A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Christmas Miracles of a Recently Fallen Spruce by Brandon Witt

Rating: 4.5 stars out of 5

Sleigh Ride Advent StoryPaxton Peterson’s favorite day of the year is his annual Gay Boy Christmas dinner. He’s checked and double-checked his to-do list, because nothing stresses him out like the unexpected. Confident everything will run smoothly, Paxton embarks on his yearly snowshoed hike through the Rocky Mountains near his home. His perfectly planned evening is cut short by Logan Charles’s careless enjoyment of his brother’s snowmobile, and Paxton is stranded in the woods. It’s the worst thing that could’ve possibly happened to him—or maybe the best.

Christmas Miracles of a Recently Fallen Spruce by Brandon Witt was that unexpected present you find under the tree, the one you have no idea what’s inside from the shape or in this case the title.  What Brandon Witt delivers is a delightful tale of a annual hike gone wrong when he gets hit by a snowmobile.  The characterizations are realistic, the  scenes beautifully rendered, glowing yet natural, and the men funny and real.

I so wanted to spend more time with them and to see what happened as the door shut behind them.  No instant love, nothing more remarkable than a new connection that sparkles and might turn into something wonderful for the future.  I loved this story and hope that the author will take this couple and revisit them in the future.

Love Christmas stories but without a lot of sweetness or holiday overtones?  This is the one for you.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon

Book Details:

| Buy It Here

Kindle Edition, 25 pages
Published November 30th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ASINB018RRVVV4
edition language

A Mika Review: Fish Stick Fridays (Half Moon Bay #1) by Rhys Ford

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars            ★★★★★

Fish Stick FridaysDeacon Reid was born bad to the bone with no intention of changing. A lifetime of law-bending and living on the edge suited him just fine—until his baby sister died and he found himself raising her little girl.

Staring down a family history of bad decisions and reaped consequences, Deacon cashes in everything he owns, purchases an auto shop in Half Moon Bay, and takes his niece, Zig, far away from the drug dens and murderous streets they grew up on. Zig deserves a better life than what he had, and Deacon is determined to give it to her.

Lang Harris is stunned when Zig, a little girl in combat boots and a purple tutu blows into his bookstore, and then he’s left speechless when her uncle, Deacon Reid walks in, hot on her heels. Lang always played it safe but Deacon tempts him to step over the line… just a little bit.

More than a little bit. And Lang is willing to be tempted.

Unfortunately, Zig isn’t the only bit of chaos dropped into Half Moon Bay. Violence and death strikes leaving Deacon scrambling to fight off a killer before he loses not only Zig but Lang too.

I wonder if Rhys Ford has a magic chair that she sits in at home to churn out these 5-star books and characters. I mean I expected nothing less, but a couple of months ago when she announced that she had a new series starting I was elated. I mean, c’mon. everyone knows how I feel about Cole and Jae; they are my heart. She announced a new series, and a freaking kid was a main character. I was down for it. I love children in my stories. Their age adds an extra layer of vulnerability to the characters.

This book was everything and more that I could ever ask for. I am swooning for Deke! He’s amazing. He hasn’t had an easy life, and anybody’s that went through what he did would understand if he decided to be selfish and only look out for himself. His lack of parents, the fast life he grew up in couldn’t prepare him for caring for his 8 year old niece Bobo Zigfried! She’s a tornado wrapped in a hurricane. Full of life, love, adoration and kind of a cynic to be so young. Right from the beginning its full of action! I love the dynamics between Deke and Zig they are the coolest people that I like I’ve read from the author to date.

Lang is a freaking sweetheart in his own way! I think Rhys Ford did a good job with combining the two mc’s past histories together. This wasn’t her usual buildup of love between two guys. Dare to say it, but I totally got the insta-love feeling without the cheesiness that goes with it. I kind of see them as a love as first sight kind of thing. I mean the descriptions about one another were so endearing, and sweet. This is definitely a favorite of mine, and I cannot wait until the next in the series. This is the perfect family that Rhys Ford throws together!

Cover Art by Reece Notley:This might be my favorite cover from this artist. They are teasing us by not showing Deacon’s entire face, but everything else that is important to his person is there. Loved the color schemes for the cover. The motorcycle definitely rocks.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 204 pages
Published November 30th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
original title Fish Stick Fridays
ISBN 1623809487 (ISBN13: 9781623809485)
edition language English

Holiday Cheer Continues with Meg Bawden ‘My Secret Billionaire Santa’ (excerpt and giveaway

Secret Santa

My Secret Santa Billionaire by Meg Bawden
Release Date: December 3, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Rawmance Publishing
Cover Artist: Bawd Designs

Blurb

Beckett Henry doesn’t believe in giving or receiving Christmas presents. Growing up in a poor family, he’s had to see the guilt on his parents faces every year when they couldn’t provide him and his brother the fancy toys the other kids received. Not to mention the teasing from the other kids every January. The only bright spot of the holidays was when Asher Holden visited them and they all played together without any toys.

Asher is his brother’s best friend and they’d all grown up in the same neighborhood. He’s had a crush on the other man since puberty, but he’s never had the guts to say or do anything about it. Now, Asher is the owner and CEO of Holden Marketing, the company Beckett works for, and a relationship between them will never happen. Not only have they been friends for too many years, but there is a strict company policy against inter-office dating. He couldn’t imagine what they’d say if their CEO dated the creative manager’s P.A.

With the Christmas season fast approaching, Beckett is getting ready to get the following weeks over and done with when he gets a surprise—a Secret Santa present arrives on his doorstep! As more presents start to arrive, Beckett struggles to figure out who could be sending them, or what to do with them.

Will Beckett be ready when his Secret Santa is unveiled?

 

Pages or Words: 21,259 words
Categories: Contemporary, Gay Fiction, Romance

Excerpt

Asher stood at over six feet tall and had broad shoulders. His Armani suit strained across his wide chest and his white dress shirt stretched over bulging muscles. His legs seemed to go on forever, his feet large, like the rest of him, were encased in expensive black dress shoes. A short, neat beard covered his sharp jaw, his dark hair long enough to curl over his collar. But like the rest of his appearance, it was tidy. His eyes gave me butterflies though. They were green and deep, and right at this moment, they were searching my own eyes.

Shock coursed through me and, moving on instinct, I slouched back down, feeling my cheeks heat at being caught checking him out.

“No, you can’t help me,” Asher said to Louise, his tone suggesting amusement.

I heard footsteps and then felt a breath on the top of my head. Willing away my blush, I tilted my head backward and stared into those profound jade eyes.

“Hi, Beck.” Asher smiled at me, and I’m pretty sure I began melting.

I swallowed, trying to find words. “Hi, Ash.”

Buy the book: 

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon DE | ARe

 

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Meet the Author:

Meg Bawden was born and raised in North Queensland, Australia. She’s loved stories since before she can remember and has always enjoyed creating characters of her own, even if it did begin with drawing faces on toilet rolls and giving them names. Writing has always been a passion of hers and she’s loved the M/M genre since 2004, the first book she read being Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez.

Writing M/M since 2007, Meg has never had the confidence to attempt publishing her own stories, but in 2015, she decided that it was all about to change thanks to the amazing friends she’s made in the M/M genre and their support and encouragement. So watch out, world, Meg Bawden is coming out to have some fun!

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

3 Chicks After Dark, Alpha Book Club, Andrew Q. Gordon, Bayou Book Junkie, BFD Book Blog, Book Lovers 4Ever, Chris McHart, Divine Magazine, Happily Ever Chapter, Havan Fellows, Inked Rainbow Reads, Jessie G. Books, Mikky’s World of Books, MM Good Book Reviews, Nic Starr, Open Skye Book Reviews, Parker Williams, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Hat Party, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy, Velvet Panic, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘My Secret Santa Billionaire’ by Meg Bawden.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prize provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
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A MelanieM Advent Story Review: Fireworks and Resolutions by Leandra Dohman

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

Sleigh Ride Advent StorySomething big happened at the office Christmas party between Joseph and Carter, his coworker and ultimate crush. Too bad Joseph doesn’t remember it. Now, it’s New Years Eve, and Joseph finds himself locked in the bathroom with Carter. Joseph doesn’t understand why his natural confidence fizzles out whenever Carter is around, but the man reduces him to an awkward mess. If he can just find the courage to be himself, there might be more fireworks in his future than the ones they watch from the balcony.

Fireworks and Resolutions by Leandra Dohman is short, cute and very like a Christmas sugar cookie. Its very much like you would expect and yet you are so happy to see it and it tastes so good.

Leandra Dohman  takes the holiday office party and gives it a sweet happy ending instead of the smarmy, regretful one it normally gets.  Cute and awkward meets tall and handsome but it works, you find it sweet and adorable and yes, the ending is full of fireworks.

I liked the characters, the scenes really do move very quickly and the story is over in a snap or should that be in a blink of an eye.  If you like holiday stories, you will like this little romance.

Cover notes are not included unless the cover is different from the generic one done by Paul Richmond.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Published December 1st 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781634769648
edition languageEnglish
series Sleigh Ride – 2015 Advent Calendar

 

Cover Reveal for M. Leanne Phoenix’s The Covenant ( Covenant Series #1) (excerpt and giveaway)

CoverThe Covenant E-Book Cover with logo

The Covenant ( Covenant Series #1) by M. LeAnne Phoenix
Release Date: January 15, 2016

Goodreads Link
Publisher: CoolDudes Publishing
Cover Artist: Kellie Dennis

Blurb

When love is forbidden, who can you trust?

Seventeen year old David has been best friends with Jonathan for as long as he can remember, but the day he sees the pastor’s daughter press a soft kiss to Jonathan’s cheek everything changes. Overcome by jealousy, his explosive reaction reveals a deeper connection that sends their relationship spiraling down into dangerous territory.

When their clandestine love is discovered, they have nowhere to turn for help. The brutal circumstances of their parting test David and Jonathan’s covenant to each other in unimaginable ways. Forced to face their fears, it is in their darkest moments that the two young men discover that the courage, hope, and strength they need to to fight for their love, has been the foundation of their covenant all along.

 

Pages or Words: 280 pages, 71,000 words
Categories: Gay fiction, M/M Romance, New Adult, Poetry, Romance

Excerpt

David opened his locker to get out his Biology, History, and Music History books and shoved them into his backpack, swallowing hard against the lump in his throat. Jonathan’s comforting hand lit on David’s side as he came to lean on the locker to the right of David’s own, holding up in one paint-besmeared hand, a small piece of black cardboard. On it, David saw symbols, ones he thought might be Greek. Remembering the foreign exchange student from Thessaloniki shared Jonathan’s sixth period art class, he smiled and turned to his boyfriend as he took the proffered gift.

“What does it say?” David couldn’t help but smile at the joy lighting Jonathan’s eyes. “This has to be something that Kallias helped you make—”

“You aren’t wrong,” Jonathan interjected. “That is Greek writing and Kallias even taught me how to say it.”

“Enlighten me, please!” David rasped, focusing wholly on Jonathan’s gift. “Say it and then tell me what it means.”

“If I say it right, it’s agape menomou—”

David furrowed his brow, repeating, “A guppy man oh moo?”

Jonathan slid down the locker in a giggle. “Noooo! I must have said it wrong because your face… oh my gosh, your face!”

Blushing and biting his lower lip, David sank down to his haunches in front of Jonathan. “Then say it again, slower, and tell me what it means!”

Jonathan looked around, and seeing no-one in their locker bank, leaned up to whisper the Greek in his ear, the sounds slower… thicker. “Agape menomou means O love of my heart.”

Buy the book:  links to come

 

RC

 

Meet the author:

M. LeAnne Phoenix would tell you that the worst time of her life was the two years that she attempted to take off from writing. If you asked her to explain exactly why she did such a thing, you would most likely get the mad attempt to arch an eyebrow like her dad and then a shake of the head as she told you it was unlucky to speak of such things. Suffice it to say, it will never happen again!
Born and raised in Fort Worth, Texas in the mid-1970’s, Ms. Phoenix was young and wild (and even free!) during the crazy wondrous decade known as the 1980’s and the even crazier but now grungy decade of the 1990’s. Music is second only to the muses that live and breathe to fill her mind with beautiful men, and music always helps them to tell their stories. She is never without her iPod or her computer no matter where she goes, although, she does like to hike and take pictures of the sky and the moon, and even the occasional shot of the sun through the branches of a tree.
An avid cat lover, Ms. Phoenix has been owned by many throughout her life, though her current owner is one Lily-Rose, who really would like for her to step away from the keyboard and pay her some attention! After all, hasn’t she earned it?

Where to find the author:

 


Tour Dates & Stops:

Parker Williams, Bayou Book Junkie, BFD Book Blog, Gay Book Reviews, Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Hat Party, Happily Ever Chapter, Divine Magazine, Love Bytes, Carly’s Book Reviews, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, Boys on the Brink Reviews, Nephy Hart, MM Good Book Reviews, KathyMac Reviews, Inked Rainbow Reads, A.M. Leibowitz, Velvet Panic, Alpha Book Club, Moonbeams Over Atlanta, Mikky’s World of Books, Book Lovers 4Ever, It’s Raining Men, Michael Mandrake

Final

Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: A signed print copy of ‘The Covenant’.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Link and prize provided by the author and Pride Promotions.

 

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A Book Spotlight: Sawyer ( Torey Hope – The Later Years) by A. D. Ellis (excerpt and giveaway)

Sawyer_BTBanner

AboutTheBookSawyereBook1TITLE: Sawyer

SERIES: Torey Hope – The Later Years

AUTHOR: A.D. Ellis

PUBLISHER: A.D. Ellis Publishing

COVER ARTIST: Andrea Michelle with Artistry in Design

LENGTH: 372 Pages

RELEASE DATE: August 06, 2015

BLURB: Sawyer Morgan has a secret. Revealing his true feelings to his family could bring devastation and destruction, so he keeps the burden firmly on his own shoulders. When he moves back to Torey Hope to help with the family business, Sawyer’s hidden truth becomes too much to bear.

Luke Hamilton has a past overflowing with emotional and physical scars. A promise to his dying mother prevents him from seeking the love and acceptance he longs for. Taking a job in Torey Hope brings Luke face-to-face with taboo desires he thought long extinguished.

Secrets, lies, hatred, and fear threaten to destroy their lives. But, love has the power to overcome and lay claim to victory.

Will Sawyer succeed in proving to Luke some connections are worth fighting for?

A poignant tale of two hearts valiantly fighting to stay true and find love.

**This is a male/male romance. It has adult themes, language, and situations. Readers sensitive to homosexual relationships, abuse, hate crimes, and derogatory terms should take note. This story is meant only for readers aged 18+**

Excerpt

 

I’m gay.

His brother, Decker, had taken the news fairly well. He’d needed a solo walk through the woods to gather his thoughts; Sawyer suspected his always-in-control, serious, black and white brother also needed to come to grips with the fact that he’d never suspected his brother’s sexual preference was different than his own. How ironic that the one person Sawyer was the closest to in the whole world was the one person who was the most clueless.

Sawyer had held his breath practically the whole time Decker had been walking through the woods. A deluge of rain poured down as the dark sky broke open, yet Sawyer still sat alone at the campfire. His head had started playing tricks on him. You disgust him…he can’t stand the thought of having a gay brother…you’ve lost him…he’s not coming back. But Sawyer held out hope that Decker was just doing his usual thinking things through.

He had breathed a sigh of relief when Decker emerged, soaking wet, from the woods. Walking towards him with purpose, his twin had stopped in front of him and spoke the most heartwarming, sincere words Sawyer had ever heard from him.

“You’re my brother, always have been, always will be. I wish you could have told me sooner, but nothing has changed between us. I’ll be there in any and every way that I can.” Decker grabbed Sawyer and pulled him into a deep embrace, communicating his love and acceptance through his touch.

Telling his cousins, Zach and Kendrick, had been less emotional, and a lot more entertaining. Sawyer had to laugh at the questions his admission had stirred up.

“I’m gay.”

Two words that held such power. Would they laugh? Would they walk away in disgust? Would they be angry?

Zach smiled and nodded. “I think I’ve known that for a long time, man, but thanks for telling me.”

“Wait, you knew? Why didn’t you ever say something? Why did you joke with me about girls?”

“I don’t know, I guess I figured you’d tell me when you were ready. I didn’t want to bring it up if I was wrong and it offended you. I think I joked about girls thinking it would give you the opportunity to bring it up if you wanted to.” Zach stood and walked to his cousin, reaching a hand down, he pulled the other man up into a hug. “Nothing changes, I’ve got your back, man.”

Kendrick sat with his hand rubbing his chin. Would he be the one who couldn’t accept it?

Eyes twinkling and a shit-eatin’ grin on his face, he finally spoke. “What’s it like to suck cock?”

The other three burst out laughing.

BuyLinks

Amazon US

Apple iBooks

AuthorBio

 

AuthorPicA.D. Ellis is the award-winning author of two related collections of stories, A Torey Hope Novel Series and Torey Hope: The Later Years. Her debut novel, For Nicky, was voted #3 of the Top 50 Indie Books of 2014 by ReadFree.ly readers/voters. A.D.’s fourth novel, Loving Josie, was awarded the bronze medal in the contemporary romance category in the prestigious Readers’ Favorite 2015 International Book Awards.

Born and raised in a small farming town in southern Indiana, A.D. was an avid reader from the time she learned to read.  She could often be found curled up somewhere with her nose in a book. Most of her friends and family were not such book enthusiasts, so A.D. got used to dealing with snickers and joking comments about her constant reading habits. Truth be told, Ms. Ellis has always been the definition of a book nerd.

A.D. always dreamed of being a teacher. Graduating from Indiana State University in 1999 and earning a Master’s Degree from Indiana Wesleyan in 2003, she met her goal of entering the world of education. A.D. has been teaching in the inner city of Indianapolis, Indiana for 17 years. She spent the majority of her 17 years in fourth grade, but has now taken on the challenges of teaching 3rd and 4th grade alternative education students. A.D. loves teaching fractions, variables, probability, and graphing in Math. She loves almost all aspects of English Language Arts. Figurative language, theme, making predictions, drawing conclusions, inference, context clues, making writing come to life, A.D. loves it all! Her students don’t always share in that enthusiasm.

She met her husband in college in 1996 and they married in June of 2000. She lives in a south side suburb of Indianapolis, Indiana with her husband and two school-aged children. When she’s not reading or writing with music blaring, she can be found shopping at thrift stores, reading to her children, and sweating at the gym in the very early mornings.

A.D. began her writing journey in October 2013, and she is grateful for the friends and support she’s found along the way.

:: Website :: Facebook Page :: Twitter :: Amazon :: Newsletter Signup ::

RafflecopterGiveaway

Winner’s Prize: Signed copy of Sawyer (US only) or Winner’s choice of any of my eBooks (box set titles included)

Second Winner’s Prize: Winner’s choice of any of my single titles

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TourSchedule

November 23  – Hearts on Fire Reviews
November 24  – Man2Mantastic
November 25  – The Purple Rose Tea House
November 26  – Elisa – My Reviews and Ramblings
November 27  – Daydream Believer Book Blog
November 28  – Fangirl Moments and My Two Cents
November 29  – Loving Without Limits
November 30  – Drops of Ink
December 1  – Bike Book Reviews
December 2  – Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words
December 3  – Cia’s Stories
– Bayou Book Junkie
December 4  – Frosty’s Book Corner

A MelanieM Review: Northern Lights by Asta Idonea

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Sleigh Ride Advent StoryA dream romantic vacation to Iceland to see the Northern Lights turns into a nightmare when James’s workaholic boyfriend, Richard, again insists on putting his work first. After a call from Richard’s office, an argument ends with the couple splitting up for good. Not only has Richard left James, he’s left him abandoned to explore the park alone, where James quickly gets lost. But just when things seem darkest, the Solstice works its magic, and James finds the guiding light he needs. Or it finds him.

Northern Lights by Asta Idonea was a lovely way for me to dive into this collection.  Asta Idonea brought so many delightful elements to this holiday short story.  A heartbroken man left by his long term partner in Iceland when an argument turns into a breakup that should have happened long before now.  Now James has to face an uncertain future on every front, no home, no stability, no partner and even the likelihood of not enough income to support himself.   All while he’s in a place he always wanted to see and photograph.

The author makes us feel James’s fear and while not exactly pain, the knowledge that he knew this was coming and the hurt that carries with it.  And as James tries to pick himself up and travel around to places in and around Reykjavik, we get to hike along with him, delighting in the discoveries he finds as he goes and the despair he feels when reality intrudes.  The author’s descriptions are wonderful and inviting and it gets even better as disaster strikes James and his path changes for the better.

Northern Lights is full of the old traditions and old gods, the beauty of the Northern Lights and a path to a new future that can open up when you least expect it.  At 29 pages, I would have loved more of the setting and couple, but what I got set the mood perfectly for the first day of December and the holiday season.  And yes it made me want to grab a plane to Reykjavik, not for the first time either. I recommend this story and I need to explore this author’s writing more as well.  Happy Reading!

Cover Artist:  Paul Richmond did the wonderful generic cover used for the majority of the stories, great job as always.

Sales Links:  Dreamspinner Press |

Book Details:

ebook, 29 pages
Expected publication: December 1st 2015 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781634769648
edition languageEnglish
series:Sleigh Ride – 2015 Advent Calendar

Holiday Reading and Reviews- Yes, Virginia, Its December 1!

This year Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is reading and reviewing many holiday stories, among them the Advent collection from Dreamspinner; Sleigh Ride.  We will roll out one a day for 31 days, starting December 1st, today.  Here is a little bit more information about the Dreamspinner Advent collection which includes stories about things less than traditional.

Sleigh Ride Advent Story

Sleigh Ride…

The course of true love can be a bumpy, up-and-down, and sideways ride, but the end-of-the-year holidays are perfect for happy endings! Whether they’re finding a new romance or rekindling an old one, the men in these stories get some help from the magic of the season. Some of them might need a miracle to muddle through the conflicts and confusion that arise, but luckily for them, ‘tis the season. From naughty fun, to heartfelt and heart-wrenching reunions, to out-of-this-world adventures, these guys are in for quite a ride.

Holiday reading fun! Sleigh Ride is a package of 31 stories:

An Assassin’s Holiday by Dirk Greyson
The Beary Best Holiday Party Ever by B.G. Thomas
Best Laid Trap by Rob Rosen
Blame It on the Fruitcake by Pat Henshaw
A Certain Kind of Holiday by Andi Van
Christmas Miracles of a Recently Fallen Spruce by Brandon Witt
Elf on the Beach by TJ Nichols
Fireworks and Resolutions by Leandra Dohman
Four Alternative Christmas Presents by Tam MacNeil
Grateful by Kim Fielding
Hapless by Therese Woodson
Hearth and Home by E.T. Malinowski
Holiday Hotel Hookup by Jeff Adams
Home Is Where The Christmas Trees Are by CJane Elliott
Kismet by Cassie Decker
Leap Through Eternity by Sara Stark
Loving and Loathing Vegas by Lex Chase
Menorahs and Mistletoe by Jess Roth
Mission Mistletoe by Jessica Payseur
Northern Lights by Asta Idonea
Not the Best Day by Brynn Stein
Nøtteknekkeren by Felicitas Ivey
Old Acquaintance by Avon Gale
Somewhere to Be by Amy Yip
Son of Santa by Kate Sands
Talk Turkey by Bru Baker
Teddy Bear Christmas by CC Bridges
A Trip to Remember by Meg Harding
Unto Us the Time Has Come by Sean Michael
Whispers of Old Winds by George Seaton
Worth the Wait by Caitlin Ricci & Cari Z.

A Stella Review Redux: Blueberry Boys by Vanessa North

Rating: 4. 5 stars out of 5

Blueberry Boys coverConnor Graham is a city boy—a celebrated fashion photographer in New York. When his uncle’s death drags him back to the family blueberry farm, all he wants to do is sell it as quickly as he can. Until he meets his uncle’s tenant farmer.

Jed Jones, shy and stammering, devout and dedicated, has always yearned for land of his own and a man to share it with. Kept in the closet by his church, family, and disastrous first love, he longs to be accepted for who he is. But now, with his farm and his future in Connor’s careless hands, he stands to lose even the little he has.

Neither man expects the connection between them. Jed sees Connor—appreciates his art and passion like no one else in this godforsaken town ever has. Connor hears Jed—looks past his stutter to listen to the man inside. The time they share is idyllic, but with the farm sale pending, even their sanctuary is a source of tension. As work, family, and their town’s old-fashioned attitudes pull them apart, they must find a way to reconcile commitments to their careers and to each other.

“You confuse the hell out of me.”

Jed cocked his head to the side and stared. “Why?”

“Are you gay?”

Jed wouldn’t meet his eyes. “That’s a c-complicated question.”

Connor sat again, not caring if their legs touched. “There’s nothing complicated about it. You like dick or you don’t.”

“I’m a Christian.”

“The two aren’t mutually exclusive.”

“In th-this town? In my family? Yeah. They are.”

Blueberry Boys is the story between Connor and Jed, two young man living in two very different worlds that will collide under a meteor shower.

Connor is a famous photographer of NY, who has just lost his uncle Bruce and inherited his blueberry farm with his older, bully of a brother Scott. He is gay and out and comes back to what was at one time his home, Blandford, a close-minded town, for his uncle’s funeral.

Jed is the farm boy who is growing organic blueberries on Connor’s new farm soil. He’s shy and cute with his stuttering, he’s incredible attractive with a jaw to die for. He’s gay but in the closet. He is soon attracted to Connor, still they don’t rush into having sex after the first kiss but take their time.

I was surprised the author chose Jed to be a Christian and I loved how she showed me things. The Sundays at the church, the time after spent with his close family, not a perfect one but supportive and caring. Most of all Jed’s strong faith mixed with his need to be accepted.

There were a lot of elements I liked in this book but there was one I freaking loved, so much it brought tears to my eyes and it’s enclosed in Pastor Brenda’s words to Jed.

“Jed, this church is your home. Your faith is as welcome here as it has always been.”

I’m writing this review the same day the Vatican is shaken by the coming out of an important priest  closed to the Holy See. Allow me to please quote his words: “I want the church and my community to know who I am — a homosexual priest, happy and proud of his own identity,” and “It’s time the church opened its eyes and realized that offering gay believers total abstinence from a life of love is inhuman”.

When I read Blueberry Boys and I realized Jed was a Christian, I was a little dubious. I’m always wary when authors approach the religious’ themes cause I’m afraid they will focus on the bad side of the Church and I don’t want to read about it (it’s already showing me its worse side every day, I don’t need more). So you can imagine my joy when I found such a beautiful example to follow in Pastor Brenda in this story, the acceptance, the support, the “no need to be forgiven because there’s nothing to forgive”. I cried with Jed and his finally feeling lighter after having the weight of years of fears and “lies” on his shoulders. There was a ton of positiveness in this book that simply fill my heart.

The story felt real, so real I don’t know how to explain but I was lost in it sometimes. So beautiful real like few things I read. And I love when I’m so lost in a story I forgot everything else.

Blueberry Boys, a standalone contemporary out for you romance lovers, is sweet, hot, emotional, full of hope. I read only one more book by Vanessa North, called Rough Road, still she became a guarantee to me. I like her style, simple, clean, normal. Now I just need to rush through The Dark Collector to know Oliver’s story. I think it’s clear the author simply got under my skin.

Cover art by L.C. Chase is great, it just made me want to read the book cause it made me curious. I especially love the colors’ choice. And all the layout work with blueberries on every chapter was very well done.

Sales Link:  Riptide Publishing |  All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, 186 pages
Expected publication: November 30th 2015 by Riptide Publishing
ISBN13 9781626493414
Edition Language English

A Coffee Sip and Book Break with Vanessa North’s Blueberry Boys (giveaway)

Blueberry Boys cover

Blueberry Boys by Vanessa North
Published by Riptide Publishing
Cover Artist L.C. Chase

Buy It at Riptide Publishing 

 

Hello! I’m Vanessa North—welcome to the Blueberry Boys blog tour! At various tour stops, I’ll be sharing character interviews, blueberry recipes, a confession about a certain guilty pleasure that partly inspired this story, and more. Comment on each stop to be entered in a drawing for a $30 Amazon gift card. Thanks for joining me on the tour!

About Blueberry Boys by Vanessa North:

Connor Graham is a city boy—a celebrated fashion photographer in New York. When his uncle’s death drags him back to the family blueberry farm, all he wants to do is sell it as quickly as he can. Until he meets his uncle’s tenant farmer.

Jed Jones, shy and stammering, devout and dedicated, has always yearned for land of his own and a man to share it with. Kept in the closet by his church, family, and disastrous first love, he longs to be accepted for who he is. But now, with his farm and his future in Connor’s careless hands, he stands to lose even the little he has.

Neither man expects the connection between them. Jed sees Connor—appreciates his art and passion like no one else in this godforsaken town ever has. Connor hears Jed—looks past his stutter to listen to the man inside. The time they share is idyllic, but with the farm sale pending, even their sanctuary is a source of tension. As work, family, and their town’s old-fashioned attitudes pull them apart, they must find a way to reconcile commitments to their careers and to each other.

Blueberry Boys at Riptide Publishing. “http://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/blueberry-boys

About the Author

Author of over a dozen novels, novellas, and short stories, Vanessa North delights in giving happy-ever-afters to characters who don’t think they deserve them. Relentless curiosity led her to take up knitting and run a few marathons “just to see if she could.” She started writing for the same reason. Her very patient husband pretends not to notice when her hobbies take over the house. Living and writing in Northwest Georgia, she finds her attempts to keep a quiet home are frequently thwarted by twin boy-children and a very, very large dog.

Connect with Vanessa:

Website:  “http://vanessanorth.com/”
Facebook profile page:  “https://www.facebook.com/AuthorVanessaNorth”
Twitter:  “https://twitter.com/VanessaNWrites”
Goodreads:  “https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6436063.Vanessa_North”

Giveaway

To celebrate the release of Blueberry Boys, Vanessa North is giving away a $30 Amazon gift card! Your first comment at each stop on this tour enters you in the drawing. Entries close at midnight, Eastern time, on December 5, 2015. Contest is NOT restricted to U.S. Entries. Follow the tour for more opportunities to enter the giveaway! Don’t forget to leave your email or method of contact so Riptide can reach you if you win!  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Good luck!