August 2014 Summary of Reviews and Best August 2014 Covers

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 Scattered Thoughts

And Rogue Words

August 2014 Book Review Summary

*Key:
STRW S series
C contemporary
F-fantasy
SF-science fiction
PN-paranormal
SP-supernatural
H-historical
HR-horror
N-Nonfiction
YA-young adult
Rating Scale: 1 to 5, 5 stars is outstanding, 1 not so much.

Note:  Starting in September, there will be an additional notation to credit the reviewer.

5 Star Rating:

Dissonance by Shira Anthony STRWCS
Deep Plunge by Rory Ni Coileain STRWFS
Double Up by Vanessa North STRWC
Finding Jackie by Lou Sylvre STRWCS
Head-On by John Inman STRWC
John and Jackie by TJ Klune, STRWC
Out In The Cold by Lee Brazil PF2014, STRWCS
Prevailing Winds by Laura Harner STRWCS
Semper Fae by Angel Martinez STRWFS

4 to 4.75 Star Rating:

City of Monsters by Andrea Speed (4) STRWSN
Delsyn’s Blues by Lou Sylvre (4.25) STRWCS
Designated Bottoms Anthology (4) STRWA
Devil’s Own by Susan Laine (4.5) STRWSNS
dr.a.g (A Photographic Journey) by Christopher Logan (4.75) STRWN
Gale Force by Rory Ni Coileain (4.75) (STRWFS)
Hard Act To Follow by Kimber Vale (4) STRWCS
Hero by Heidi Cullinan (4.25) STRWF
Midnight Rodeo: Homecoming by Kiernan Kelly, Julia Talbot and BA Tortuga (4.75) STRWSNA
Moving Mountains by Laura Harner (4.75) STRWCS
Not Fade Away by SE Jakes (4.25) STRWCS
Summer Son by Anna Martin (4) STRWC
You Can’t Go Home Again by Michael Murphy (4) STRWC
Wicked Winds by Havan Fellows (4.75) PF2014 story

3 to 3.75 Star Rating:

My Favorite Uncle by Marshall Thornton (3.5) STRWC
The Choosing by Annabelle Jacobs (3.25) STRWSF

2 to 2.75 Star Rating:

Queer Dirty Laundry by Jason Lloyd (2.5) STRWC

Best Covers of August 2014

City of MonstersDelsynsBluesLGDevil's Own coverDouble Up cover

 

 

 

 

 

 

City of Monsters, artist Simone
Delsyn’s Blues, artist Reese Dante
Devil’s Own, artist Brooke Albrecht
Double Up, artist L.C. Chase

FindingJackieLGHero cover

John & Jackie cover

My Favorite Uncle

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finding Jackie, artist Reese Dante
Hero, Art director of Wilde City Press
John and Jackie, Reese Dante cover artist
My Favorite Uncle, Art Director of Wilde City Press

 

NotFadeAway_500x750Semper Fae coverSummer Son coverThe Choosing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Not Fade Away, artist L.C. Chase
Semper Fae, Winterheart Designs
Summer Son, artist Aaron Anderson
The Choosing, artist Brooke Albrecht

A MelanieM Review: Summer Son by Anna Martin

Rating: 4 stars out of 5

Summer Son coverIt wasn’t Ellis Broad’s idea to have a child in the first place, it was his husband, Oliver’s. Now 29, Ellis finds himself divorced and the single father of Harrison, his six-month old son.  Turned out that Harrison was Ellis’ biological son not his husband’s and that changed everything.  Now Ellis is raising his son alone, while  working at home full time at his graphic design business.  The only thing keeping him going was his closeknit circle of friends and occasional babysitting from his mother.  Everyone calls it hiding, but Ellis just sees it as his life…a full time dad.

But his friends have other ideas and introduce Ellis to artist Zane Hadlin.  From the first moment they meet, sparks fly.  Ellis feels an ease and companionship with Zane that he never had with Oliver.  And the feelings are reciprocated.  However Zane comes with some serious baggage.   Zane and his older brother got  mixed up with gangs when they were younger and it got his older brother killed.  It also put Zane and his family into hiding, complete with a different last name.  Truly scary stuff for Ellis with a young son to look after.

And Oliver hasn’t completely disappeared from their lives. A chance meeting with Zane, Ellis and Harrison on an outing together starts Oliver poking into Zane’s background in a rush of jealousy. Why? Because it is clear that Ellis has never been this happy.  He has Zane, Harrison and a new outlook on life.  But will Oliver’s interference and Zane’s past conspire to take it all away?

I really enjoyed Summer Son by Anna Martin.  Much like its title, the story runs along slow, warm, unhurried lines.  It’s highlights are a collection of small scenes of domesticity and the deeply moving bond between a father and his son.  Its reminiscent of summer picnics at a park, looking over at all the couples and families spread out on their blankets and tables, watching small intimacies of tenderness and family love.

At the heart of this story is Ellis and Harrison, his six-month old son.  Their moments together are delightful and affectionately real.  Ellis copes with sleep deprived days and nights, working when Harrison is asleep and totally consumed with his son when Harrison is awake.  We are privy to all the details first time parents make note of and all the development progress that parents celebrate.  It’s loving, warm, and rings with authenticity.  It’s probably my favorite aspect of this story.

Ellis Broad comes across as very believable, especially in his role as a loving but stressed out father.  That’s a huge load to carry but Ellis is also shouldering parental duties alone at a stage in his life he never anticipated.  Gone, or so he thinks, are his dreams for a loving husband and the life they talked about together.  Now Ellis is withdrawn and mistrustful of anything that looks like romance and commitment until a young artist walks into his life, making him question his beliefs and decisions.  I really loved Ellis.  In fact its really hard not to, especially when he has Harrison in tow.

Zane Hadlin is interesting in his own right.  Young, gay and of arabic descent, his gang membership was due to a sense of obligation to his brother and mother.  The death of his brother changed everything for him and his family.  Now a talented artist, Zane also works with children with special needs.  Those scenes will really help to connect you with Zane, including the games he plays with Harrison.

The men finds themselves moving into love and a relationship with a certain amount of thoughtfulness and ease.  The drama, when it comes, is gently dealt with, the hurt kept to a reasonable level, and the ending joyful and completely satisfactory.  I know that for some readers the addition of a family or child pushes the romance into the background and its does so here.  If you are strictly looking for a hot “jump your bones” sort of romance, this is probably not the story for you.  But if you enjoy reading about the formation of a family, and loving relationships, then you will find this gentle novel a lovely read and Anna Martin a new author  who’s stories you will look forward to.

Cover Art:  Aaron Anderson.  How could you not love that cover?  It’s wonderful and perfect for this story.

Sales Links:        Dreamspinner Press                 All Romance eBooks             Amazon           Summer Son

Book Details:
book, 200 pages
Published August 1st 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published July 31st 2014)
ISBN139781627987295
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com

A Quick Stop Tour with Vanessa North and Double Up! (contest)

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Heard about wakeboarding?  Love a hot romance and even better love story?  Combine all three and you have Double Up by Vanessa North.  I loved this book and think you will too.  I even admit to more than my share of giggling over the characters and dialog.  But hear is Vanessa North to tell you a little about herself and Double Up.  And there’s a giveaway for a $15 Riptide Gift Card!  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Now let’s get started!

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Hi everyone! I’m Vanessa North, and I’m touring this week to talk about my new release, Double Up: how it got started, a scene that almost happened, and the sport of wakeboarding–how it influenced me, why I love it so much, and how it shaped the characters in the story.

Contest: Join me on the tour and leave a comment on this post to enter the giveaway for a $15 Riptide Gift Card! Be sure to include your email address in the comment so that I can contact you if you win! I’ll be drawing the winner at the end of the blog tour.

Double Up Book Blurb:

Knowing he’s loved can make any man fly.

Fifteen years ago, Ben Warren was a wakeboarding champion: king of big air, ballsy tricks, and boned grabs. Until a career-ending injury left him broken in ways he still has no hope of fixing. Now he takes his thrills where he can get them, and tries not to let life hurt too much.

Then Davis Fox arrives in Ben’s sporting goods store with a plan to get in touch with his estranged brother by competing in the annual wakeboarding double-up contest. The catch? He’s never ridden before. It’s crazy, but Ben’s a sucker for the guy’s sob story—and for his dimples, too—so he agrees to coach Davis.
Davis is everything Ben isn’t: successful, confident, and in love with life. And he wants Ben to love life—and him—too. But before Ben can embrace a future with Davis, he needs to remember how to hope.

Double Up coverBook Details:

Title:  Double Up by Vanessa North
Publisher:  Riptide Publishing
Cover Artist: L.C. Chase

Sales Link:         Double Up Book Page at Riptide

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.

 

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Connect with Vanessa:
• Website: vanessanorth.com
• Facebook profile page: facebook.com/AuthorVanessaNorth
• Twitter: @VanessaNWrites
• Goodreads: goodreads.com/VanessaNorth

A MelanieM Review: Double Up by Vanessa North

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Double Up coverWakeboarding legend Ben Warren is retired, 40 and feeling every bit his age.  It was 15 years ago that Ben won the Lake Lovelace Doube Up tournament to considerable aclaim and much pain after a wakeboarding accident put him into the hospital.  Now Ben runs a pro shop and teaches other the tricks he used to win contests with.

Architect Davis Fox wants to learn how to wakeboard.  Specifically, he wants to be able to enter the Lake Lovelace Double Up tournament to get close to a half brother he was forbidden to see when he came out to his conservative family. Davis’ half brother just happens to be Ridley Romeo, the hottest thing to hit the water in wake boarding contests country wide.  This is just the ticket to get him closer to Ridley once more but first he needs to find a teacher.

When Davis Fox arrives at Ben’s pro shop asking Ben to teach him how to double up, Ben tries to warn Davis off about the risks inherent in this sport for a newbie but Davis won’t be denied.  Ben accepts the job but finds teaching Davis renewing his passion for the sport and for David himself.  Davis too is falling fast but old issues from Ben’s past reappear, ones he hasn’t told Davis about.  Ben is going to have to learn some hard lessons all over again before he can accept that he has a future not only with Davis, but back in the sport he loves so much.

I just love Double Up so much that I can’t believe this is the first book that I have read by Vanessa North.  I had to go through her  backlist to be sure (and to start marking stories to read) but, indeed, this is the first time this author has come to my attention.  I love it when that happens and now I have a whole new stack of stories to go through.  Life is good!  But back to Double Up.

What made me love this story so?  I think its because Double Up is such a complete package.  For starters, the plot is great.  Wakeboarding is a new sport for me and within the boundaries of the plot, North manages to be both informative and entertaining about wakeboarding, its maneuvers, terminology, and its equipment.  Her descriptions were so clear, especially once Ben jumped into the water, that I could almost feel the muscles strain when the rope between man and boat pulls taut. Using the extreme sport of wakeboarding as a framework for her story is especially appealing.  Retired athletes, their glory days behind them, are a staple as main characters in romances.  But with wakeboarding as the backdrop, it becomes fresh and contemporary.  Ben is a legend but there are very good reasons other than age, as to why his extreme sports days are behind him.  By his side as friend, boss, and occasional hookup, is Eddie, who came so close to stealing this novel away from Ben and Davis.  Flamboyant, smart, and an athlete in his own right, Eddie was an amazing surprise from start to finish.  When secondary characters are this good, then you can figure on the main characters being fully realized, complex people as well.

Davis’ attraction to Ben is immediate, but Davis also knows what he wants in a relationship and it’s not a quick hookup.  Ben has a past that makes him question his ability to have not only a romance but a real relationship with anyone.  How those two disparate individuals come together against a backdrop of sunshine, water, and wakeboarding is a true joy here.  Throw in a younger brother, a bisexual tournament queen, and a transgendered wakerboarder as well and the gifts from this author never stop coming.

I thought the dialog here crackled with humor, warmth, and a good bit of sarcasm.  The characters?  Top notch.  From gorgeous aged athlete Ben Warren to , successful architect Davis Fox to Eddie Russell, Ben’s oldest friend (and scene stealer), each character flew off the page lively, vivid, and totally believable in their human frailties and idiosyncrasies.  There are actually some spew moments here during a phone call between Eddie and Ben.  It was unexpected, the humor deep, knowing, and yet totally real in demonstrating the depth of the friendship between these two men.  Love, love, loved it!

This book was so much fun and still managed to be exciting, romantic with moments of angst and reflection as well.  I highly recommend this story.  Grab it up today and start your visit with this entertaining, wonderful cast of characters.  Plus you get to add a sport for your watching pleasure too, at least I have.

 

Sales Links:   Riptide Publishing        All Romance eBooks (ARe)        Amazon            Double Up

Cover art by L.C. Chase.  It’s perfect.  If you didn’t have a clue what wakeboarding is, this cover would give you an idea (as it did me)

To watch wakeboarding in action, check out this youtube trailer.

Book Details:
ebook, 118 pages
Published August 25th 2014 by Riptide Publishing
ISBN139781626491595
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.riptidepublishing.com/titles/double-up

A MelanieM Review: Not Fade Away (Hell or High Water #3.5) by S.E. Jakes

Rating: 4.25 stars out of 5

not fade awayProphet Drews and Tom Boudreaux are still adjusting to living together.  That includes Prophet’s habit of stealing his neighbor, Cillian’s couch, as a part of an ongoing bet, something that irritates Tommy.  For Prophet, pushing Tommy’s buttons is a favorite pastime, even better than stealing Cillian’s couch.

Nothing is worse for Prophet than boredom and one icy winter night sees Tommy and Prophet engaged in a game of Truth or Dare, the outcome of which sees Tommy stealing Cillian’s  couch for the last time.  But Truth or Dare brings into light a few truths that Prophet has been holding back from Tommy.  Can Tommy handle the truth from Prophet one more time?  And what will Tommy’s answer be in return?

What a pair Prophet Drews and Tom Boudreaux make!  Passionately wild about each other, torn between their present and uneasy future, Not Fade Away is an interlude that steps away from the immediate mystery and concentrates on moving their relationship forward yet one more level.

I thoroughly enjoyed this side story.  In a way, I think it is every bit as important to Prophet and Tommy’s saga as the main stories.  Sometimes the complexity and newness of this duo’s relationship, along with its challenges and personal highpoints, can get lost under the mysteries and intricacies of the plot threads running through the Hell or High Water series. The other stories must balance out other characters needs and appearances such as Mal and Cillian, along with the rest of the group. Prophet and Tommy has to be folded in, with SE Jakes juggling all their stories along with the overall plot the author wants to tell.  But there is so much to Tommy and Prophet’s love story and relationship that it needs it’s own time to shine.  And Not Fade Away puts that focus squarely on this dynamite pair.

I love that there is always some new revelation about Prophet’s and Tommy’s background.  And each new fact(s) brings a set of ripples that carry an increasingly large impact on both men and those around them.  Nothing is ever easy for these two and aren’t we thrilled that’s the case.  Here boredom brings about a game of Truth or Dare that explodes into a sexual melee, game forgotten until later.  It’s incredibly sexy, totally hot and once again demonstrates just how perfect these two are for each other.

Prophet pushes Tommy’s buttons and Tommy pushes back.  Their give and take, the balance they (and the author) maintains works here perfectly.  From action to dialog, this 52 page story sings with verve.  It’s fun, smoking hot, and this story deepens the relationship and love between Prophet and Tommy, taking their love and trust further than before.

If you are new to this pair and their convoluted story, this might not make too much sense.  It needs to be read in order so the events and character development makes sense.  I have listed the books in the order they were written and should be read at the end of this review.  I love the Hell or High Water series.  SE Jakes and her men just do it for me.  Start with Catch a Ghost and read your way through.  You are going to love these men and their growing relationship.  The ongoing mystery is pretty wild too.  You are going to love it!

Cover art by LC Chase. Love it!

Sales Links:  Riptide Publishing   All Romance eBooks (ARe)  Amazon        Not Fade Away

Book Details:

ebook, 52 pages
Published August 18th 2014 by Riptide Publishing (first published August 16th 2014)
ISBN139781626490994
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://riptidepublishing.com/titles/not-fade-away
seriesHell or High Water #3.5, Extreme Escapes, Ltd

Hell or High Water Series in the order they were written and should be read:

Catch a Ghost (Hell or High Water, #1)
Long Time Gone (Hell or High Water, #2)
Daylight Again (Hell or High Water, #3)
Not Fade Away (Hell or High Water, #3.5)
If I Ever (Hell or High Water, #4) Expected publication: October 1st 2014

Associated Series: Extreme Escapes Universe: Men of Honor and Dirty Deeds:

Dirty Deeds (Dirty Deeds #1) Mal and Cillian 
Free Falling (Extreme Escapes, Ltd.) Blue and Mick

Book Blast: Morticia Knight’s Dangerous Wish Book Tour/Contest

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Its a Book Tour!  It’s A Contest!  And It’s A Scavenger Hunt!

Contest: Rafflecopter Prize: Signed copy of Dangerous Wish.  Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.  Please take note of the Dangerous Wish Fact below.  You will need it in order to enter the Rafflecopter entry for the contest!

dangerouswish_800Book Name: Dangerous Wish (Uniform Encounters 6)
Although part of a series, all installments can be read as standalones. For more information, visit Morticia Knight’s author page at Totally Bound:

  • Set Ablaze (Uniform Encounters 1):Hunky fire chief Eric is out of the closet after twenty years of marriage. Can he find true love, or will a spate of arson fires destroy his chances with Tom, the sexy young firefighter?
  • Arresting Behaviour (Uniform Encounters 2):Native American Quinn and Detective Jake come from two opposing worlds. But when opposites attract, the result is explosive.
  • Lust Emergency (Uniform Encounters 3): The new ER doctor is smoking hot, and the exotic African American paramedic can’t keep his eyes off of him. Tricky relationships and subterfuge at a Phoenix sex club almost drive a permanent wedge between the two, but a bombing at City Hall changes the endgame.
  • Guarded Desires (Uniform Encounters 4): A sexy young National Guardsman, a snarky bear of a DEA Agent and a vicious Mexican drug cartel. Someone’s going to be sorry.
  • Secret Fire (Uniform Encounters 5):Police officer Zach and Fire Marshal Daryl would be perfect together—if they would ever quit fighting long enough to find out. A devastating fire and the secret behind it almost keeps them from getting what they really need—each other.

Author Name: Morticia Knight
Author Bio:

M/M Erotic Romance author Morticia Knight enjoys a good saucy tale – after all, who doesn’t? Since she loves several genres, you may find your heroes in a contemporary, historical, paranormal or sci-fi setting. One of her passions is bringing people’s fantasies to life on the page, because life is too short for even one boring moment. Her stories are volcanic in heat, deep in emotion, and sprinkled with doses of humor.

When not indulging in her obsession for books, she loves the outdoors, film and music. The Pacific Northwest is the ideal spot to enjoy both hiking and beachcombing. Once upon a time she was the singer in an indie rock band that toured the West Coast and charted on U.S. college radio. She now resides on the northern coast of Oregon, where the constant rain and fog remind her of visits to family in England and Scotland when she was a child.

She is currently working on a new series about men in uniform entitled Sin City Uniforms and a BDSM spin-off to the Gin & Jazz series entitled The Hampton Road Club.

Cover Artist: Posh GoshFireRed600x600Banner
Publisher: Totally Bound
Buy Link:   Totally Bound   Amazon US     Amazon UK

Dangerous Wish Blurb:

Love is a dangerous emotion that EMT Jared won’t risk. But it looks as though a sweet and sexy National Guardsman is about to make him wish for that—and much more.

EMT Jared Li loves his job, his friends and clubbing. There’s nothing like a night of fun getting glammed up, throwing on some heels and shaking his ass to the latest Britney tune. Life is all about having a good time with as many hot guys as possible.

Dan Harrison has been in the National Guard for about six months and out for not much longer than that. At twenty-two, he’s somewhat innocent, a little shy and not interested in meaningless hook-ups. One night at a karaoke bar changes everything for him when his fellow Guardsman Joseph introduces him to his friend Jared. Dan’s never met anyone like the luscious twink who’s filled with so much life and laughter.

A night of passion shakes them to their very cores. Jared really likes Dan, but doesn’t want to get caught up in any type of exclusive thing. Dan wishes there could be more between them, but is willing just to be friends in order to remain near the androgynous stunner.

Hanging out strictly as friends proves to be almost impossible for them both. Not only does Jared continuously lust after the muscular soldier, but he’s also falling for the caring and compassionate man. Dan’s every sex fantasy stars Jared in one of his daring club outfits, but his heart is what really matters and it’s already been lost to Jared.

A traumatic event breaks down the barriers between them and gives them the chance to be together the way they both want. But after Dan is called up by the Guard to assist at a natural disaster, the same bravery that Jared admires in Dan might be the final thing that separates them forever.

 

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Dangerous Wish Fact: Fact #7 – EMT Jared Li’s favorite heels are a sparkling silver, but he’s decided they’re too uncomfortable to dance in.  (you will need this for the contest).

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Excerpt: 

There was a line to get in.

Unbelievable.

It wasn’t even a Saturday night. And it wasn’t as if they were in Phoenix, for heaven’s sake. Of course, that probably had a lot to do with it. Mesa and the surrounding ‘burbs might have underestimated their gay population just a tad. Although, he wasn’t so sure they should all be standing on display out on the sidewalk dressed as they were. He was fairly certain that picketing and hate crimes weren’t completely out of the question.

“Sorry, it’s not usually this crowded unless it’s ladies’ night.”

Dan frowned at him, obviously puzzled.

“If you’re dressed as a lady, you get in free.”

Dan’s mouth formed a small ‘o’.

The door to the club opened and a few people exited, another few ushered in.

“Dammit.”

“That’s okay, Jared. I don’t mind waiting.”

“Oh, that wasn’t what I meant. They’re playing Crazy Law, my favorite Kazaky song, and I’m not even in there to dance to it. Where’s the justice?”

He wrapped his arms around himself. If he’d known they would be stuck outside, he would have brought his jacket. It hadn’t seemed like it would be worth the hassle to bring it to only go from the cab right into the club then back out again. Jared startled as Dan wrapped his bomber around his shoulders.

“Oh, Dan, no. You’ll be cold.”

Dan shrugged. “I’m fine. I’ll consider it part of my non-active duty training.”

“I’m not sure how a scantily clad gay man in heels fits in with your Guardsman training.”

Dan chuckled, his dimpled smile drawing Jared’s gaze.

“What I meant was that we do various types of scenarios that you might encounter in a battle situation, such as extreme heat or cold. As a matter of fact, there’s an unusual heatwave predicted for this time of the year, so Joseph and I are headed out to the Mojave Desert this weekend for some extreme heat training. We’ve done it before, but they have some new exercises planned.”

“Wow.”

Jared let his eyes wander over Dan’s muscled torso now that he’d sacrificed his coat to Jared’s cause and Jared wasn’t so vainly caught up in his own fashion drama. The tight black T-shirt that had some sort of rock music festival logo on it hugged Dan’s body perfectly. Jared hadn’t been oblivious to the stares they’d been getting. Although he was sure that Dan was completely unaware they were drawing any attention, Jared made it his business to be aware of any and all attention he might be drawing. It was clear that their fellow would-be clubbers thought they were a couple. That the muscular stud he stood next to was the top to his very cute bottom. Somehow, the idea didn’t bother him.

“So, Dan, what other manly military exercises have you done?”

Dan regarded him with a lazy smile. “Well, my favorite one was the pre-dawn vertical insertion.”

Jared dropped his mouth open. “Excuse me? That sounds dirty.”

“It can be if you land wrong.”

Dan chuckled, leaning in, his warm breath giving Jared gooseflesh as it hit the skin on his neck.

“It’s a parachute drop.”

“Oh my God, you are so bad.”

Tour Dates/Stops:DangerousWishBadge
August 8: Kimi-Chan, Rainbow Gold Reviews
August 11: Hearts on Fire, MM Good Book Reviews
August 12: Book Reviews, Rants, and Raves, Love Bytes
August 13: The Hat Party
August 14: Prism Book Alliance
August 15: Tara Lain
August 18: Parker Williams, The Blogger Girls
August 19: Emotion in Motion
August 20: My Fiction Nook
August 21: Decadent Delights, Lee Brazil
August 22: Smoocher’s Voice
August 25: Amanda C. Stone
August 26: Scattered Thoughts & Rogue Words
August 27: LeAnn’s Book Reviews
August 28: Reviews and Ramblings
August 29: Nephylim

WillPride
Rafflecopter Code: a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

A MelanieM Review: Head-on by John Inman

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Head-On coverAt 24 Gordon Stafford had it all. A rising career as a tv meteorologist, a loving family, a wide circle of friends…everything anyone could want. By 26, Gordon Stafford had lost it all. And all it took was the decision to drive home drunk from an awards ceremony. That decision shattered three mens lives immediately. For one man, the driver of the other car, it cost him his life. His passenger? Multiple injuries and the love of his life. And for Gordon, the driver that hit the other car head on, it cost him his career, his home, his friends, his self esteem…everything that had mattered to Gordon at the time.

Two years later, Gordon is a changed man. Consumed by guilt and shame, Gordon spends his days thinking about suicide and working at court appointed community service at Mama’s Soup Kitchen, the local shelter for the homeless. It’s there he meet’s Squirt, a young man barely surviving. At first meeting, Gordon realizes that Squirt is special. He seems shy and fragile. But when Squirt saves Gordon from a beating or worse from thugs under a nearby bridge, Gordon realizes that looks can be deceiving and that Squirt is much more than he appears.

From that moment on, Gordon finds a new meaning to his life. He rediscovers his will to live and perhaps even found love. And it’s all due to having Squirt in his life. But Gordon still needs to find forgiveness. Forgiveness for himself and the destruction he caused.  And that the forgiveness Gordon needs the most will come from the one person he least expects, the one closest to his heart.

Head-On is a huge departure from the comedic stories John Inman normally writes.  Unlike those novels which are full of laughter and humorous moments, Head-On naturally has little to none, which should  be expected given the nature of the plot and the gravity of the subject matter at the heart of this story.  With Head-On, John Inman demonstrates he has as deft a gift for writing characters full of pain and poor life choices as he does people with lives filled less with drama and more the search for romance.

The opening chapter of Head-On is astonishing for a number of reasons but the most important of them is that Inman pours us into the seat next to Gordon, first at the awards dinner as he consumes multiple congratulatory drinks and then in the passenger seat of his car as he makes that fateful decision to drive home drunk.  We’re in his head, and his thoughts could so easily be that of anyone who has taken one drink too many and decides to drive.  But this time Gordon’s poor judgement results in a fatal car crash that we catch in shocking glimpses just before Gordon passes out after the cars collide.  That one scene will stay with you for some time to come.

From there we move to Gordon’s life post crash, and here Inman pulls no punches, makes no excuses for Gordon who is mired in guilt and self loathing.  And yes, still drinking.  Inman’s realistic portrayal of  Gordon shows a man totally aware of the consequences of his actions, the life cut short, the destruction of families, someone who is living with a pain that has no balm.  Gordon exists in a prison of his own making.  And for those who get frustrated and angry when they hear of drunk drivers getting off with a so-called “slap of the wrist”, especially those whose actions caused the deaths of others, this feels like a window into the post accident life of one of those drivers who “got off lightly”.

Just the subject matter of drunk drivers is inflammatory.  That category covers the range from repeat offenders to those who make a one time bad decision when they decide they are sober enough to drive home. And while this book opens up the conversation about drunk drivers and asks the question “what is ample punishment for their deeds”, it remains focused on those drivers like Gordon.  For some, like Gordon, theu are their own warden, turning their lives into a sort of prison of their own making.  It’s a wretched life John Inman constructs for Gordon and it reeks of authenticity and despair.

Only Gordon’s court ordered community service at Mama’s Soup Kitchen provides a temporary relief to the cycle of drinking and hangovers that has become Gordon’s life.  Again, Inman brings Mama’s to life, from the kitchen preparations to the customers who line up for what might be their only meal of the day.  Inman gets the details exactly right, including all those homeless and down on their luck people who need a shelter like this so badly.

Squirt who appears to get a meal isn’t exactly homeless but he is clearly a person who has been damaged in more ways than are visible.  His mental faculties are simplistic while  still remaining that of an adult.  His is a lovely character, vulnerable and easy to connect to.  Which is exactly what Gordon does.  Squirt is  another lost soul and when he rescues Gordon from an attack, he ends up saving Gordon emotionally as well as physically.  Watching this relationship form is such a heartwarming element of this story.

The “revelatory” aspect of Head-On is not as surprising as one might expect.  But here it’s the journey to the “denouement” and not the revelation itself, that drives the story.  Its the twists and turns, the stops along the way as Squirt and Gordon try to figure out a way to move forward towards redemption and forgiveness that make this story such a memorable read.  Inman’s writing style works so beautifully here to bring us into Gordon’s thoughts and life.  And then it does the same for Squirt.  From wretchedness to hope, from personal darkness to atonement and light, this story works on every level.

I highly recommend this moving story.  With it John Inman moves into the ranks of authors who can move easily from one genre to the next, from angst to comedy and any combination thereof.  If he was not a “must read” author for you before, Head-On should bring John Inman into that circle for you now.  Don’t miss out on this remarkable story.

Cover art by Reese Dante.  Explosive and Emotional. Perfect for this story.

Sales Links:         Dreamspinner Press               All Romance eBooks (ARe)          Amazon              Head-On

Book Details:

ebook, 220 pages
Published July 9th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press (first published July 8th 2014)
ISBN 1632160064 (ISBN13: 9781632160065)
edition languageEnglish

Author Spotlight: Kimber Vale On Shooting Stars and a Hard Act To Follow! (contest)

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The Shooting Stars of Kimber Vale!

Hard Act To Follow coverDouble Takes (Shooting Stars #2) coverForever is Now cover

Kimber Vale is here today to talk about her latest release in her Shooting Stars series, Hard Act To Follow and offers a contest as well as the ABC’s of Romance, K.Vale style!

The ABCs of Romance: D is for Denial by Kimber Vale

Hi, y’all! Kimber Vale here with my ABCs of romance. Today I want to talk about the letter D. I had Dogs written on my list, but I’m pretty sure I’d had a few glasses of wine when I wrote that. Not that dogs can’t be an integral part of a romance; it’s just that you can have romance without dogs. I’m a perfect example. My hubs and I have a crazy romantic relationship sans dogs. In fact, we have two cats, a rabbit, and lots of fish. Oh, and three kids. Maybe it isn’t all that crazy romantic now that I think of it, but I’m pretty sure the wine helps.

So, D is for Denial in the sober light of day. I defy you to name me a romance novel that doesn’t include denial in some form. Heck, name any novel that doesn’t. Any short story, even. It’s the conflict that creates the tension—whether it’s a hero searching for that elusive McGuffin or a lover unable to have the person he or she wants for whatever reason—denial fuels the story. It makes us read on. In romance, it makes us sympathize with the characters, pine with them, root for them, and stick with them until all of the obstacles standing in the way of their love are overcome.

In my new release, Hard Act to Follow, denial is the name of the game. It takes Greg and Kyrie a good chunk of book before they’re honest with themselves and each other about their feelings. There is some major freakin’ denial going on for a while—hey, I’m a poet and I didn’t know it—and (I hope) that the two best friends refusing to act on their attraction makes the reader all the more invested in their romance. I know I was invested in getting them to the happy ending. 😉

 

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HATFbanner6Excerpt from Hard Act To Follow:

“How can you see with that thing?”

“Some sort of one-way fabric.” Kyr’s voice was muffled under the dome.

Greg peered into the black bunny eyes, but couldn’t make out anything.

“Here.” Kyrie pulled the head off and held it out to him. “See for yourself.”

“Yeah, I don’t…”

Kyrie cut Greg off by cramming the thing down over his face.

“Hah!” Kyrie smiled on the other side of a grayed layer. “Can you see me now?” He turned and shook his tail at him. “How many fingers am I holding up?” He turned back around, flashing four fingers that changed to five and then to…

“One and a half?”

“See. Told ya. All right, give me back my head. We’re ruining the magic of Easter for these poor kids.”

Greg took one more deep breath, inhaling the magic of Kyrie instead. It was something he could almost recreate between his herb garden and his pantry—cracked black pepper, ginger, and a hint of orange zest. It was probably cologne, but was always subtle enough to pass as his natural smell. It worked with his natural smell. Greg pulled the bulky helmet off, holding his breath in for an extra moment.

“I need help.” A preschooler Greg recognized tugged on Kyrie’s white leg fur.

“Let’s hop to it!” His voice belonged on a cartoon. Bending both arms at the elbows, paws together, he swung them comically in the direction of the egg conundrum in question and bounced away with more juice than the Energizer Bunny. Greg shook his head. Kyrie hiked the kid up on his shoulders to reach an egg resting in the crook of a gutter, and then swung him back to the ground in a graceful arc. It was easy to think of Kyr as slight and delicate just because he was short compared to Greg’s six feet. And though he probably only weighed a buck fifty-five soaking wet, he was all muscle thanks to youth, regular gym dates, and great genes.

Skinny washboard—that’s what Greg always thought when he saw him bare-chested on occasion: rare weekends at the Lis’ beach house, those two times Kyrie decided to change into a different shirt before they went out. That instance where he spilled beer on his lap while they were playing Call of Duty, and he stripped down to his underwear still battling the enemy the whole time. Greg had gotten his ass kicked that round, his gaze sliding sideways instead of focusing on the screen. He hadn’t trusted himself to stand up until Kyrie was dressed and he’d guilted his dick into calming the hell down.

Stop!

Kyrie was sixteen when Greg and Jazz met. Eighteen when Greg graduated with his law degree and tied the knot.

You taught him how to drive after he failed his freakin’ test the first time, for fuck’s sake!

Greg closed his eyes and tried to twine that memory with this awful longing—big brother becomes big boyfriend. I wish.

You are fucking sick. Just stop, Greg. Stop. Before you do something you can’t erase. Before you ruin the best thing in your life.
————-

HATFbanner4Hard Act To Follow Blurb:

Kyrie is an actor with a physical aversion to telling lies, a one-eyed cat, and horrible taste in men. His ex-brother-in-law and best friend, Greg, harbors a secret crush he can’t shake. After denying his feelings for Kyrie for too long, Greg finally gives in to desire one drunken night. Come the morning, the facts get twisted. Kyrie pretends he doesn’t remember a thing—a lie that eats him alive—and Greg can’t stop thinking about how he screwed up the best thing in his life.
Before they can clear the air, Kyrie follows his dreams to New York City, but could he also be running away?

A mistake from Kyrie’s past detonates their silence, and Greg is forced to confront the man he loves. Is their new truth strong enough to support a relationship, or are they doomed to crumble under old fears? Their friendship could evolve into something a million times stronger, but maybe Kyrie’s act is just too hard for Greg to follow.

Book Details:

ebook
Expected publication: August 18th 2014 by Liquid Silver Books
edition languageEnglish
seriesShooting Stars #3

Buy links:
Shooting Stars Series from Liquid Silver Books
Kimber’s Amazon page
All Romance eBooks
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
BeFunky_Stenciler_6Kimber Vale Bio:
K. Vale writes erotic romance of all stripes, from hot hetero to mouthwatering manlove. Find her MF work published under Kimber Vale. Come for the sex. Stay for the story.

Stalk Kimber on Facebook and Twitter @KimberVale, and check her site for updates, new releases, and freebies at her website linked below.

Contacts:

Website
Blog


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Kimber is giving away a $25 Amazon gift card to celebrate her new release!
Rafflecopter code:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Our Week Ahead at ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords

 

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September is almost here so things are unbelievably busy here at ScatteredThoughts.  New reviewers getting up to speed, more author interviews, book tours frazzled woman cartoon paid forand contests.  Plus I am getting ready for GRL in October.  Wow.

This week ScatteredThoughtsandRogueWords will be one of the featured bloggers at RJ Scott’s blog.  There will be a contest to enter so I’m giving you the heads up early.  I reviewed a remarkable story yesterday.  It was TJ Klune’s John & Jackie.  I sobbed like a crazy person and loved every minute.  That cover by Reese Dante is just as remarkable as the story inside.  Don’t miss out on this one.

Even with 2 new reviewers coming on board, I am still on the lookout for more.  So if you love books and write or want to write reviews, let’s talk.  Email me at melaniem54@msn.com and check out my review info on the front page of this blog.

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Here is our schedule for this week:

Monday, August 25:

  • Author Spotlight: Kimber Vale and Hard Act To Follow (contest)
  • Book Blast: Adrian’J. Smith’s For By Grace Book Tour (contest)
  • Review:  Head On by John Inman

Tuesday, August 26:

  • Cover Reveal for Rae Brewer’s David’s Dilemma (contest)
  • Cover Reveal for Lissa Kasey’s Hidden Gem (contest)
  • Book Tour:  Morticia Knight’s Uniform Encounters (contest)
  • Review:  Not Fade Away by SE Jakes (a Hell or High Water story)

Wednesday, August 27:

  • Book Tour:  Forever Man by A.J. DeWall (contest)
  • Book Tour:  Deconstructing Channing by BA Tortuga (contest)
  • Review:  Double Up by Vanessa North

Thursday, August 28:

  • Book Tour:  Designs On You by Carrie Pack (contest)
  • Book Tour:  Anya Richard’s Satyr’s Lure
  • Review:  City of Monsters by Andrea Speed

Friday, August 29:

  • ScatteredThoughts is Featured Today at RJ Scott’s Blogger Day! (contest)
  • Book Tour: Vanessa North and Double Up! (contest)
  • Review:  Summer Son by Anna Martin

Saturday, August 30:

  • August  2014 Summary of Reviews and Best Covers of the Month
  • Deep Plunge by Rory Ni Coileain (SoulShares #3)

A MelanieM Review: John & Jackie by T.J. Klune

Rating: 5 stars out of 5

John & Jackie coverFor seventy one years, Jackie and John have been inseparable.  They met in class as 12 year olds and formed a bond and love that has only gotten deeper and stronger as the years  passed.  But now all that is about to change.  John’s body is riddled with cancer, his pain unbearable.  And he has asked Jackie to give him the ultimate gift of love and compassion.

As the two men wait for dusk, the moments are passed in recollections of their long abiding love, a love that has no boundaries, not even death.

Well, I was unable to even get through the synopsis of this incredibly moving story without tears.  John & Jackie is an eloquent and deeply emotional story of a love that has endured through the years.  Jackie and John meet as children in school.  Neither one is particularly popular, each with their own “stigma” that makes them targets and standouts.  Drawn together immediately, they forge a bond first of  an indelible  friendship that turns into love.  Jackie and John’s need to protect the other is formed right from the start.

We learn this through Jackie’s memories as he sits by John’s bedside waiting for dusk and the time they will say goodbye. Jackie wheels John’s medical bed through the front doors of their cabin that John built out onto the porch to watch for dusk and hold hands one last time.  Hands clutched as tightly as John’s illness will let them, Jackie reminiscences with John over their time together.

TJ Klune portrays these men and their long partnership realistically and with great understanding for types of experiences that a true “Jackie and John” might have gone through as children and as adults.  John is such a strong, poignant character with an upbringing that includes the stigma of being poor and an alcoholic,abusive father.  His need is only for Jackie, that is his world and we can  totally understand the basis for that isolation. A isolation that doesn’t work for Jackie who came from a loving family and a need for others. For Jackie, the world needs to be a little larger and the subsequent misunderstandings that brings rings authentic and heartbreaking.  Jackie’s character is a wonderful complement to John’s, his yin to John’s yang.  Klune makes us believe in their bond with a sureness and brevity that is wondrous.

What is so remarkable about this story is the fullness and complexity of their long term relationship is relayed through small  recollections and bits of shared history while the men wait together for the sun to fall.  This book could have easily extended to over 300 pages but TJ Klune manages to pull us into Jackie and John’s life and love in half that length and make it feel real and deep and unforgettable.

As we and the characters wait for dusk to fall on their  life together, be prepared for the tears to start falling.  It has taken almost no time for us to fall for these men and as the story moves towards it’s gut wrenching conclusion, we will be their heartbroken companions as witness.  But TJ Klune has one more thing in store,..for us and Jackie and John before their story is over.  I love the ending and hope you will too.  This is a story about a never ending love and that ending brought that home.  Pick up this remarkable story and delve into Jackie and John’s romance for the ages.

Cover art by Reese Dante.  Poignant, perfect, and one of the top covers this year.

Sales Links:       Dreamspinner Press            All Romance eBook (ARe)        Amazon                    John & Jackie

 

Book Details;

ebook, 2nd, 122 pages
Published July 25th 2014 by Dreamspinner Press
ISBN139781627988551
edition languageEnglish
urlhttp://www.dreamspinnerpress.com