A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Sense of Place by N.R. Walker

Rating: 5 stars out of 5  ★★★★★
Sense of Place coverThe capstone in the trilogy of books making up the Thomas Elkin series, on my second read through this one, I found I loved it even more than I had the first time due to the subtle way the author tied the core of what makes this couple ticktheir keen sense of appreciation of all things architectureinto their love for each other and respect for each other’s ideas, concepts and experiences.

Thomas Elkin and Cooper Jones have been living together for a week or so when this story opens. Things are going well for Cooper in his position, and he’s just scored a huge job based on the work he did in prep for an architectural show in Philadelphia. This job can make his career and Tom couldn’t be prouder. As the job advances, and Cooper spends more time at work, rather than let the stresses break them up, the two work together to successfully fit in “couple” time.

Cooper’s chief problem is the property developer for whom he’s working is making advances to him left and right, and Coop spends most of his time diplomatically trying to call him off. It doesn’t help when Tom is so understanding, though from Tom’s perspective, Tom has total confidence in Cooper. However, when the straw breaks the camel’s back , a small confrontation and show of possessiveness on Tom’s part is enough to make Cooper happy, and they survive to the end of the job without losing their tempers or their employment. But in the meantime, at Tom’s workplace, one of the partners in his firm is making his life miserable by questioning everything he does. He knows it’s homophobia but can’t get the guy to back off, and it eventually results in Tom making a major life-changing decision.

On the surface, this story wasn’t as complex or intense as book two, Clarity of Lines, but as I stated at the beginning of the review, the subtleties made it even better and watching the men cope with family and job pressures yet continue to grow stronger as a couple was a pleasure. Tom and Cooper have found their personal “sense of place”when the place you’re in feels like homewhere you’re at peace. <spoiler>The way the author wove this in to the marriage proposal was sweet. And, the proposal itself was unique and unexpected and totally perfect. Sigh. </spoiler>

I highly recommend this series to anyone looking for a wonderful couple, with a sweet romance, age gap, and humor. And the bonus is that it leaves a warm and fuzzy feeling in your heart and a wish for more time with the men before you have to leave them. If you get the chance to read this series, by all means, don’t pass it up.
~~~~~~~
Cover Art by Posh Gosh is very similar to the other books in the series and features the upper torsos of two men wearing suits, set against a background of tall buildings representing the architecture MCs in the series.

Sales Links:  Pride Publishing | All Romance (ARe) |  Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook, Special Edition
Published August 11th 2015 by Pride Publishing (first published February 14th 2014)
ISBN13 9781784307417
edition language English

A Stella Review: Free Ride by J. L. Merrow

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Free Ride coverThere’s no such thing as a free ride. Aidan may be only twenty, but he’s already learned that the hard way. Hitch-hiking up from London to Glasgow to keep a promise to a man he’ll never see again, Aidan’s fully prepared to offer payment in kind for his lifts. He’s not expecting a good-looking older bloke to pick him up in a Mercedes — nor that he’ll find John such good company. After a few short hours together Aidan’s already starting to care what John thinks of him.

When slow traffic forces them to get a room for the night, Aidan’s not sure what to do. Putting out as a thank you to a stranger is one thing, but can he really go through with it with the first person he’s come to care for since he made that promise?

And what’s going to happen when they reach their destination?

Free Ride is a short (too short) story by JL Merrow, an author whose style and writing I love very much. I was a little dubious about it, because being just 18 pages, I was really afraid it would be impossible to deliver something believable and complete. I have to stop to worrying about things when it comes to JL! These few pages show the start of a possible relationship between Aidan and John, in a sweet way and with the use of a humorous british language so typical of the author. I know, there are just brief moments  between them, but even if the aim was to just let us know how they met, it was so accomplished. I’m always not satisfied by stories like Free Ride, I think it’s pretty normal to have not enough of a couple if you have loved the few (filling) crumbs you read. I can honestly say it felt right just like that. And moreover I could feel the characters and the chemistry between them. Of course then I went on the author’s website and found out there is a micro sequel to this short story, called On The Beach (you can find it here http://jlmerrow.com/free-reads/on-the-beach/) and I was super happy! I devoured it in a flash.

I want to highly recommend Free Ride. If you already have read something by JL Merrow you know how good she is so it’s a guarantee. If you’re looking for a quick story, full of hope in the future, with an emotional undertone,  this one will be perfect for you.

Cover art by Written Ink Designs. I know, this model is been used a lot on covers lately, so it’s not so original. It’s a shame because it fits the story and it’s a good one.

Sales Links:  JMS Books | Smashwords | All Romance (ARe) | Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

Published July 19th 2015 by JMS Books LLC
Kindle Edition, 18 pages
ASIN B01091D51K
Edition Language English

A Jeri Review: Unsaid (The Manhattanites Book 3) by Avery Aster

Rating: 2.5  Stars out of 5

Unsaid coverFor fans who loved the snarky wit of Will & Grace and the epic love drama found in Brokeback Mountain comes Avery Aster’s new full-length, standalone contemporary erotic M/M romance novel, Unsaid.

Chelsea’s hottie Blake Morgan III has reemerged from a nasty breakup. His marriage was a frigid disaster beyond repair, and he vows to be single—forever. Bruised, but still hot in Prada, he creates his Seven Desires wish list, his sexiest imaginings. Blake soon realizes there’s only one man he may trust to make these uninhibited intentions come to fruition: his best friend Miguel Santana.

Lower East Side multimedia artist extraordinaire Miguel Santana may be known as the cocky Latin stud in the city, but all he’s wanted since college was Blake’s hand in marriage. He was livid when Blake walked down the aisle with the wrong guy. Miguel has his own list titled the Seven Needs, which are quite contrary to Blake’s dirty-boy deeds. They involve serious commitments, which may leave his new-to-the-singles-scene buddy sprinting for the door, destroying any hopes Miguel has for happiness.

Can these two hunks conquer their intimate fears and love one another as only best friends can? Join

While the cover of Unsaid (The Manhattanites Book 3) by Avery Aster is hot and would draw me to it immediately, it is a bit misleading. The “main” story is about 2 guy friends getting together, but really there are several interconnected stories throughout the book involving their group of friends.

Because this review is for a blog about LGBT books, I am going to review it as such. Had I read this book for a het blog, there would be some differences.

Blake grew up wealthy, as did his group of friends. All he wanted was to get married and have a family. He thought he was on his way to that dream when he married his boyfriend. Five years later, he is watching the ink dry on his divorce papers.

One of his friends, Miguel, has had a crush on Blake since college. But Blake chose Miguel’s friend over him. He carried his torch silently for years. Until their friends start to push them together.

There are several story lines in this book. And while they are all connected because everyone is friends, I feel like they could have been separated into their own books and their stories fleshed out more.

I did enjoy the friendship of all of the characters. They really stuck by each other in life and were willing to do anything for each other. Usually a character has one, maybe two, close friends in a book. These guys were lucky enough to have a diverse crowd of friends.

A word of warning- there is het sex in the book! Teehee, just had to throw that out there. There is also a BDSM scene that will have people who are really in the lifestyle rolling their eyes at how wrong it is.

While I liked all of the stories, I wish there was more. More depth, more romance, more back story. It was just a bit too much like a soap opera for me to give it more than 2 ½ stars.

Cover is hot.  It pulled me in but I thought it was misleading.

Sales links:  Amazon | Buy It Here

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: September 2nd 2015 (first published August 3rd 2015)
edition language English

Its Hot Men in the Texas Heat with Buttermilk Ranch by Patricia Logan (author interview,excerpt and giveaway)

Buttermilk Ranch

Buttermilk Ranch by Patricia Logan
Release Date: August 29, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Westburg Publishing
Cover Artist: AJ Corza

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Buy the book:  Amazon

 Author Interview with Patricia Logan!

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing Patricia Logan author of Buttermilk Ranch.  Hi Patricia, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.
• Where do you find your inspiration?

From TV series, movies, photos from models.

• When did you first consider yourself a writer?

When I finished my first full length novel.

• Do your characters become like real people to you?

Yes. Sometimes I’m in a grocery store or a restaurant and I think, Zack Teak is such a good cook. I wonder what he would do with this anise root or I wonder whether Dmitri Hernandez’s vegetable soup would taste this good.

• If you weren’t a writer, what else would you like to have done?

I would have loved to have been an artist

• What do you want your tombstone to say?

Her words brought joy to so many people

Blurb

Wendell Blackowl has spent all his life in the working cow horse show ring where toiling with sweaty cowboys all day is the fodder for wet dreams. Though privately he’s come to terms with his sexuality, publicly Dell’s had to build a façade. When his beloved horse Buttermilk dies, Dell finds himself at loose ends so he decides to pick himself up by his boot straps and do what he’s always wanted to do… open an environmentally friendly organic vegetarian café.

Pace Avila, well known music critic, has been drawn to Austin by the live music scene. When friends invite him to check out a fresh new dinner experience, Pace reluctantly agrees to push the deadline on his national column. He isn’t interested in vegetarian food or a restaurant with the cheesy name of Buttermilk Ranch Café, but the moment Pace lays eyes on the stunning cowboy chef, things begin looking up.

When openly gay Pace walks into his cafe and his life, Dell realizes he’s tired of living a lie and tired of being alone. When Mother Nature throws an unprecedented storm at Austin, the muddy waters threaten to wipe out everything Dell’s worked so hard to build. He soon realizes that with a man like Pace by his side, love really can conquer all.

Pages or Words: 62,000 words

Categories: Contemporary, Erotica, Gay Fiction, M/M Romance, Romance, Western/Cowboy

Excerpt

“Yoo Hoo! Dell, ya up there, ya sidewinder! Get outa bed or I’m gonna drag that lazy ass out!”
“What?” Pace said, startled awake as he lifted his head from Dell’s chest where he’d fallen asleep in the wee hours of the morning. He wiped his face of drool and stared across the muscled chest he loved, finding Dell’s face. He had one eye peeled open and he didn’t look all too happy by what sounded like Branch’s bellowing from downstairs.
“Fuckin’ ass poor timin’,” Dell grumbled as they both sat upright in bed. Pace knew it would be pretty awful if Branch came bursting into the room with them, lying buck naked in bed. “Guess I’d better find out just what the hell he’s doin’ here.” Pace watched as Dell threw his legs over the side of the bed. He watched his ass from behind, noting the muscled expanse of his back and the thick thighs he loved so much, as the man stood.
“What the hell is he doing here? He and the boys had a show,” Pace grumbled.

“Ya rattlesnake! Ya need me to come up there and put my boot up yer ass?” Branch howled. Pace couldn’t help but chuckle. He loved his brother but he loved the disgusted look on Dell’s face more. Dell walked to the doorway and stuck his head out.

“I’ll be down in a minute, ya jackass… unless ya want to see me in all my nekkid glory!” Dell yelled back.

Pace heard a chuckle coming from downstairs. “Hell naw! Get some clothes on there, scarecrow! Yer movin’ slower than a snake’s belly in a wagon rut.”

“Oh for Christ’s sake, here we go,” Dell said, glancing over at him. Pace just buried his face in the pillow and laughed.

Meet the Author

Patricia Logan resides in Los Angeles, California along with her husband, four children, her grandchild and ever increasing number of cats. When not being stage mom, baking cookies, or scooping kitty litter, she writes steamy, award winning, gay erotic romance and tries to lead her readers on a journey of discovery with more than a little angst.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ploganauthor
Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/authorpatricialogan?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/PatriciaLogan1
Other: author website: http://authorpatricialogan.com/


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Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of ‘Buttermilk Ranch’ by Patricia Logan.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
Rafflecopter Code:
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Final

Tour Dates & Stops:
29-Aug Three Books Over The Rainbow, Happily Ever Chapter, Because Two Men Are Better Than One,

Inked Rainbow Reads, Two Chicks Obsessed With Books and Eye Candy

31-Aug Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, The Jena Wade, Divine Magazine, Cathy Brockman Romances

1-Sep LeAnn’s Book Reviews, Ogitchida Book Blog, Wicked Faerie’s Tales and Reviews, BFD Book Blog

2-Sep Bayou Book Junkie, Vampires, Werewolves, and Fairies, Oh My, 3 Chicks After Dark, Books A to Z, Love Bytes, Emotion in Motion

3-Sep Molly Lolly, Bike Book Reviews, MM Good Book Reviews, Mikky’s World of Books, Up All Night, Read All Day

WillPride

What Happens In Vegas Charity Blog Hop and M/M Short Story: ‘Waking Up Married in Vegas’ by Hunter Frost

Vegas-Hop-Graphic

Welcome to the What Happens in Vegas Charity Blog Hop!

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words is happy to be a participant in this charity event and is hosting author Hunter Frost.  Welcome, Hunter.  Please tell us more about this event and your charity!

From Hunter Frost:

The Marriage Equality Blog Hop revolves around a bunch of authors, bloggers, and reviewers who want to celebrate the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to affirm marriage equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender Americans. By featuring stories of love and marriage between LGBTQ couples and promoting charitable organizations that focus on assisting and empowering the LGBTQ community, we hope share our joy in an important historical moment.
The charity I chose to promote is The Center in Las Vegas. The Center is a full-service community center that serves the city’s LGBTQ population by providing educational programs, free HIV and STD testing, vaccinations, internet and computer stations, a lending library, and other helpful resources.http://thecenterlv.org By donating to the The Center here: http://www.thecenterlv.org/get-involved/rainbow-circle/donations you help support these highly desirable programs to the LGBTQ community in Las Vegas.

Now for Hunter Frost’s short story. Enjoy!

Waking Up Married in Vegas

By

Hunter Frost

Officer Reed Weston ran his hands through his hair as he exited the elevator on the twenty-fourth floor of the Golden Nugget, keeping an eye out for Grant’s suite number. It had been six months since that first fateful night on Freemont Street when they had met, and Reed still got butterflies before each rendezvous.

After their inaugural vacation together in Kauai, they decided to fly out to visit each other once a month, which soon turned into every other week, and finally every weekend. The traveling was tiring and expensive, but Reed couldn’t imagine any more time away from Grant. And he assumed Grant felt the same. Reed had never been this obsessed with a man before, but for some reason he welcomed the once terrifying concept.

He knocked on the proper door, wishing Grant wouldn’t spend the money on a room when they could just go back to his place. But Grant wanted to be as close as possible when Reed ended his graveyard shift. At least for one night of the weekend, he always said. And Reed couldn’t deny he appreciated Grant’s need to squeeze as much time out of their weekends as possible.

“You alone?” Grant called out from inside.

Reed raised his brow. Interesting. His ex had called him boring, but the man inside that room had been anything but since Reed had known him. “Um…yes?” Reed answered hesitantly.

Grant didn’t reply, but the sound of locks opening prepared Reed as the door swung wide.

And there stood Grant – completely naked with a massive hard-on.

“Fuck me,” Reed whispered at the beautiful sight. Sexy as all get out, Grant was even sexier in the buff. Lean and trim, he somehow avoided the spare tire that Reed found himself constantly fighting off. Maybe he should take up swimming, if it helped him look as fine as Grant did.

Reed wasted no time in striding forward to reach for him, as Grant jumped into his arms and wrapped his legs around his middle. Reed went in for a kiss when Grant yelped.

“That’s gonna leave a mark.” Grant shifted in Reed’s arms and blew out a breath.

“What did you crush?” Reed chuckled. Next time, he’d remove his duty belt before lunging for a naked man…when not in the line of duty, of course.

“Nothing like that, just caught some skin on your gun holster.” He answered like it was something that happened every day.

“I’d be happy to kiss it better,” Reed murmured, as Grant tightened his arms around Reed’s neck. Reed had missed this – being able to hold him, smell him, and stare into his chocolate brown eyes. Grant’s bare ass in his hands didn’t hurt either.

Grant nibbled on his ear, making him shiver. “It’s really high up on my inner thigh,” he whispered.

If Reed wasn’t hard before, he was steel now. “Is that supposed to discourage me?”

Grant laughed, and Reed pulled him into a kiss that had both of them moaning. Before they got too carried away, Reed said against Grant’s lips. “I need a shower first. It’s been a long night.”

“No, I like the smell of danger and deviancy on you.”

“More like sweat and sorrow.” He could smell it. “You sure?”

“Positive.”

“You’re kinda kinky.” Reed kissed him again with a growl in his throat and carried him over to the bed, reluctantly letting him drop. This is where he’d been dreaming of getting Grant since yesterday morning. He removed his duty belt and placed it on the stuffed chair beside the bed.

“Let me do the rest,” Grant said, as he untucked Reed’s yellow polo from his cargo pants. Grant rested back on his haunches as he pushed Reed’s shirt up. Reed pulled it off the rest of the way.

Damn, Grant’s hands drove him crazy as they traveled up Reed’s abs and spread across his chest. He circled Reed’s nipples – now as hard as his cock. “Jesus, if you don’t let my cock out, I might pop the zipper right off.”

“I’d like to see that,” he said, unfastening Reed’s pants with urgency and pushing them down with his boxers. “Next time.”

When Reed’s cock sprung free, both of them groaned. The tip was already dripping.

Grant used the pre-come to stroke him slowly and deliberately, making Reed’s eyes roll up in the back of his head. “God, that feels incredible.”

“And I know it’ll feel incredible in my ass,” Grant replied, reaching over to pick up a condom off the bed, where a handful of them had been scattered.

Reed arched a brow. “My you’ve become such a dirty, dirty boy. What happened to my boring accountant?” He smirked and unlaced his boots, removing them and the rest of his clothes.

Grant ripped the condom rapper open with his teeth, looking up at him with mischievous eyes. “It’s impossible to be boring around you. You encourage my wild side.” He grabbed Reed’s cock and stroked.

Reed bit his lower lip and slid his hand into Grant’s soft hair. “You bet I do. Any hot-blooded man would be a fool not to.” He kissed him hard and deep, needing to feel the crush of his addicting lips and the hot slick of his tongue.

Grant slid on the condom and massaged Reed’s balls, drawing out a guttural moan. Grant already knew so well how his body would respond to his intimate caresses.

Reed slid his hands down to Grant’s chest and broke the kiss as he pushed him down to the bed with a thump. Reed then slipped his hands under Grant’s ass, spreading his thighs with his face as he dove down to kiss and lick at his inner thigh, skirting Grant’s cock and balls. “Is that the spot that needed kissing?” he asked.

“Uh huh,” Grant grunted. “So much better. But there are plenty of other spots you can tend to…”

“How about this spot?” Reed asked, as he titled Grant’s ass forward, spreading his cheeks as he tickled the puckered hole with his tongue.

Grant gasped. “Oh, God, Reed…yes.”

Reed laved at his tender flesh, licking and nibbling, until Grant nearly writhed out from under him. Reed pushed his tongue in as far as he could manage, Grant’s panting and curses almost too much for Reed to take without spilling his own seed.

“Now, Reed. Please fuck me.”

Grant’s begging had Reed scrambling onto the bed, lining his cock up to that glorious hole. Considering the condoms were lubed and he had made a wet feast of Grant, he figured he could slide in fairly easily.

Grant groaned as Reed pressed his cock inside, so hot and snug. Reed gritted his teeth to hold back the orgasm that already had his balls tight and on edge.

“I could live in there,” Reed whispered.

Grant chuckled, his breath ragged, as he lifted his hips. “You could stay forever.”

Reed smiled back, matching Grant’s rhythm, wondering if they were still talking about sex. But his thoughts were cut short as he bit back his climax. “I’m gonna come, baby,” he managed to say, pumping faster into Grant, angling toward his prostate. He wouldn’t stop until Grant got off.

“Yes, yes…Do it,” Grant said, his face betraying his oncoming orgasm. “You know I’ll be right there with you.”

God, yes. As Reed thrust, his climax ripped through him, sending electric jolts through his entire body.

Grant grasped Reed’s hand tight, no different than the very first time they slept together. Reed realized he’d come to crave that intensity, that connection, which only Grant had been able to give him.

“I’m coming, I’m coming…” Grant yelled, as he shot all the way up to his neck. His body jerked under Reed, who stroked Grant’s leg with his free hand.

When they both finally relaxed, Reed moved to slip out of Grant. He kissed the hand that held his and got off the bed.

“Where are you going?” Grant asked, his eyes still closed. His legs were bent at the knees and spread wide, his expression spent and absolutely beautiful.

Reed shook his head to clear it. “Shower. Now, I really need one. And there’s no way I’m going to completely funk up the bed we’ll be sleeping in later.”

Grant chuckled. “I’ll join you in a minute.”

“I’m counting on it.”

#

Grant woke up with a start. Pressure on his shoulder and his name in a deep, hushed voice came from the dark mass next to him in the bed.

“Wake up, Grant,” Reed whispered, squeezing his arm.

Grant blinked his heavy eyelids, nerves suddenly on edge. “What? What is it? Is everything okay?”

“No, it’s not.”
“Are you hurt? What’s wrong?” Grant shifted to sit up and felt for Reed’s solid form, touching his body as if trying to find something out of place.

Reed sat up, grasping both of his hands in his. “No, it’s not that.”

Grant leaned back against the headboard, relief washing over him.

“I can’t do this anymore,” Reed said, his thumbs brushing the top Grant’s hands.

The words slammed into Grant like a mack truck. Did he mean…them? Grant searched through the entire day in his head, wondering what had happened to provoke Reed’s change of heart. They had had a wonderful day as usual, ordering breakfast from room service after more sexy fun in the shower. Grant insisted Reed nap after that, considering he had met him right after his shift. Then they drove out to Red Rock and did a short hike since the fall weather finally made it bearable. Once they had dinner at Reed’s favorite local pub, they came home, fooled around and promptly fell asleep.

“What do you mean?” Grant asked, his voice higher than he expected.

“It means I love you and I can’t do this back and forth thing anymore. I must be losing it because I can’t even stand being away from you for five days.”

Grant’s mouth went slack. Boy, did he jump to the wrong conclusion.

But wait.

“Did you just say you loved me?” The silence following made Grant lean over and turn on the light so he could see Reed properly. “Did you hear me?”

Reed squinted. “Yes, I nodded ‘yes’.”

“In the dark.” Grant chuckled and Reed joined him.

“Sorry.”

Grant grabbed his face and kissed him quickly. “I love you, too.”

“Thank God,” Reed said, wrapping his arms around Grant’s waist. “But I’m sick of missing you. I want to be next to you, in the same city, the same house, waking up in the same bed.” He paused and visibly swallowed. His blue eyes darkened. “Marry me, Grant. I don’t care if it’s crazy. I’ve never felt this way about someone.”

Grant couldn’t get his eyes to work. Shock made them blink uncontrollably, while tears stung them from behind. “You’re serious?” He said, for lack of anything better. Of course he wanted to marry Reed. He was the best thing that had ever happened to him. Coming to Vegas to forget his ex may not have been the smartest thing he could have done, but it was by far the luckiest. To know that Reed felt the same about him made the tears fall.

“Are these happy tears?” Reed whispered, bringing his hands up to catch the watery trails with his thumbs.

“Of course they are, you big dummy,” Grant said, playfully punching him in his meaty chest.

“Is that a yes?” Reed asked, pulling him closer.

Grant nodded. “Yes, Officer.”

Reed groaned and then proceeded to kiss every ounce of life from his body, until he laid limp in his arms.

Grant didn’t know how he managed to speak after that. “Where will we live?”

“I don’t care. If you want me to move to Ohio, I’ll go. I could find work there. That’s the bonus of being a police officer.”

“What about your Mom and the Silva family and the rest of metro? They all need you.”

“You know my Mom loves you. And so does Silva, Allison, and the kids.” Reed smiled. “They’ll understand. Especially knowing how happy I am.”

Grant took a deep breath. He wouldn’t deny that he’d thought about moving in with Reed and even marriage, but he never expected it to happen so soon. Still, he knew what he wanted. “If you don’t care, then I’m moving here. I don’t think you’re done here in Vegas.”

“Really? Could you leave your parents and Lisa? Lisa won’t know what to do with herself.” Reed smirked.

“With the new baby coming, and my Mom so busy doting on her soon-to-be grandbaby, they won’t even notice I’m gone,” Grant grinned. “Besides, they can afford to miss me for a while. It’s about time I leave the nest.”

Reed chuckled. “You’re my brave little bird.”

Grant rolled his eyes and shoved him. “We could revisit the whole living situation every few years, just to make sure we’re happy with the arrangements.”

Reed wrapped an arm around Grant’s neck and kissed his forehead. “You’re so smart.”

“Level-headed,” Grant corrected him.
“Then you’re going to freak out when you hear what I have to say next.”

Grant blinked. “What?”

“Let’s do it now.”

“Sex? Sure.” Grant trailed a finger down Reed’s chest. “You know I’m always game for that.”

“Not that.” Reed pressed Grant’s hand against his chest. “I meant, let’s get married right now.”

“Now?”

“This is Vegas. You can get married at all hours of the day or night and same-sex marriage is now legal in Nevada.” Reed’s blue eyes grew brighter as he talked. “Elvis could marry us, or…we could even get Captain Jack Sparrow to officiate. I know how much you love Pirates of the Caribbean. We’ve only watched every movie five or six times together.”

Grant gasped. “Captain Jack Sparrow? Really?!”

Reed nodded slowly, his smile widening.

Grant thought his head might pop off. First, Reed drops the bomb that he can’t do this, then he tells him he loves him, and last he proposes to him all in the span of a few minutes. But Captain Jack Sparrow? Oh my… Grant jumped off the bed. “We gotta shower. Do they rent tuxes this late? Or do these places provide pirate clothing?”

Reed laughed. “I’m sure these places provide anything we could need. You get in the shower first. I’ll call around.”

Grant ran towards the bathroom, but turned back to wrap his arms around Reed from behind. He pressed his lips to Reed’s ear. “I love you so much, Reed Weston.”

Reed grabbed Grant’s hand around his neck and nuzzled him. “And I love you, Grant Carroll.”

Grant squeezed his fiancé one more time before heading toward the shower. “Oh my God, I’m going to get married tonight…By a pirate!” He could hear Reed laughing as he closed the bathroom door.

#

Daybreak broke through the small slits in the blinds, waking Reed. He blinked lazily and smiled, watching the bright light play across Grant’s golden hair. His husband laid next to him, flat on his stomach and dead to the world. It had been a whirlwind trip, starting out as wonderful as always, and ending with the two of them married by Captain Jack Sparrow. He couldn’t believe he had been the first one to suggest marriage, let alone to suggest doing it right then and there. But this was no normal man snoring next to him. This was Grant Carroll – the boring accountant from Columbus, Ohio, who came into Reed’s life drunk and adorable, stealing Reed’s broken heart with the uncoordinated wink of his eye and the purity of his soul. And just maybe his fine ass.

Reed looked down at Grant’s hand, the silver band they had purchased at a pawnshop on his finger. Reed wore the matching one. The bands shined bright even in the dim light of the room, much like he hoped their lives would. And as Reed moved to cover Grant’s hand with his, he knew as long as he had Grant by his side, it all was worth it.

THE END

CHARITY

The charity that I chose to feature is The Center, a communal complex in the heart of Las Vegas that offers a variety of wonderful services to the LGBTQ community. I’ve visited this amazing place and immediately felt welcome and part of something much bigger than myself. Besides an extensive lending library, computer stations, and other educational resources, they provide free HIV and STD testing and vaccinations. It is a clean, safe place for anyone to visit if they desire. I wish there were more centers such as this to service the Las Vegas and surrounding areas.
http://www.thecenterlv.org

AUTHOR BIO

Hunter lost a bet at a blackjack table and begrudgingly traded temperate Southern California for the sweltering heat of Las Vegas. There she resides with an extremely tolerant boyfriend and two cats named after her favorite beverage, Latte and Java.

When she’s not dreaming of returning to coastal living, Hunter works at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from where she recently received her Master’s in British history. In order to appease her muse, she writes the kind of fiction that keeps her sane. She adores romance in all forms, but prefers her stories with two heroes that find their happily-ever-after with each other.

You can find Hunter Frost here:

http://www.twitter.com/HunterFrostMM
http://www.facebook.com/HunterFrostMM
http://www.HunterFrost.net

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September is Here and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

September and Fall

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This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

 Leaves have started to fall, yet I’m still working on our Best Books of Summer 2015 Part II.  While I do, here is our schedule this week.

Sunday, August 30:

  • September is Upon Us and This Week At Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Monday, August 31:

  • What Happens In Vegas Charity Blog Hop
  • Its Love and Texas Heat with Patricia Logan’s Buttermilk Ranch
  • A Stella Review: Free Ride by J.L. Merrow
  • A Jeri Review: Unsaid (The Manhattanites Book 3) by Avery Aster
  • A Barb the Zany Old Lady: A Sense of Place by NR Walker

Tuesday, September 1:

  • Cover Reveal for JK Hogan’s ‘Unbreak Broken’
  • Riptide Book Tour : Fall and Rising by Sunny Moraine (contest)
  • Book Spotlight: Viki Lyn ‘Lover’s Trill’ (excerpt and contest)
  • A Mika Review: Bent Arrow by Posy Roberts (double  dipping review)
  • A Stella Review: Bent Arrow by Posy Roberts

Wednesday, September 2:

  • Coffee Sip and Book Break: Thianna Durston’s ‘Discovery’ {excerpt and giveaway}
  •  Love Heats Up with TC Blue’s ‘Sexual Frankenstein’ (contest)
  • A Stella Review: Red Hot – Coffin Nails MC California by KA Merikan
  • A MelanieM Review: Taxes and Tardis by N. R. Walker
  • A Paul B Review: Craig (Gillhan Pack #3) by Catherine Lievens

Thursday, September 3  Happy Birthday, RJ Scott!:

  • Throwback Thursday:  A Barb  the Zany Old Lady Review: The Summer House by R.J. Scott
  • Posy Roberts ‘Bent Arrow’ book blast  and contest
  • A Mika Review: Trust by Sarah Masters
  • A MelanieM Review: Put A Ring On It by K.A. Mitchell
  • A BJ Review: TBA

Friday, September 4:

  • A Closer Look at A SHOOTING STAR by Joe Cosentino (guest post and contest)
  • Spotlight:  L.A. Witt’s Running with Scissors tour and contest
  • Book Blast and Giveaway: Like A Lover by Jay Northcote
  • A Stella Review: Speedy Rewards by Jeff Erno
  • A MelanieM Review: No Place Left to Run by Zarah Detand

Saturday, September 5:

  • STRW Best Books of Summer 2015 Part II

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words Best Books and Covers of August 2015

August header

Scattered Thoughts and Rogue Words

Best Books and Covers of August 2015

Looking back at our August 2015, never have I seen so many wonderful books as we read and reviewed this month.  Normally I would include those books with a 4.5 or higher rating, but we had so many excellent 5 star novels this month that I had to stop somewhere and left those off this time.

Did you miss out on any of our reviews listed below?  Give them and the books another look now.  These stories are too amazing to be missed.  And don’t forget the covers that we loved just below that.  Does it match your own lists this month?  Write us and let us know!

Best Books of August 2015 – ★★★★★

Get Your Shine On by Nick Wilgus (A Stella Review on 8/5)
Redemption by Eden Winters (A MelanieM Review on 8/7)
Evolution by Lissa Kasey (An Aurora YA Review on 8/8)
Definitely, Maybe, Yours by Lissa Reed (A Mika Review on 8/11)
Diamond Edge by Laura Harner (A MelanieM Review on 8/12)
The Harder They Fall by Lisa Henry and Heidi Belleau (A Barb the Zany Old Lady Review on 8/13)
The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune (A Stella Review on 8/14)
The Pillar the Kim Fielding (A BJ Review on 8/14)
Lucky Linus by Gene Grant (A Mika Review on 8/ 15)
The Homecoming by J. Scott Coatsworth on 8/21 (A Paul B Review)

Audiobooks:audiobook clipart bw

Nowhere Ranch by Heidi Cullinan, narrated by Iggy Toma (A Barb the Zany Old Lady Audiobook Review on 8/17)

End of a Series:

A Piece of Cake by Mary Calmes (Jory and Sam) (A MelanieM Review) on 8/14

 

Favorite Covers of August 2015

Ink & Shadows coverDefinitely Maybe Yours coverLucky Linus coverThe Homecoming - cover2

 

 

 

 

 

Shadows and Ink by Rhys Ford, cover art by Anne Cain
Definitely, Maybe. Yours by Lissa Reed, cover art by Buckeyegrrl Design -made Mika want to read the story,
The Lightning-Struck Heart by T.J. Klune, cover art by Paul Richmond, powerful and unique
The Pillar by Kim Fielding, cover artist is Shobana Appavu.  Stunning and rich as the story
Lucky Linus by Gene Grant, cover art by Paul Richmond, photograph is again the reason Mika wanted this book
The Homecoming by J. Scott Coatsworth, cover art by London Burden, Paul thinks its one of the most gorgeous covers he’s seen all year.

Special Mentions to Kate McMurray’s The Rainbow League Series, cover art by Aaron Anderson.  Wonderful.

The Pillar coverThe Lightning Struck Heart cover

The Long Slide Home cover

Thrown A Curve cover

A Jeri Review: The Long Slide Home (The Rainbow League #3) by Kate McMurray

Rating: 3 stars out of 5

The Long Slide Home coverNate and Carlos have been the best of friends since their childhood playing baseball together in the Bronx. For the last few years, Nate’s been in love with Carlos, though he’s never acted on it, and Carlos has never given any indication that he returns Nate’s feelings. Nate has finally given up, determined to move on and find someone else, especially now that Carlos has shacked up with his boyfriend Aiden.

Carlos doesn’t understand why Nate has suddenly gotten weird, acting cold and distant at team practice for the Rainbow League. But if that’s how things are going to be, Carlos is done trying to figure Nate out. But then Aiden starts to show he might not be the man Carlos thought he was, and Carlos needs his best friend’s support. Worse, he starts to realize his feelings for Nate might not be limited to friendship. But in the aftermath of his relationship with Aiden, and with Nate having problems of his own, the timing is all wrong to make a real relationship work. As emotions run high, both have hard time figuring out what is real and what is just convenient.

Sometimes it takes something to open your eyes to the possibilities. For Nate, it was watching Carlos dating Aidan.

Nate and Carlos have been friends since they were kids. Growing up in the same neighborhood of the Bronx, their mutual love of the Yankees and baseball in general, and Nate practically growing up in Carlos’ Puerto Rican family since he only had a single working mother.

They played on the same team in the league and were both out of the closet. Everyone assumed they were together until Carlos started dating Aidan.

Nate is losing his chance to have Carlos as his own- but he is also losing his friendship with Carlos. He never hangs out after games with his friends, he leaves directly after practice and doesn’t say much to anyone. Until he shows up at Nate’s door with a bruise on his face.

Watching these two navigate through their friendship to something more was really beautiful. They struggle to find the balance between friends and lovers, while navigating baseball, Carlos’ huge family and a rebound situation. You just want to cheer for them to make it through.

Cover art by Aaron Anderson who did the covers for the first two stories as well.I loved having both main characters on the cover of the book, which again, follows the same art as the previous two.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 204 pages
Published August 14th 2015 by Dreamspinner Press LLC
original title The Long Slide Home
ISBN139781632169723
edition language English
Books in the Rainbow League Series are:

Think Love and Videogames Clash? Check Out Sex, Love, and Videogames (Serpentine Series #3)
 by CJane Elliott (author interview, excerpt and giveaway)

SexLoveVideogamesFS

Sex, Love, and Videogames (Serpentine Series #3)
 by CJane Elliott
Release Date: August 21, 2015

Goodreads Link
Publisher: Dreamspinner Press
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Where can you buy the book?  Dreamspinner Press | All Romance (ARe)

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My Author Interview with CJ Elliott

Today I’m very lucky to be interviewing CJane Elliott, author of Sex, Love, and Videogames.

Hi CJane, thank you for agreeing to this interview. Tell us a little about yourself, your background, and your current book.

Hi there. Thanks so much for having me on your blog today to talk about my newest book, Sex, Love, and Videogames, the third novel in the Serpentine Series. Each book is a standalone but the series has recurring characters. Sex, Love, and Videogames is the story of Jed Carter, who we first met in Serpentine Walls, and Charlie Ambrose, a new character to the series.

• Do you buy a book because of the cover, the blurb, or something else?

I’m influenced by the cover. I might pause at a cover that draws me in, then read the blurb. If the author isn’t known to me, I base my purchase mostly on the blurb and whether the story sounds interesting. I tend to buy women authors and I like stories about relationships. I will also buy a book based on recommendations from other authors or friends.

• What does ‘romance’ mean to you?

Romance means hope. It means that falling in love is possible and so is having your happily ever after. In my books, the characters often have to grow and change before they’re able to allow love in, but that’s what makes it satisfying when they finally get there.

• What are your current projects?

I’m about to begin the editing phase on my next Dreamspinner release, which is a follow-up story to my novella Wild and Precious. We find out what happens to Cody Bellstrom as he travels on a train out West. The story is called There You Are and will be published in December or January.

I submitted a story for the Dreamspinner holiday anthology this year, Home Is Where the Christmas Trees Are, and will hear whether or not they accepted it in September. *fingers crossed*

I’m planning my next novella in the Wild and Precious universe and the fourth novel in the Serpentine Series for publication in 2016.

But Dreamspinner had to go and add their new line: Dreamspun Desires, which is Harlequin-style romances featuring all the traditional tropes! Now I have to write something for that too!
• What is the most difficult part of writing for you?

Getting started. I brainstorm ideas, make an outline, and dither around before I start the actual writing. But once I’ve gotten the first chapter written, I’m on a roll.

• Tell us something about yourself that would surprise people.

I’m a licensed clinical social worker and I work for a Hospice in my day job. Far from being an “evil day job” I truly love the work I do.

Now about Sex, Love, and Videogames

SexLoveVideogamesFS

Blurb

Shy guy Jed Carter has always felt invisible next to his charismatic older brother, Kent. Kent’s master plan for Jed is simple: University of Virginia, business, sports, and ladies’ man. None of it is Jed, except for playing on the rugby team, which he joins in defiance of soccer-loving Kent. Jed comes out in his sophomore year and starts seeing Pete, an attractive junior, who uses him for sex and videogames. Jed wants more—in life and in love—and starts making his own plans. First on the list: getting to know Charlie, the handsome guy working at the local videogame arcade.

Charlie Ambrose has always felt like an oddball, and not just for his tendency to stutter. Being gay sets him apart from his African-American community, and as a “townie,” he doesn’t fit in with the college crowd. Charlie’s inspiration is his cousin, Morocco, who’s transgender and doesn’t give a fig about fitting in. Art is Charlie’s passion, and when a local videogame designer discovers him, Charlie’s living a dream. The only thing he’s missing is love. But the last person Charlie expects to find it with is a cute, white U.Va. rugby player named Jed.

Pages or Words: 264 pages
Categories: Contemporary, Gay fiction, M/M Romance, New adult, *Trans, Interracial

Excerpt

“Okay, warm up laps!” Beau led the rugby team in a slow circuit around the perimeter of Mad Bowl. After a few laps, he stopped and had them do stretching exercises.
The other team did their warming up, and when they moved to take positions, Jed noticed a pair of people standing on the sidelines. His breathing stopped for a second. Charlie stood, hands in his pockets, shifting from foot to foot, while Morocco, a vision in a pink track suit, set up a camp chair (apt name, that) and sat down. Morocco saw Jed looking and waved. Charlie turned and gave a small wave himself, and Jed waved back, heart beating faster.
“Who’re they?” Bud asked, squinting over at them.
“Um, Charlie’s a guy who works at Lucky’s. In the gaming area. And the other is his cousin.”
“Hmm. Townies?”
“Yep.”
“She’s cute.”
“Um, well, about that….” Jed cut himself off because the referee blew the whistle. Time to play ball and hope he did well in front of those two.
The game proved the usual testosterone-fest, with lots of grunting and body contact. When Jed scored some points, Morocco produced pom poms that matched her outfit and waved them wildly.
At the break, Jed ran over to them for a minute to say hi—fuck what the rest of the team thought.
“Jed, child, my word!” Morocco fanned her chest. “Y’all are such manly men! Rugby is going to be my new obsession, I just know it!”
“I like it. My mom never let me play contact sports in high school, so I kinda love ramming into people.” Jed felt his cheeks flame at what he had said. Crap-a-doodle.
But Morocco laughed and Charlie faked a cough so he could smile behind his fist.
“So, hey, thanks for coming. I gotta go back now.”
Charlie nodded as Morocco said, “We’ll see you after the game.” She picked up her pom poms. “Wa-hoo-wa!”
When the team huddled before the second half, a homophobe named Welburn said with a sneer, “Who are those freaks on the sidelines?”
Another guy laughed. “Yeah. I thought all the he-shes lived in San Francisco.”
“What’re you talking about?” Bud peered over toward Charlie and Morocco. “That girl?”
Welburn spit on the ground. “That girl is no she. She’s a he. What the hell are they doing here?”
Beau raised his voice. “Hey, concentrate, guys. We need to win this game.”
Jed held up a hand to stop Beau from continuing. “Before we do that, you all need to know that those are some friends of mine. So shut your fucking faces before I shut them for you.” He leveled a lethal glare at Welburn and his compatriot.
Fueled by his anger, Jed played an amazing second half, and the team pulled out a victory on the strength of his points alone. After their team high five, he trotted over to Charlie and Morocco. Charlie smiled broadly while Morocco jumped up and down. “Jed, Jed, Jed! Wa-hoo-wa! Thass right!”
“Okay, okay.” Jed couldn’t help laughing at Morocco’s outrageous enthusiasm. “Thanks for coming to the game.”
“It was fun. I’m glad we came.” Charlie took a step back, seemingly surprised to have gotten two stutter-free sentences out.
“I’m glad too.” They gazed tentatively at each other, and Morocco suddenly got busy folding up the camp chair.

 

About the Author

After years of hearing characters chatting away in her head, CJane Elliott finally decided to put them on paper and hasn’t looked back since. A psychotherapist by training, CJane enjoys writing sexy, passionate stories that also explore the human psyche. CJane has traveled all over North America for work and her characters are travelers, too, traveling down into their own depths to find what they need to get to the happy ending.
CJane is an ardent supporter of LGBTQ equality and is particularly fond of coming out stories.
In her spare time, CJane can be found dancing, listening to music, or watching old movies. Her husband and son support her writing habit by staying out of the way when they see her hunched over, staring intensely at her laptop.

Where to find the author:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cjane.elliott
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CJaneElliott
E-mail: cjaneelliott@gmail.com
Website: http://www.cjaneelliott.com

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Giveaway

Enter to win a Rafflecopter Prize: E-copy of any Serpentine Series book.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter. Link and prizes provided by the author and Pride Promotions.
Rafflecopter Code:
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Tour Dates & Stops:
21-Aug

Boys on the Brink Reviews: http://www.boysonthebrink.com/blog-tour-and-giveaway-sex-love-and-videogames-by-cjane-elliott/

Divine Magazine: http://divinemagazine.net/book-stuff/sex-love-and-videogames-by-cjane-elliott-keep-me-in-mind-tour

Jessie G. Books: http://jessiegbooks.com/blog-tour-sex-love-and-videogames-by-cjane-elliott/

Bayou Book Junkie: http://bayoubookjunkie.blogspot.com/2015/08/keep-me-in-mind-mm-sex-love-and.html

28-Aug Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words, Happily Ever Chapter

4-Sep Amanda C. Stone, MM Good Book Reviews

11-Sep V’s Reads, Bike Book Reviews, The Novel Approach

18-Sep Hearts on Fire, Love Bytes

25-Sep The Jena Wade, My Fiction Nook

2-Oct Inked Rainbow Reads, BFD Book Blog

9-Oct Prism Book Alliance, Molly Lolly, Velvet Panic

 

 

WillPride

A Barb, A Zany Old Lady Review: Lead Me Not by Ann Gallagher

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Lead Me Not coverIsaac Morris strongly believes in spreading the word of the Lord as he firmly and loudly protests homosexuality at rallies organized by his church at any and all LGBTQ pride gatherings. Following in the footsteps of his father, the leader of the church which has a zero tolerance for that type of sexual deviant Sodomizer, he and his brothers are being groomed to take over the flock when, and if, his father retires. At one such protest, a gay man challenges him to prove that being homosexual is a choice. Stunned, Isaac begins to think through the possibilities of proving that one can choose to be homosexual and one can choose to come back to the Lord and be heterosexual again.

His twin sister, Ruth, encourages him and helps him to convince their father and older brothers that their plan is sound. Their nephew Griffin has been struggling with being gay and is due to be sent to a special camp as a last resort to save him. His father, Isaac’s brother John, supports the project in the hope that it will help Griffin see that he can become “normal” through a conscious decision to change. Ruth, a film major, and Isaac, a recently divorced man, have nothing to lose by setting up a house in Seattle to film a documentary while Isaac infiltrates the gay community to prove being gay is a choice. Motivated by the knowledge that he is helping Griffin and others like him, Isaac stifles his nausea at having to do this project. Focusing on the hope that he can help lead those sinners back to God, they move forward with their plan.

His first foray into attempting a hookup ends up with him being bashed in the alley behind the bar, CapitalOUT. Colton, one of the bartenders, accompanies the bouncers as they head into the alley to break up the fight and rescue the guy. It’s Colton who treats Isaac’s wounds and extends the hand of comfort, healing, and friendship to Isaac. And it’s Colton, whom Isaac turns to when he decides he needs some guidance before attempting this again. Colton is a sweet, quiet, confidant man who conveys a soft-spoken attitude and acceptance of the Lord’s way in most everything he does. Colton volunteers all his spare time at his church, a church which welcomes and supports LGBTQ members and provides a youth center for those teens who have been abandoned by their families.

Pastor Mike once saved Colton from the same fate, and Colton is firm about giving back to the church which saved his life. Over time, Isaac finally acknowledges that the church is based on love and respect for all who seek the Lord, and he has lengthy discussions and debates with the pastor about the sections of the Bible his father uses as a basis for his hatred of homosexuality. Pastor Mike shows Isaac a different interpretation and suggests that Isaac’s father is using the Bible for his own means to spread hatred, rather than love. (To clarify here, no one knows who Isaac’s father actually is.)

Isaac also discovers that he has feelings for Colton, feelings he never felt for his wife, and feelings which scare him. How can he come to care for a man? Is he really gay? Can he possibly go back when this film production is done? And can he break the heart of the wonderful man he’s come to care for? The decision is taken from his hands when his brothers discover his confidential video of his private thoughts about each situation he’s been thrown in. They also discover that he works now as a bartender at CaptialOUT, and they come storming in to pull him away— but not before revealing his secret to Colton— a secret which clearly devastates Colton and tears the couple apart before they ever have a chance to commit to each other.

This is an absolutely wonderful story. It’s long, and non-explicit, but that seems of little importance as it clearly shows the depth of love two men can have for each other. This story is not so much about the sexual attraction as it is about other things that attract one person to another. The beauty of the soul of a man, his goodness shining through, the buildup of trust between two people and yes, even the butterflies in the tummy when their gazes meet across a room.

What happens to Isaac and Colton and how the issues are resolved is both fascinating and engaging and I quickly reached the point where I didn’t want to put the book down. I highly recommend this story to all lovers of M/M romance, and especially to those who struggle with the arguments related to religion and homosexuality and the “word of God” in the Bible. I found the story quite educational and enlightening without feeling as if I were sitting at the foot of a preacher and being spoon-fed Bible studies. This story is also great because it can be shared with family members who prefer to read non-explicit romances or those who may be considered too young to read such stories. I can summarize by saying that when I finished the book, I was stunned by the powerful message and the depth of feeling conveyed to readers. Don’t hesitate to read this one.

~~~~~
Cover Art by L.C. Chase depicts two men, representing the MCs, standing against a background of a crowd of protesters holding up homophobic placards.

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

Book Details:

ebook, 415 pages
Expected publication: August 24th 2015 by Riptide Publishing
original title Lead Me Not
ISBN 1626492778 (ISBN13: 9781626492776)
edition language English
settingSeattle, Washington (United States)