An Ali Audiobook Review: All the Way to Shore (Stories from the Shore #1) by CJane Elliott and Tim McKiernan (Narrator)

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

Jonathan Vallen has never felt good enough. A gentle musician who loves to garden, he’s woefully unsuited to running Vallen Industries, the family business. When his father hires a hotshot executive, Marco Pellegrini, to save the company, Jonathan moves away and leaves his humiliation behind. A year later and forty pounds lighter, Jonathan runs into Marco on an LGBT cruise. Marco doesn’t recognize him, the sparks fly, and Jonathan pretends to be someone else for the week—Jonah Rutledge—someone good enough to be loved.

Marco Pellegrini has always been driven. He rose from poverty to the pinnacle of business success, and he’ll do anything to protect his reputation—including hiding his bisexuality. Having saved Vallen Industries, he’s weary of the rat race and ready for a more meaningful life. When Marco meets his soul mate for that new life—Jonah Rutledge—on an LGBT cruise, he prepares to stop hiding and start living.

Back on land, the romance crashes when Marco discovers his perfect man is not only a lie but the son of his boss, Frederick Vallen. Jonathan resolves to win Marco back, but Frederick takes vengeful action. Jonathan and Marco must battle their own fears as well as Frederick’s challenge to get to the future that awaits them on the horizon.

This was a fun and enjoyable story. The blurb does a good job of explaining the plot. The romance is well done and I enjoyed both of the main characters. They’re a bit flawed but still good guys. They each have a quirky side character which I also thought added to the story.

The story was narrated by Tim McKeirnan and I thought he did a good job on it. I enjoyed the way he did both of the main characters as well as the side characters. I thought the narration added to the overall story. I had not listened to this narrator before but will definitely try him again.

Overall this was an entertaining audiobook. The plot was fun and sweet and had really likable characters and the narration was also good. It’s relatively short and would make for a great summer pool side listen.

The cover was done by L.C. Chase and I think it was well done. It fits the characters and the overall plot well.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Audible | iTunes

Audiobook Details:

Audible Audio
Published April 19th 2018 by Dreamspinner Press LLC (first published November 23rd 2016)
Original TitleAll the Way to Shore
ASINB07CGQG495
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesStories from the Shore #1

An Alisa Review: What It Seems by Sydney Blackburn

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Michael’s straight and infatuated with a woman he worked with one day, over a year ago. But when he finally sees her again, he’s astounded that the woman of his dreams is a man in drag.

Darcy is ace and not interested in dating anyone, so he and Michael just hang out. A lot. When he needs to do an on-screen kissing scene, Michael is the best person to ask for help.

Michael soon discovers he isn’t as straight as he thought he was, and Darcy likes kissing him a little too much for someone certain he never would. Those are a lot of changes to accept, but they just might be worth it.

This was a wonderful story of self-discovery for both of the MCs. Michael has spent so much time waiting to see Darcy again he almost loses his chance when they first actually talk. Darcy likes making a new friend and they soon begin to date without noticing.

Michael and Darcy are both blind a bit to each other and their feelings a bit but grow a great friendship in that time. I was able to see Michael spends his time coming to terms with his bisexuality and looking up any information he may need. It was sweet to see Darcy find that he wasn’t as ace as he always thought but find the acceptance and answers he needed. I loved watching both of these men slowly grow their relationship, even if they didn’t realize it at the time.

The cover art by Natasha Snow is great and I loved the visual of Darcy.

Sales Links: Nine Star Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 66 pages

Published: May 21, 2018 by Nine Star Press

ISBN: 978-1-948608-66-4

Edition Language: English

Ashlyn Kane on Characterization, Gary Stu, and her new release His Leading Man by Ashlyn Kane (author guest blog)

His Leading Man by Ashlyn Kane

Dreamspinner Press
Cover Art: Bree Archer

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Ashlyn Kane here today talking about her latest contemporary romance, His Leading Man. Welcome, Ashlyn.

♡

Hi all! I’m Ashlyn Kane, and I’m here as stop one on the His Leading Man blog tour. Thanks so much to Stella and Melanie for hosting me! If you haven’t heard about the book, here’s the blurb:

He wrote a comedy. Fate directed a romance.

Drew Beaumont is bored of the same old roles: action hero, supervillain, romantic lead. He’s not going to let a fresh gay buddy comedy languish just because they can’t find him the right costar. No, Drew bats his eyelashes and convinces everyone that the movie’s writer should play Drew’s not-so-straight man.

Aspiring writer Steve Sopol has never had a screenplay optioned. Now one of Hollywood’s hottest properties wants to be in a movie Steve hasn’t finished writing—and he wants Steve as his costar. Turns out the chemistry between them is undeniable—on and offscreen.

Drew swore off dating in the biz, but Steve is the whole package: sharp, funny, humble, and cute. For Steve, though, giving in to the movie magic means the end of the privacy he cherishes. Will the credits roll before their ride into the sunset?

If that strikes your fancy, you can buy it on the Dreamspinner website or on Amazon.com.

And now for more about me!

How much of yourself goes into a character?

If I’m doing my job right, just enough to get me into their mindset for writing, and not so much that they all start to sound alike. That was a bit tricky in my newest book because it features Steve, who’s a somewhat private writer, so of course we’ve got that in common: the desire to tell stories, particularly unique ones. But Steve’s leading man (or vice versa depending who you ask) is Drew, who’s a flashy movie star—very different on the surface, until you realize that is just another way to tell stories.

Do you feel there’s a tight line between Mary Sue or should I say Gary Stu and using your own experiences to create a character?

I grew up in fandom mumble-mumble years ago, which gives me a knee-jerk reaction to those names. To me Mary Sue or Gary Stu doesn’t mean just a self-insert but a character who’s “too perfect,” and when people use the term that way I want to go off on a tangent about how male power fantasies are allowed (Bruce Wayne, anyone?) but female ones get called out as two-dimensional. But to answer the question I think you mean: this isn’t something I personally struggle with. I’m a deeply boring person. No one would read a book about me, and I wouldn’t want to write it!

Has your choice of childhood or teenage reading genres carried into your own choices for writing?

Hmm, I think only in that I’ve always been eclectic. As a kid I read everything I could get my paws on, from the Bunnicula series and Nancy Drew to Harry Potter to The Green Mile. The first romance novel I ever read was about a woman with superpowers. I write a little bit of everything too (except historical, which is too much research!), the flashy Hollywood romance sort of books but also the quieter, almost pedestrian ones, and even paranormal. My next book after this is magical realism, which is a fun universe to write in and I’m debating revisiting it. The only thing I haven’t really done yet is sci-fi, which I read a ton of growing up but I think I’m too—lazy? intimidated? uninspired? all of the above?—to try writing. I mostly write for fun, so I prefer not to have to think too hard. Thinking is for editing!

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

HEA all the way. This is why sequels make me nervous! What if you take the happy ending away from them??? No, thank you!

What traits do you find the most interesting in someone? Do you write them into your characters?

A sense of humor is so important. Life can be brutal and tragic and lonely and hard. I think that it’s important to share it with someone who can cheer you up. That could come in the form of kindness too, rather than humor, but it’s usually the humor people notice first. Kindness is quieter, but also important. I think, in this genre, a lot of what people are looking for boils down to levity and kindness, so I try to make sure each book has a good portion of each, however that works out character-wise.

Ever drunk written a chapter and then read it the next day and still been happy with it? Trust me there’s a whole world of us drunk writers dying to know.

Oh sure, only every time I’ve ever gotten stuck on a sex scene!

With so much going on in the world today, do you write to explain? To get away? To move past? To wide our knowledge? Why do you write?

Because I need to tell stories. I’ve been writing since I was six years old. My parents used to read me bedtime stories; once they turned off the lights and closed the door, I’d lie awake and make up more stories to tell myself. It’s a part of me that’s always been there—some kind of self-soothing behavior, maybe. It’s like watching TV, except backwards.

What’s next for you as a writer?

Well, I’ve got another book coming with Dreamspinner late this summer, and then we’ll see! I have a few ideas floating around, but none of them has taken quite firm enough root yet. Ask me again in two months—maybe I’ll have a better answer!

ASHLYN KANE is a Canadian former expat and current hockey fan. She is a writer, editor, handyperson, dog mom, and friend—sometimes all at once.

On any given day, she can usually be found walking her ninety-pound baby chocolate lapdog, Indy, or holed up in her office avoiding housework. She has a deep and abiding love of romance-novel tropes, a habit of dropping too many f-bombs, and—fortunately—a very forgiving family.

Twitter: @ashlynkane

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ashlyn.kane.94

Website: Ashlynkane.ca

Release Blitz and Giveaway for Out, Proud, and Prejudiced by Megan Reddaway

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Length: 85,000 words approx.

Blurb

One’s proud, one’s prejudiced, and they can’t stand each other.

Quick-tempered Bennet Rourke dislikes Darius Lanniker on sight. Darius may be a hotshot city lawyer, but that doesn’t give him the right to sneer at Bennet, his friends, and their college. It doesn’t help that Bennet’s restaurant job has him waiting at Darius’s table. So when his tutor recommends him for an internship at Darius’s Pemberley estate, Bennet isn’t sure he wants it. He’s also not sure he can afford to turn it down.

Darius is a fish out of water in the small college town of Meriton, but something keeps pulling him back there. He’s helping out a friend with business advice, nothing more. If he’s interested in Bennet, it’s not serious. Sure, Bennet challenges him in a way no other man has. But they have nothing in common. Right?

Wrong. Their best friends are falling in love, and Bennet and Darius can’t seem to escape each other. Soon they’re sharing climbing ropes and birthday cake, and there’s a spark between them that won’t be denied.

But betrayal is around the corner. Darius must swallow his pride and Bennet must drop his prejudices to see the rainbow shining through the storm clouds.

A standalone novel—a modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice.

Note: contains mention of past abuse.

About The Author

MEGAN REDDAWAY lives in England and has been entertained by fictional characters acting out their stories in her head for as long as she can remember. She began writing them down as soon as she could.

Since she grew up, she has worked as a secretary, driver, barperson, and article writer, among other things. Whatever she is doing, she always has a story bubbling away at the same time.

For news of Megan’s gay romance releases and two free stories, visit her website: http://meganreddaway.com
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In Our Spotlight: Cash Plays (Seven of Spades #3) by Cordelia Kingsbridge (giveaway)

Cash Plays (Seven of Spades #3) by Cordelia Kingsbridge

Riptide Publishing
Cover Art: Garrett Leigh

Sales Links: Riptide Publishing | Amazon

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Cordelia Kingsbridge’s tour for Cash Plays. Check out the details below and don’t forget to enter the giveaway.

♦︎

Thanks for checking out the blog tour for Cash Plays, the third book in the Seven of Spades series!

After the Seven of Spades returns at the end of Trick Roller, they resume their vigilante mission with a vengeance. Levi and Dominic do their best to keep up, but a bloodthirsty serial killer isn’t the only threat they face…

About Cash Plays

In this game, the stakes are life or death.

The Seven of Spades is back with a vengeance—the vigilante serial killer has resumed their murderous crusade, eluding the police at every turn. But a bloodthirsty killer isn’t the only threat facing Sin City. A devious saboteur is wreaking havoc in Las Vegas’s criminal underworld, and the entire city seems to be barreling toward an all-out gang war.

As Detective Levi Abrams is pushed ever closer to his breaking point, his control over his dangerous rage slips further every day. His relationship with PI Dominic Russo should be a source of comfort, but Dominic is secretly locked in his own downward spiral, confronting a nightmare he can’t bear to reveal.

Las Vegas is floundering. Levi and Dominic’s bond is cracking along the seams. And the Seven of Spades is still playing to win. How many bad hands can Levi and Dominic survive before it’s game over?

About the Seven of Spades Series

Las Vegas has never seen a serial killer like the Seven of Spades.

The self-styled vigilante is on a mission to cut down the wicked and treacherous, and Sin City has no shortage of targets for their bloody wrath. What happens in Vegas . . . ends with the Seven of Spades’s calling card on a grisly corpse.

Standing against the killer are Levi Abrams, a dedicated homicide detective locked in a constant struggle to restrain his own dark side, and bounty hunter Dominic Russo, a charming rogue with a heavy secret weighing on his shoulders.

The hunt for the Seven of Spades sends Levi and Dominic on a collision course, igniting a passionate relationship forged in conflict and sealed with blood. Together they’re stronger than the sum of their parts, but a wily, elusive serial killer isn’t the only threat that will strain their bond to the breaking point.

Ante up, because the Seven of Spades is all in. Are you?

About Cordelia Kingsbridge

Cordelia Kingsbridge has a master’s degree in social work from the University of Pittsburgh, but quickly discovered that direct practice in the field was not for her. Having written novels as a hobby throughout graduate school, she decided to turn her focus to writing as a full-time career. Now she explores her fascination with human behavior, motivation, and psychopathology through fiction. Her weaknesses include opposites-attract pairings and snarky banter.

Away from her desk, Cordelia is a fitness fanatic, and can be found strength training, cycling, and practicing Krav Maga. She lives in South Florida but spends most of her time indoors with the air conditioning on full blast!

Connect with Cordelia:

Email: cordeliakingsbridge@gmail.com
Tumblr: http://ckingsbridge.tumblr.com
Twitter: @c_kingsbridge
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Cordelia.Kingsbridge/

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Cash Plays, Cordelia is giving away a $15 Riptide credit! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on June 9, 2018. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following along, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

June Continues Romance Month and This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

June Continues Romance Month

With a break for Memorial Weekend, we are back at the topic of Romance, Royal Weddings, and stories! Yep, we didn’t forget! Often June is the month that kicks of the rush of wedding season and if its LGBT, it makes no difference, because it’s the weather driving the date as well as the timing. So it’s back to romance, weddings, and stories!

So first of all let’s go right to those wonderful recommendations for Royal Wedding Stories. Here they are:

Royal Wedding Story Recommendations:

From ChaosMoon:

Tere Michaels Faith, Love, and Devotion series and Groomzilla
L.B. Gregg’s How I Met Your Father
E.M. Lynley’s Sex, Lies, and Wedding Bells
Legally Wed by Rick R. Reed
The Best Man by LA Witt
Until You by T.J. Klune
First Comes Marriage by Shira Anthony
Wedlocked by Ella Fank
Wedding Favors by Anne Tenino

Megan Derr A Suitable Replacement
Megan Derr The Stable Boy
Megan Derr The High King’s Golden Tongue
Amber Kell Orlin’s Fall

Josh Lanyon Other People’s Weddings

From H.B.:

Hellion Club series by Aiden Bates (Book 2 and 3 come to mind)
Omega Society Auction by Eileen Glass
Dragon’s Hoard by M.A. Church
The Harvest series by M.A. Church
Wed to the Omega by Ashe Moon
The Pretend Husband by Declan Rhodes
Married for a Month by Cate Ashwood
Married for the Millions by Parker Avrile
Marriage of Inconvenience by M.J. O’Shea
A Marriage of Convenience by Devyn Morgan
Red River by Cardeno C.
Signed and Sealed by B.A. Stretke
Groom of Convenience by by Vicktor Alexander
King’s Conquest by by Valentina Heart

From Jeri:

What Binds Us by Larry Benjamin
Kitto (Tyack & Frayne #4) by Harper Fox
Betrothed: A Faery Tale by Therese Woodson
The King’s Courage (North Pole City Tales #6) by Charlie Cochet
Dear Mona Lisa… by Claire Davis & Al Stewart
Wedlocked (Preslocke #3) by Ella Frank & Brooke Blaine

Right now, I’m feeling gobsmacked as the British would say because I have only listed half of the recommendations! These are wonderful. I have so many more to give you, and that will come next week because of the length of the list. And that we will announce 2 winners.

Winner Announcement!

The first winner? That would be ChaosMoon. Congratulations. Please contact Stella at scatteredthoughtsandroguewords@gmail.com to receive your gift card. Another winner will be announced next week along with the remainder of your recommendations!

Now about romance stories. I’ve read several this week that I just adored and they are all over the place genre wise. Several I’m reviewing this week. One, His Leading Man by Ashlyn Kane, is pure romance. No angst, just lovely sweet road to love and HEA. It left a happiness in my heart and a perfect way to fall into June. Another? A scary, rollercoaster A ride action story and total romance that ends Rhys Ford’s Sinners series, Sin and Tonic. Angst galore, murder and suspense! Totally at the other end of the contemporary spectrum.

Coming up I swung from the M/M historical romances straight from the WWI front and pages of Charlie Cochrane’s stories,Pack Up Your Troubles, which broke my heart before putting it back together again to the fantasy of Life Itself by Elizabeth Bones and the magnificent weirdness and horror of Bourbon and Bones by Dorian Graves. All those are to come. Be on the look out for them next week and the week after.

Romance across the ages, romance across the genres…even across the species! Love in every form possible is what we celebrate in our stories we hold close to our hearts. Vampire or were, WWI soldier or that of a warrior on a world far far away, we are captivated by love and relationships, personalities and the path to HFN or HEA.

That’s our theme this month. Chime in, give us more stories, favorite books. LIstopia! Here we come!

This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, June 3:

Cover Reveal Magic or Die (Inner Demons, Book One) by JP Jackson
June Continues Romance Month
This Week at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, June 4:

Ashlyn Kane on His Leading Man (Author Guest Blog)
Release Blitz – Out, Proud, and Prejudiced – Megan Reddaway
In the Spotlight: Cash Plays by Cordelia Kingsbridge
A Lucy Review: Whatever Comes First by MK Lee
An Alisa Review: What It Seems by Sydney Blackburn
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review: Hush by Tal Bauer and Joel Leslie (Narrator)
An Ali Audiobook Review: All the Way to Shore (Stories from the Shore #1) by CJane Elliott and Tim McKiernan (Narrator)

Tuesday, June 5:

BLOG TOUR Blood Bathory: Absence Of The Sun by Ari McKay – excerpt and giveaway
DSP Promo Charlie David
Release Blitz – Made In Portugal by Ana Newfolk
A MelanieM Release Day Review: BFF by K.C. Wells
A Lucy Review: Detour by Reesa Herberth and Michelle Moore
A MelanieM Release Day Review: His Leading Man by Ashlyn Kane
A Stella Review: Out, Proud, and Prejudiced by Megan Reddaway

Wednesday, June 6:

Tour: Jaqui the Cat Mysteries by Alexis Duran
KICKSTARTER BLOG TOUR for Themensha by MxKnowitall
Tour for Mercs by Dorian Dawes
Release Blitz, Tour – Ari McKay – Blood Bathory: Absence of the Sun
A Caryn Review: A Tiny Piece of Something Greater by Jude Sierra
A MelanieM Review: Demon Familiar (Wanted #1) by Bellora Quinn and Sadie Rose Bermingham

Thursday, June 7:

BLOG TOUR – Under Five by Michael War
JL Merrow on Wight Mischief
Series Recap Blitz Marshall Thornton – Boystown Series
A Stella Review: Plummet to Soar by Z.A. Maxfield
A VVivacious Review: Military Emancipation, by David O. Sullivan
An Alisa Audiobook Review: The Foxling Soldati (Soldati Hearts #2) by Charlie Cochet and Manuel Pombo (Narrator)

Friday, June 8:

DSP Publications Promo Alan Chin
Release Blitz – Annabelle Jacobs – Butterfly Assassin
Spotlight on Pack Up Your Troubles Series by Charlie Cochrane
A Lucy Review: Face the Music (Replay #1) by K.M. Neuhold
A Stella Review: His Wildest Dream (Portville Omegaverse #3) by Xander Collins
An Alisa Review: Under Five by Michael War

Saturday, June 9:

Release Blitz – Behind The Lights by TL Travis
A MelanieM Review: Sin and Tonic (Sinners #6) by Rhys Ford

Release Bliltz for Three-Man Advantage by Ariel Bishop (excerpt and giveaway)

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Three-Man Advantage

Author: Ariel Bishop

Cover Artist: Ariel Bishop

Genre/s: MMM Hockey Romance

Release Date: June 2, 2018

Goodreads

Soft Hands (Tripping #1)

Blurb

He can’t choose…

Leadership and setting an upstanding example are everything to Wisconsin Wendigos captain David Dickson. On ice, he’s got it all together. Off ice? Not so much. For years he’s been pining for not one, but both of the loyal alternate captains who’ve stood by him through thick and thin.

They’ve always had his back…

Sasha Ivanov and Bo McAllister have always seemed more into each other then into their captain. But when the stress of the season starts affecting David, they’re more than willing to step up and help him deal with it–by whatever means necessary.

He can’t resist…

When Sasha and Bo offer him everything he’s been wanting, David can’t say no, even though he knows it comes with an expiration date. But the more he finds himself fitting into their life, the more he wants what he knows he can’t have.

Can Sasha and Bo find room in their hearts for one more person? Will David let them bring him into their life? Or are these captains doomed to remain just teammates?

Find out in this steamy sports romance novel, featuring a team captain who’s too stubborn for his own good, a defenceman with a heart of gold, and a goalie who never has a problem using his words.

Excerpt

Halfway through his salmon and broccoli at dinner, Bo drops his fork with a clatter. When Sasha doesn’t look up from his own plate, he follows it up with an ostentatious throat clearing.

“Bone stuck in throat?” Sasha asks, cutting off a piece of his chicken breast.

“No. I just had the best idea.”

That gets him a look, Sasha’s eyes narrowed as he chews and swallows. “Okay,” he finally says, his voice far more resigned than it should be for someone who claims to love Bo.

“Okay, hear me out. David needs somebody, but who has time to fucking date at this point in the season?”

Sasha shrugs. “Could fuck teammate. Is what I do.”

“I’m ignoring that, because we both know you love me,” Bo says cheerfully. “Getting back to my point, you know David’s not going to start hitting on some random guy from the team. He takes that captain shit seriously. So we’re going to help him out.”

“Like matchmaker?” Sasha asks, his expression, if possible, becoming even more skeptical.

It’s Bo’s turn to shrug. “Maybe. But in the meantime, we’ll be his temporary boyfriends. Have him over for dinner more often, cuddles, that kind of thing. Keep him from getting so lonely and wound so tight.”

Sasha purses his lips, his face scrunching into his adorable thinking expression. “Does temporary boyfriend mean sex?”

“Can you imagine David going for that?” Bo laughs, picking up his fork.

“Yeah,” Sasha says, his voice gone low and rough in a way that makes Bo freeze, a forkful of salmon halfway to his mouth.

He forces his hand to start moving again. “Goddamnit, Sash. No. The last time this happened the food was cold and disgusting after. Finish your dinner before you start talking dirty to me.”

Sasha grins back at him. “I have good imagination.”

“Fuck you, I know. Eat your damn dinner.”

Buy Link – Available on Kindle Unlimited

Universal Link

Amazon UK

About the Author

Ariel Bishop is an American romance and erotica author who feels strongly that all love triangles are best resolved through healthy polyamory. She has been a reader of romantic and erotic fiction for the entirety of her adult life and draws on that experience as well as her own imagination to create original erotic stories. She lives in the Ozarks with her partners and their children, plus two bunnies that rejoice in the names Reginald von Pancakes and Snickers.

Social Media Links

Giveaway

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway for a chance to win a $20 Amazon gift card.

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RELEASE BLITZ SCHEDULE

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RELEASE BLITZ for Waiting in the Wings (Upstaged #2) by S. L. Danielson (excerpt)

RELEASE BLITZ

Book Title: Waiting in the Wings (Upstaged #2)

Author: S. L. Danielson & Cheryl Headford

Publisher: Extasy Books

Cover Artist: Extasy

Genre/s: new adult, mmfiction, gay, contemporary

Length: 62,790 words/188 pages

Goodreads

Blurb

The Von are on their way. With a recording contract under their belt and a tour opening for a popular band, the world is at their feet. For those left behind prospects are not so bright, especially with someone trying so hard to break them apart.

With the spotlight on The Von, no one sees the evil waiting in the wings until it’s too late.

Buy Links – Coming Soon

Excerpt

After a long moment of waiting for Asher to return, Vince heard the door open, albeit slowly. He put down his glass of orange juice and peered suspiciously at his friend. “Hey, what is it? Bad news in the mail, also known as bills?” he joked. Asher didn’t say anything, which worried him. He stood and walked over to him to look at what he had in his hands.

“I… It… I don’t know what to do.” Asher turned to Vince and grabbed his arms with bruising intensity. “Vince, I don’t know what to do.” He pleaded, begged, but there wasn’t anything Vince could say as his gaze flicked between the two photographs and Asher’s stricken eyes.

“Let me see them, please?” He wrested the slips of paper free from Asher’s grip long enough to see the photos and got the shock of his life. Glossy, set in some cool, trendy club surrounded by gorgeous people, Erik kissed a total stranger like he might inhale the guy and Billy was kissing a redheaded guy who looked very familiar.

What the… No. Not again. Wait. I know that guy… Holy shit, I know him!

Vince’s stomach twisted, and he covered his mouth, completely understanding why Asher looked ready to vomit. “We’ve been fucked over again? What the hell? There has to be an explanation. Drunk again…something… We have to… Shit. When they come online, I’m not gonna roll over for him again. What the fuck?” He tore from Asher’s grasp and tugged his hair, letting the angry tears come.

Vince grabbed the edge of the sofa and forced himself to sit down, his face buried in his hands. “What the fuck is going on over there? You know, I wish they’d never gone. I don’t care what it means to the band anymore; I want him home with me!” He kicked a textbook off the table, his anger evident. “Fuckers! I’m so sick of being lied to and being left behind. No one wants big, nice, sweet Vince! No one!” He leapt off the sofa, went to the kitchen, and hung his head over the sink. The tears wouldn’t stop.

He jumped when Asher’s hands slid around his waist and his head rested on the back of his neck. From the way his body shook, Vince was pretty certain he was crying, too.

“I wanted to believe him, Vince. I really wanted to believe him this time. I knew… I knew this was going to happen, it always does, but I-I worked so hard to convince myself it was different this time. That he was different.” Asher sniffed, rubbing his cheek against Vince’s back. “But he’s not different, Vince. None of them are.”

“I’d have sworn my Billy was different. I knew him before we even dated. Gawd, we couldn’t get enough of just hanging out together.” Vince turned and leaned his head against Asher’s. “I guess it didn’t mean very much to him, did it? If being away from us this short a time makes them do this…” He paused. His head and heart were in torment. He felt awful for Asher, too. He and Erik had a tumultuous relationship from the very beginning and although he’d thought it was fine, it sure wasn’t now. The computer beeped, and he glanced over. “Fuck. They’re gonna come online now. I don’t even know what to say.” He looked at Billy’s ring and wanted to toss it across the room.

“Well.” Asher drew his spine up straight. “I, for one, am going to get some answers. I don’t care what you do with Billy, but as far as me and Erik go, unless he has some pretty good reasons for what happened, this is it. We’re over.” The computer beeped again, and the call was live.

About the Authors

S. L. Danielson

S. L. (Stephanie) Danielson began writing at the tender age of five. She knew it was her calling from the moment she put pen to paper. In her teens she began writing alternative works and the genre stuck. She created ever more elaborate tales and finally in her early 20’s years began to create works with her new love; male/male romance. She has since written more than 30 works (both solo and collaborations).

Stephanie is classically trained in business, accounting, and HR/training, possessing both an undergrad and graduate degree. She also owned and operated Romance First Publishing where the ultimate goal was to help other unknown, as well as known authors get their start in the publishing world.

Beyond writing, her other hobbies include: painting, gaming, and spending time with her husband and two cherished cats.

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Cheryl Headford

Born into a poor but loving mining family in the United Kingdom, Cheryl grew up in the beautiful and history rich South Wales Valleys, becoming the first in her family to attend university. Practicing law, as a family lawyer for over twenty years allowed Cheryl to learn more about human nature at its worst and best moments, and develop empathy and a view of life not limited by social standing or background.

Tapping into the heritage of her people that throughout Earth’s ages welcomed the wandering bard into the hearts of their villages as keepers of lore, Cheryl trained as a Druid and brings the richness of her Celtic past and spiritual training to elevate her writing. Since a child, Cheryl has been fascinated with other worlds, which exist within and alongside her own and has reveled in creating worlds and characters for others to enjoy.

Despite lack of family support, Cheryl continued writing privately and eventually found the Gay Authors website. With the positive response and a warm welcome received, she found the confidence to pursue her passion to a greater degree. Feeling gay fiction was a woefully neglected corner of the market where readers were all too often presented as limited to erotica, Cheryl strives to write quality gay fiction where sex and sexuality is not the central premise. Instead, concentration is given to character and narrative development through storytelling that goes beyond the physical.

Cheryl still resides in Wales, UK, and enjoys writing, reading, art, and taking part in medieval reenactments.

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A Lucy Review: And the next Thing You Know . . . (Why You? #2) by Chase Taylor Hackett

Rated 4.5 stars out of 5

Jeffrey Bornic has this vision of his idea partner. He will be gorgeous, successful, fit, intelligent, socially adept, etc etc etc. He was dumped by his musician boyfriend, Roger, months ago and he’s still working on the new partner thing. Maybe because

“Got up in a bad mood.

Again.

It had been a stretch of bad moods lately. Seriously. Since like October.

I suppose that means since Roger. Old boyfriend. Make of that what you will.”

The thing is, Jeffrey is kind of an arrogant jerk. He’s a lawyer and he puts a lot of time into that. He has one really good friend, Rebecca, who works at the same law firm, and that’s sort of it. He works all the time and he can be so rude.

When his apartment is under construction, this elaborate remodel, he turns to Rebecca for a spot on his couch. Problem is, Rebecca’s firebrand little brother, Theo, has already staked a claim on that spot on the couch. The first time the two meet is a comedy of errors and Jeffrey comes off looking like an idiot. Theo is a songwriter and is short, red-haired, snarky and homeless right now. He will not, however, be jobless. “As long as you’re sleeping on my couch, you’ll have a job. Or it’s back to the farm. This is not the Rebecca McPherson Unemployed Songwriters Retreat.” Where does Rebecca find him a job? At their law firm of course! Jeffrey is facing not only the man who makes him crazy but finds out that Roger’s best friend, Tommy, is now working for the firm as well.

The two of them end up having to share the couch for a while and they spend all their time insulting each other, something starts to change. At least for Jeffrey it does. Theo has a maybe-boyfriend named Madison who treats him pretty negligently but he’s got harassing Jeffrey to brighten his days. I admit, there were a couple times, such as blindsiding Jeffrey at the party with Roger, showing up where Jeffrey was having dinner with parents or the aftermath of Hamilton, where I thought, Theo is too much. He’s out to hurt people. Maybe it was because Jeffrey seems to be really in love for the first time (Roger W. Prescott Memorial Project notwithstanding) that he appears the more vulnerable one here. He’s the one doing the sweet things (the shoelaces, omg) and trying hard. Of course, his past actions of being a douche come back to bite both of them and that was painful.

Thank heaven for Tommy, who befriends Theo at work and is the voice of reason when Theo needs it. We really, really need Tommy’s book.

The story is told in alternating first person point of view and we also get Tommy’s thoughts. I loved being able to connect with everyone like that. Getting to see Jeffrey grow as a person, become stronger, was a glorious thing. There were times I wanted to hug him, such as when he shows Theo his under-construction apartment, and times I wanted to hug Theo and times I wanted to shake them both. They both do some growing up here and it was wonderful.

I have to admit I read this before the first in this series and I am so glad I did. The Jeffrey Bornic of this book is snarky, obnoxious and arrogant but he isn’t vile as I thought he was in the first book, Where Do I Start? Had I read the series in order I wouldn’t have bothered with Jeffrey’s book and I’d have missed out. The Jeffrey of this book was serious.

Completely recommend this book, especially for those who love characters who redeem themselves and those who love the snark.

The cover art was sort of middle of the road for me. Headless torso in a long sleeved t-shirt was, I assume, Theo, with Jeffrey’s hands clasped around his middle. While I liked the idea of the closeness, I was disappointed we didn’t get the red hair that Theo is so known for.

Sales Links: Amazon

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 290 pages
Published February 6th 2018 by Lyrical Press
Original TitleAnd the Next Thing You Know . . .
ASINB071VHV289
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesWhy You? #2

A Lucy Review: First Sight (Sight #1) by Jordan Taylor

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

Archer and Noah have been friends, of a sort, since high school. Noah wants to be friends with him, despite the fact that Archer is hostile. “Confidence, like art, was a family trait.” Noah doesn’t give up and in fact pushes Archer towards friendship and then towards more. Noah is diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, a disease that eats the eyes. A severe case, incurable, leading to permanent and complete blindness. It is not until two years later, at eighteen, that Noah loses his sight completely. Archer is there for him, angry that Noah considered suicide. Archer is there for him, describing what he sees, allowing Noah to touch and map his face (though he hates to be touched) and making sure Noah can be independent.

The book is told in first person by Noah and begins with Archer proposing and Noah giving a vehement NO and running away. Right then I thought, either something is wrong with Archer or I’m not going to like Noah. It was the latter. Noah is blind, yes. He has lost his ability to do the comic book graphic design he had wanted to, yes. But he also is the one to breach Archer’s defenses, when he didn’t want a relationship, and then when he did he burns him with a NO.

He often acts as if Archer doesn’t know his own mind and that hurts Archer. There are quite a few times here that Noah hurts Archer and really, I wanted to shake him. “Then don’t marry me, but come home anyway. This is not one-sided. You dragged me into this relationship. Now here I am. I need you no less now than when I was fifteen and sick with grief and you were the only person in the world who asked if I wanted to hang out. I want to hang out with you, Noah. Forever. Come home.” And Noah says. No.

They do end up getting married but there are issues. The biggest is that Noah is absolutely convinced that Archer doesn’t understand what it is like to be married to a blind man, “…shackled to an albatross.” They end up going on a honeymoon to Amsterdam, another thing that Noah decided he knew best. Archer thought they should start with a small trip but Noah pushed this. And it turns out to be a disaster. Archer is not, in any way, a social person and this trip is so difficult.

The book goes back and forth between their story and the comic book story that Noah is writing about a gay, blind superhero. This wasn’t the best for me. I would have preferred more focus on their relationship than the comic, though as a novel that comic finished would probably be a good one. Here it was distracting.

You can see Noah and Archer’s friendship but the continuous arguing and Noah always believing he knows better, never really listening to Archer even when it concerned Archer’s own feelings, got on my nerves after a while. Noah ends up in a dangerous situation, all alone, and that part seemed extremely real. I can’t even imagine how terrifying it would be, blind, alone, no phone, no idea where you are. Archer had possibly the same fear, since he didn’t know what was happening. It shows the rift between them widening:

“It wasn’t a stunt, Archer. You think I meant to come back alone?”

“I think you meant to put me in my place and prove you didn’t need me.”

I liked the interaction between the two when they weren’t arguing, they tease and talk. Archer describes the world for Noah and right there you can see the care he has. It takes most of the book before Noah starts to get a clue and start to listen to Archer. So, I liked this but didn’t love it.

Cover art by Natasha Snow, showing scenes from Amsterdam, the tulips and the city, as well as Noah in dark glasses and blurred circles. I felt this was a good representation of the story.

Sales Links: NineStar Press | Amazon

Book Details:

ebook, 168 pages
Published May 21st 2018 by NineStar Press
ISBN139781948608671
Edition LanguageEnglish
SeriesSight #1

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His Leading Man by Ashlyn Kane

Dreamspinner Press Cover Art: Bree Archer

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Cash Plays (Seven of Spades #3) by Cordelia Kingsbridge

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June Continues Romance Month

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Cover Art: Bree Archer