telekinetic): But then you’d still be human in a time when there aren’t any humans. Or would you, since there weren’t any? Maybe since there weren’t, you’d be a wolf again or—

Greg Santos (waterfowl empath): Shira, stop. Please. Time paradoxes give me a headache. If I had to pick a time? Maybe Ancient Egypt? That was a pretty cool time.”

Carrington Loveless III (skim-blood vampire): You’d have to be more specific, Greg. The Egyptian Dynasties covered over three thousand years.

Santos: Picky. Whenever they built the pyramids, then. I’d want to see that.

Loveless: I’ve actually thought about this—

Edgar (the neon raven): So fucking surprised! All of us!

Loveless: Thank you for the input, Edgar. As I said, I’ve thought about this, how I love the elegance of the Regency period or the excitement of the Renaissance, but then I think about how filthy and diseased those periods were. No vaccinations, no antibiotics, no proper medical facilities.

Amanda Zacchini (post-cognitive): Carr, you’re a vampire. You don’t have to worry about that crap.

Loveless: Sanitation-wise it was still awfully filthy.

Vance Virago (humidity-challenged firestarter): Damn it, why do you have to be such a fucking pansy vampire? We couldn’t get a badass one. Oh, no.

Zacchini: Carr’s pretty badass when he needs to be. Shut you pie hole, Vance. I’d wanna be a cowboy. You know, an Old West one.

Virago: Manda, you can’t be a cowboy! You don’t have a—

Jeff Gatling (apportation of fruit): Vance, seriously. You do not want to finish that sentence. Manda would be an awesome cowboy. Or a gunslinger, ’cause who always has the highest firing range scores? I think I’d want the forties. After the war. I could be a private detective in LA. Humphrey Bogart. Jake Gittes. That kind of thing.

Kyle Monroe (talent absorber) calls out from the back of the room: Forget it, Jeff; it’s Chinatown!

Gatling: Funny guy.

Vikash Soren (unclassified paranormal talent): I think I like the idea of seeing where we’re going instead of where we’ve been. Some point in the future. Provided the Earth is still inhabitable.

Monroe: Make sure you take your zombie-hunting gun. Never know, right? I think I’d go medieval. Yeah, yeah, I know, Carr, disease and filth. But some pretty cool stuff going on. People learning stuff again, figuring shit out.

Soren: And people were shorter then.

Monroe: True—hey! Shut up.

Blurb

the-pill-bugs-of-timeRelationship and communication issues plague Officer Vikash Soren, but those are nothing compared to facing stick-throwing tumbleweeds, pill bugs and…time travel?

Vikash Soren, the perfect police officer except for his odd paranormal ability, never seems to lose his temper. Always serene and competent, he’s taken on the role of mediator in a squad room full of misfits. But on the inside, he’s a mess. Unable to tell his police partner that he loves him, Vikash struggles silently, terrified of losing Kyle as a lover, partner and friend.

But life in the 77th Precinct doesn’t leave much room for internal reflection. A confrontation with a stick-throwing tumbleweed in Fairmount Park leads to bizarre consequences involving pill bugs, statues and…time travel? If Vikash manages to survive the week and stay in one point in time, he might be able to address normal things like relationship problems. He just needs Kyle to have a little more patience. Maybe a few centuries’ worth.

Publisher’s Note: This book has previously been released elsewhere. It has been revised and re-edited for re-release with Pride Publishing.

Pre-order Date: 9th August 2016
Available exclusively to Pride Publishing: 23rd August 2016
General Release Date: 20th September 2016

 

Offbeat Crimes series

A PaulB Review: Orion’s Circle (Sirius Wolves # 1) by Victoria Sue

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

orions-circle-by-victoria-sueAden is being hunted.  As an omega werewolf, he is there for the amusement of the pack.  Things are so bad for Aden he wishes for death sometimes.  As he is corned by Alpha Richard and his pack mates, a new voice orders them to leave Aden alone.  The man says that Aden is not in danger anymore.  When Richard stakes his claim for Aden and sends some of his wolves after him, five of his pack mates end up dead.  The other wolves begin to retreat and Richard admits defeat, at least for now.  Aden then promptly passes out from the starvation and torture that he has endured.

Aden’s three saviors are Blaze, Connor and Darric.  Born many centuries before, they were chosen by Sirius to lead the werewolves into a new ear.  However, in order to complete their mission, the Alpha Triumvirate must find their omega mate.  As the trio is protecting Aden, they all agree that they have found their man.  Now they must make sure that Aden is safe from his old pack. 

While dealing with the problems posed by Aden’s pack, the three men are in delicate negotiations with the United States government about bringing the existence of werewolves to the public and helping the military.  This is the first step in bringing peace to the world, what the trio, now quartet have been charged to do.  However, Richard is not finished with Aden yet.  His plans, along with his pack, will force the Alpha trio to divide their attention in order to get their mate back. 

This is a great start to the series by Victoria Sue.  The idea of a trio of alphas running their own pack and ultimately the greater werewolf world is unusual.  Each alpha has a unique ability that allows them to work together effectively after hundreds of years.  They were born for this and are relieved that they have finally found their missing mate and will do everything to protect him.  Sirius also does what she can in order to help them get the job done but is limited according to the rules of the gods.  Meanwhile, Aden’s world gets turned upside down when he finds out that omegas should not be treated as he has been.  Instead of being abused as a plaything, he is cherished by his three lovers.  Aden’s unique ability will change the dynamic of this new forms family.  With an enemy on the loose, it will take all they have to protect it.

The cover art by E Connors has a well-built man in a muscle shirt and jeans in front of a cloudy night sky.  It is a good representation for Blaze. 

Sales Links

Dark Hollows Press LLC

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Book Details:

ebook, 156 pages
Published June 30th 2015 by Dark Hollows (first published June 29th 2015)
Edition LanguageEnglish

Series:  Sirius Wolves – add to your Goodreads shelf here: