Release Blitz and Giveaway – Rick R Reed’s Dinner at the Blue Moon Cafe

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner

Paperback: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Dreamspinner

Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Length: 67,000 words

Cover: Aaron Anderson

Blurb

Blurb

A monster moves through the night, hidden by the darkness, taking men, one by one, from Seattle’s gay gathering areas.

Amid an atmosphere of crippling fear, Thad Matthews finds his first true love working in an Italian restaurant called the Blue Moon Café. Sam Lupino is everything Thad has ever hoped for in a man: virile, sexy as hell, kind, and… he can cook!

As their romance heats up, the questions pile up. Who is the killer preying on Seattle’s gay men? What secrets is Sam’s Sicilian family hiding? And more importantly, why do Sam’s unexplained disappearances always coincide with the full moon?

The strength of Thad and Sam’s love will face the ultimate test when horrific revelations come to light beneath the full moon.

Excerpt

From the moment Thad stepped through the front door of the Blue Moon Café, the décor cleared up any mystery about what kind of food they served. The little café, with its mahogany bar along one wall, its grouping of maybe a dozen tables, and its faux-tin ceiling, could have been straight out of central casting for “Italian joint.” Thad saw the requisite checkered tablecloths, the oil paintings of Italian landmarks like the canals of Venice, the Coliseum, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, and St. Peter’s Square. And yes, each table sported a candle plugged into the opening of an empty green-glass Chianti bottle. A TV sat above the bar, thankfully turned off.

“Buona Sera” by Louis Prima played from the overhead speaker system. Thad was certain the rest of the evening would be peppered with the likes of Dean Martin, Jerry Vale, Rosemary Clooney, and of course, Sinatra. Underneath the music was the usual restaurant orchestra: conversation, laughter, the clink of glassware and the tinkle of silverware.

The scents of garlic, oregano, basil, and tomatoes perfumed the air. Over a counter at the rear of the restaurant, Thad could see into the kitchen: a wood-burning oven, chefs busy at their stations, the occasional upsurge of flame as one of them poured alcohol into a pan and ignited it by tipping the pan. Thad’s mouth began to water.

He already liked this place.

And he liked it even more when he saw the bartender, who was busy drying wineglasses and reaching up to hang them upside down on a rack above the bar. He was a compact little guy, olive skin and shaved head. His muscles tested the endurance of the black T-shirt he wore, and even from his vantage near the hostess stand, Thad could make out the thick black five o’clock shadow that covered his jaw. He was just the kind of guy Thad fantasized about. One who would take him roughly and be in charge.

Stop it, now! I’m in Green Lake, not Capitol Hill. This guy probably has a wife and two kids at home and would not appreciate how I’m imagining how he would look should the seams of that tight T-shirt burst and reveal a defined and hairy chest. He wouldn’t cotton at all to my thoughts of wondering how his asshole would taste, for cryin’ out loud.

Or maybe he would….

Thad grinned and bounced up and down a couple of times on his heels, feeling strangely energized and definitely a little smitten.

Shut up, horndog. Behave yourself.

Author Bio

Rick R. Reed is all about exploring the romantic entanglements of gay men in contemporary, realistic settings. While his stories often contain elements of suspense, mystery and the paranormal, his focus ultimately returns to the power of love.

He is the author of dozens of published novels, novellas, and short stories. He is a three-time EPIC eBook Award winner (for Caregiver, Orientation and The Blue Moon Cafe). He is also a Rainbow Award Winner for both Caregiver and Raining Men. Lambda Literary Review has called him, “a writer that doesn’t disappoint.”

Rick lives in Seattle with his husband and a very spoiled Boston terrier. He is forever “at work on another novel.”

Stalk Rick

Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/rickrreedbooks
Twitter: www.twitter.com/rickrreed
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/+RickReedWRITER
Blog: http://rickrreedreality.blogspot.com/
Website: www.rickrreed.com
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rick-r-reed

Email: rickrreedbooks@gmail.com

Giveaway

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Andrew Grey on Inspiration and his new release ‘Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2)’ by Andrew Grey (special excerpt)

Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2) by Andrew Grey
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Release Date: Mar 10 2017

Available for Purchase at: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Dreamspinner Press

✒︎

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have Andrew Grey here today to talk a little about the inspiration behind his latest story, Cleansing Flame, the second novel in the Rekindled Flame series. Welcome, Andrew.

♥︎

The idea for this story came from an old diary that I found in some things in the house. It wasn’t important and didn’t contain anything all that interesting. However it did get my mind running and I thought about what would happen if the diary had been something special. As I was mulling those thoughts a reader asked me to write a story about the Carlisle Indian School. As I was finishing up my previous story, my mind churned the two things together and I ended up with the basis for Cleansing Flame. I’ve never written a story with this kind of element before and I don’t know if I will again. But I did fall in love with both sets of characters.

Blurb/Synopsis:

Life has been grinding Dayne Mills down almost for as long as he can remember. First he lost the love of his life in an accident that also left him with a permanent injury, and then his mother passed away a year later. When his house burns to the ground, it’s the last straw. He can’t take any more, and if it wasn’t for kind and handsome firefighter Lawson Martin offering him a hand up and a place to stay, he doesn’t know what he’d do. Dayne would love for his relationship with Lawson to evolve into something beyond charity, but he knows going after a man so far out of his league will only lead to yet more heartache. It’s best to just keep his mind on his research.

It’s that research that leads Dayne to an old student journal that not only provides clues to the Native American heritage Lawson has been searching for, but chronicles a century-old love story. The tale that unfolds might be just what Dayne and Lawson need to remember that no matter how dark life becomes, love can find a way to shine through.

Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print

Excerpt

Dayne pulled his car into the drugstore parking lot across the street, got out, and walked up to where a group of neighbors had gathered. He turned to where they were all looking and gasped as flames shot out of the windows of his little house.

“Oh God,” Dayne mumbled as he hurried forward. Everything he owned was in that house. It was all he had left of his mom. As flames shot out of front door and the roof collapsed, Dayne’s legs gave out and the grass rose up to meet him.

“Hey,” a deep voice said from close to him. Dayne felt like a fool and struggled to get up. He was helped to his feet, and the fireman took off his helmet. “It’s you.”

“That’s my house…,” Dayne said weakly as water sprayed all over what was left of the only home he’d known. “Everything I have….” He gasped and tried not to come apart at the seams.

“It will be all right.” He took Dayne’s arm and gently helped steady him.

“I don’t see how.” One of the walls fell in, and Dayne turned away. Everything was gone. The last of what he’d had from his mother had been in that house, and the flames had taken it all. A cloud of steam went up as the last of the fire died away, leaving only a smoking ruin of what had been his life.

“I’m sorry this happened to you.” The firefighter gently put an arm around Dayne’s shoulder, and the last of Dayne’s control broke.

He buried his face in the man’s chest and cried like the stupid baby he was. Damn it, he tried not to, but this was too much. For a year, he’d been doing his best to hold it together, to get through each day as it came, hoping the pain would lessen. But every damn time he thought things might be getting better, something happened, and this was the worst.

“It’s all right. Just let it out.”

Dayne heard people around him, but he kept his face where it was for a bit, afraid to look for fear of dying of embarrassment. Dayne breathed deeply and backed away, swallowing and getting himself together. “I’m sorry.” He wiped his eyes and tried not to get snot all over himself.

“Don’t be.” The man didn’t move, and Dayne lifted his gaze.

“I guess after I slobbered all over you, I should tell you my name. I’m Dayne.” He wiped his hands on his pants because they were covered with things he shouldn’t have on them.

“I’m Lawson Martin.” He took Dayne’s hand and held it.

About the Author

Andrew grew up in western Michigan with a father who loved to tell stories and a mother who loved to read them. Since then he has lived throughout the country and traveled throughout the world. He has a master’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and works in information systems for a large corporation.

Andrew’s hobbies include collecting antiques, gardening, and leaving his dirty dishes anywhere but in the sink (particularly when writing) He considers himself blessed with an accepting family, fantastic friends, and the world’s most supportive and loving partner. Andrew currently lives in beautiful, historic Carlisle, Pennsylvania.

Author Links

Amazon Author Page

Barnes and Noble Page

Dreamspinner Press

Facebook

Facebook Group All the Way with Andrew Grey

Goodreads

Twitter @andrewgreybooks

Website

For Other Works by Andrew Grey

(Please Be Sure To Stop by His Website to See All of His Works)

A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Lickety Split by Damon Suede

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

This is one of the strangest love stories I ever read. On the one hand, it felt as if two guys were just getting together for some rough sex mixed in with a lot of down-home talkin’ and good earthy slogans, but under the surface level, when we scratch deep enough, it was really a love story between a 40+ old cowboy/farmer/rodeo rider and a 20+ NYC deejay who comes home to good ol’ Hixville,Texas, after his parents are killed in an accident.

Even blindfolded, I’d know Damon Suede wrote this due to his inimitable way of spitting out rough, tough, rapid-fire dialogue. Add to that the deep Texas accent of the older MC, and the often back-to-his-roots twang of the younger MC, and at times I found the dialogue and narrative difficult to follow.

The story in a nutshell: Patrick “Patch” Hastle, New York City-based international “circuit” deejay, is notified that his estranged parents left their farm to him when they were killed as his dad tried to beat a train through a crossing. Heading back to Hixsville, Texas, is the last thing he wants, but he needs the money from the sale of the farm to invest in a new club that he and his BF are planning to open.

Once there, he runs into good ol’ Tucker Biggs, his father’s BF and his one-time crush. In fact, that crush is still happening and may explain why his one-night stands in the city are always based on his fantasies about Tucker. Long story short, after being caught eavesdropping on a masturbating Tucker, the two fall into a fuck-buddies relationship that takes a turn for the better—or worse, depending on your viewpoint—when Patch realizes he loves the old guy and then later realizes the feeling might be mutual. But too many years of denying any feelings and too many years spent running (for Patch) and going too slow (for Tucker) make for a major communication gap.

Can the two find their way to much-needed communication? Can Patch possibly make a living down in Texas when his deejay work takes him all over the world? And can Tucker finally acknowledge his own needs, fears, and feelings? That’s what makes this story tick and what left this reader feeling very close to two very unlikely lovers. So despite sometimes being lost and not being a fan of the good ol’ boy twang in the dialogue, I still felt connected with the characters and I can’t seem to ferget ’em as the day goes on—a sure sign that this one needs to be at least a 4 star book.

~~~

The cover by Reese Dante is quite attractive, featuring a close-up of an older cowpoke on a brightly colored background.

Sales Links

Book Details:

ebook, 286 pages
Expected publication: March 13th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781635335736
Edition LanguageEnglish

An Alisa Release Day Review: Dinner at the Blue Moon Cafe by Rick R. Reed

Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5

A monster moves through the night, hidden by the darkness, taking men, one by one, from Seattle’s gay gathering areas.

The strength of Thad and Sam’s love will face the ultimate test when horrific revelations come to light beneath the full moon.

Thad has been wallowing while he has been on unemployment, with pretty much only his dog for company. When he decides to treat himself and visits the Blue Moon Café he finds much more than he was expecting.

Sam first pushes Thad away despite their connection, but just as Thad begins to look for other options he has to call him while volunteering. Speaking to each other seems to reawaken Sam’s feelings and they decide that even if it isn’t the right time they can try and make it work.

This story is told from Thad’s point of view, so we know what he is thinking and feeling. For the length of this book we don’t see these characters together very often, I felt that we saw his budding friendship with Jared more than we saw Sam. We learned a lot of Thad’s thoughts an doubts, but there was a lot of information that was inferred or was easily assumed. I don’t know when there are big gaps in time and we are only seeing one person a majority of the time it is hard to connect with the story and how their relationship is building in the background. I liked that they were happy in the end, but wasn’t sure about how they got there or the way Sam rationalized his actions throughout the story.

Cover art by Aaron Anderson is wonderful and eye catching.

Sales Links: Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 200 pages

Published: 2nd edition, March 13, 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN-13: 9781635332926

Edition Language: English

A Lila Release Day Review: Step by Step by K.C. Wells

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

Jamie’s life is one big financial mess, and it really isn’t his fault. However, the last thing he expected to find in the library was a Good Samaritan. He might have been suspicious of Guy’s motives at first, but it soon becomes apparent that his savior is a good man who has been lucky in life and is looking to pay it forward. Guy being gay is not a problem. Jamie’s not interested… or so he thinks.

Guy is happy to help Jamie, and the two men get along fine. But when Jamie’s curiosity leads him from one thing to another, Guy finds himself looking at the young man with new eyes. What started out as a hand up is now something completely different….

Step by Step starts like a fairytale–with the knight rescuing the young prince and it ends the same way–with a happily ever after. The in-between is a coming of age story that intersects in parts with a mentorship-like relationship. Together, they give love new beginnings and second chances.

I like Jamie, but I need to accept that I love Guy. Perhaps because we are in the same age group. I don’t mind the age difference, but the way they met and how they responded to each other at the beginning of the story was a bit off-putting for me. I think it has to do with Jamie’s interpretation of Guy’s intentions; which he was right about.

The story has a good pacing, but the slow burn between the characters makes the reader want to read faster. I won’t recommend starting this story late at night or if you have something else to do. As soon as you get into it, it swipes you away and it’s going to be a while before you come out for air.

The smexy scenes are sweet and filled with emotion even when they’re trying to get the edge off. It’s more of an exploration than a quick one-off. There’s a lot of sensuality in their small touches and the way Jamie and Guy interact.

I like all the secondary characters and how their lives were interconnected with the main characters. I wanted to see more interaction with Jamie’s parents after they became a couple, but that’s just me.

Overall, this is a lovely story, but you have to keep some sort of suspension of disbelief in order to completely enjoy it.

The cover by Paul Richmond is simple, but the picture by Strangled Photography is everything. It’s beautiful and it captures the essence of the story to perfection. The models are age appropriate and go with the story’s descriptions.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | Nook

ebook, 256 pages
Published: March 13, 2017, by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN: 1635334527 (ISBN13: 9781635334524)
Edition Language: English

B.A. Tortuga on Writing and her release ‘Two Cowboys and a Baby’ by B.A. Tortuga (author guest post)

Two Cowboys and a Baby by B.A. Tortuga

Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer

Available for Purchase at

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to have B.A. Tortuga here today to talk about writing and her latest story in the Dreamspun Desires series from Dreamspinner Press, Two Cowboys and a Baby. Welcome, B.A.

~Our Interview with B.A. Tortuga~

How much of yourself goes into a character?

I have to be honest – my culture is very much expressed through my characters – their lives, their voices, their environment, but me personally? Not so much. 😀

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?

No, not at all. I write the places I know and love, the archetypes I grew up with. I don’t find them to be Gary Stus.

Does research play a role into choosing which genre you write? Do you enjoy research or prefer making up your worlds and cultures?

I tend to stick fairly close to home, I think, but I research the specific time period or bull rope or breed of cattle. I call my daddy a lot. 😉

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

I was (and still am) a voracious reader. I read all the Harlequin and Silhouette romances, Kathleen Woodiwiss and Johanna Lindsey. All of them. My favorite book as a little girl? Little Women. OMG. I wanted to be Jo and my wife assures me that I’ve come close.

I have to admit, I’m a trope whore, to the bone. points to Two Cowboys and a Baby Tropes, y’all. Tropes, joy and cowboys.

Wallow in it with me.

Do you like HFN or HEA? And why?

I’m an HEA all the way type of girl. That’s what I read and that’s what I write.

Do you read romances, as a teenager and as an adult?

Oh, lord yes. I love the promise of a happy ending, the comfort of the story. It does it for me, 100%.

Who do you think is your major influence as a writer? Now and growing up?

Stephen King, no question. He taught me about being faithful to your own voice, your own accent. He’s my hero.

Do you have a favorite among your own stories? And why?

My favorite is always the one I’m writing. Always. Those are the boys I’m in love with, right now.

What’s next for you as an author?

After Two Cowboys and a Baby? I have a novel coming out April 28^th that’s my love story to Red Dirt Texas music called “Best New Artist”. I’m currently writing the next Roughstock novel and co-writing a m/m book with Jodi Payne.

Much love, y’all.

Two Cowboys and a Baby Blurb

A little bundle of joy means big changes.

Hoss McMasters has a working ranch, a bull riding career, a nosy momma, and a best friend he’s been in love with since he can remember. He’s a busy, happy cowboy, living the good life.

Then one morning he discovers a baby on his doorstep.

Well, Hoss does what any reasonable man would do—he calls his momma and his buddy, Sheriff Pooter, and they head to the clinic to see if Doc knows of any suddenly not-so-pregnant girls.

In the meantime, Hoss and his best friend, Bradley, have their hands full trying to care for an infant, run a ranch, and deal with the sudden confession that Bradley doesn’t hate Hoss for coming out to him in high school. In fact, Bradley’s been trying to catch Hoss’s attention for damn near a decade.

About BA Tortuga

Texan to the bone and an unrepentant Daddy’s Girl, BA Tortuga spends her days with her basset hounds and her beloved wife, texting her sisters, and eating Mexican food. When she’s not doing that, she’s writing. She spends her days off watching rodeo, knitting and surfing Pinterest in the name of research. BA’s personal saviors include her wife, Julia Talbot, her best friend, Sean Michael, and coffee. Lots of coffee. Really good coffee.

Having written everything from fist-fighting rednecks to hard-core cowboys to werewolves, BA does her damnedest to tell the stories of her heart, which was raised in Northeast Texas, but has heard the call of the high desert and lives in the Sandias. With books ranging from hard-hitting GLBT romance, to fiery menages, to the most traditional of love stories, BA refuses to be pigeon-holed by anyone but the voices in her head. Find her on the web at www.batortuga.com

Fickle, Fickle March ~ Its Snowing? This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Fickle, Fickle March Part II ~ Its Snowing?

So remember all that lovely warm weather I was talking about? Well, out the window it went and here’s comes the first Nor’easter of our winter season. The meteorologists are calling from anywhere from 6 to 12 inches of accumulated snow here in the metro area, possibly more. Oh those poor cherry blossoms, to say nothing of the annual Cherry Blossom Festival that draws visitors from around the world. Yep, those blossoms will be history, taken down by nature’s blast this week!

And what will that do to our St. Patricks Day parades? Will they be marching in the snow? Most likely.

Oh, this mercurial March. Much like love and romance, it blows hot and cold. It heats up and then quickly can become ice cold. Then flare up when you least expect it. I’m hoping for the more heat to melt this coming snow away quickly.

Lucky In Love – A St. Patrick’s Day Giveaway!

So new giveaway for our readers. With it being St. Patrick’s Day this week, what are your favorite books with Irish settings, or Irish men and romance in them? Lists please and we will post a special St. Patrick’s Day Romance Book List of Love. Random reader will receive gift card of $10 from Dreamspinner Press. Please leave a name and email address with your recs! I will start you off with one that still makes me cry and grabs at my heart every time I read it:

Where the Grass is Greener (Seeds of Tyrone #2) by Debbie McGowan and Raine O’Tierney

And don’t get me started on those magnificent Morgan men of Rhys Ford’s Sinners series. I’ll add in more when list time comes. Our giveaway ends Saturday, March 18th at midnight. Slainte’! D’fhéadfadh grá i gcónaí a bheith mise! May love always be yours, in life and in our stories. I can’t wait to see what books your lists may bring us.

This Week’s Announcements at Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

📚~ Reviewers ~We have a new reviewer coming on. Her name is Julia. And we’re thrilled to have her here. Let Julia tell you something about herself:

Hey, there!

I’m Julia, a mid-twenties gay language student from Austria. I love travelling, Japanese curry, Scotland, the sea and anything and all fiction-related. My current passions are writing (mainly short stories and flash fiction) and playing Dungeons & Dragons with friends (where I play as a half-mermaid cleric with a pet pufferfish named Huffl-Puffington Supreme Conqueror of the Northern Seas).

When it comes to literature, I’m basically open for anything that catches my interest in some way. I love books that make me cry, books that make me laugh, books that make me want to ram my head against a wall with spikes protruding from it – as long as a story can get any kind of emotional response out of me, I’m happily along for the ride. That being said, my most-read genre right now would probably be Fantasy and my favourite author Terry Pratchett with his glorious Discworld-series.

Well, I think that should give you a pretty decent picture of myself. Have a lovely day and as a friend of mine once said: Don’t get eaten by a dragon! (Unless they ask nicely and all around seem like a pretty ok-person.^^)

Say hi to Julia and be on the lookout for her reviews to start appearing soon! We are still looking for reviewers. So contact us at scatteredthoughtsandroguewords@gmail.com if you love books and want to tell other about them too!

📚~Last Week’s Giveaway ~ He Turned Out To Be What? Contest and the Winners: Purple Reader (Stella will be in contact with you)

This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Sunday, March 12:

Fickle, Fickle March Part II ~ Its Snowing?
This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, March 13:

DSP GUEST POST BA Tortuga on Two Cowboys and a Baby
DSP GUEST POST Ethan Stone on Wild Instincts (Seaside Shifters: Book Two)
Release Day Blitz Shaper by Christine Danse
RIPTIDE TOUR BLOG Sons of Devils by Alex Beecroft
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Release Day Review: Lickety Split by Damon Suede
A Lila Release Day Review: Step by Step by K.C. Wells
An Alisa Release Day Review: Dinner at the Blue Moon Cafe by Rick R. Reed

Tuesday, March 14:

DSP GUEST POST Andrew Grey on Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2) by Andrew Grey
Release Blitz – Rick R Reed’s Dinner at the Blue Moon Cafe
In the Paranormal Spotlight: Insight by Santino Hassell (Riptide Publishing Tour and Giveaway)
A Jeri Review: Danced Close by Annabeth Albert
A Stella Review: Momo, My Everything by Posy Roberts
A Stella Review: Beneath the Stars by Lynn Charles
An Alisa Review: Falling Hard: Stories of Men in Love by Dale Cameron Lowry

Wednesday, March 15:

DSP GUEST POST Sarah Madison on Unspeakable Words (The Sixth Sense: Book One)
Release Blitz & Review Tour – K.C. Wells’s Step By Step
Who We Are by Nicola Haken Tour and Review
A MelanieM Release Day Review: Two Cowboys and A Baby by BA Tortuga
An Ali Release Day Review: Sophie by JP Barnaby
An Alisa Release Day Review: Running with the Moon by Kiernan Kelly
An Alisa Review: Love by Design by Sam B. Morgan

Thursday, March 16:

Release Blitz Tour – The Case Of The Guilty Ghost (End Street Book #6) by RJ Scott and Amber Kell
RELEASE BLITZ Between the Secrets by S. Ferguson
Release Day Blitz An Officer’s Submission by Christa Tomlinson
Release tour Who We Are by Nicola Haken
A MelanieM Review: Who We Are by Nicola Haken
Step by Step by KC Wells Release Tour
A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review: Fallen Angel by Eden Winters
A Stella Review Spark to the Heart (Parkerburg series #4) by Lee Brazil & Havan Fellows

Friday, March 17 – Happy Ēostre or Ostara:

Blog Tour for Leaning into the Fall by Lane Hayes
Book Blitz Here For Us by AM Arthur
A Caryn Review : Bedside Manner by DJ Jamison
A Caryn Review: Drinker of Blood (SPECTR Series 2, #3) by Jordan L Hawk
A Lila Release Day Review: Falling Into the Black by Caitlin Ricci
A Melanie Releases Day Review: There’s this Guy by Rhys Ford

Saturday, March 18:

A MelanieM Audiobook Review: Drama Muscle by Joe Cosentino and Narrator Chip Hurley
Blog for the audiobook of DRAMA MUSCLE, the second Nicky and Noah mystery, by Joe Cosentino, performed by Chip Hurley

An Alisa Review: Hunter by Dakota Storm

Rating: 2.5 stars out of 5

Sexy-as-sin bounty hunter Hunter Jones lives, eats, and breathes his next case. He’s always been content to live his life on the road with no attachments and no one to answer to. Love is for other people. But when he stops in a small town for a little R&R and meets up with a fellow bounty hunter to review a case, he runs into the man of his wet dreams. Hunter isn’t ready for love, but Van turns his head and heart upside down.

Donovan “Van” Madsen has it all: a lucrative business, a close-knit family, and a best friend. But something is missing. Van always dreamed of finding the “one,” but never thought it would happen … until Hunter.

The mutual attraction is instant and intense between the two men. Neither can say goodbye.

When trouble brews and Van is kidnapped, Hunter realizes life is too short to not take what he wants. In this action-packed romance, both men’s lives are on the line and their love might not be enough to save them.

Eh, this was an okay story. Van has been hoping he would find the one and when he connects with Hunter he thinks he may have. Hunter has always been a loner but knows there is something different about Van than anyone he has been with before.

We see both of the characters’ thoughts and actions. The characters’ actions and thoughts really reminded me of shifter mate stories, which is all well and good, but didn’t really fit for me. I understand instant attraction but their reactions to each other seemed completely extreme and I just couldn’t understand what was going through their heads and it just didn’t really work for me.

The cover art by Written Ink Designs is great and catches your eye.

Sales Links: JMS Books | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 113 pages

Published: February 11, 2017 by JMS Books

ISBN: 9781634863193

Edition Language: English

A VVivacious Review: You Had Me at Hero by Michael P. Thomas

Rating: 4 Stars out of 5

Mark Potts fell from a balcony while drunk that resulted in him being paralysed from the waist down, but he never gave up. Now twelve years later he works as a 911 operator, and is raising two wonderful kids with the love of his life, Starr Bradford who is a police officer.

When a string of words that should have never left Mark’s mouth creates a misunderstanding between Mark and Starr, it leaves Mark off kilter and wishing for a do-over. But when a 911 call results in Starr’s day taking a turn for the worse, will these two get that chance at repairing this rift in their relationship…?

I liked the story quite a bit even though I’m uncertain how the author pulled it off. There are a million things in this story which could have separately taken entire books to resolve but the author manages to prioritise on what issues to get in the limelight to make this story into a success.

This is a gay couple who come from two different ethnicities with one of them being physically-challenged, who have an age gap of seventeen years and are raising two young children to be responsible adults and both of them work highly stressful jobs. I mean the challenges these two faced in their relationship alone could have provided fodder for a series of books and at the beginning of the book I really wondered if the author had maybe picked up one too many differences to go with our main couple but by the end of the book I think it worked. It sure made for an interesting read.

This is an established couple romance and that trope is a particular favourite of mine and this one didn’t disappoint. Also this trope was perfect for this story because it gave us the understanding that a lot of the issues Mark and Starr faced had probably been resolved in their six plus years of being together.

We get glimpses into the lives of Mark and Starr and how life is like for them and how they deal with it. Also I loved to see the issues that bothered them as parents and how they worked them out. Personally I really loved Mark and Starr as a couple and even the little rift at the end that creates the misunderstanding or difference of opinions seemed in character and I liked how they dealt with it given the circumstances.

All in all this book makes for a nice read which leaves you with a smile on your face, even if it does leave you wondering how these two managed to work around so many cons in their relationship.

Cover Art by Written Ink Designs. I liked the cover.

Sales Links

JMS Books LLC

Book Details:

ebook, 85 pages
Published February 18th 2017 by JMS Books
ISBN139781634863117
Edition LanguageEnglish

Release Blitz for Bedside Manner by DJ Jamison (giveaway)

Buy Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2lYMN9K

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2mjp99O

Amazon Universal: http://mybook.to/bedsidemanner

Length: 56,000 words

Blurb

Dr. Paul Johnston can’t get a set of dark, somber eyes out of his head, and the timing couldn’t be worse.

The last thing he needs is to fall for a patient. Not now, when he’s been put on paid leave pending review of a formal complaint. One that most likely accuses him of sexual harrassment or impropriety of some kind. It’s possible he let his newfound freedom as a divorced, out-of-the-closet gay man go to his head, but he’s certain — mostly — he didn’t do anything wrong. Now, he’s struggling to handle the reality that his job is in danger and the only guy he wants should be off-limits.

Zane Kavanaugh is floundering, and there’s only one man who soothes the storm inside him.

Reeling from an assault that landed him in the hospital and the painful estrangement from his family since coming out, Zane is trying to get his feet under him and find his independence. He moves in with a roommate and searches for a job, all while recovering from a fractured arm and cracked ribs. None of that hurts as much as the emotional damage he’s suffered. When he connects with Dr. Paul Johnston outside of the ER, he’s drawn to the man’s calm, collected manner. It doesn’t hurt that Paul’s lack of experience with men is sexy as hell, and so are his over-the-top responses when Zane gets his lips on him.

There’s no right time to fall in love.

Paul is afraid to start a relationship, and Zane can only handle so much more rejection. Will these two find their perfect moment, or will they realize you can’t choose when and how you fall in love? If Paul can’t take a risk, he may have to choose: the career he loves or the first man to capture his heart.

Bedside Manner is Book 1 of the Hearts & Health series. This is a spin-off series from the book Heart Trouble and includes characters from that novel, but it can be read as a standalone.

Author Bio

DJ Jamison worked in newsrooms for more than 10 years, which helped tremendously when she began her series centered on The Ashe Sentinel, a fictional small-town newspaper in Kansas. She lives in the Midwest with her husband, two sons and three glow-in-the-dark fish.

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Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2) by Andrew Grey Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase Release Date: Mar 10 2017

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Two Cowboys and a Baby by B.A. Tortuga

Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Bree Archer

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Cleansing Flame (Rekindled Flame #2) by Andrew Grey
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press

Cover Artist: L.C. Chase
Release Date: Mar 10 2017

Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Bree Archer