In the Spotlight: Max Vos on blog tour for the re release of his novel P.O.W (excerpt and giveaway)

P.O.W. by Max Vos

Published January 20th 2017
A.J. Corza (Illustrator)

Available for Purchase at

About P.O.W.

After being taken prisoner by a Taliban Warlord, can Sam Stone hold on long enough to get his best friend back to his family and find love in the arms of Abbas, the handsome, blue-eyed Arab?

Sam has secretly been in love with is best friend and fellow Marine, Benoit, for quite some time and would not hesitate to die for him.
The macho Marine, Benoit, is shaken to his very core when he and his best friend are taken prisoners and made to do things that he would never have done, especially with Sam, who he knew had feelings for him.

Abbas tries everything to gain his families freedom when an unexpected man comes into his life that he starts having deep feelings for almost immediately.
Sam Stone has been secretly in love with his best friend and fellow Marine, Benoit, for a long time. It’s only after they were captured by a Taliban Warlord that he realizes that he would readily give his life to get Benoit back to his family. But it is Abbas, the Westernized Arab who steals his heart and helps Sam and Benoit regain their freedom. Now Sam has to learn to find true love and help heal not only himself, but the two men he loves deeply.

Warning: This book contains material that may be offensive to some: graphic language, military
situations, P.O.W scenes, adult situations and other situations only meant for an adult audience.

EXCERPT:

“Mayday, Mayday, Black Hammer is hit; I repeat: Mayday, Black Hammer is hit. We’re going down.” Bucky’s voice may have seemed calm to an outsider, but those who knew him understood he was anything but calm. “Mayday, Mayday. Black Hammer’s current location: thirty-three Lat by seventy Long. Repeat. Mayday, Mayday.” Bucky choked out as the cabin of the helicopter quickly filled with smoke.

Samuel J. Stone looked at the other five members of his team. “Fuck,” he mumbled, wondering if perhaps they weren’t going to make it out of this one. He yelled at his best friend Benoit. “After all the fucked-up shit we’ve been through, I’m not gonna fucking die splattered on the side of some mountain in this hellhole.”

“Vasquez, get that damn door open,” Stone yelled across the cabin to the other Marine.

“Gettin’ it, Stone,” Vasquez answered his lieutenant.

Stone opened the opposite door, letting some of the thick smoke billow out of the burning helicopter. He and his fellow Marine, Benoit, looked out the open door. They could tell they were going down fast.

“We’re still too high to jump,” Stone yelled at the others trapped in the flaming bird.

“If there was anywhere to fucking jump to,” Benoit yelled back.

Even with both side doors open, the cold winter wind whipping through the cabin, the acrid black smoke continued to surge in, making their eyes burn, their chests constrict with the lack of breathable air. There was a bitter taste in Stone’s mouth from inhaling the foulness of burning rubber and jet fuel.

Using hand signals to keep from yelling to be heard, Stone motioned for Vasquez and the two others to use the door they had just opened to escape through, while he and Benoit and the new kid, Saundersen, would use the one opposite.

The high-pitched scream of the rotor motor was loud enough to pierce the ear-protection headphones, making it nearly impossible to speak. Each man could barely hear Bucky still calling out a Mayday over the radio, through the headsets.

About the Author

Max Vos is a classically trained chef with over 30 years of food service experience. After retiring in 2011, Max found himself with time on his hands and was urged to turn his talents to writing. ‘Cooking English’, a short story, now part of his anthology collection, Inappropriate Roads, is now available. My Hero was his first novel, which turned into an international best seller. Max now has a total of six completed novels, which are listed on his website, along with the entire Memories Series. My Hero: The Olympian, the sequel to My Hero was released late last year.

LINKS:

http://www.maxvos.com/

http://max-vos.tumblr.com/

http://max-vos.blogspot.com/

https://twitter.com/Max_Vos_Author

https://www.instagram.com/max.vos_author/

GIVEAWAY:

Grand prize: $20 Dollar Amazon GC and a Ecopy of P.O.W. by Max Vos
Second prize: The Complete Memories Series ( 5 ebooks) by Max Vos
Third prize: Two Backlist Titles by Max Vos

Rafflecopter Link – must be 18 years of age or older to enter:

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Books by Max Vos:

My Hero

My Hero: The Olympian

The V Unit

P. O. W.

Inappropriate Roads: A Max Vos Anthology

Going Home

Memories Series

A Christmas Memory 1 (Memories, #1)

A Christmas Memory 2 (Memories, #2

Home Sweet Home (Memories, #3)

A Valentine’s Day Memory

A Spring Break Memory (Memories Series Book 4)

Available in French

Souvenirs-de-Noël

Mon Héros

Hawk ‘n’ Harley

Unite V

Rentrer a la Maison

Available in Italian

Il Mio Eroe

Andare a Casa

Release Blitz – K.A. Merikan’s Hipster Brothel (giveaway)

Buy Links:Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2jHLexz

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2iTzSt7

Length: 50,000 words

Cover: Natasha Snow

Blurb

The lumberjack of his dreams is now available for rent.

Mr. B has always been a safe guy for Jo to crush on. He’s the cutest bearded lumber-god to salivate over. Add to that his friendly, outgoing personality, and Mr. B might just be the first guy Jo would be willing to kiss. Fortunately, Mr. B has been in a relationship for years, and Jo is no home-wrecker.

But when Mr. B breaks up with his partner and all of a sudden is single, available, and talks about his plans to be sexually adventurous, Jo isn’t so sure anymore if he has the guts to come out as bisexual.

After a sour breakup, Mr. B wants to show his ex that he’s independent, exciting, and can do very well without him. His best friend Jo is there to the rescue, and they come up with a great new business venture. One thing they lack to start their own line of artisanal boozy jams – money for the investment.

After a drunken brainstorming session, Mr. B finds a way to both gather the cash and show the middle finger to his ex. He will create a one of a kind Hipster Brothel – The Lumbersexual Experience – offering wood chopping lessons, pipe smoking, and a reclaimed wood bed where the magic happens. It’s bound to be a success… if only Mr. B can go through with it, because the mixed signals from Jo are making him wonder if his best friend is as straight as he always seemed.

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 – it will be full of surprises.

Giveaway

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A Stella Release Day Review: Nachos & Hash (Mary’s Boys Novella One) by Brandon Witt

RATING: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Darwin Michaels is living his dreams in the Mile High City. While Denver offers the perfect job, scrumptious dining, and whirlwind dating options, Darwin is losing hope he’ll find the right man to spark his interest for more than a one-night stand—until he sets eyes on Cody Russell.

Cody has just accomplished his life’s goal—get the hell out of Kansas. In one fell swoop, he lands a job at Hamburger Mary’s and gets a newfound family and the chance to be with other gay people! All that’s missing is someone special. But when Darwin shows his interest, Cody is sure it’s too good to be true. After all, what can Darwin possibly see in the high school dropout serving him nachos?

As Darwin falls in love, Cody struggles to realize his worth. When his past threatens the fragile life he is building, Cody spirals into a moment of dark desperation. But Darwin is determined to show Cody that love and family and home are there for him… will Cody accept what is offered?

Darwin is on a cheap date with (the awful) Mark and after two seconds with the boring and nonsense man found on Match.com, he starts planning his escape until ManDonna helps him getting rid of his date. While swearing off online dates, Cody happens in his life. Cody, the waiter who can’t shut up for a moment. Cody who has just moved to Denver where he is living his dream, go away from Kansas and finally be himself in a safe place like Hamburger Mary’s with people who actually care for him. Darwin has everything he wishes from his life except a boyfriend, a real one, someone to find a HEA with and Cody seems to be the right one.

Brandon Witt is one of my favorite authors, I adored everything he wrote so far, this novella, the beginning of a new series called Mary’s Boy was awesome in the writing, in the dialogues, in the setting, in the characters. I loved not just Cody and Darwin, but most of all the second characters, like Pat and Stevens, the owner, who have become Cody’s new family.

In Nachos & Hash I truly adored how I soon and easily was able to feel and see the love between all the characters. It wasn’t necessary the use of “I love you”, it was clear in their thoughts, words, actions. I saw their strength, I sadly saw their weaknesses and their unfounded inadequacy.

As always, Brandon entertained me with an emotional reading full of real persons. I can’t wait for the next installment in this series, I’m so excited for Vahin to have his own HEA.

The cover art by AngstyG is lovely, I like it.

Sales Links

BOOK DETAILS

Kindle Edition, 122 pages

Expected publication: January 25th 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ASIN B01N1Z5WDW

Edition Language English

Series Mary’s Boy #1

A Stella Review: Whiteout (Seasons of Love #1) by Elyse Springer

RATING 4 out of 5 stars

Noah Landers wakes up one day with a headache and no memory of where—or who—he is. Jason, the man taking care of him, tries to fill in some of the blanks: they’re in a cabin in Colorado on vacation, and Noah slipped on ice and hit his head. But even with amnesia, Noah knows Jason is leaving out something important.

Jason O’Reilly is sexy as hell, treats Noah like he’s precious, and seems determined to make this the romantic getaway they’d apparently dreamed of together. But Noah’s more concerned that he’s trapped alone with Jason in the middle of a blizzard while his slowly-returning memories bring hints of secrets and betrayal.

Noah’s not sure what’s the truth and what’s a lie. But as he learns who he is—and who Jason is to him—he’s forced to reevaluate everything he believes about himself, about loyalty . . . and about love.

Noah wakes up from a fall and can’t remember his own name and who is the person with whom he is sharing a cabin on Christmas time in the middle of a blizzard. He seems to be Jason, his boyfriend but is this the truth? Are Noah and Jason their true names?

Whiteout is the first book in the Season of Love series by Elyse Springer and the author debut novel. A lovely debut book, well written, engaging and with loveable characters. I’m so happy I found a new author I truly enjoyed.

In Whiteout we see Noah slowly get his memories back, flashback after flashback. We see him doubt Jason and their love, but he can’t deny (and it’s clear for the reader too) the attraction and chemistry between them. We see him finally remember everything and be brave and honest with himself and Jason. The book is divided into two parts, in the first one the plot is focused on the MCs, being in a cabin in the middle of nowhere there is really no space for secondary characters. And there, I started to understand where the story was going but I was very curious to see how the author would develop the novel. I have to say I loved this book very much, although it didn’t surprise me in the plot, it surprised me in the development, especially in the second part. I loved how determined Nathan was at showing Jason who he really was and how powerful his love was. I liked the secondary characters I met later and I can’t wait to read their own stories.

I can say Whiteout was a success to me and I’m very interested in reading the coming books even if not all of them will be mm stories. Highly recommend it.

The cover art by Natasha Snow is well done, I like the artist style and all the covers in this series are well done and fitting.

Sales Links

Riptide Publishing

BOOK DETAILS

only listed at Amazon in paperback

Kindle Edition, 276 pages

Published January 23rd 2017 by Riptide Publishing

ISBN: 978-1-62649-511-1

Edition Language English

Series Season of Love #1

A Lila Review: The Impossible Boy by Anna Martin

Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5

This is not your average love story.

Ben Easton is not your average romantic hero. He’s a tattooed, badass, wannabe rock star, working in a perfectly horrible dive bar in Camden Town. His life is good, and he’s totally unprepared for how one man will turn it upside down.

Stan isn’t your average heroine. As a gender-fluid man, he proudly wears his blond hair long, his heels sky-high, and his makeup perfectly executed. A fashion industry prodigy, Stan is in London after stints working in Italy and New York City, and he quickly falls for Ben’s devil-may-care attitude and the warm, soft heart Ben hides behind it.

Beneath the perfect, elegant exterior, Stan has plenty of scars from teenage battles with anorexia. And it only takes the slightest slip for his demons to rush back in while Ben is away touring with his band. With the band on the brink of a breakthrough, Ben is forced to find a way to balance the opportunity of a lifetime with caring for his beautiful boyfriend.

The Impossible Boy is more than a romance. It’s the story of a young man adjusting back into life when dealing with anorexia. And how his sexuality, love life, and career were affected by it–before and after. It can be considered a coming of age novel set in London.

The book is divided into two parts. The first sixty-four percent is more of an introduction to Stan’s and Ben’s life and romance. I’d have been okay if the book ended there. Not that the rest isn’t worth it, but the second part felt like an addition or a longer view to a well-established relationship.

We spent a lot of time experiencing the story as Stan. And perhaps, that’s one of the reasons I find a disconnected between the two parts of the story. Almost like he blocked us from what was really happening, just like he was doing with the rest of the world. But by the end of the story, it’s easy to see that we were indeed blocked. It was part of Stan’s coping mechanism and we need to understand it like Ben had to.

The amount of detail in the story could be a bit overwhelming, but just like Stan, it was like learning more about the country, new people, and himself. One thing I appreciated was how the symptoms of Stan’s anorexia were presented as part of his personality, and not as a checklist to diagnose his medical condition.

This story is mostly sweet. It has a very young adult feel even when the main characters are older than what’s expected. There’s a slow burn that becomes love making; never fucking. They go on dates, spend time together, talk about work, and hang around with friends. The topics discussed are serious but there’s not a lot of angst. If not for Stan’s anorexia, this could be a fairytale romance.

All the secondary characters are great. The bandmates acted as normal young people trying to get into the spotlight. They’re not perfect, but they do work well together. They look out for each other and are a family. I do need to accept that my favorite character in the book was Tone, not the MCs. He’s more than Ben’s & Stan’s best friend, he’s the reason they understand each other. Plus, he’s lovely.

Overall, this is a good read. Just be sure you’re looking for something more than a simple romance story. It’s slow-paced and some of the switches between scenes can be quite abrupt, but it brings the story together in the end.

The cover by Garrett Leigh is beautiful. It fits Stan perfectly, not only physically, but emotionally.

Sale Links: Dreamspinner | Amazon | Nook

Book Details:

ebook, 204 pages
Published: January 17, 2017, Dreamspinner Press (Perchance to Dream)
ASIN: 1635332052 (ISBN13: 9781635332056)
Edition Language: English

RIPTIDE Tour: Whiteout by Elyse Springer (giveaway)

Whiteout (Seasons of Love #1) by Elyse Springer
Riptide Publishing
Cover by: Natasha Snow

Read an Excerpt/Purchase it here at Riptide Publishing

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to host Elyse Springer here today to talk about her recent release, Whiteout. Welcome, Elyse!

Hello! I’m Elyse, and welcome to the blog tour for my new release, Whiteout! This is the first book in the Seasons of Love series, and I can’t wait to introduce you to Noah and Jason.

About Whiteout

Jason O’Reilly is sexy as hell, treats Noah like he’s precious, and seems determined to make this the romantic getaway they’d apparently dreamed of together. But Noah’s more concerned that he’s trapped alone with Jason in the middle of a blizzard while his slowly returning memories bring hints of secrets and betrayal.

Now available from Riptide Publishing. http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/whiteout

About Elyse Springer

Elyse is an author and world-traveler, whose unique life experiences have helped to shape the stories that she wants to tell. She writes romances with LGBTQ+ characters and relationships, and believes that every person deserves a Happily Ever After. When she’s not staring futilely at her computer screen, El spends her time adding stamps to her passport, catching up on her terrifying TBR list, and learning to be a better adult.

She’s always happy to chat with other readers, and you can find her online at:

Website: http://elspringer.com
Twitter: @ElyseSpringer
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elysespringerwrites

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Whiteout, one lucky winner will receive a $20 Amazon gift card! Leave a comment with your contact info to enter the contest. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on January 28, 2017. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. entries. Thanks for following the tour, and don’t forget to leave your contact info!

An Ali Release Day Review: Gaining Trust (Kiss of Leather #5) by Morticia Knight

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Chuck isn’t sure what he needs and Master Jordan can’t wait to show him.

Stone’s shy junior investigator, Chuck, can no longer deny his interest in the BDSM lifestyle. The beautiful connections and raw emotions he’s witnessed between so many of the Doms and subs at Kiss of Leather leave him yearning for something he’d never dared hope he could have—unconditional love and care from a man. He isn’t sure if he can take the chance of having a real relationship when he’s not out to his meddling parents yet, but the sexy Master Jordan, Gavin’s friend and the owner of Club Consequence, makes him want to take that chance.

Master Jordan has been biding his time until he can get next to the super-fine Chuck. Gavin warned him that Chuck isn’t in the lifestyle, but there’s something special about him that speaks to Jordan’s heart. When they’re finally alone, the chemistry is off the charts and Jordan can tell it won’t take much to bring Chuck willingly into the world of BDSM.

An unexpected development in the case of Corey’s kidnappers shocks them all, but not as much as what happens with Chuck’s family. Jordan teaches Chuck that secrets hold power over the person keeping them, and that gaining trust can only be achieved through complete honesty.

I loved this story just as much as I have with all of the others in this series. Chuck and Jordan have been dancing around each other for the last couple books, so it was great to see them finally get their own story. It’s great to see Chuck’s trust building in Jordan when he has to deal with his combative family dynamic.

We got a quick look at Josh and David working to fix their relationship problems from the previous book, but leaves a little mystery for the future with the possibility of an additional owner for the club that gives the opportunity for more characters to come into play in future books. The rest of the book was on Chuck and Jordan’s budding relationship. Once they got going they moved pretty fast, but they had a lot of build up that had been in the background in the previous books, so they weren’t just jumping in.

They mystery of Corey’s previous dom continues throughout this book and brings in some new twists that may play a bigger role in later books. I look forward to reading more in this series while they solve the mystery, but also to see more of all the wonderful characters in this series.

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

Sales Links: Pride Publishing | Amazon | B&N

Book Details:

ebook, 142 pages

Expected Publication: January 24, 2017 by Pride Publishing

ISBN: 9781786515384

Edition Language: English

Series: Kiss of Leather #5

In Our Hot Release Spotlight: Broadway Babe by J.C. Long (author interview)

Broadway Babe by J.C. Long
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Anne Cain

BUY LINKS:

Hi Everybody, I’m J. C. Long, author of Broadway Babe! Thanks so much for joining me, and thanks to Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words for having me today! In preparation for my novella Broadway Babe coming out tomorrow I did a little interview for you guys! Enjoy!

Where do you normally draw your inspiration for a book from? A memory, a myth, a place or journey, or something far more personal?

It really depends on the story. Broadway Babe came from my personal life more than anything else. I was a huge theatre geek in high school, and even now have an immense love of musicals. I performed in a lot of shows, and though I never made it to Broadway I can imagine what it’s like, and have a few friends who actually did and helped provide a little insight for this story.

Are you a planner or a pantzer when writing a story? And why?

Again, the answer is it depends on what I’m writing. For a mystery, I’m a planner—I need to be so I can lay the scenes properly, leave the right hints and clues in the right places. With contemporaries I’m a bit of a pantzer in that I know where I’m starting and where I’m ending, but only have a vague idea of the middle bit.

Contemporary, supernatural, fantasy, or science fiction narratives or something else? Does any genre draw you more than another when writing it or reading it and why does it do so?

Scifi and fantasy were my first loves as a reader. These stories provide true escapism, with real, easy to recognize heroes and villains that are pretty black and white. It’s fun as a reader and a writer to fully immese yourself in a fantasy world where you get to make up the rules of the game. Recently, though, contemporaries have drawn me as a writer, because they provide me a way to show people around me that there is still happiness out there, and love really does win.

Can an author have favorites among their characters and do you have them?

I definitely think it’s possible to have favorites—some characters come from a very real experience for an author, a very raw emotional center. For me my favorite in any given book I’m writing is the character that is the easiest to write, the one who’s voice I hear the strongest. In Broadway Babe that’s definitely Annabelle—though of course I love my boys. Annabelle just spoke so strongly to me, even when Tate or Mike didn’t want to.

If you were to be stranded on a small demi-planet, island, or god forbid LaGuardia in a snow storm, what books would you take to read or authors on your comfort list?

Oh God, I’ve been there—minus a snowstorm, and it was LAX instead of LaGuardia—after a hellish return trip from Japan (where I now live) that should have been 21 hours total that evolved into a 3 day odyssey thanks to bad flights and an unexpected overnight stay in China. I go to old favorites at that point, comfort reads, and high atop that list is Rhys Ford—I adore her work, particularly her Cole McGinnis series.

How early in your life did you begin writing?

I started writing actual coherent stories in the 6^th grade for my English class. My teacher assigned us weekly vocab, and we had to use each word in a sentence. I found that boring, so I started writing a story where each word came up in the prose or dialogue somewhere.

Were you an early reader or were you read to and what childhood books had an impact on you as a child that you remember to this day and why?

I was raised by my grandmother, and I wanted to be just like her. She was an avid reader, so I forced her to teach me to read. By 4 years old I was sitting next to her on the couch with a book in my lap and read. As for the books that impacted me, I’d say the work of Alexander Lloyd. His were my first introduction to fantasy, and I’ve been hooked ever since. Also, Chris Wooding’s Broken Sky series showed me that not all fantasy has to look the same.

What question would you ask yourself here?

What would I ask myself? I’d ask myself why the hell I didn’t bring ranch dressing to Japan from the states! Dumb move, really dumb move. Oh—you mean about writing? Hmm. Why is it impossible for me to get any work done without cartoons from my childhood in the 90s playing in the background—or Bob’s Burgers; I love that show. Answer: Who knows?

If you were writing your life as a romance novel, what would the title be?

My life as a romance novel? That would be boring, guys. I wouldn’t want to read it. I guess I’d call it Mistakes Were Made. Oh my God, there’s an idea! The plot bunnies just started racing! Thanks, Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words! I really hope that you enjoy Broadway Babe and the sweet story between Tate and Mike! It’s out tomorrow!

BLURB

Tate O’Connor has worked hard to realize his dream of dancing on Broadway, and it’s about to pay off with a premier in his first show. He doesn’t expect the distraction of sharing the stage with his celebrity crush: Broadway superstar Mike Chang. Drama ensues both onstage and off as Tate and Mike work closely and realize there could be something between them. However, there are those who don’t think an up-and-coming dancer is good enough for someone with Mike’s talent and fame, and rumors and misunderstandings might lead to broken hearts if Tate and Mike can’t work through their confusion and insecurity.

AUTHOR BIO

J. C. Long is an American expat living in Japan, though he’s also lived stints in Seoul, South Korea—no, he’s not an Army brat; he’s an English teacher. He is also quite passionate about Welsh corgis and is convinced that anyone who does not like them is evil incarnate. His dramatic streak comes from his lifelong involvement in theater. After living in several countries aside from the United States, J. C. is convinced that love is love, no matter where you are, and is determined to write stories that demonstrate exactly that.

His favorite things in the world are pictures of corgis, writing, and Korean food (not in that order… okay, in that order). J. C. spends his time not writing thinking about writing, coming up with new characters, attending Big Bang concerts, and wishing he were writing. The best way to get him to write faster is to motivate him with corgi pictures. Yes, that is a veiled hint.

A Paul B Release Day Review: Love in the Line of Fire by Michael Murphy

Rating:4.5 out of 5 stars

Special Agent Jonah Pratt heads the security detail for First Gentleman Dr. David Hammond. Basically his work is his life. His private life, what there is of it, is just that, private. Nobody in the Secret Service knows he is gay except his supervisors and one agent he began with years ago. Protecting the husband of the first gay president comes first in his life. Or so he thought until an assassination attempt on his protectee changes things.

Benji Campbell is a student at Georgetown University. Having served a couple of terms in Iraq, he has been trained to handle dangerous situations. Having been in the Middle East for most of the past ten years, he has hardly had time to find a one night stand, let alone something long term. When someone starts taking shots on campus, his training kicks in and subdues the shooter. What does he get for his trouble? He gets punched in the jaw by a Secret Service agent.

Jonah realizes that his friend was killed in the line of duty. Benji, having lost men in his missions in Iraq, tells Jonah that he knows what he feels and offers to listen to Jonah. Jonah shows up one night at Benji’s apartment and gets drunk while telling his tale. Benji feels something for Jonah but as neither have had any real experience in dating, things start awkwardly. However, the two men find a groove and things are going great until Benji has a flashback in a restaurant. Benji feels that Jonah needs someone whose head is screwed on right. He also realizes what it is like now that he is the one waiting for someone with a dangerous job to come home at night. His fears come true as there is another assassination attempt on the First Gentlemen. He must find out if Jonah is alright but will he be able to?

I found this book more enjoyable than the Michael Murphy’s previous book The President’s Husband, which shares some of the same characters. The slow developing romance between Jonah and Benji worked well as neither man had been in a relationship before. After Benji has his panic attack in the restaurant, his sense of foreboding seems to telegraph future events in terms of the second attempt on the First Gentleman. You can almost feel what every spouse or partner of a law enforcement official goes through every day they send their love one to work. I thought that David Hammond worked better in a supporting role rather than as a primary character as he was in Husband. Having read that book does provide some insight into his actions in this book. However, Love can be read on its own.

The cover art by L. C. Chase is outstanding. It has images of Jonah (in a suit you find Secret Service agents usually wear) and Benji (in a muscle shirt with dog tags around his neck) in the top half of the cover with a photo of the National Mall on the bottom half.

Sales Links

Book Details

EBook, 200 pages

Edition Language: English

Published: January 23, 2017 by Dreamspinner Press

ISBN: 978-1-63533-207-0

A MelanieM Review: Blood Stained Tea (The Yakuza Path #1) by Amy Tasukada

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

A bloody past haunts him. A devastating present calls him back…

Nao hides from his violent past in the Japanese mob by opening a teahouse in Japan’s cultural center, Kyoto. His past comes flooding back when he discovers a gravely injured man with a tattooed chest, a bloody knife, and a Korean business card.

Saehyun would’ve died if not for Nao’s help. He knows nothing of his savior’s connection with the local mafia, but Saehyun has his own secrets. He commands the Korean mafia, the mortal enemy of Nao’s former syndicate.

As Nao and Saehyun grow closer, so does the strength of the Korean mob. A shocking murder pulls Nao back into a past he’d all but abandoned. War is looming, and Nao must choose between protecting Saehyun or avenging the honor of his old mafia family..

The Yakuza Path: Blood Stained Tea is the first book in a series of Japanese mafia thrillers. If you like complex characters, blood-soaked violence, and twists you won’t see coming, then you’ll love Amy Tasukada’s gritty crime masterpiece.

This was undoubtedly one of the hardest reviews I’ve had to write in the past year, most of it is totally my fault. I approached this story full of false assumptions. I skimmed over the blurb and immediately assumed that it was a murder/mystery romance with a Yakusa foundation along the lines of some of my favorite romances and I could not have been more wrong. Those false expectations colored my viewpoint for two thirds of this story. Luckily, the plot, the characters and the superb writing kept taking my assumptions and drowning them in the river in Kyoto, along with many, many bodies.

Make no mistake. This is a brutal story. These characters are not some criminals with heinous crimes that occur off the page. There is torture, extreme violence that happens at once. They are in many respects, psychopaths (especially one). Tasukada does not look away from how they got to this point in their lives, the reality of both the Korean mafia and the Yakuza in Japan. Not for the soldiers at the basest level living in the worst possible conditions, gun fodder in the many battles or the people in the neighborhoods who become expendable in the gang fight for territory.

I know, some of you might be wondering. Why read this? Because its engrossing, compelling. I couldn’t put it down. Its human drama on both an intimate and huge scale. The author brings in both the ancient City of Kyoto and its past, the tea culture of Japan and so much more effortlessly folded into not only a psychological drama but a gritty crime masterpiece as it says above. Yes it deserves that in every sense that The Godfather deserves it as well. And this is merely the first story, the first step forward. What a gut cruncher, a heartbreaker and mindtwister Blood Stained Tea turns out to be. Shocking really.

And it all starts with confused Nao, hiding in his Tea shop, looking for the perfect oolong tea and never finding it.

This story is still haunting me. And yes, I need that second story. I need to read it even as I’m cringing in expectation over what I will find there. Blood Stained Tea (The Yakuza Path #1) by Amy Tasukada will top my list of Best Books of 2017. It may be the top book of 2017. Its that good. Don’t go looking for love and romance. It won’t be found in the blood stained tea. What you will find is a complex, human drama that will surprise you at every turn, make you run through the range of our emotions and emerge still hopelessly connected to this world and characters. Yes I think masterpiece is the word that belongs here.

The cover is perfect as it highlights an important element in the story.

Buy Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK

Book Details:

Kindle Edition, 319 pages
Published November 28th 2016 by Macarons & Tea Publishing
ISBN139780997865318
Edition LanguageEnglish

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Whiteout (Seasons of Love #1) by Elyse Springer Riptide Publishing Cover by: Natasha Snow

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Broadway Babe by J.C. Long Dreamspinner Press Cover Artist: Anne Cain

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Whiteout (Seasons of Love #1) by Elyse Springer
Riptide Publishing
Cover by: Natasha Snow

Broadway Babe by J.C. Long
Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: Anne Cain